Congressional Record
Proceedings, Debates of the U.S. Congress
September 18, 2018
115th Congress, 2nd Session
Issue: Vol. 164, No. 155 — Daily Edition
Entire Issue (PDF)
Daily Digest
Daily Digest Section (PDF)
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Daily Digest
HIGHLIGHTS
- Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 6157, Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act.
Senate
Chamber Action
Measures Introduced: Twenty-five bills and thirteen resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 3455–3479, S. Res. 631–642, and S. Con. Res. 47.
Pages S6222–24
Measures Reported:
S. 593, to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to facilitate the establishment of additional or expanded public target ranges in certain States.
S. 1537, to amend the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act to reauthorize the Act.
S. 1857, to establish a compliance deadline of May 15, 2023, for Step 2 emissions standards for new residential wood heaters, new residential hydronic heaters, and forced-air furnaces.
S. 1934, to prevent catastrophic failure or shutdown of remote diesel power engines due to emission control devices, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
S. 2461, to allow for judicial review of certain final rules relating to national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for brick and structural clay products or for clay ceramics manufacturing before requiring compliance with the rules by existing sources.
S. 2827, to amend the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
S. 2961, to reauthorize subtitle A of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
S. 3170, to amend title 18, United States Code, to make certain changes to the reporting requirement of certain service providers regarding child sexual exploitation visual depictions.
S. 3354, to amend the Missing Children's Assistance Act.
Page S6621
Measures Passed:
Enrollment Correction: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 47, directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 6157.
Page S6254
VA Extenders: Senate passed S. 3479, to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Pages S6254–58
Fort Ontario Study Act: Senate passed H.R. 46, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of Fort Ontario in the State of New York, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Pages S6258–59
Elkhorn Ranch and White River National Forest Conveyance Act: Senate passed H.R. 698, to require a land conveyance involving the Elkhorn Ranch and the White River National Forest in the State of Colorado.
Page S6259
National Falls Prevention Awareness Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 638, designating September 22, 2018, as ``National Falls Prevention Awareness Day'' to raise awareness and encourage the prevention of falls among older adults.
Page S6259
National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 639, designating the week beginning September 17, 2018, as ``National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week''.
Page S6259
National Voter Registration Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 640, recognizing September 25, 2018, as ``National Voter Registration Day''.
Page S6259
Orrin G. Hatch Music Modernization Act: Senate passed H.R. 1551, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the credit for production from advanced nuclear power facilities, after agreeing to the following amendments proposed thereto:
Page S6259
Hatch (for Alexander) Amendment No. 4021 (to Amendment No. 4022), to amend the short title.
Page S6259
Hatch Amendment No. 4022, in the nature of a substitute.
Page S6259
Conference Reports:
Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act: By 93 yeas to 7 nays (Vote No. 212), Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 6157, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019.
Page S6208
During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action:
By 92 yeas to 8 nays (Vote No. 211), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the conference report to accompany the bill.
Page S6208
Appointments:
Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Review Board: The Chair announced, on behalf of the Majority Leader, pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 107–12, the reappointment of the following individual to serve as a member of the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Review Board: Berl Perdue of Kentucky.
Page S6259
Pro Forma Sessions--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the Senate adjourn, to then convene for pro forma session only, with no business being conducted on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 3 p.m.; and that when the Senate adjourns on Thursday, September 20, 2018, it next convene at 3 p.m., on Monday, September 24, 2018.
Page S6261
Wolcott Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, September 24, 2018, Senate begin the en bloc consideration of the nominations of Jackie Wolcott, of Virginia, to be Representative of the United States of America to the International Atomic Energy Agency, with the rank of Ambassador, and to be Representative of the United States of America to the Vienna Office of the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador; that there then be 2 minutes of debate, equally divided in the usual form; and that following the use or yielding back of time, Senate vote on confirmation of the nominations en bloc, with no intervening action or debate; and that no further motions be in order.
Pages S6208–09
Feldman Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination of Peter A. Feldman, of the District of Columbia, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for the remainder of the term expiring October 26, 2019.
Page S6209
A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of Tuesday, September 18, 2018, a vote on cloture will occur upon disposition of the nominations of Jackie Wolcott, of Virginia, to be Representative of the United States of America to the International Atomic Energy Agency, with the rank of Ambassador, and to be Representative of the United States of America to the Vienna Office of the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador.
Page S6209
Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the following action:
Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination.
Page S6209
Feldman Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination of Peter A. Feldman, of the District of Columbia, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27, 2019 (Reappointment).
Page S6209
A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur upon disposition of the nomination of Peter A. Feldman, of the District of Columbia, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for the remainder of the term expiring October 26, 2019.
Page S6209
Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the following action:
Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session.
Page S6209
Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination.
Page S6209
Page S6261
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
John E. Whitley, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army.
Charles P. Verdon, of California, to be Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration.
Page S6261
Enrolled Bills Presented:
Page S6220
Executive Communications:
Pages S6220–21
Petitions and Memorials:
Page S6221
Executive Reports of Committees:
Pages S6221–22
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S6224–25
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S6225–36
Additional Statements:
Pages S6219–20
Amendments Submitted:
Pages S6236–53
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Page S6254
Privileges of the Floor:
Page S6254
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--212)
Page S6208
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 6:42 p.m., until 3 p.m. on Thursday, September 20, 2018. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S6261.)
Committee Meetings
INTERAGENCY COORDINATION IN THE PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity concluded a closed hearing to examine interagency coordination in the protection of critical infrastructure, after receiving testimony from Kenneth P. Rapuano, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security; Bruce J. Walker, Assistant Secretary of Energy for the Office of Electricity, and Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response; and Jeanette Manfra, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications.
FINTECH
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine Fintech, focusing on digitization, data, and technology, including S. 2854, to establish requirements for use of a driver's license or personal identification card by certain financial institutions for opening an account or obtaining a financial product or service, after receiving testimony from Steven Boms, Allon Advocacy, LLC, on behalf of the Consumer Financial Data Rights Group, and Brian Knight, George Mason University Mercatus Center, both of Washington, D.C.; Stuart Rubinstein, Fidelity Wealth Technologies, Boston, Massachusetts; and Saule T. Omarova, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
CONFLICTS OVER OCEAN RESOURCES
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard concluded a hearing to examine conflicts over ocean resources, after receiving testimony from Vice Admiral Daniel B. Abel, Deputy Commandant for Operations, Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security; Bama Athreya, Senior Democracy Specialist, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, United States Agency for International Development; Paul Doremus, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce; and David Balton, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Silver Spring, Maryland.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 1857, to establish a compliance deadline of May 15, 2023, for Step 2 emissions standards for new residential wood heaters, new residential hydronic heaters, and forced-air furnaces;
S. 2461, to allow for judicial review of certain final rules relating to national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for brick and structural clay products or for clay ceramics manufacturing before requiring compliance with the rules by existing sources;
S. 2827, to amend the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1934, to prevent catastrophic failure or shutdown of remote diesel power engines due to emission control devices, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 593, to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to facilitate the establishment of additional or expanded public target ranges in certain States;
S. 1537, to amend the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act to reauthorize the Act;
The nomination of Harold B. Parker, of New Hampshire, to be Federal Cochairperson of the Northern Border Regional Commission; and
General Services Administration resolutions.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Michael Faulkender, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and Elizabeth Darling, of Texas, to be Commissioner on Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Health and Human Services.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Lynda Blanchard, of Alabama, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia, Earl Robert Miller, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Daniel N. Rosenblum, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Uzbekistan, Kip Tom, of Indiana, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, Karen L. Williams, of Missouri, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname, Donald Y. Yamamoto, of Washington, to be Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Somalia, and Kevin K. Sullivan, of Ohio, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Nicaragua, all of the Department of State, and Mark Rosen, of Connecticut, to be United States Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund.
U.S.-RUSSIA ARMS CONTROL EFFORTS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the status of United States-Russia arms control efforts, after receiving testimony from Andrea Thompson, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security; and David J. Trachtenberg, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
FLORES SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the implications of the reinterpretation of the Flores settlement agreement for border security and illegal immigration incentives, including progress and challenges in the management of immigration courts and alternatives to detention programs, after receiving testimony from Matthew T. Albence, Executive Associate Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Robert E. Perez, Acting Deputy Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection, both of the Department of Homeland Security; Joseph B. Edlow, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy, Department of Justice; and Rebecca Gambler, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Government Accountability Office.
REDUCING HEALTH CARE COSTS
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a hearing to examine reducing health care costs, focusing on how transparency can lower spending and empower patients, after receiving testimony from Leah F. Binder, The Leapfrog Group, Washington, D.C.; Bill Kampine, Healthcare Bluebook, Nashville, Tennessee; Nancy A. Giunto, Washington Health Alliance, Seattle, Washington; and Ty Tippets, St. George Surgical Center, St. George, Utah.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Tamara Bonzanto, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary (Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection), and James Paul Gfrerer, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary (Information and Technology), both of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence community.
Committee recessed subject to the call.
House of Representatives
Chamber Action
The House was not in session today. The House is scheduled to meet in Pro Forma session at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 20, 2018.
Committee Meetings
No hearings were held.
Joint Meetings
No joint committee meetings were held.
H.R. 2147, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire additional Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists to provide treatment court services to justice-involved veterans. Signed on September 17, 2018. (Public Law 115–240)
No meetings/hearings scheduled.
No hearings are scheduled.
Program for Thursday: Senate will meet in pro forma session.
Program for Thursday: The House will meet in Pro Forma session at 9:30 a.m.