Daily Digest
Daily Digest Section (PDF)
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Daily Digest
Senate
Chamber Action
Measures Introduced: Eighteen bills and four resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 3278–3295, S.J. Res. 62, and S. Res. 594–596.
Pages S5423–24
Measures Reported:
S. 1580, to enhance the transparency, improve the coordination, and intensify the impact of assistance to support access to primary and secondary education for displaced children and persons, including women and girls, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
S. 3248, to restrict the provision by international financial institutions of loans and financial and technical assistance to the Government of Turkey.
Page S5422
Measures Passed:
Marine Fish Conservation Statutes: Senate passed H.R. 4528, to make technical amendments to certain marine fish conservation statutes.
Page S5437
Transportation Worker Identification Credential Accountability Act: Senate passed H.R. 5729, to restrict the department in which the Coast Guard is operating from implementing any rule requiring the use of biometric readers for biometric transportation security cards until after submission to Congress of the results of an assessment of the effectiveness of the transportation security card program.
Page S5437
United States Intelligence Professionals Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 595, designating July 26, 2018, as ``United States Intelligence Professionals Day''.
Pages S5437–38
Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act: Committee on Finance was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4318, to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to modify temporarily certain rates of duty, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:
Page S5438
McConnell (for Hatch) Amendment No. 3664, of a perfecting nature.
Page S5438
Measures Considered:
Pages S5394–S5411
Pending:
Shelby Amendment No. 3399, in the nature of a substitute.
Pages S5394–S5411
Murkowski Amendment No. 3400 (to Amendment No. 3399), of a perfecting nature.
Page S5395
A motion was entered to close further debate on Shelby Amendment No. 3399 (listed above), 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 Britt Cagle Grant, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.
Page S5411
A motion was entered to close further debate on the bill, 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 Shelby Amendment No. 3399.
Page S5411
During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action:
Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session.
Page S5411
Conference Reports:
John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 5515, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year.
Pages S5412–17
A motion was entered to close further debate on the conference report to accompany the bill, 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 House message to accompany S. 1182, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint commemorative coins in recognition of the 100th anniversary of The American Legion.
Page S5412
House Messages:
The American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the House Message to accompany S. 1182, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint commemorative coins in recognition of the 100th anniversary of The American Legion, taking action on the following motions and amendments proposed thereto:
Pages S5411–12
Pending:
McConnell motion to concur in the amendments of the House to the bill.
Page S5411
McConnell motion to concur in the amendment of the House to the bill, with McConnell Amendment No. 3628 (to the House Amendment to the bill), to change the enactment date.
Page S5411
McConnell Amendment No. 3629 (to Amendment No. 3628), of a perfecting nature.
Pages S5411–12
McConnell motion to refer the message of the House on the bill to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, with instructions, McConnell Amendment No. 3630, to change the enactment date.
Page S5412
McConnell Amendment No. 3631 (to (the instructions) Amendment No. 3630), of a perfecting nature.
Page S5412
McConnell Amendment No. 3632 (to Amendment No. 3631), of a perfecting nature.
Page S5412
A motion was entered to close further debate on McConnell motion to concur in the amendments of the House to the bill, 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 H.R. 6147, making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019.
Page S5411
Appointments:
Commission on Social Impact Partnerships: The Chair, pursuant to Public Law 115–123, on behalf of the Majority Leader of the Senate and the Chairman of the Finance Committee, appointed the following individual as a member of the Commission on Social Impact Partnerships: Jeremy Keele of Utah.
Page S5438
Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: The Chair, on behalf of the President of the Senate, pursuant to Public Law 85–874, as amended, appointed the following individual to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: Senator Cornyn.
Page S5438
Cloture Motions--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding Rule XXII, the filing deadline for first-degree amendments be at 4 p.m., on Monday, July 30, 2018, for the measures upon which cloture was filed during the session on Thursday, July 26, 2018.
Page S5438
A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding Rule XXII, the cloture motions filed during the session on Thursday, July 26, 2018, ripen at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, July 30, 2018.
Page S5439
Treaties Approved: The following treaties having passed through their various parliamentary stages, up to and including the presentation of the resolution of ratification, upon division, two-thirds of the Senators present having voted in the affirmative, the resolutions of ratification were agreed to:
The Treaty with the Federated States of Micronesia on the Delimitation of a Maritime Boundary (Treaty Doc. 114–13(A)) as amended;
The Treaty with the Republic of Kiribati on the Delimitation of Maritime Boundaries (Treaty Doc. 114–13(B)) as amended;
Extradition Treaty with the Republic of Serbia (Treaty Doc. 115–1) as amended; and
Extradition Treaty with the Republic of Kosovo (Treaty Doc. 115–2) as amended.
Pages S5417–18
Grant Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination of Britt Cagle Grant, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.
Page S5411
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 Thursday, July 26, 2018, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, July 30, 2018.
Page S5411
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 S5411
A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at approximately 3 p.m., on Monday, July 30, 2018, Senate resume consideration of the nomination.
Page S5439
Messages from the House:
Pages S5420–21
Measures Referred:
Page S5421
Measures Placed on the Calendar:
Page S5394
Enrolled Bills Presented:
Page S5421
Executive Communications:
Pages S5421–22
Petitions and Memorials:
Page S5422
Executive Reports of Committees:
Pages S5422–23
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S5424–26
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S5426–28
Additional Statements:
Pages S5418–20
Amendments Submitted:
Pages S5428–37
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Page S5437
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 4:22 p.m., until 3 p.m. on Monday, July 30, 2018. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S5439.)
Committee Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS: U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2019 for the Office of the United States Trade Representative, after receiving testimony from Robert Lighthizer, United States Trade Representative.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Rick A. Dearborn, of Oklahoma, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors, who was introduced by Senators Shelby and Inhofe, and Martin J. Oberman, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board, who was introduced by Representatives Quigley and Lipinski, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Justin George Muzinich, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary, and Michael J. Desmond, of California, to be Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service and an Assistant General Counsel, both of the Department of the Treasury, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.
IMPROVING TAX ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight concluded a hearing to examine improving tax administration today, after receiving testimony from Phyllis Jo Kubey, Member, Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council, on behalf of the National Association of Enrolled Agents, Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate, Internal Revenue Service, and John Sapp, Chair, Internal Revenue Service Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee, all of the Department of the Treasury; and Caroline Bruckner, American University Kogod School of Business, and Rebecca Thompson, Prosperity Now, both of Washington, D.C.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 1023, to reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 through fiscal year 2021, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1580, to enhance the transparency, improve the coordination, and intensify the impact of assistance to support access to primary and secondary education for displaced children and persons, including women and girls, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 3248, to restrict the provision by international financial institutions of loans and financial and technical assistance to the Government of Turkey;
S. Res. 501, recognizing threats to freedom of the press and expression around the world and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority in efforts of the Government of the United States to promote democracy and good governance, with amendments;
S. Res. 541, expressing the sense of the Senate that any United States-Saudi Arabia civilian nuclear cooperation agreement must prohibit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or separating plutonium on its own territory, in keeping with the strongest possible nonproliferation ``gold standard'', with amendments;
S. Res. 571, condemning the ongoing illegal occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, with amendments; and
The nominations of Joseph Cella, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Fiji, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of Nauru, the Kingdom of Tonga, and Tuvalu, Denise Natali, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary (Conflict and Stabilization Operations), and Kimberly Breier, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary (Western Hemisphere Affairs), all of the Department of State, and routine lists in the Foreign Service.
PROPOSED OPM AND GSA REORGANIZATION
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management concluded a hearing to examine the challenges and opportunities of the proposed government reorganization on Office of Personnel Management and General Services Administration, after receiving testimony from Emily W. Murphy, Administrator, General Services Administration; and Jeff T. H. Pon, Director, Office of Personnel Management.
MODERNIZING APPRENTICESHIPS
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a hearing to examine modernizing apprenticeships to expand opportunities, after receiving testimony from Montez King, National Institute for Metalworking Skills, Fairfax, Virginia; Mike Holland, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., and Glenn Johnson, BASF Corporation, both of Houston, Texas; and Sandi Vito, 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds, New York, New York.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community.
House of Representatives
Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 99 public bills, H.R. 6539–6637; and 10 resolutions, H.J. Res. 137; H. Con. Res. 130–132; and H. Res. 1033–1038 were introduced.
Pages H7720–25
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages H7728–29
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
Committee on Ethics. In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Pramila Jayapal (H. Rept. 115–876); and
H. Res. 1005, directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to transmit certain documents to the House of Representatives relating to the border security policies, procedures, and activities as such relate to the interdiction of families by the U.S. Border Patrol between ports of entry; adversely (H. Rept. 115–877).
Page H7720
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Curtis to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
Page H7691
John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019: The House agreed to the conference report on H.R. 5515, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, by a yea-and-nay vote of 359 yeas to 54 nays, Roll No. 379.
Pages H7699–H7709
H. Res. 1027, the rule providing for consideration of the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 5515) was agreed to without objection, after the previous question was ordered by a yea-and-nay vote of 226 yeas to 183 nays, Roll No. 378. Pursuant to Section 3 of H. Res. 1027, H. Res. 1020 was laid on the table.
Pages H7693–99
Meeting Hour: Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourns to meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow, July 27th.
Page H7709
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page H7709.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H7699 and H7708–09. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 1:54 p.m.
Committee Meetings
MACRA AND MIPS: AN UPDATE ON THE MERIT-BASED INCENTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEM
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled ``MACRA and MIPS: An Update on the Merit-based Incentive Payment System''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION'S ENFORCEMENT OF OPERATION CHOKEPOINT-RELATED BUSINESSES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security; and Subcommittee on Government Operations held a joint hearing entitled ``The Federal Trade Commission's Enforcement of Operation Chokepoint-Related Businesses''. Testimony was heard from Andrew Smith, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, U.S. Federal Trade Commission; and public witnesses.
JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE: PROGRAM BREACH AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology:
Full Committee concluded a hearing entitled ``James Webb Space Telescope: Program Breach and its Implications''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
Joint Meetings
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 5515, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, on Wednesday, July 25, 2018.
H.R. 1496, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3585 South Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, California, as the ``Marvin Gaye Post Office''. Signed on July 24, 2018. (Public Law 115–207)
H.R. 2673, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 514 Broadway Street in Pekin, Illinois, as the ``Lance Corporal Jordan S. Bastean Post Office''. Signed on July 24, 2018. (Public Law 115–208)
H.R. 3183, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 13683 James Madison Highway in Palmyra, Virginia, as the ``U.S. Navy Seaman Dakota Kyle Rigsby Post Office''. Signed on July 24, 2018. (Public Law 115–209)
H.R. 4301, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 Tom Hall Street in Fort Mill, South Carolina, as the ``J. Elliott Williams Post Office Building''. Signed on July 24, 2018. (Public Law 115–210)
H.R. 4406, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 99 Macombs Place in New York, New York, as the ``Tuskegee Airmen Post Office Building''. Signed on July 24, 2018. (Public Law 115–211)
H.R. 4463, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6 Doyers Street in New York, New York, as the ``Mabel Lee Memorial Post Office''. Signed on July 24, 2018. (Public Law 115–212)
H.R. 4574, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 108 West Schick Road in Bloomingdale, Illinois, as the ``Bloomingdale Veterans Memorial Post Office Building''. Signed on July 24, 2018. (Public Law 115–213)
H.R. 4646, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1900 Corporate Drive in Birmingham, Alabama, as the ``Lance Corporal Thomas E. Rivers, Jr. Post Office Building''. Signed on July 24, 2018. (Public Law 115–214)
H.R. 4685, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 515 Hope Street in Bristol, Rhode Island, as the ``First Sergeant P. Andrew McKenna Jr. Post Office''. Signed on July 24, 2018. (Public Law 115–215)
H.R. 4722, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 111 Market Street in Saugerties, New York, as the ``Maurice D. Hinchey Post Office Building''. Signed on July 24, 2018. (Public Law 115–216)
H.R. 4840, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 567 East Franklin Street in Oviedo, Florida, as the ``Sergeant First Class Alwyn Crendall Cashe Post Office Building''. Signed on July 24, 2018. (Public Law 115–217)
H.R. 5956, to incentivize the hiring of United States workers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Signed on July 24, 2018. (Public Law 115–218)
No meetings/hearings scheduled.
No hearings are scheduled.
Program for Monday: Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Britt Cagle Grant, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit, and vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination at 5:30 p.m.
Program for Friday: House will meet in Pro Forma session at 10 a.m.
HOUSE
Banks, Jim, Ind., E1089, E1099
Barletta, Lou, Pa., E1082
Bass, Karen, Calif., E1097
Bergman, Jack, Mich., E1082, E1090
Bishop, Sanford D., Jr., Ga, E1079, E1085, E1095
Black, Diane, Tenn., E1089, E1099, E1100
Boyle, Brendan F., Pa., E1075, E1076, E1078, E1079
Brady, Kevin, Tex., E1080
Calvert, Ken, Calif., E1079
Cartwright, Matt, Pa., E1099
Chabot, Steve, Ohio, E1078
Chu, Judy, Calif., E1079
Cohen, Steve, Tenn., E1078
Collins, Doug, Ga., E1092, E1098
Comstock, Barbara, Va., E1099
Correa, J. Luis, Calif., E1092
Davis, Danny K., Ill., E1089
DeSaulnier, Mark, Calif., E1075, E1088
Dingell, Debbie, Mich., E1093, E1096, E1100
Duncan, John J., Jr., Tenn., E1081, E1088, E1096
Engel, Eliot L., N.Y., E1090
Eshoo, Anna G., Calif., E1087
Faso, John J., N.Y., E1100
Fitzpatrick, Brian K., Pa., E1096
Frelinghuysen, Rodney P., N.J., E1093, E1100
Gallagher, Mike, Wisc., E1077
Gianforte, Greg, Mont., E1084, E1087
Griffith, H. Morgan, Va., E1089
Grijalva, Raúl M., Ariz., E1096
Harris, Andy, Md., E1097
Hartzler, Vicky, Mo., E1088
Hice, Jody B., Ga., E1075
Hoyer, Steny H., Md., E1095
Huffman, Jared, Calif., E1098
Hunter, Duncan, Calif., E1089
Jackson Lee, Sheila, Tex., E1085
Katko, John, N.Y., E1077, E1095
Kelly, Robin L., Ill., E1082
Langevin, James R., R.I., E1084, E1095, E1096
Loudermilk, Barry, Ga., E1092
McCollum, Betty, Minn., E1090
McGovern, James P., Mass., E1084
Moore, Gwen, Wisc., E1093
Nadler, Jerrold, N.Y., E1078, E1091
Neal, Richard E., Mass., E1092
O'Rourke, Beto, Tex., E1095
Palazzo, Steven M., Miss., E1089
Peterson, Collin C., Minn., E1092
Posey, Bill, Fla., E1090
Price, David E., N.C., E1077
Rooney, Francis, Fla., E1076
Royce, Edward R., Calif., E1081, E1098
Ryan, Paul D., Wisc., E1075
Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho, Northern Mariana Islands, E1087
Sánchez, Linda T., Calif., E1091
Schakowsky, Janice D., Ill., E1097
Sewell, Terri A., Ala., E1080, E1081, E1082, E1084
Smith, Adrian, Nebr., E1094
Smith, Christopher H., N.J., E1078
Swalwell, Eric, Calif., E1100
Tipton, Scott R., Colo., E1088
Walorski, Jackie, Ind., E1097
Wilson, Joe, S.C., E1080, E1083