[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 175 (Wednesday, December 11, 2013)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1188-D1189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                       Wednesday, December 11, 2013

[[Page D1188]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S8779-S8814
Measures Introduced: On Friday, December 13, 2013, Four bills and two 
resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 1823-1826, and S. Res. 320-
321.                                                        
  Pages S8809
Measures Reported:
  Special Report entitled ``Legislative and Oversight Activities during 
the 112th Congress by the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs''. (S. 
Rept. No. 113-125)                                           
Page S8809
Measures Passed:
  American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee 100th Anniversary: 
Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of 
S. Res. 299, congratulating the American Jewish Joint Distribution 
Committee on the celebration of its 100th anniversary and commending 
its significant contribution to empower and revitalize developing 
communities around the world, and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                             Page S8812
  National Estuaries Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 263, designating 
the week of September 23 through September 29, 2013, as ``National 
Estuaries Week'', after taking action on the following amendment 
proposed thereto:                                            
  Page S8813
Adopted:
  Reid (for Whitehouse) Amendment No. 2546, to amend the preamble. 
                                                             Page S8813
  Wreaths Across America Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 320, designating 
December 14, 2013, as ``Wreaths Across America Day''.        
  Page S8813
  Honoring the Life of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 321, honoring the life, accomplishments, and legacy of Nelson 
Rolihlahla Mandela and expressing condolences on his passing. 
                                                             Page S8813
  Fallen Firefighters Assistance Tax Clarification Act: Senate passed 
H.R. 3458, to treat payments by charitable organizations with respect 
to certain firefighters as exempt payments.                  
  Page S8814
Patterson Nomination: Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of 
Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign 
Service, Class of Career Ambassador, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
State (Near Eastern Affairs).                         
  Pages S8799-S8802
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
   By 54 yeas to 36 nays (Vote No. 273), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                      
Page S8799
Patterson and Johnson Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, December 
16, 2013, all post-cloture time be considered expired; and Senate vote 
on confirmation of the nomination of Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, a 
Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career 
Ambassador, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern 
Affairs); that upon disposition of the nomination of Anne W. Patterson, 
Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Jeh 
Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security; 
that if cloture is invoked on the nomination of Jeh Charles Johnson, 
all post-cloture time be yielded back and Senate vote on confirmation 
of the nomination of Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be 
Secretary of Homeland Security.                          
  Pages S8795-96
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 79 yeas to 6 nays (Vote No. EX. 270), Deborah Lee James, of 
Virginia, to be Secretary of the Air Force.       
Pages S8779-83, S8814
  By 74 yeas to 17 nays (Vote No. EX. 272), Heather Anne Higginbottom, 
of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of State for 
Management and Resources.                         
Pages S8784-99, S8814
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
   By 51 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. 271), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                      
Page S8784
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:

[[Page D1189]]


  Peter A. Selfridge, of Minnesota, to be Chief of Protocol, and to 
have the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service.
  Douglas Alan Silliman, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the State of 
Kuwait.
  Robert A. Wood, of New York, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign 
Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, for the rank of Ambassador during 
his tenure of service as U.S. Representative to the Conference on 
Disarmament.
  Portia Y. Wu, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of Labor.
  Thomas Edgar Rothman, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National 
Council on the Arts for a term expiring September 3, 2016.   
Page S8814
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S8808
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S8808
Measures Read the First Time:                        
  Pages S8809, S8814
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S8809
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S8809
Additional Cosponsors:                                       
  Page S8809
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S8809-12
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S8807-08
Amendments Submitted:                                        
  Page S8812
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S8812
Quorum Calls: One quorum call was taken today. (Total--12)   
  Page S8784
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--273) 
                                              Pages S8783, S8784, S8799
Adjournment: Senate convened at 2 p.m., on Wednesday, December 11, 
2013, and adjourned at 2:11 p.m., on Friday, December 13, 2013, until 1 
p.m. on Sunday, December 15, 2013. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S8814.)