[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 180 (Wednesday, December 18, 2013)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1209-D1211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                       Wednesday, December 18, 2013

[[Page D1209]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the amendment of the 
      House of Representatives to the amendment of the Senate to H.J. 
      Res. 59, Budget Act.

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S8919-8984
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and two resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 1848-1858, and S. Res. 323-324.           
  Pages S8975-76
Measures Reported:
  S. Res. 75, condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored 
persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the 
International Covenants on Human Rights, with an amendment and with an 
amended preamble.
  S. Res. 288, supporting enhanced maritime security in the Gulf of 
Guinea and encouraging increased cooperation between the United States 
and West and Central African countries to fight armed robbery at sea, 
piracy, and other maritime threats.
  S. Res. 312, calling on the government of Iran to fulfill their 
promises of assistance in this case of Robert Levinson, one of the 
longest held United States civilians in our Nation's history.
  S. Res. 314, commemorating and supporting the goals of World AIDS 
Day.
  S. Res. 318, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the 
critical need for political reform in Bangladesh.
  S. Res. 319, expressing support for the Ukrainian people in light of 
President Yanukovych's decision not to sign an Association Agreement 
with the European Union.
  S. 653, to provide for the establishment of the Special Envoy to 
Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and 
South Central Asia.
  S. 1857, to reform assistance to Egypt.                    
Page S8975
Measures Passed:
  VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act: Senate passed H.R. 1402, to 
amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain expiring 
provisions of law.                                           
  Page S8964
  American Diabetes Month: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 316, 
supporting the goals and ideals of American Diabetes Month, and the 
resolution was then agreed to.                                
  Page S883
  Tragic Shooting at Los Angeles International Airport: Senate agreed 
to S. Res. 324, expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the 
tragic shooting at Los Angeles International Airport on November 1, 
2013, of employees of the Transportation Security Administration. 
                                                             Page S8983
Measures Considered:
Workforce Investment Act: Senate began consideration of the motion to 
proceed to consideration of S. 1356, to amend the Workforce Investment 
Act of 1998 to strengthen the United States workforce development 
system through innovation in, and alignment and improvement of, 
employment, training, and education programs in the United States, and 
to promote individual and national economic growth.          
  Page S8920
House Messages:
Budget Act: By 64 yeas to 36 nays (Vote No. 281), Senate agreed to the 
motion to concur in the amendment of the House of Representatives to 
the amendment of the Senate to H.J. Res. 59, making continuing 
appropriations for fiscal year 2014, after taking action on the 
following motions and amendments proposed thereto:       
  Pages S8920-57

[[Page D1210]]

Withdrawn:
  Reid motion to concur in the amendment of the House to the amendment 
of the Senate to the joint resolution, with Reid Amendment No. 2547, to 
change the enactment date.                               
Pages S8921-57
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  Reid Amendment No. 2548 (to Amendment No. 2547), of a perfecting 
nature, fell when Reid motion to concur in the amendment of the House 
of Representatives to the amendment of the Senate to the joint 
resolution, with Reid Amendment No. 2547(listed above), was withdrawn. 
                                                         Pages S8921-57
National Defense Authorization Act--Agreement: Senate resumed 
consideration of the amendment of the House of Representatives to the 
amendment of the Senate to H.R. 3304, to authorize and request the 
President to award the Medal of Honor to Bennie G. Adkins and Donald P. 
Sloat of the United States Army for acts of valor during the Vietnam 
Conflict and to authorize the award of the Medal of Honor to certain 
other veterans who were previously recommended for award of the Medal 
of Honor, taking action on the following motions and amendments 
proposed thereto:                                        
  Pages S8957-64
Pending:
  Reid motion to concur in the amendment of the House of 
Representatives to the amendment of the Senate to the bill. 
                                                             Page S8957
   Reid motion to concur in the amendment of the House of 
Representatives to the amendment of the Senate to the bill, with Reid 
Amendment No. 2552, to change the enactment date.            
Page S8957
   Reid Amendment No. 2553 (to Amendment No. 2552), of a perfecting 
nature.                                                      
Page S8957
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
   By 71 yeas to 29 nays (Vote No. 282), 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 motion to concur in the 
amendment of the House of Representatives to the amendment of the 
Senate to the bill.                                          
Page S8957
   Reid motion to refer the message of the House on the bill to the 
Committee on Armed Services, with instructions, Reid Amendment No. 
2554, to change the enactment date, fell when cloture was invoked on 
the Reid motion to concur in the amendment of the House of 
Representatives to the amendment of the Senate to the bill. 
                                                             Page S8957
   Reid Amendment No. 2555 (to (the instructions of the motion to 
refer) Amendment No. 2554), of a perfecting nature, fell when Reid 
motion to refer the message of the House on the bill to the Committee 
on Armed Services, with instructions, Reid Amendment No. 2554 (listed 
above) fell.                                                 
Page S8957
   Reid Amendment No. 2556 (to Amendment No. 2555), of a perfecting 
nature, fell when Reid Amendment No. 2555 (to (the instructions of the 
motion to refer) Amendment No. 2554) (listed above) fell.    
Page S8957
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the motion to concur in the amendment of the House of 
Representatives to the amendment of the Senate to the bill at 
approximately 10:00 a.m., on Thursday, December 19, 2013; and that all 
time during adjournment count post-cloture on motion to concur in the 
amendment of the House of Representatives to the amendment of the 
Senate to the bill.                                          
Page S8984
Appointments:
  Board of Visitors of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy: The Chair, on 
behalf of the Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, and pursuant to Title 46, Section 1295 b(h), of the 
U.S. Code, appointed the following Senators to the Board of Visitors of 
the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy: Senator Rockefeller, ex officio, as 
Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and 
Senator Warner, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.                                              
  Page S8983
  Board of Visitors of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy: The Chair, on 
behalf of the Vice President, pursuant to 14 U.S.C. 194(a), as amended 
by Public Law 101-595, and upon recommendation of the Chairman of the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, appointed the 
following Senators to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Coast Guard 
Academy: Senator Rockefeller, ex officio, as Chairman of the Committee 
on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Senator Cantwell, 
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.           
  Page S8983
  Board of Visitors of the U.S. Air Force Academy: The Chair, on behalf 
of the Vice President, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 9355(a), reappointed and 
appointed the following Senators to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. 
Air Force Academy: Senator Bennet, designee of the Chairman of the 
Committee on Armed Services, and Senator Udall (NM), from the Committee 
on Appropriations.                                           
  Page S8983
  Board of Visitors of the U.S. Military Academy: The Chair, on behalf 
of the Vice President, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4355(a), appointed and 
reappointed the following Senators to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. 
Military Academy:
  Senator Gillibrand, designee of the Chairman of the Committee on 
Armed Services, and Senator Landrieu, from the Committee on 
Appropriations.                                              
Page S8983

[[Page D1211]]

  Board of Visitors of the U.S. Naval Academy: The Chair, on behalf of 
the Vice President, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 6968(a), reappointed the 
following Senators to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Naval Academy:
  Senator Mikulski, from the Committee on Appropriations, and Senator 
Cardin, At Large.                                            
Page S8983
  Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission: The Chair, on behalf of the 
President pro tempore, pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 106-79, 
appointed the following Senator to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial 
Commission:
  Senator Joe Manchin III vice The Honorable Daniel K. Inouye of 
Hawaii.                                                  
Pages S8983-84
Measures Placed on the Calendar:                     
  Pages S8920, S8974
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S8974-75
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S8975
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S8976-77
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S8977-81
Additional Statements:                                       
  Page S8974
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S8981-82
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S8982-83
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S8983
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--282) 
                                                             Page S8957
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:50 p.m., 
until 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 19, 2013. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S8984.)