[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 12, 2014)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D145-D148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                       Wednesday, February 12, 2014

[[Page D145]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the amendment of the 
      House to S. 540, Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act.
      Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the amendment of the 
      House to S. 25, South Utah Valley Electric Conveyance Act.

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S915-S966
Measures Introduced: Seventeen bills and five resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 2017-2033, and S. Res. 355-359. 
                                                          Pages S947-48
Measures Passed:
  Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act: 
Senate passed S. 1254, to amend the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia 
Research and Control Act of 1998, after agreeing to the following 
amendment proposed thereto:                               
  Pages S961-63
  Reid (for Nelson) Amendment No. 2741, to make a minor technical 
correction.                                                   
Page S961
  Enrollment Correction: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 81, providing a 
correction in the enrollment of S. 25.                        
  Page S963
  Enrollment Correction: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 82, providing a 
correction in the enrollment of S. 540.                       
  Page S963
  National Solidarity Day for Compassionate Patient Care: Committee on 
the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 350, 
designating February 14, 2014, as National Solidarity Day for 
Compassionate Patient Care, and the resolution was then agreed to, 
after agreeing to the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                          Pages S963-64
  Reid (for Booker) Amendment No. 2742, of a perfecting nature. 
                                                              Page S963
  Reid (for Booker) Amendment No. 2743, to amend the preamble. 
                                                          Pages S963-64
  Commending the Seattle Seahawks: Senate agreed to S. Res. 358, 
commending the Seattle Seahawks for winning Super Bowl XLVIII and the 
12th Man for their critical support.                          
  Page S964
  Majority Party's Committee Membership: Senate agreed to S. Res. 359, 
to constitute the majority party's membership on certain committees for 
the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, or until their successors are 
chosen.                                                       
  Page S964
Measures Considered:
Bipartisan Budget Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that S. 1963, to repeal section 403 of the Bipartisan 
Budget Act of 2013, be returned to the calendar.              
  Page S936
Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay 
Restoration Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the motion to 
proceed to consideration of S. 1982, to improve the provision of 
medical services and benefits to veterans.             
  Pages S936, S940
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to proceed 
to consideration of 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 nomination of Beth Labson Freeman, of 
California, to be United States District Judge for the Northern 
District of California.                                       
Page S940
House Messages:
  Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act: By 55 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 
34), Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the amendment of the 
House to S. 540, to temporarily extend the public debt limit. 
                                                          Pages S933-34
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:

[[Page D146]]


  By 67 yeas to 31 nays (Vote No. 33), 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 to the bill.                           
Page S934
  South Utah Valley Electric Conveyance Act: By 95 yeas to 3 nays (Vote 
No. 35), Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the amendment of the 
House to S. 25, to ensure that the reduced annual cost-of-living 
adjustment to the retired pay of members and former members of the 
Armed Forces under the age of 62 required by the Bipartisan Budget Act 
of 2013 will not apply to members or former members who first became 
members prior to January 1, 2014.                         
  Pages S934-35
Appointments:
  National Commission on Hunger: The Chair announced, on behalf of the 
Majority Leader, pursuant to Public Law 113-76, the appointment of the 
following individuals to be members of the National Commission on 
Hunger: Ricki Barlow of Nevada, Cherie Jamason of Nevada, and Dr. 
Mariana Chilton of Pennsylvania.                              
  Page S964
Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that during the adjournment or recess of the Senate from 
Thursday, February 13, 2014, through Monday, February 24, 2014, the 
Majority Leader and Senators Warner and Levin be authorized to sign 
duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.                     
  Page S964
Authorizing Leadership to Make Appointments--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that, notwithstanding the 
upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the 
Senate, the President Pro Tempore and the Majority and Minority Leaders 
be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, 
conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by 
concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate. 
                                                              Page S964
Water Resources Reform and Development Act--Conferees: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that Senator Sanders be 
appointed as a conferee to H.R. 3080, to provide for improvements to 
the rivers and harbors of the United States, to provide for the 
conservation and development of water and related resources. 
                                                              Page S964
Pro Forma--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the Senate adjourn and convene for pro forma sessions 
only with no business conducted on the following dates and times, and 
that following each pro forma session, Senate adjourn until the next 
pro forma session: Friday, February 14, 2014, at 10:30 a.m.; Tuesday, 
February 18, 2014, at 10:30 a.m.; and Friday, February 21, 2014, at 
10:30 a.m.; and that the Senate adjourn on Friday, February 21, 2014 
until 2:00 p.m., on Monday, February 24, 2014.            
  Pages S964-65
Meyer Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of Jeffrey Alker Meyer, of Connecticut, to be United States District 
Judge for the District of Connecticut.                        
  Page S939
  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 at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, 
February 24, 2014.                                            
Page S939
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that Senate 
resume consideration of the nomination at approximately 5:00 p.m., on 
Monday, February, 24, 2014, with the time until 5:30 p.m. equally 
divided and controlled in the usual form, prior to the vote on the 
motion to invoke cloture on the nomination.               
Pages S964-65
Moody Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of James Maxwell Moody, Jr., of Arkansas, to be United States District 
Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.                   
  Page S939
  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 Jeffrey Alker Meyer, of Connecticut, to be United States 
District Judge for the District of Connecticut.               
Page S939
Donato Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of James Donato, of California, to be United States District 
Judge for the Northern District of California.            
  Pages S939-40
  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 James Maxwell Moody, Jr., of Arkansas, to be United 
States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.   
Page S940
Freeman Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Beth Labson Freeman, of California, to be United States 
District Judge for the Northern District of California.       
  Page S940
  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 of James Donato, of California,

[[Page D147]]

to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of 
California.                                                   
Page S940
Connor Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was 
reached providing that at a time to be determined by the Majority 
Leader with the concurrence of the Republican Leader, Senate begin 
consideration of the following nomination: Michael L. Connor, of New 
Mexico, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior; that there be 20 
minutes for debate, equally divided in the usual form; that upon the 
use or yielding back of time, Senate vote without intervening action or 
debate on confirmation of the nomination; and that no further motions 
be in order.                                                  
  Page S961


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page D147, February 12, 2014, the following language appears: 
Connor Nomination--Agreement: . . . be in order.
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Connor 
Nomination--Agreement: . . . be in order. Page S961


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By a unanimous vote of 98 yeas (Vote No. EX. 30), Tina S. Kaidanow, 
of the District of Columbia, to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, 
with the rank and status of Ambassador at Large.          
Pages S926-27
  By a unanimous vote of 98 yeas (Vote No. EX. 31), Daniel Bennett 
Smith, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Intelligence 
and Research).                                                
Page S927
  By a unanimous vote of 97 yeas (Vote No. EX. 32), Catherine Ann 
Novelli, of Virginia, to be United States Alternate Governor of the 
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for a term of 
five years; United States Alternate Governor of the Inter-American 
Development Bank for a term of five years.                
Pages S927-28
  Catherine Ann Novelli, of Virginia, to be an Under Secretary of State 
(Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment).               
Page S928
  Kevin W. Techau, of Iowa, to be United States Attorney for the 
Northern District of Iowa for the term of four years.     
Pages S935-36
  Andrew Mark Luger, of Minnesota, to be United States Attorney for the 
District of Minnesota for the term of four years.         
Pages S935-36
  Robert L. Hobbs, of Texas, to be United States Marshal for the 
Eastern District of Texas for the term of four years.     
Pages S935-36
  Gary Blankinship, of Texas, to be United States Marshal for the 
Southern District of Texas for the term of four years.    
Pages S935-36
  Amos Rojas, Jr., of Florida, to be United States Marshal for the 
Southern District of Florida for the term of four years. 
                                                          Pages S935-36
  Peter C. Tobin, of Ohio, to be United States Marshal for the Southern 
District of Ohio for a term of four years.                
Pages S935-36
  Anthony Luzzatto Gardner, of New York, to be Representative of the 
United States of America to the European Union, with the rank and 
status of Ambassador.                                     
Pages S935-36
  Robert A. Sherman, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador to the 
Portuguese Republic.                                      
Pages S935-36
  Brad R. Carson, of Oklahoma, to be Under Secretary of the Army.
  William A. LaPlante, Jr., of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary 
of the Air Force.
  72 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  2 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, and Army.               
Pages S960-61
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Todd A. Batta, of Iowa, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture.
  Maria Cancian, of Wisconsin, to be Assistant Secretary for Family 
Support, Department of Health and Human Services.
  D. Nathan Sheets, of Maryland, to be an Under Secretary of the 
Treasury.
  Mark Sobel, of Virginia, to be United States Executive Director of 
the International Monetary Fund for a term of two years.
  Francis Xavier Taylor, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary for 
Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security.
  R. Jane Chu, of Missouri, to be Chairperson of the National Endowment 
for the Arts for a term of four years.
  Julia Akins Clark, of Maryland, to be General Counsel of the Federal 
Labor Relations Authority for a term of five years.
  Victoria Reggie Kennedy, of Massachusetts, to be a Governor of the 
United States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2016.
  2 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  4 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  11 Marine Corps nominations in the rank of general.
  1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.                   
Page S965


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page D147, February 12, 2014, in the second column, the 
following language appears: 1 Navy nomination in the rank of 
admiral. Pages S965-66
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: 1 Navy nomination 
in the rank of admiral. Page S965


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

Messages from the House:                                      
  Page S945
Measures Referred:                                            
  Page S945
Measures Read the First Time:                          
  Pages S945, S964
Executive Communications:                                 
  Pages S945-47
Additional Cosponsors:                                    
  Pages S948-49
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:               
  Pages S949-59
Additional Statements:                                    
  Pages S944-45
Amendments Submitted:                                         
  Page S959
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                       
  Pages S959-60

[[Page D148]]

Privileges of the Floor:                                      
  Page S960
Record Votes: Six record votes were taken today. (Total--35) 
                                                 Pages S927-28, S934-35
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:46 p.m., 
until 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 14, 2014. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on pages S964-
S965.)