[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 42 (Thursday, March 13, 2014)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D276-D279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, March 13, 2014

[[Page D276]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed S. 1086, Child Care and Development Block Grant 
      Act, as amended.
      Senate passed H.R. 3370, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability 
      Act.
      Senate passed S. 2137, National Flood Insurance Program Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S1597-S1670
Measures Introduced: Twenty-four bills and eleven resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 2125-2148, S.J. Res. 34, and S. Res. 383-
392.                                                     
  Pages S1652-53
Measures Passed:
  Child Care and Development Block Grant Act: By 96 yeas to 2 nays 
(Vote No. 77), Senate passed S. 1086, to reauthorize and improve the 
Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, after agreeing to 
the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and taking 
action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                        Pages S1602, S1611-12, S1613-27
  Adopted:
  By a unanimous vote of 100 yeas (Vote No. 75), Coburn Modified 
Amendment No. 2830, to establish a $1,000,000 asset limit for 
eligibility for child care assistance.            
Pages S1608-09, S1610
  Harkin (for Portman) Amendment No. 2827, to provide for evidence-
based training that promotes early language and literacy development. 
                                                     Pages S1609, S1611
  Harkin (for Tester/Murkowski) Amendment No. 2834, to permit the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive the prohibition on the 
use of amounts by Indian tribes and tribal organizations for 
construction or renovation of facilities for child care programs if the 
use will result in an increase of the level of child care services. 
                                                         Pages S1609-10
  Harkin (for Thune) Amendment No. 2838, to specify that child care 
certificates may be included in State strategies to increase the supply 
of child care.                                           
Pages S1609-10
  Harkin (for Warren) Amendment No. 2842, to allow funds reserved under 
section 658G(a) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 
1990 to be used to connect child care staff members with Federal and 
State financial aid, or other resources, in order to assist the staff 
members in pursuing relevant training.                   
Pages S1609-10
  Harkin (for Bennet/Murkowski) Modified Amendment No. 2839, to expand 
the requirement that space allotted to child care providers in Federal 
buildings will be used to provide child care services to children of 
whom at least 50 percent have 1 parent or guardian employed by the 
Federal Government.                                          
Page S1610
  Vitter Modified Amendment No. 2845, to require the Secretary (acting 
through the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families) to prepare 
an annual report that contains a determination about whether States 
have complied with a priority requirement, and to require the Secretary 
to withhold funds from States that fail to comply with such priority 
requirement.                                             
Pages S1613-14
  Harkin (for Portman) Amendment No. 2847, to provide that a child care 
staff member who has been convicted of a violent misdemeanor against a 
child or a misdemeanor involving child pornography is ineligible for 
employment by certain child care providers.                  
Page S1616
  Harkin (for Sanders) Amendment No. 2846, to express the sense of the 
Senate on significantly reducing child poverty by calendar year 2019. 
                                                             Page S1616
Withdrawn:
  Harkin Amendment No. 2811, to include rural and remote areas as 
underserved areas identified in the State plan.      
Pages S1602, S1617
  Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act: By 72 yeas to 22 nays 
(Vote No. 78), Senate passed

[[Page D277]]

H.R. 3370, to delay the implementation of certain provisions of the 
Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. (A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that the bill, having achieved 60 
affirmatives votes, pass.)                               
  Pages S1627-32
  National Flood Insurance Program Act: Senate passed S. 2137, to 
ensure that holders of flood insurance policies under the National 
Flood Insurance Program do not receive premium refunds for coverage of 
second homes. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that 
the requirement of a 60 affirmative vote threshold, be vitiated.) 
                                                     Pages S1629, S1632
  Congressional Gold Medal to Shimon Peres: Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs was discharged from further consideration of 
S. 1456, to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Shimon Peres, and the 
bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment 
proposed thereto:                                        
  Pages S1666-67
  Reid (for Bennet) Amendment No. 2851, to make a technical correction.
                                                             Page S1667
  Congressional Gold Medal to Montford Point Marines: Senate passed S. 
2147, to amend Public Law 112-59 to provide for the display of the 
congressional gold medal awarded to the Montford Point Marines, Unites 
States Marine Corps, by the Smithsonian Institution and at other 
appropriate locations.                                       
  Page S1667
  HHEATT Act: Senate passed H.R. 4076, to address shortages and 
interruptions in the availability of propane and other home heating 
fuels in the United States.                              
  Pages S1667-68
  Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Non-Intercourse Act: 
Committee on Indian Affairs was discharged from further consideration 
of H.R. 2650, to allow the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 
in the State of Minnesota to lease or transfer certain land, and the 
bill was then passed.                                        
  Page S1668
  Crisis in the Central African Republic: Senate agreed to S. Res. 375, 
concerning the crisis in the Central African Republic and supporting 
United States and international efforts to end the violence, protect 
civilians, and address root causes of the conflict, after agreeing to 
the committee amendment, and the amendment to the preamble. 
                                                         Pages S1668-69
  International Women's Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 376, supporting 
the goals of International Women's Day, after agreeing to the following 
amendment proposed thereto:                                  
  Page S1669
  Reid (for Shaheen) Amendment No. 2852, to strike the quotation from 
the United States Agency for International Development regarding 
educated women.                                              
Page S1669
  193rd Anniversary of the Independence of Greece: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 377, recognizing the 193rd anniversary of the independence of 
Greece and celebrating democracy in Greece and the United States. 
                                                             Page S1669
  National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day: Senate agreed to 
S. Res. 388, designating March 22, 2014, as ``National Rehabilitation 
Counselors Appreciation Day''.                               
  Page S1669
  National Youth Synthetic Drug Awareness Week: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 389, designating the week of March 9, 2014, through March 15, 
2014, as ``National Youth Synthetic Drug Awareness Week''.   
  Page S1669
  World Plumbing Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 390, designating March 
11, 2014, as ``World Plumbing Day''.                         
  Page S1669
  Chief Counsel for Employment Emeritus of the United States Senate: 
Senate agreed to S. Res. 391, designating Jean M. Manning as Chief 
Counsel for Employment Emeritus of the United States Senate. 
                                                             Page S1669
  Authorize Document Production and Representation: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 392, to authorize document production and representation in Care 
One Management LLC, et al. v. United Healthcare Workers East, SEIU 
1199, et al.                                                 
  Page S1669
  Technical Corrections: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 93, directing 
the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make technical corrections 
in the enrollment of H.R. 3370.                              
  Page S1669
Measures Considered:
Sovereignty and Democracy in Ukraine Act--Cloture: Senate began 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 2124, to 
support sovereignty and democracy in Ukraine.     
  Pages S1627, S1633-42
   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, and 
pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of Thursday, March 13, 
2014, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 24, 
2014.                                                        
Page S1642
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
approximately 2 p.m. on Monday, March 24, 2014, Senate resume 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill. 
                                                             Page S1670

[[Page D278]]

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 S1670
Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that during the adjournment or recess of the Senate from 
Thursday, March 13, 2014 through Monday, March 24, 2014, Senators King, 
Reed, Rockefeller, and Casey be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills 
or joint resolutions.                                        
  Page S1670
Pro Forma--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that 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, March 14, 2014 at 10:30 a.m.; Tuesday, March 18, 
2014 at 10:30 a.m.; and Friday, March 21, 2014 at 9 a.m.; and that the 
Senate adjourn on Friday, March 21, 2014 until 2 p.m., on Monday, March 
24, 2014.                                                    
  Page S1670
Executive Reports of Committees: Senate received the following 
executive reports of a committee:
  Report to accompany Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, 
Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing 
(Treaty Doc. 112-4) (Ex. Rept. 113-1);
  Report to accompany Convention on the Conservation and Management of 
High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean (Treaty Doc. 
113-1) (Ex. Rept. 113-2);
  Report to accompany Convention on the Conservation and Management of 
High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean (Treaty Doc. 
113-2) (Ex. Rept. 113-3); and
  Report to accompany Amendment to the Convention on Future 
Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (Treaty 
Doc. 113-3) (Ex. Rept. 113-4).                           
Pages S1651-52
Cooper Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Christopher Reid Cooper, of the District of Columbia, to 
be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia. 
                                                             Page S1643
   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 S. 2124, 
to support sovereignty and democracy in Ukraine.             
Page S1643
Harpool Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of M. Douglas Harpool, of Missouri, to be United States 
District Judge for the Western District of Missouri.         
  Page S1643
  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 Christopher Reid Cooper, of the District of Columbia, to 
be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia. 
                                                             Page S1643
McHugh Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Gerald Austin McHugh, Jr., of Pennsylvania, to be United 
States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
                                                             Page S1643
  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 M. Douglas Harpool, of Missouri, to be United States 
District Judge for the Western District of Missouri.         
Page S1643
Smith Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of Edward G. Smith, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge 
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.                    
  Page S1643
  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 Gerald Austin McHugh, Jr., of Pennsylvania, to be United 
States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
                                                             Page S1643
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Puneet Talwar, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of State (Political-Military Affairs).     
Pages S1610, S1670
  Joseph Pius Pietrzyk, of Ohio, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Legal Services Corporation for a term expiring July 
13, 2014.                                         
Pages S1610-11, S1670
  Dwight L. Bush, Sr., of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to 
the Kingdom of Morocco.                              
Pages S1611, S1670
  By 95 yeas to 4 nays (Vote No. EX. 76), Caroline Diane Krass, of the 
District of Columbia, to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence 
Agency.                                           
Pages S1612-13, S1670
  Arun Madhavan Kumar, of California, to be Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce and Director General

[[Page D279]]

of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service. 
                                                  Pages S1632-33, S1670
  Timothy M. Broas, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of the 
Netherlands.                                      
Pages S1632-33, S1670
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  John W. deGravelles, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge 
for the Middle District of Louisiana.
  Deirdre M. Daly, of Connecticut, to be United States Attorney for the 
District of Connecticut for the term of four years.
  James Walter Frazer Green, of Louisiana, to be United States Attorney 
for the Middle District of Louisiana for the term of four years.
  Ronald Lee Miller, of Kansas, to be United States Marshal for the 
District of Kansas for the term of four years.
  Judith M. Davenport, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for a term 
expiring January 31, 2020.
  Bradford Raymond Huther, of Virginia, to be Chief Financial Officer, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  2 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  1 Army nomination in the rank of general.
  1 Coast Guard nomination in the rank of admiral.
  4 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Army.                                 
Page S1670
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S1650
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S1650
Measures Placed on the Calendar:                     
  Pages S1650, S1669
Measures Read the First Time:                     
  Pages S1650, S1669-70
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S1650-51
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S1651
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S1653-55
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S1655-64
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S1646-49
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S1664-66
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                                
  Page S1666
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S1666
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--78) 
                                       Pages S1610, S1613, S1617, S1630
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 8:15 p.m., 
until 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 14, 2014. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S1670.)