[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 49 (Thursday, March 27, 2014)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D324-D325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                           Thursday, March 27, 2014

[[Page D324]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 4152, Ukraine Loan Guarantees, as amended.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S1781-S1837
Measures Introduced: Twenty bills and six resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2164-2183, S.J. Res. 35, and S. Res. 400-404. 
                                                         Pages S1818-19
Measures Reported:
  S. 994, to expand the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency 
Act of 2006 to increase accountability and transparency in Federal 
spending, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. 
No. 113-139)                                                 
Page S1818
Measures Passed:
  Ukraine Loan Guarantees: Senate passed H.R. 4152, to provide for the 
costs of loan guarantees for Ukraine, after taking action on the 
following amendment proposed thereto:                    
  Pages S1785-92
Adopted:
  By 98 yeas to 2 nays (Vote No. 88), Reid (for Menendez/Corker) 
Amendment No. 2867, to provide a complete substitute.    
Pages S1785-92
  50th Anniversary of the Great Alaska Earthquake: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 400, recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Great Alaska 
Earthquake, which struck the State of Alaska at 5:36 p.m. on Good 
Friday, March 27, 1964, honoring those who lost their lives in the 
Great Alaska Earthquake and associated tsunamis, and expressing 
continued support for research on earthquake and tsunami prediction and 
mitigation strategies.                                   
  Pages S1800-03
  United States International Programming to Ukraine and Neighboring 
Regions: Senate passed S. 2183, entitled ``United States International 
Programming to Ukraine and Neighboring Regions''.        
  Pages S1834-35
  Military and Veterans Caregiver Month: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 395, designating the 
month of April 2014 as ``Military and Veterans Caregiver Month'', and 
the resolution was then agreed to.                           
  Page S1835
Measures Considered:
Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act--
Agreement: Senate continued consideration of the motion to proceed to 
consideration of H.R. 3979, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
to ensure that emergency services volunteers are not taken into account 
as employees under the shared responsibility requirements contained in 
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 
                             Pages S1781-84, S1793, S1799, S1800, S1803
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 65 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. 90), 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 proceed to 
consideration of the bill.                            
Pages S1799-S1800
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that following 
disposition of H.R. 4302, to amend the Social Security Act to extend 
Medicare payments to physicians and other provisions of the Medicare 
and Medicaid programs, and when all post-cloture time has expired, 
Senate vote on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill. 
                                                             Page S1809
Appointments:
  United States Commission on International Religious Freedom: The 
Chair, on behalf of the President pro tempore, upon the recommendation 
of the Republican Leader, pursuant to Public Law 105-292, as amended by 
Public Law 106-55, Public Law 107-228, and Public Law 112-75, appointed 
the following individuals to the United States Commission on 
International Religious Freedom: Mary Ann Glendon of Massachusetts, and 
M. Zuhdi Jasser of Arizona.                                  
  Page S1835

[[Page D325]]

Protecting Access to Medicare Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that following Leader remarks on 
Monday, March 31, 2014, Senate begin consideration of H.R. 4302, to 
amend the Social Security Act to extend Medicare payments to physicians 
and other provisions of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which was 
received from the House of Representatives and is at the desk; that 
there be no amendments, or motions in order to the bill with the 
exception of budget points of order and the applicable motions to 
waive; that the time until 5 p.m., be equally divided between the two 
Leaders, or their designees, for debate on the bill; that 
notwithstanding the previous order, following the vote on confirmation 
of the nomination of John B. Owens, of California, to be United States 
Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, on Monday, March 31, 2014, Senate 
vote on passage of the bill; that the bill be subject to a 60 
affirmative vote threshold; and that upon disposition of the bill, 
Senate vote on the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 3979, to 
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that emergency 
services volunteers are not taken into account as employees under the 
shared responsibility requirements contained in the Patient Protection 
and Affordable Care Act, as provided under the previous order. 
                                                             Page S1809
Owens Nomination--Cloture: Senate continued consideration of the 
nomination of John B. Owens, of California, to be United States Circuit 
Judge for the Ninth Circuit.                                 
  Page S1799
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 54 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 89), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                      
Page S1799
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 5 p.m. on 
Monday, March 31, 2014, Senate resume consideration of the nomination, 
all post-cloture time be considered expired at 5:30 p.m., and Senate 
vote on confirmation of the nomination.                      
Page S1793
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Maria Contreras-Sweet, of California, to be Administrator of the 
Small Business Administration.                    
Pages S1792-93, S1837
  Matthew H. Tueller, of Utah, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Yemen.                                               
Pages S1800, S1837
  Kathryn B. Thomson, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the 
Department of Transportation.                        
Pages S1834, S1837
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S1817
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S1817
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S1817-18
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S1818
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S1819-20
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S1820-32
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S1815-17
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S1832-33
Notices of Intent:                                           
  Page S1833
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                                
  Page S1833
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S1833-34
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S1834
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--90) 
                                            Pages S1791-92, S1799-S1800
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:19 p.m., 
until 2 p.m. on Monday, March 31, 2014. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on Page S1835.)