[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 16, 2014)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D960-D962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                        Tuesday, September 16, 2014

[[Page D960]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S5595-S5650
Measures Introduced: Twenty-one bills and five resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 2812-2832, and S. Res. 546-550. 
                                                         Pages S5628-29
Measures Reported:
  S. 2061, to prevent conflicts of interest relating to contractors 
providing background investigation fieldwork services and investigative 
support services, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. 
Rept. No. 113-257)
  S. 1898, to require adequate information regarding the tax treatment 
of payments under settlement agreements entered into by Federal 
agencies, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 2651, to repeal certain mandates of the Department of Homeland 
Security Office of Inspector General, with an amendment in the nature 
of a substitute.                                             
Page S5627
Measures Passed:
  Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act: Senate passed S. 2539, to 
amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain programs 
relating to traumatic brain injury and to trauma research, after 
agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                             Page S5643
  All-American Flag Act: Senate passed S. 1214, to require the purchase 
of domestically made flags of the United States of America for use by 
the Federal Government.                                  
  Pages S5643-44
  Government Reports Elimination Act: Senate passed H.R. 4194, to 
provide for the elimination or modification of Federal reporting 
requirements, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature 
of a substitute, and the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                         Pages S5644-47
  Heitkamp (for Carper) Amendment No. 3820, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S5647
  Smart Savings Act: Senate passed S. 2117, to amend title 5, United 
States Code, to change the default investment fund under the Thrift 
Savings Plan, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed 
thereto:                                                     
  Page S5647
  Heitkamp (for Warren) Amendment No. 3821, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S5647
  Employee Retirement Income Security Act: Senate passed S. 2511, to 
amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to clarify 
the definition of substantial cessation of operations, after agreeing 
to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                         Pages S5647-49
  BLM Permit Processing Improvement Act: Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources was discharged from further consideration of S. 2440, 
to expand and extend the program to improve permit coordination by the 
Bureau of Land Management, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing 
to the following amendment proposed thereto:                 
  Page S5649
  Heitkamp (for Udall (NM)) Amendment No. 3822, to clarify the uses of 
the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund.                  
Page S5649
  Veterans Service Organizations: Committee on Veterans' Affairs was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 506, recognizing the 
patriotism and contributions of auxiliaries of veterans service 
organizations, and the resolution was then agreed to.    
  Pages S5649-50
  National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
547, designating the week beginning September 14, 2014, as National 
Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week.                          
  Page S5650
  Small Business Saturday: Senate agreed to S. Res. 548, designating 
November 29, 2014, as ``Small Business Saturday'' and supporting 
efforts to increase awareness of the value of locally owned small 
businesses.                                                  
  Page S5650
  Day of the Deployed: Senate agreed to S. Res. 549, designating 
October 26, 2014, as Day of the Deployed.                    
  Page S5650
  200th Anniversary of ``The Star-Spangled Banner'': Senate agreed to 
S. Res. 550, commemorating the 200th anniversary of ``The Star-Spangled 
Banner''.                                                    
  Page S5650

[[Page D961]]

Measures Considered:
Federal Student Loans: Senate began consideration of the motion to 
proceed to consideration of S. 2432, to amend the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student 
loans.                                         
  Pages S5595-97, S5608-18
Appointments:
  Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China: 
The Chair, on behalf of the President of the Senate, and after 
consultation with the Majority Leader, pursuant to Public Law 106-286, 
reappointed the following Members to serve on the Congressional-
Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China: Senator Kay R. 
Hagan of North Carolina vice The Honorable Max Baucus of Montana. 
                                                             Page S5650
Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached 
providing that at 12 noon, on Wednesday, September 17, 2014, Senate 
will begin consideration of the nominations of John R. Bass, of New 
York, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-
Counselor, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, Eric T. Schultz, 
of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of 
Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Zambia, Thomas 
Frederick Daughton, of Arizona, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign 
Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador to the Republic 
of Namibia, David Pressman, of New York, to be Alternate Representative 
of the United States of America for Special Political Affairs in the 
United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador, and to be an Alternate 
Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the 
General Assembly of the United Nations, during his tenure of service as 
Alternate Representative of the United States of America for Special 
Political Affairs in the United Nations, Debra S. Wada, of Hawaii, to 
be an Assistant Secretary of the Army, Laura S. Wertheimer, of the 
District of Columbia, to be Inspector General of the Federal Housing 
Finance Agency, and Bradford Raymond Huther, of Virginia, to be Chief 
Financial Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development; that 
there be two minutes for debate equally divided between the two 
Leaders, or their designees, prior to each vote; that upon the use or 
yielding back of time, Senate vote, without intervening action or 
debate, on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed; that 
any roll call votes, following the first in the series, be 10 minutes 
in length; and that no further motions be in order to the nomination. 
                                                             Page S5616
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 56 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. EX. 265), Jeffery Martin Baran, of 
Virginia, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the 
remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2015.        
Pages S5606, S5650
  By 60 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. EX. 266), Stephen G. Burns, of 
Maryland, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the 
term of five years expiring June 30, 2019.        
Pages S5606-07, S5650
  Linda A. Schwartz, of Connecticut, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs (Policy and Planning).              
Pages S5607, S5650
  Matthew T. Harrington, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom 
of Lesotho.                                          
Pages S5607, S5650
  Todd D. Robinson, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Guatemala.                                           
Pages S5607, S5650
  Jane D. Hartley, of New York, to be Ambassador to the French 
Republic.                                            
Pages S5607, S5650
  Jane D. Hartley, of New York, to serve concurrently and without 
additional compensation as Ambassador to the Principality of Monaco. 
                                                     Pages S5607, S5650
  Nina Hachigian, of California, to be Representative of the United 
States of America to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with 
the rank and status of Ambassador.                
Pages S5607-08, S5650
  Gordon O. Tanner, of Alabama, to be General Counsel of the Department 
of the Air Force.                                    
Pages S5608, S5650


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

  
  On page D961, September 16, 2014, the following language 
appears: Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following 
nominations: By 56 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. EX. 265), Jeffery 
Martin Baran, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 
30, 2015. Page S5606 By 60 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. EX. 266), 
Stephen G. Burns, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission for the term of five years expiring June 30, 
2019. Pages S560-07 Linda A. Schwartz, of Connecticut, to be an 
Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Policy and Planning). 
Page S5607 Matthew T. Harrington, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to 
the Kingdom of Lesotho. Page S5607 Todd D. Robinson, of New 
Jersey, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Guatemala. Page S5607 
Jane D. Hartley, of New York, to be Ambassador to the French 
Republic. Page S5607 Jane D. Hartley, of New York, to serve 
concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to 
the Principality of Monaco. Page S5607 Nina Hachigian, of 
California, to be Representative of the United States of America 
to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with the rank and 
status of Ambassador. Pages S560-08 Gordon O. Tanner, of Alabama, 
to be General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force. Page 
S5608
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Nominations 
Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations: By 56 yeas 
to 44 nays (Vote No. EX. 265), Jeffery Martin Baran, of Virginia, 
to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the 
remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2015. Pages S5606, S5650 
By 60 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. EX. 266), Stephen G. Burns, of 
Maryland, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for 
the term of five years expiring June 30, 2019. Pages S560-07, 
S5650 Linda A. Schwartz, of Connecticut, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Policy and Planning). Pages S5607, 
S5650 Matthew T. Harrington, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the 
Kingdom of Lesotho. Pages S5607, S5650 Todd D. Robinson, of New 
Jersey, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Guatemala. Pages 
S5607, S5650 Jane D. Hartley, of New York, to be Ambassador to the 
French Republic. Pages S5607, S5650 Jane D. Hartley, of New York, 
to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as 
Ambassador to the Principality of Monaco. Pages S5607, S5650 Nina 
Hachigian, of California, to be Representative of the United 
States of America to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, 
with the rank and status of Ambassador. Pages S560-08, S5650 
Gordon O. Tanner, of Alabama, to be General Counsel of the 
Department of the Air Force. Page S5608, S5650


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

Messages from the House:                                 
  Pages S5622-23
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S5623
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S5623
Petitions and Memorials:                                 
  Pages S5623-27
Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S5627-28


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

  
  On page D961, September 16, 2014 the following language appears: 
Executive Reports of Committees: Page S5627
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Executive Reports 
of Committees: Pages S562-28


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

Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S5629-30
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S5630-36
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S5620-22
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S5636-42
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                                
  Page S5642
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S5642-43
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--266) 
                                                         Pages S5606-07
Recess: Senate convened at 10:02 a.m. and recessed at 6:04 p.m., until 
10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2014. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S5650.)

[[Page D962]]