[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 147 (Thursday, December 4, 2014)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1083-D1085]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                         Thursday, December 4, 2014

[[Page D1083]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S6315-S6357
Measures Introduced: Fourteen bills and one resolution were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2973-2986, and S. Res. 594.               
  Pages S6350-51
Measures Reported:
  S. 2963, to remove a limitation on a prohibition relating to permits 
for discharges incidental to normal operation of vessels. (S. Rept. No. 
113-284)
  Report to accompany S. 919, to amend the Indian Self-Determination 
and Education Assistance Act to provide further self-governance by 
Indian tribes. (S. Rept. No. 113-285)
  H. Con. Res. 107, denouncing the use of civilians as human shields by 
Hamas and other terrorist organizations in violation of international 
humanitarian law, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and 
with an amended preamble.
  S. Res. 578, supporting the role of the United States in ensuring 
children in the world's poorest countries have access to vaccines and 
immunization through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
  S. Res. 586, calling on the Government of Burma to develop a non-
discriminatory and comprehensive solution that addresses Rakhine 
State's needs for peace, security, harmony, and development under 
equitable and just application of the rule of law, with an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute and with an amended preamble.
  S. 2140, to improve the transition between experimental permits and 
commercial licenses for commercial reusable launch vehicles, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.                     
Page S6349
Measures Passed:
  World War I American Veterans Centennial Commemorative Coin Act: 
Senate passed H.R. 2366, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to 
mint coins in commemoration of the centennial of World War I. 
                                                             Page S6354
  Honor Flight Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4812, to amend title 
49, United States Code, to require the Administrator of the 
Transportation Security Administration to establish a process for 
providing expedited and dignified passenger screening services for 
veterans traveling to visit war memorials built and dedicated to honor 
their service, and the bill was then passed.                 
  Page S6354
  Law School Clinic Certification Program: Committee on the Judiciary 
was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5108, to establish 
the Law School Clinic Certification Program of the United States Patent 
and Trademark Office, and the bill was then passed.          
  Page S6354
  Air Carriers Passenger Fees: Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5462, 
to amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for limitations on 
the fees charged to passengers of air carriers, and the bill was then 
passed.                                                      
  Page S6354
  No Social Security for Nazis Act: Senate passed H.R. 5739, to amend 
the Social Security Act to provide for the termination of social 
security benefits for individuals who participated in Nazi persecution.
                                                         Pages S6354-55
  Naval Vessel Transfer Act: Senate passed S. 1683, to provide for the 
transfer of naval vessels to certain foreign recipients, after agreeing 
to the following amendment proposed thereto:                 
  Page S6355
  Reid (for Menendez) Amendment No. 3973, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S6355
  Navajo Water Settlement Technical Corrections Act: Senate passed S. 
1447, to make technical corrections to certain Native American water 
rights settlements in the State of New Mexico, after agreeing to the 
committee amendment.                                         
  Page S6355
  David M. Rubenstein Citizen Regent of the Board of Regents of the 
Smithsonian Institution: Committee on Rules and Administration was 
discharged from further consideration of S.J. Res. 45, providing for 
the reappointment of David M. Rubenstein as a citizen regent of the 
Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and the resolution was 
then passed.                                                 
  Page S6356

[[Page D1084]]

  Bernardo de Galvez y Madrid Honorary Citizenship: Senate passed H.J. 
Res. 105, conferring honorary citizenship of the United States on 
Bernardo de Galvez y Madrid, Viscount of Galveston and Count of Galvez.
                                                             Page S6356
  Authorizing Use of Emancipation Hall: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 
120, authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor 
Center for a ceremony to present the Congressional Gold Medal to the 
World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol.                
  Page S6356
  National Falls Prevention Awareness Day: Committee on the Judiciary 
was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 569, designating 
September 23, 2014, as ``National Falls Prevention Awareness Day'' to 
raise awareness and encourage the prevention of falls among older 
adults, and the resolution was then agreed to.               
  Page S6356
  Celebrating the Centennial Year of the Birth of Jan Karski: Senate 
agreed to S. Res. 594, celebrating the centennial year of the birth of 
Jan Karski and honoring his extraordinary and courageous life. 
                                                             Page S6356
Appointments:
  United States-China Economic Security Review Commission: The Chair, 
announced, on behalf of the Majority Leader, pursuant to the provisions 
of Public Law 106-398, as amended by Public Law 108-7, and in 
consultation with the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Armed 
Services and the Senate Committee on Finance, the re-appointment of the 
following individual to serve as a member of the United States-China 
Economic Security Review Commission: Katherine Tobin of Virginia, for a 
term beginning January 1, 2015 and expiring December 31, 2016. 
                                                             Page S6357
  Library of Congress Trust Fund Board: The Chair announced, on behalf 
of the Majority Leader, pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 95-
277, as amended by the appropriate provisions of Public Law 102-246, 
and in consultation with the Republican Leader, the re-appointment of 
the following individual to serve as a member of the Library of 
Congress Trust Fund Board for a five year term: Tom Girardi of 
California.                                                  
  Page S6357
Baran Nomination--Cloture: Senate continued consideration of the 
nomination of Jeffery Martin Baran, of Virginia, to be a Member of the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission.                               
  Page S6330
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 53 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. 313), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                     
 Page S6330
McFerran Nomination--Cloture: Senate continued consideration of the 
nomination of Lauren McGarity McFerran, of the District of Columbia, to 
be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board.       
  Pages S6330-31
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
   By 51 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. 314), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                  
Pages S6330-31
Williams Nomination--Cloture: Senate continued consideration of the 
nomination of Ellen Dudley Williams, of Maryland, to be Director of the 
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Department of Energy. 
                                                         Pages S6331-41
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 57 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. 315), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                      
Page S6331
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Franklin M. Orr, Jr., of California, to be Under Secretary for 
Science, Department of Energy.                               
Page S6317
  By 89 yeas to 3 nays (Vote No. EX. 308), Joseph S. Hezir, of 
Virginia, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Energy. 
                                                         Pages S6317-18
  Gregory N. Stivers, of Kentucky, to be United States District Judge 
for the Western District of Kentucky.             
Pages S6318-19, S6329
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
   By 69 yeas to 24 nays (Vote No. 309), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                  
Pages S6318-19
  By 76 yeas to 16 nays (Vote No. EX. 312), Joseph F. Leeson, Jr., of 
Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern 
District of Pennsylvania.                                    
Page S6329
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
   By 66 yeas to 26 nays (Vote No. 310), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                      
Page S6319
  Lydia Kay Griggsby, of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United States 
Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years.    
Pages S6319-20, S6329-30
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
   By 53 yeas to 36 nays (Vote No. 311), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                  
Pages S6319-20
Messages from the House:                                 
  Pages S6348-49
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S6349

[[Page D1085]]

Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S6349-50
Additional Cosponsors:                                       
  Page S6351
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S6351-52
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S6346-48
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S6352-53
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S6353-54
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S6354
Record Votes: Eight record votes were taken today. (Total--315) 
                                               Pages S6318-20, S6329-31
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 7:24 p.m., 
until 2 p.m. on Monday, December 8, 2014. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S6357.)