[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 24, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D323-D324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                            Tuesday, March 24, 2015

[[Page D323]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S1739-S1832.
Measures Introduced: Fifteen bills and three resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 842-856, and S. Res. 108-110. 
                                                         Pages S1780-81
Measures Passed:
  Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act: Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs was discharged from further consideration of 
S. 301, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in 
commemoration of the centennial of Boys Town, and the bill was then 
passed.                                                  
  Pages S1830-31
  Attacks Carried Out by Russian-Backed Rebels: Committee on Foreign 
Relations was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 72, 
expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the January 24, 2015, 
attacks carried out by Russian-backed rebels on the civilian population 
in Mariupol, Ukraine, and the provision of defensive lethal and non-
lethal military assistance to Ukraine, and the resolution was then 
agreed to, after agreeing to the following amendments proposed thereto:
                                                         Pages S1831-32
  Capito (for Lee) Amendment No. 598, to urge the President to 
prioritize and expedite the provision of lethal and non-lethal military 
assistance to Ukraine, consistent with United States national interests 
and policies.                                                
Page S1831
  Capito (for Leahy) Amendment No. 599, to amend the title. 
                                                             Page S1832
  Internet of Things: Senate agreed to S. Res. 110, expressing the 
sense of the Senate about a strategy for the Internet of Things to 
promote economic growth and consumer empowerment.            
  Page S1832
Measures Considered:
Budget Resolution--Agreement: Senate continued consideration of S. Con. 
Res. 11, setting forth the congressional budget for the United States 
Government for fiscal year 2016 and setting forth the appropriate 
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2017 through 2025, taking action on 
the following amendments proposed thereto:               
  Pages S1740-74
Adopted:
  By 94 yeas to 3 nays (Vote No. 79), Sanders/Wyden Amendment No. 386, 
to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to protect Medicaid 
beneficiaries from benefit cuts.               
Pages S1744-48, S1750-51
  By a unanimous vote of 96 yeas (Vote No. 80), Portman/Bennet 
Amendment No. 349, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to 
improve health outcomes and lower the costs of caring for medically 
complex children in Medicaid.                        
Pages S1744, S1751
  Sanders Amendment No. 474, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve 
fund to protect and strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs, hire 
more health care professionals for the Department, and ensure quality 
and timely access to health care for all veterans.       
Pages S1765-66
  Ayotte Amendment No. 400, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund 
to maintain and enhance access, choice, and accountability in veterans 
care through the Veterans Choice Card program under section 101 of the 
Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. 
                                                     Pages S1764, S1766
  By 56 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 81), Fischer Amendment No. 409, to 
establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to promoting equal 
pay, which may include preventing discrimination on the basis of sex 
and preventing retaliation against employees for seeking or discussing 
wage information.                                 
Pages S1757-58, S1766
  By 75 yeas to 24 nays (Vote No. 83), Enzi (for Hatch) Amendment No. 
498, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to 
legislation submitted to Congress by President Obama to protect and 
strengthen Social Security.                          
Pages S1765, S1767
Rejected:
  By 45 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 78), Sanders/Wyden Modified Amendment 
No. 323, to create millions of middle class jobs by investing in our 
nation's infrastructure paid for by raising revenue through closing 
loopholes in the corporate and international tax system. 
                                               Pages S1740-44, S1748-50
  By 45 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 82), Mikulski Amendment No. 362, to 
establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to amending the Equal 
Pay Act of 1963 to allow for punitive damages, limit the any

[[Page D324]]

factor ``other than sex'' exception, and prohibit retaliation against 
employees who share salary information.        
Pages S1751-57, S1766-67
  By 1 yea to 98 nays (Vote No. 85), Cornyn Amendment No. 357, to raise 
taxes and spending by enacting President Obama's fiscal year 2016 
budget.                                           
Pages S1758-62, S1768
Pending:
  Cotton Amendment No. 481, to establish a deficit-neutral fund 
relating to supporting Israel.                           
Pages S1764-65
  Enzi (for Kirk) Amendment No. 545, to establish a deficit-neutral 
reserve fund relating to reimposing waived sanctions and imposing new 
sanctions against Iran for violations of the Joint Plan of Action or a 
comprehensive nuclear agreement.                         
Pages S1768-69
  Rounds/Inhofe Amendment No. 412, to establish a deficit-neutral 
reserve fund to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency and the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service for engaging in closed-door 
settlement agreements that ignore impacted States and counties. 
                                                         Pages S1769-70
  Rubio Modified Amendment No. 423, to increase new budget authority 
fiscal years 2016 and 2017 and modify outlays for fiscal years 2016 
through 2022 for National Defense (budget function 050). 
                                                         Pages S1770-73
  Daines Amendment No. 388, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund 
relating to the designation of national monuments.       
Pages S1773-74
  Daines Amendment No. 389, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund 
relating to holding Members of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives accountable for failing to pass a balanced budget. 
                                                             Page S1774
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 51 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 84), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected the motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline 
pursuant to Section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with 
respect to Whitehouse (for Wyden) Amendment No. 471, to create a point 
of order against legislation that would cut benefits, raise the 
retirement age, or privatize Social Security. Subsequently, the point 
of order that the amendment was in violation of section 305(b)(2) of 
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, was sustained, and the amendment 
was ruled out of order.                        
Pages S1762-64, S1767-68
  A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the concurrent resolution at approximately 9:30 a.m., 
on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, with 18 hours of debate time remaining; 
that the time until 10:30 a.m., be equally divided and controlled by 
the two managers, or designees; that Senate recess subject to the call 
of the Chair at 10:30 a.m., to allow for the Joint Meeting of Congress; 
and that all time during the recess count against the remaining debate 
time on the concurrent resolution.                           
Page S1832
Joint Meeting--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the President of the Senate be authorized to appoint a 
committee on the part of the Senate to join with a like committee on 
the part of the House of Representatives to escort His Excellency 
Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, into the House Chamber for the joint meeting at 
11 a.m., on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.                       
  Page S1832
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S1779
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S1779
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S1779-80
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S1780
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S1781-83
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S1783-86
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S1778-79
Amendments Submitted:                                 
  Pages S1786-S1830
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S1830
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S1830
Record Votes: Eight record votes were taken today. (Total--85) 
                                               Pages S1750-51, S1766-68
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:51 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2015. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S1832.)