[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D589-D592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                             Thursday, May 21, 2015

[[Page D589]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S3201-S3252
Measures Introduced: Forty-six bills and five resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1409-1454, and S. Res. 183-187. 
                                                         Pages S3237-38
Measures Reported:
  Special Report entitled ``Report on the Legislative Activities of the 
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation During the 
113th Congress''. (S. Rept. No. 114-50)
  Special Report entitled ``Allocation to Subcommittees of Budget 
Totals from the Concurrent Resolution for Fiscal Year 2016''. (S. Rept. 
No. 114-55)
  S. 143, to allow for improvements to the United States Merchant 
Marine Academy and for other purposes. (S. Rept. No. 114-51)
  S. 808, to establish the Surface Transportation Board as an 
independent establishment. (S. Rept. No. 114-52)
  H.R. 615, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the 
Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security 
to take administrative action to achieve and maintain interoperable 
communications capabilities among the components of the Department of 
Homeland Security, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. 
Rept. No. 114-53)
  H.R. 2028, making appropriations for energy and water development and 
related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 114-54)
  S. 335, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve 529 
plans, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 
114-56)
  H.R. 2029, making appropriations for military construction, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2016, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. (S. Rept. No. 114-57)
  S. Res. 87, to express the sense of the Senate regarding the rise of 
anti-Semitism in Europe and to encourage greater cooperation with the 
European governments, the European Union, and the Organization for 
Security and Co-operation in Europe in preventing and responding to 
anti-Semitism.
  S. 802, to authorize the Secretary of State and the Administrator of 
the United States Agency for International Development to provide 
assistance to support the rights of women and girls in developing 
countries, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 1417, to reauthorize the United States Grain Standards Act. 
                                                             Page S3236
Measures Passed:
  Joseph F. Weis Jr. United States Courthouse: Committee on Environment 
and Public Works was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 
1690, to designate the United States courthouse located at 700 Grant 
Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the ``Joseph F. Weis Jr. United 
States Courthouse'', and the bill was then passed.           
  Page S3249
  William J. Holloway, Jr. United States Courthouse: Senate passed S. 
261, to designate the United States courthouse located at 200 NW 4th 
Street in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as the William J. Holloway, Jr. 
United States Courthouse.                                    
  Page S3249
  George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States Courthouse: Senate 
passed S. 612, to designate the Federal building and United States 
courthouse located at 1300 Victoria Street in Laredo, Texas, as the 
``George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States Courthouse''. 
                                                             Page S3249
  New Mexico Navajo Water Settlement Technical Corrections Act: Senate 
passed S. 501, to make technical corrections to the Navajo water rights 
settlement in the State of New Mexico.                   
  Pages S3249-50
  National Foster Care Month: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 168, 
recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to raise 
awareness about the challenges of children in the foster care system, 
and encouraging Congress to implement policy to improve the lives of 
children in the foster care system, and the resolution was then agreed 
to.                                                          
  Page S3250

[[Page D590]]

  Honoring Brave Young Men from Hawaii: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 109, acknowledging and 
honoring brave young men from Hawaii who enabled the United States to 
establish and maintain jurisdiction in remote equatorial islands as 
prolonged conflict in the Pacific led to World War II, and the 
resolution was then agreed to, after agreeing to the following 
amendment proposed thereto:                                  
  Page S3250
  Perdue (for Schatz) Amendment No. 1437, to amend the preamble. 
                                                         Pages S3250-51
  Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 185, 
recognizing the significance of May 2015 as Asian/Pacific American 
Heritage Month and as an important time to celebrate the significant 
contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history 
of the United States.                                        
  Page S3251
  National Public Works Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 186, designating 
the week of May 17 through May 23, 2015, as ``National Public Works 
Week''.                                                      
  Page S3251
  National Bladder Cancer Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
187, expressing support for the designation of the month of May 2015, 
as ``National Bladder Cancer Awareness Month''.              
  Page S3251
Measures Considered:
USA Freedom Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the motion to 
proceed to consideration of H.R. 2048, to reform the authorities of the 
Federal Government to require the production of certain business 
records, conduct electronic surveillance, use pen registers and trap 
and trace devices, and use other forms of information gathering for 
foreign intelligence, counterterrorism, and criminal purposes. 
                                                             Page S3201
  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, a vote on cloture will 
occur on Saturday, May 23, 2015.                             
Page S3201
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act--Cloture: Senate began 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 1357, to 
extend authority relating to roving surveillance, access to business 
records, and individual terrorists as agents of foreign powers under 
the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 until July 31, 2015. 
                                                             Page S3201
   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, a vote on 
cloture will occur upon disposition of the motion to proceed to 
consideration of H.R. 2048, to reform the authorities of the Federal 
Government to require the production of certain business records, 
conduct electronic surveillance, use pen registers and trap and trace 
devices, and use other forms of information gathering for foreign 
intelligence, counterterrorism, and criminal purposes.       
Page S3201
Ensuring Tax Exempt Organizations the Right to Appeal Act--Agreement: 
Senate continued consideration of H.R. 1314, to amend the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a right to an administrative appeal 
relating to adverse determinations of tax-exempt status of certain 
organizations, taking action on the following amendments proposed 
thereto:                                       
  Pages S3202-12, S3225-31
Pending:
  Hatch Amendment No. 1221, in the nature of a substitute.   
Page S3202
  Hatch (for Flake) Amendment No. 1243 (to Amendment No. 1221), to 
strike the extension of the trade adjustment assistance program. 
                                                             Page S3202
  Hatch (for Inhofe/Coons) Modified Amendment No. 1312 (to Amendment 
No. 1221), to amend the African Growth and Opportunity Act to require 
the development of a plan for each sub-Saharan African country for 
negotiating and entering into free trade agreements.         
Page S3202
  Hatch (for McCain) Amendment No. 1226 (to Amendment No. 1221), to 
repeal a duplicative inspection and grading program.         
Page S3202
  Stabenow (for Portman) Amendment No. 1299 (to Amendment No. 1221), to 
make it a principal negotiating objective of the United States to 
address currency manipulation in trade agreements.           
Page S3202
  Brown Amendment No. 1251 (to Amendment No. 1221), to require the 
approval of Congress before additional countries may join the Trans-
Pacific Partnership Agreement.                               
Page S3202
  Wyden (for Shaheen) Amendment No. 1227 (to Amendment No. 1221), to 
make trade agreements work for small businesses.             
Page S3202
  Wyden (for Warren) Amendment No. 1327 (to Amendment No. 1221), to 
prohibit the application of the trade authorities procedures to an 
implementing bill submitted with respect to a trade agreement that 
includes investor-state dispute settlement.                  
Page S3202
  Hatch Modified Amendment No. 1411 (to the language proposed to be 
stricken by Amendment No. 1299), of a perfecting nature.     
Page S3202
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 62 yeas to 38 nays (Vote No. 183), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed 
to the motion

[[Page D591]]

to close further debate on Hatch Amendment No. 1221 (listed above). 
                                                         Pages S3206-07
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at approximately 9:30 a.m., on Friday, May 
22, 2015, and that all time during the adjournment of the Senate count 
post-cloture on the bill.                                    
Page S3251
Appointments:
  Board of Visitors of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy: The Chair, on 
behalf of the Vice President, pursuant to 14 U.S.C. 194(a), as amended 
by Public Law 101-595, and further amended by Public Law 113-281, and 
upon the recommendation of the Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation, appointed the following Senators to the 
Board of Visitors of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy: Senator Wicker, and 
Senator Sullivan.                                            
  Page S3251
  Members of the Commission on Care: The Chair, on behalf of the 
Majority Leader, pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 113-146, 
appointed the following individuals to serve as members of the 
Commission on Care: The Honorable Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Stuart Hickey 
of Pennsylvania, and Thomas Harvey of New York.              
  Page S3251
  Congressional Award Board: The Chair, on behalf of the Majority 
Leader, pursuant to Public Law 96-114, as amended, appointed the 
following individual to the Congressional Award Board: Chiling Tong of 
Maryland.                                                    
  Page S3251
  Board of Visitors of the U.S. Military Academy: The Chair, on behalf 
of the Vice President, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4355(a), appointed the 
following Senator to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Military 
Academy: Senator Ernst (Designee of the Chairman of the Committee on 
Armed Services).                                             
  Page S3251
  Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution: The Chair, on behalf 
of the Vice President, pursuant to the provisions of 20 U.S.C., 
sections 42 and 43, appointed the following Senators to the Board of 
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution: Senator Boozman, and Senator 
Perdue.                                                      
  Page S3251
  Board of Visitors of the U.S. Air Force Academy: The Chair, on behalf 
of the Vice President, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 9355(a), appointed the 
following Senator to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Air Force 
Academy: Senator Gardner (Designee of the Chairman of the Committee on 
Armed Services).                                             
  Page S3251
  Board of Visitors of the U.S. Naval Academy: The Chair, on behalf of 
the Vice President, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 6968(a), appointed the 
following Senator to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Naval Academy: 
Senator Sullivan (Designee of the Chairman of the Committee on Armed 
Services).                                                   
  Page S3251
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By a unanimous vote of 100 yeas (Vote No. EX. 184), Jill N. Parrish, 
of Utah, to be United States District Judge for the District of Utah. 
                                                             Page S3224
  By a unanimous vote of 100 yeas (Vote No. EX. 185), Jose Rolando 
Olvera, Jr., of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the 
Southern District of Texas.                                  
Page S3224
  Patricia D. Cahill, of Missouri, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for a term 
expiring January 31, 2020.                                   
Page S3225
  Mark Scarano, of New Hampshire, to be Federal Cochairperson of the 
Northern Border Regional Commission.                         
Page S3225
  1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general.
  1 Army nomination in the rank of general.
  1 Marine Corps nomination in the rank of general.
  35 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. 
                                        Pages S3223-25, S3248-49, S3252
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Stephen C. Hedger, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Defense.
  Luis A. Viada, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the Inter-American Foundation for a term expiring September 20, 
2018.
  Akhil Reed Amar, of Connecticut, to be a Member of the National 
Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2020.
  Robert P. Zimmerman, of New York, to be a Member of the National 
Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2018.
  Jessica Rosenworcel, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of 
the Federal Communications Commission for a term of five years from 
July 1, 2015.
  W. Thomas Reeder, Jr., of Virginia, to be Director of the Pension 
Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
  Denise Turner Roth, of North Carolina, to be Administrator of General 
Services.
  Edward L. Stanton III, of Tennessee, to be United States District 
Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.
  Eric Steven Miller, of Vermont, to be United States Attorney for the 
District of Vermont for the term of four years.
  Michael C. McGowan, of Delaware, to be United States Marshal for the 
District of Delaware, for the term of four years.
  1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general.

[[Page D592]]


  1 Army nomination in the rank of general.
  1 Marine Corps nomination in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Air Force and Coast Guard.        
Pages S3251-52
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S3235
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S3235
Measures Placed on the Calendar:               
  Pages S3201-02, S3235-36
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S3236
Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S3236-37
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S3238-40
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S3240-47
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S3234-35
Amendments Submitted:                                        
  Page S3247
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S3247-48
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S3248
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--185) 
                                                      Page S3207, S3224
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 8:16 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2015. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S3251.)