[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 89 (Thursday, June 4, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D647-D648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                             Thursday, June 4, 2015

[[Page D647]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S3731-S3848
Measures Introduced: Twenty bills and two resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 1502-1521, and S. Res. 192-193.           
  Pages S3775-76
Measures Reported:
  S. 710, to reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and 
Self-Determination Act of 1996, with amendments.             
Page S3775
Measures Passed:
  Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act: Committee on 
Finance was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2146, to 
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal law 
enforcement officers, firefighters, and air traffic controllers to make 
penalty-free withdrawals from governmental plans after age 50, and the 
bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment 
proposed thereto:                                            
  Page S3844
  McConnell (for Toomey) Amendment No. 1782, to change the effective 
date.                                                        
Page S3844
Measures Considered:
National Defense Authorization Act--Agreement: Senate continued 
consideration of H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2016 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, taking 
action on the following amendments proposed thereto:     
  Pages S3734-58
Adopted:
  By 61 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. 202), Portman Amendment No. 1522 (to 
Amendment No. 1463), to provide additional amounts for procurement and 
for research, development, test, and evaluation for Stryker Lethality 
Upgrades, and to provide an offset.               
Pages S3734, S3737-38
  Reed (for Bennet) Amendment No. 1540 (to Amendment No. 1463), to 
require the Comptroller General of the United States to brief and 
submit a report to Congress on the administration and oversight by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs of contracts for the design and 
construction of major medical facility projects.     
Pages S3734, S3738
  By 48 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 204), Tillis Amendment No. 1506 (to 
Amendment No. 1463), to provide for the stationing of C-130 H aircraft 
avionics previously modified by the Avionics Modernization Program 
(AMP) in support of daily training and contingency requirements for 
Airborne and Special Operations Forces.           
Pages S3734, S3754-55
  McCain (for Shaheen) Amendment No. 1618 (to Amendment No. 1463), of a 
perfecting nature.                                       
Pages S3755-56
  McCain Amendment No. 1539 (to Amendment No. 1463), to prohibit the 
Department of Defense from entering into contracts to facilitate 
payments for honoring members of the Armed Forces at sporting events. 
                                                         Pages S3755-56
  McCain (for Shaheen) Amendment No. 1551 (to Amendment No. 1463), to 
require a study and report on the changes to the Joint Travel 
Regulations related to flat rate per diem for long term temporary duty 
travel that took effect on November 1, 2014.             
Pages S3755-56
  McCain (for Warner) Amendment No. 1571 (to Amendment No. 1463), to 
express the sense of Congress on diversity among members of the Armed 
Forces.                                                  
Pages S3755-56
  McCain (for Hoeven) Amendment No. 1484 (to Amendment No. 1463), to 
require a report on Air National Guard contributions to the RQ-4 Global 
Hawk mission.                                            
Pages S3755-56
  McCain (for Heller) Amendment No. 1511 (to Amendment No. 1463), to 
require additional elements in the report on the plan on the 
privatization of the defense commissary system.          
Pages S3755-56
  Rejected:
  By 53 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. 203), Reed (for Shaheen) Amendment 
No. 1494 (to Amendment No. 1463), to revise the definition of spouse 
for purposes of veterans benefits in recognition of new State 
definitions of spouse. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the amendment, having failed to achieve 60 affirmative 
votes, was not agreed to.)                        
Pages S3734, S3753-54


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

  
  On page D647, June 4, 2015, the following language appears: Reed 
(for Bennet) Amendment No. 1540 (to Amendment No. 1463), to 
require the Comptroller General of the United States to brief and 
submit a report to Congress on the administration and oversight by 
the Department of Veterans Affairs of contracts for the design and 
construction of major medical facility projects. Pages S3734, 
S3736-37 By 48 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 204), Tillis Amendment 
No. 1506 (to Amendment No. 1463), to provide for the stationing of 
C-130 H aircraft avionics previously modified by the Avionics 
Modernization Program (AMP) in support of daily training and 
contingency requirements for Airborne and Special Operations 
Forces. Pages S3746-53, S3754-55 McCain (for Shaheen) Amendment 
No. 1618 (to Amendment No. 1463), of a perfecting nature. Page 
S3755 McCain Amendment No. 1539 (to Amendment No. 1463), to 
prohibit the Department of Defense from entering into contracts to 
facilitate payments for honoring members of the Armed Forces at 
sporting events. Page S3755 McCain (for Shaheen) Amendment No. 
1551 (to Amendment No. 1463), to require a study and report on the 
changes to the Joint Travel Regulations related to flat rate per 
diem for long term temporary duty travel that took effect on 
November 1, 2014. Pages S3755-56 McCain (for Warner) Amendment No. 
1571 (to Amendment No. 1463), to express the sense of Congress on 
diversity among members of the Armed Forces. Page S3756 McCain 
(for Hoeven) Amendment No. 1484 (to Amendment No. 1463), to 
require a report on Air National Guard contributions to the RQ-4 
Global Hawk mission. Page S3756 McCain (for Heller) Amendment No. 
1511 (to Amendment No. 1463), to require additional elements in 
the report on the plan on the privatization of the defense 
commissary system. Page S3756 Rejected: By 53 yeas to 42 nays 
(Vote No. 203), Reed (for Shaheen) Amendment No. 1494 (to 
Amendment No. 1463), to revise the definition of spouse for 
purposes of veterans benefits in recognition of new State 
definitions of spouse. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the amendment, having failed to achieve 60 
affirmative votes, was not agreed to.) Pages S3739-40, S3753-54
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Reed (for Bennet) 
Amendment No. 1540 (to Amendment No. 1463), to require the 
Comptroller General of the United States to brief and submit a 
report to Congress on the administration and oversight by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs of contracts for the design and 
construction of major medical facility projects. Pages S3734, 
S3738 By 48 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 204), Tillis Amendment No. 
1506 (to Amendment No. 1463), to provide for the stationing of C-
130 H aircraft avionics previously modified by the Avionics 
Modernization Program (AMP) in support of daily training and 
contingency requirements for Airborne and Special Operations 
Forces. Pages S3734, S3754-55 McCain (for Shaheen) Amendment No. 
1618 (to Amendment No. 1463), of a perfecting nature. Pages S3755-
56 McCain Amendment No. 1539 (to Amendment No. 1463), to prohibit 
the Department of Defense from entering into contracts to 
facilitate payments for honoring members of the Armed Forces at 
sporting events. Pages S3755-56 McCain (for Shaheen) Amendment No. 
1551 (to Amendment No. 1463), to require a study and report on the 
changes to the Joint Travel Regulations related to flat rate per 
diem for long term temporary duty travel that took effect on 
November 1, 2014. Pages S3755-56 McCain (for Warner) Amendment No. 
1571 (to Amendment No. 1463), to express the sense of Congress on 
diversity among members of the Armed Forces. Pages S3755-56 McCain 
(for Hoeven) Amendment No. 1484 (to Amendment No. 1463), to 
require a report on Air National Guard contributions to the RQ-4 
Global Hawk mission. Pages S3755-56 McCain (for Heller) Amendment 
No. 1511 (to Amendment No. 1463), to require additional elements 
in the report on the plan on the privatization of the defense 
commissary system. Pages S3755-56 Rejected: By 53 yeas to 42 nays 
(Vote No. 203), Reed (for Shaheen) Amendment No. 1494 (to 
Amendment No. 1463), to revise the definition of spouse for 
purposes of veterans benefits in recognition of new State 
definitions of spouse. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the amendment, having failed to achieve 60 
affirmative votes, was not agreed to.) Pages S3734, S3753-54


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

  Pending:

[[Page D648]]


  McCain Amendment No. 1463, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                             Page S3734
  McCain Amendment No. 1456 (to Amendment No. 1463), to require 
additional information supporting long-range plans for construction of 
naval vessels.                                               
Page S3734
  Reed Amendment No. 1521 (to Amendment No. 1463), to limit the 
availability of amounts authorized to be appropriated for overseas 
contingency operations pending relief from the spending limits under 
the Budget Control Act of 2011.                   
Pages S3734, S3744-46
  Cornyn Amendment No. 1486 (to Amendment No. 1463), to require 
reporting on energy security issues involving Europe and the Russian 
Federation, and to express the sense of Congress regarding ways the 
United States could help vulnerable allies and partners with energy 
security.                                                    
Page S3734
  Vitter Amendment No. 1473 (to Amendment No. 1463), to limit the 
retirement of Army combat units.                         
Pages S3738-39
  Markey Amendment No. 1645 (to Amendment No. 1463), to express the 
sense of Congress that exports of crude oil to United States allies and 
partners should not be determined to be consistent with the national 
interest if those exports would increase energy prices in the United 
States for American consumers or businesses or increase the reliance of 
the United States on imported oil.                       
Pages S3740-53


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

  
  On page D648, June 4, 2015, the following language appears: 
Markey Amendment No. 1645 (to Amendment No. 1463), to express the 
sense of Congress that exports of crude oil to United States 
allies and partners should not be determined to be consistent with 
the national interest if those exports would increase energy 
prices in the United States for American consumers or businesses 
or increase the reliance of the United States on imported oil. 
Pages S3740-44
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Markey Amendment 
No. 1645 (to Amendment No. 1463), to express the sense of Congress 
that exports of crude oil to United States allies and partners 
should not be determined to be consistent with the national 
interest if those exports would increase energy prices in the 
United States for American consumers or businesses or increase the 
reliance of the United States on imported oil. Pages S3740-53


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

   Reed (for Blumenthal) Amendment No. 1564 (to Amendment No. 1463), to 
increase civil penalties for violations of the Servicemembers Civil 
Relief Act.                                                  
Page S3757
  McCain (for Paul) Modified Amendment No. 1543 (to Amendment No. 
1463), to strengthen employee cost savings suggestions programs within 
the Federal Government.                           
Pages S3756-57, S3758
  Reed (for Durbin) Amendment No. 1559 (to Amendment No. 1463), to 
prohibit the award of Department of Defense contracts to inverted 
domestic corporations.                                       
Page S3757
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
approximately 4 p.m., on Monday, June 8, 2015, Senate resume 
consideration of the bill.                                   
Page S3844
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general.
  3 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  1 Marine Corps nomination in the rank of general.
  1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Army and Navy.                    
Pages S3847-48
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S3775
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S3775
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S3776-78
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S3778-81
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S3771-75
Amendments Submitted:                                 
  Pages S3781-S3844
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S3844
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S3844
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--204) 
                                              Pages S3738, S3754, S3755
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:08 p.m., 
until 3 p.m. on Monday, June 8, 2015. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S3844.)