[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 2, 2016)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D85-D87]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                          Tuesday, February 2, 2016

[[Page D85]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S453-S530.
Measures Introduced: Seven bills and four resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2478-2484, and S. Res. 353-356.            
  Pages S486-87
Measures Reported:
  H.R. 757, to improve the enforcement of sanctions against the 
Government of North Korea, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  H.R. 1493, to protect and preserve international cultural property at 
risk due to political instability, armed conflict, or natural or other 
disasters, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 1882, to support the sustainable recovery and rebuilding of Nepal 
following the recent, devastating earthquakes near Kathmandu, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 2426, to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to 
obtain observer status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police 
Organization.                                                 
Page S486
Measures Passed:
  West Lake Landfill: Committee on Environment and Public Works was 
discharged from further consideration of S. 2306, to require the 
Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to 
undertake remediation oversight of the West Lake Landfill located in 
Bridgeton, Missouri, and the bill was then passed.        
  Pages S529-30
  National Stalking Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 353, 
raising awareness and encouraging the prevention of stalking by 
designating January 2016, as ``National Stalking Awareness Month''. 
                                                    Pages S488-89, S530
  Congratulating the University of Nebraska-Lincoln National Collegiate 
Athletic Association Division I Volleyball Champions: Senate agreed to 
S. Res. 354, congratulating the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
volleyball team for winning the 2015 National Collegiate Athletic 
Association Division I Volleyball Championship.        
  Pages S489, S530
  National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 355, designating the week beginning February 7, 2016, as 
``National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week''.    
  Pages S489, S530
  National Mentoring Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 356, recognizing 
January 2016 as National Mentoring Month.           
  Pages S489-90, S530
Measures Considered:
Energy Policy Modernization Act--Agreement: Senate continued 
consideration of S. 2012, to provide for the modernization of the 
energy policy of the United States, and taking action on the following 
amendments proposed thereto:                             
  Pages S460-484
Adopted:
  Rounds Modified Amendment No. 3182 (to Amendment No. 2953), to direct 
the Secretary of the Interior to establish a conservation incentives 
landowner education program. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the requirement of a 60 affirmative vote threshold, be 
vitiated.)                                                
Pages S471-72
  Durbin/Alexander Amendment No. 3095 (to Amendment No. 2953), to 
increase funding for the Office of Science of the Department of Energy. 
(A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the 
requirement of a 60 affirmative vote threshold, be vitiated.) 
                                                              Page S475
  Murkowski (for Hirono) Amendment No. 3064 (to Amendment No. 2953), to 
modify a provision relating to the energy workforce pilot grant 
program.                                                      
Page S482
  Murkowski (for Hirono) Modified Amendment No. 3065 (to Amendment No. 
2953), to modify a provision relating to the energy workforce pilot 
grant program.                                            
Pages S482-83
  Murkowski (for Klobuchar) Amendment No. 3179 (to Amendment No. 2953), 
to modify the areas of focus under the grid storage program. 
                                                       Pages S482, S483
  Murkowski (for Carper/Inhofe) Amendment No. 3145 (to Amendment No. 
2953), to provide that for purposes of the Federal purchase 
requirement, renewable energy includes thermal energy. 
                                                       Pages S482, S483

[[Page D86]]


  Murkowski (for Heitkamp) Amendment No. 3174 (to Amendment No. 2953), 
to affirm a Federal commitment to carbon capture utilization and 
storage research, development, and implementation and to study the 
costs and benefits of contracting authority for price stabilization. 
                                                       Pages S482, S483
  Murkowski (for Collins) Modified Amendment No. 3140 (to Amendment No. 
2953), to require certain Federal agencies to establish consistent 
policies relating to forest biomass energy to help address the energy 
needs of the United States.                      
                                                 Pages S482, S483, S484
  Murkowski (for Baldwin) Amendment No. 3156 (to Amendment No. 2953), 
to strike a repeal under a provision relating to manufacturing energy 
efficiency.                                            
                                                       Pages S482, S483
  Murkowski (for Carper/Inhofe) Amendment No. 3143 (to Amendment No. 
2953), to reauthorize the diesel emissions reduction program. 
                                                       Pages S482, S483
  Murkowski (for Boxer/Feinstein) Modified Amendment No. 3194 (to 
Amendment No. 2953), to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a 
task force to analyze and assess the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak. 
                                                    Pages S482, S483-84
  Murkowski (for Inhofe/King) Amendment No. 3205 (to Amendment No. 
2953), to provide for the use of geomatic data in consideration of 
applications for Federal authorization.                
                                                       Pages S482, S484
  Murkowski (for Booker) Amendment No. 3160 (to Amendment No. 2953), to 
strike a provision relating to identifying and characterizing methane 
hydrate resources using remote sensing and seismic data in the Atlantic 
Ocean Basin.                                           
                                                       Pages S482, S484
                                                              Rejected:
  By 47 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 10), Lee Amendment No. 3023 (to 
Amendment No. 2953), to modify the authority of the President of the 
United States to declare national monuments. (Pursuant to the order of 
Monday, February 1, 2016, the amendment having failed to achieve 60 
affirmative votes, was not agreed to.)                    
                                                          Pages S468-71
  By 43 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 11), Franken Amendment No. 3115 (to 
Amendment No. 2953), to establish a Federal energy efficiency resource 
standard for electricity and natural gas suppliers. (Pursuant to the 
order of Monday, February 1, 2016, the amendment having failed to 
achieve 60 affirmative votes, was not agreed to.)             
                                                              Page S471
  By 52 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 12), Barrasso Amendment No. 3030 (to 
Amendment No. 2953), to establish deadlines and expedite permits for 
certain natural gas gathering lines on Federal land and Indian land. (A 
unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the amendment, 
having failed to achieve 60 affirmative votes, was not agreed to.) 
                                                          Pages S472-73
  By 49 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 13), Sullivan Amendment No. 2996 (to 
Amendment No. 2953), to require each agency to repeal or amend 1 or 
more rules before issuing or amending a rule. (A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that the amendment, having failed to 
achieve 60 affirmative votes, was not agreed to.)         
                                                          Pages S473-74
  By 45 yeas to 50 nays (Vote No. 14), Schatz/Whitehouse Amendment No. 
3176 (to Amendment No. 2953), to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 to phase out tax preferences for fossil fuels on the same schedule 
as the phase out of the tax credits for wind facilitates. (A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that the amendment, having 
failed to achieve 60 affirmative votes, was not agreed to.) 
                                                          Pages S474-75
  By 43 yeas to 52 nays (Vote. No 15), Whitehouse Amendment No. 3125 
(to Amendment No. 2953), to require campaign finance disclosures for 
certain persons benefitting from fossil fuel activities. (A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that the amendment, having 
failed to achieve 60 affirmative votes, was not agreed to.) 
                                                          Pages S475-77
                                                               Pending:
  Murkowski Amendment No. 2953, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                              Page S460
  Murkowski (for Cassidy/Markey) Amendment No. 2954 (to Amendment No. 
2953), to provide for certain increases in, and limitations on, the 
drawdown and sales of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.        
                                                              Page S460
  Murkowski Amendment No. 2963 (to Amendment No. 2953), to modify a 
provision relating to bulk-power system reliability impact statements. 
                                                       Pages S460, S482
  A motion was entered to close further debate on Murkowski Amendment 
No. 2953 (listed above), and, in accordance with the provisions of rule 
XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur 
on Thursday, February 4, 2016.                                
                                                              Page S530
  A motion was entered to close further debate on 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 Murkowski 
Amendment No. 2953.                                           
                                                              Page S477
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the bill at approximately 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, 
February 3, 2016; and that the filing deadline for all first-degree 
amendments to Murkowski Amendment No. 2953, and the bill, be at 1 p.m., 
on Wednesday, February 3, 2016.                               
                                                              Page S530
Message from the President: Senate received the following message from 
the President of the United States:

[[Page D87]]


  Transmitting, pursuant to law, the District of Columbia's fiscal year 
(FY) 2016 Budget and Financial Plan; which was referred to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (PM-39) 
                                                              Page S486
Messages from the House:                                      
  Page S486
Measures Referred:                                            
  Page S486
Measures Read the First Time:                                 
  Page S486
Additional Cosponsors:                                    
  Pages S487-88
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:               
  Pages S488-90
Additional Statements:                                    
  Pages S485-86
Amendments Submitted:                                   
  Pages S490-S529
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                           
  Page S529
Privileges of the Floor:                                      
  Page S529
Record Votes: Six record votes were taken today. (Total--15) 
                                     Pages S471, S473, S474, S475, S477
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:38 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 3, 2016. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S530.)