[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 20 (Monday, February 6, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D132-D133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                           Monday, February 6, 2017

[[Page D132]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate confirmed the nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos, of 
      Michigan, to be Secretary of Education.
      Senate confirmed the nomination of Jeff Sessions, of Alabama, to 
      be Attorney General.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S
Measures Introduced: Forty-one bills and nine resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 306-346, and S. Res. 48-56. 
                                            Page S745-46, S867-68, S967
Measures Reported:
  S. Res. 48, authorizing expenditures by the Select Committee on 
Intelligence.
  S. Res. 52, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Finance.
  S. Res. 53, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Armed 
Services.                                               
Page S745, S869
Appointments:
  Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki): The 
Chair, on behalf of the Vice President, pursuant to Public Law 94-304, 
as amended by Public Law 99-7, appointed the following Senator as the 
Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe 
(Helsinki) during the 115th Congress: Senator Wicker.         
  Page S716
  Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China: 
The Chair, on behalf of the President of the Senate, pursuant to Public 
Law 106-286, appointed the following Members to serve on the 
Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China: 
Senators Rubio (Chairman), Lankford, Cotton, Daines, and Young. 
                                                              Page S716
  John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: The Chair, on behalf 
of the President of the Senate, pursuant to Public Law 85-874, as 
amended, re-appointed the following individual to the Board of Trustees 
of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: Senator Blunt. 
                                                              Page S716
  Library of Congress Trust Fund Board: The Chair announced, on behalf 
of the Majority Leader, pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 68-
541, as amended by the appropriate provisions of Public Law 102-246, 
and in consultation with the Democratic Leader, the re-appointment of 
the following individuals to serve as members of the Library of 
Congress Trust Fund Board for a five year term: Chris Long, of New 
York, and Kathleen Casey, of Virginia.                        
  Page S885
  United States Semiquincentennial Commission: The Chair announced, on 
behalf of the Majority Leader, pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 
114-196, the appointment of the following individuals to serve as 
members of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission: Members of 
the Senate: Senators Cotton and Toomey. Private Citizens: Cathy 
Gillespie of Virginia, Daniel DiLella of Pennsylvania, Lucas Morel of 
Virginia, and Tom Walker of Alabama.                          
  Page S943
  Members of the Finance Committee As Congressional Advisers on Trade 
Policy and Negotiations: The Chair, in accordance with Public Law 93-
618, as amended by Public Law 100-418, on behalf of the President pro 
tempore and upon the recommendation of the Chairman of the Committee on 
Finance, appointed the following Members of the Finance Committee as 
congressional advisers on trade policy and negotiations to 
international conferences, meetings and negotiation sessions relating 
to trade agreements: Senators Hatch, Grassley, Crapo, Wyden, and 
Stabenow.                                                     
  Page S943
Resignation of Senator Jeff Sessions: Senator Jeff Sessions, of 
Alabama, submitted a letter of resignation from the United States 
Senate, effective 11:55 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on February 8, 
2017.                                                         
  Page S964
Certificate of Appointment--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement 
was reached providing that

[[Page D133]]

at 2 p.m., on Thursday, February 9, 2017, the Chair lay before the 
Senate a certificate of appointment from the State of Alabama. 
                                                              Page S969
Price Nomination--Agreement: Senate resumed consideration of the 
nomination of Thomas Price, of Georgia, to be Secretary of Health and 
Human Services.                                               
  Page S964
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 51 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 60), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                       
Page S963
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the nomination at approximately 10 a.m., on Thursday, 
February 9, 2017, post-cloture; and that all time during Morning 
Business, recess, or adjournment of the Senate, count post-cloture on 
the nomination.                                               
Page S969
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 51 yeas to 50 nays, Vice President voting yea (Vote No. EX. 54), 
Elisabeth Prince DeVos, of Michigan, to be Secretary of Education. 
                                                              Page S824
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 91 yeas to 4 nays (Vote No. 53), Senate agreed to the motion to 
instruct the Sergeant at Arms to request the attendance of absent 
Senators.                                                     
Page S716
  By 52 yeas to 47 nays, 1 responding present (Vote No. EX. 59), Jeff 
Sessions, of Alabama, to be Attorney General.      
Page S824-S963, S974
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 52 yeas to 47 nays, 1 responding present (Vote No. EX. 55), Senate 
agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination. 
                                                              Page S824
  By 88 yeas to 3 nays (Vote No. 56), Senate agreed to the motion to 
instruct the Sergeant at Arms to request the attendance of absent 
Senators.                                                     
Page S855
  By 49 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 57), agreed to the ruling of the 
chair that the words spoken by Senator Warren violate Rule XIX shall 
stand as the judgment of the Senate.                          
Page S855
   By 43 yeas to 50 nays (Vote No. 58), Senate rejected the motion that 
Senator Warren be permitted to proceed in order.              
Page S855
Nomination Received: Senate received the following nomination:
  Elaine C. Duke, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland 
Security.                                                     
Page S974
Messages from the House:                                
  Page S866, S967
Measures Referred:                                            
  Page S866
Executive Communications:                                  
  Page S866-67
Executive Reports of Committees:                              
  Page S867
Additional Cosponsors:                                     
  Page S967-68
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:       
  Page S868-69, S968-69
Additional Statements:                                     
  Page S744-45
Authorities for Committees to Meet:               
  Page S751, S872, S969
Privileges of the Floor:                                
  Page S751, S872
Quorum Calls:
Two quorum calls were taken today. (Total--3)           
  Page S716, S854
Record Votes: Eight record votes were taken today. (Total--60) 
                                            Page S716, S824, S855, S963
Adjournment: Senate convened at 12 noon, on Monday, February 6, 2017, 
and adjourned at 9:05 p.m., on Wednesday, February 8, 2017, until 10 
a.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2017. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S969.)