[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 91 (Thursday, May 25, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D586-D588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                             Thursday, May 25, 2017

[[Page D586]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S3159-S3227
Measures Introduced: Sixty-one bills and seven resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1229-1289, S.J. Res. 42-43, and S. Res. 179-
183.                                                     
  Pages S3211-13
Measures Reported:
  S. 512, to modernize the regulation of nuclear energy, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 115-86)
  S. 692, to provide for integrated plan permits, to establish an 
Office of the Municipal Ombudsman, to promote green infrastructure, and 
to require the revision of financial capability guidance, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 115-87)
  S. Res. 176, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the reunification 
of Jerusalem.
  S. 722, to impose sanctions with respect to Iran in relation to 
Iran's ballistic missile program, support for acts of international 
terrorism, and violations of human rights, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.                                      
Page S3210
Measures Passed:
  Increasing the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability to 
Veterans Act: Committee on Veterans' Affairs was discharged from 
further consideration of S. 12, to amend title 38, United States Code, 
to improve the accountability of employees of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the 
following amendment proposed thereto:                    
  Pages S3189-90
  McConnell (for Moran) Amendment No. 218, to improve the bill by 
striking section 2, relating to reduction of benefits for senior 
executives and certain health care employees of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs convicted of a felony.                  
Pages S3189-90
  Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency Act: Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 114, 
to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to submit an annual report regarding performance 
awards and bonuses awarded to certain high-level employees of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and the bill was then passed. 
                                                             Page S3190
  Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act: Senate passed S. 
585, to provide greater whistleblower protections for Federal 
employees, increased awareness of Federal whistleblower protections, 
and increased accountability and required discipline for Federal 
supervisors who retaliate against whistleblowers, after agreeing to the 
committee amendments.                                    
  Pages S3190-94
  National Public Works Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 181, designating 
the week of May 21 through May 27, 2017, as ``National Public Works 
Week''.                                                      
  Page S3225
  Melanoma Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 182, designating 
May 2017 as ``Melanoma Awareness Month''.                    
  Page S3225
  Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 183, 
recognizing the significance of May 2017 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 S3225
  Digital Coast Act: Senate passed S. 110, to require the Secretary of 
Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, to establish a constituent-driven program 
to provide a digital information platform capable of efficiently 
integrating coastal data with decision-support tools, training, and 
best practices and to support collection of priority coastal geospatial 
data to inform and improve local, State, regional, and Federal 
capacities to manage the coastal region.                 
  Pages S3225-26
  Silver Star Service Banner Day Act: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. 917, to amend title 36, 
United States Code, to designate May 1 as ``Silver Star Service Banner 
Day'', and the bill was then passed.                     
  Pages S3226-27

[[Page D587]]

  Follow the Rules Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 657, to amend 
title 5, United States Code, to extend certain protections against 
prohibited personnel practices, and the bill was then passed. 
                                                             Page S3227
Reunification of Jerusalem 50th Anniversary--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent-time agreement was reached providing that following Leader 
remarks on Monday, June 5, 2017, Senate begin consideration of S. Res. 
176, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the reunification of 
Jerusalem, with the time until 5:30 p.m. equally divided in the usual 
form; and that at 5:30 p.m., Senate vote on adoption of the resolution, 
with no amendments or motions in order to the resolution or the 
preamble.                                                    
  Page S3186
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
approximately 3 p.m., on Monday, June 5, 2017, Senate begin 
consideration of the resolution as under the previous order. 
                                                             Page S3194
Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower 
Protection Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was 
reached providing that following disposition of the nomination of 
Courtney Elwood, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Central 
Intelligence Agency, Senate begin consideration of S. 1094, to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to improve the accountability of 
employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, that the committee-
reported substitute amendment be adopted, and that there be three hours 
of debate, equally divided in the usual form, and that following the 
use or yielding back of time, Senate vote on passage of the bill, as 
amended, with no intervening action or debate.               
  Page S3194
Pro Forma Sessions--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that the Senate adjourn, to then convene for pro 
forma sessions only, with no business being conducted on the following 
dates and times, and that following each pro forma session, the Senate 
adjourn until the next pro forma session: Friday, May 26, 2017 at 8:45 
a.m.; Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 7 a.m.; Friday, June 2, 2017 at 9 a.m.; 
and that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, June 2, 2017, it next 
convene at 3 p.m., on Monday, June 5, 2017.                  
  Page S3227
Elwood Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of 
Courtney Elwood, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Central 
Intelligence Agency, be withdrawn, and that following Leader remarks on 
Tuesday, June 6, 2017, Senate resume consideration of the nomination, 
with the time equally divided until 2:15 p.m.; and that at 2:15 p.m. on 
Tuesday, June 6, 2017, Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination. 
                                                             Page S3179
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 52 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. EX. 137), Amul R. Thapar, of 
Kentucky, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit. 
                                                  Pages S3161-79, S3227
  3 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  54 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  2 Marine Corps nominations in the rank of general.
  22 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. 
                                                         Pages S3186-88
  David L. Norquist, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense 
(Comptroller).
  Kari A. Bingen, of Virginia, to be a Principal Deputy Under Secretary 
of Defense.
  Robert Story Karem, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of Defense.                                        
Page S3188
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Robert R. Hood, of Georgia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
  Richard Ashooh, of New Hampshire, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce.
  J. Paul Compton, Jr., of Alabama, to be General Counsel of the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  Neal J. Rackleff, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  Karen Dunn Kelley, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Economic Affairs.
  David S. Jonas, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department 
of Energy.
  Gilbert B. Kaplan, of the District of Columbia, to be Under Secretary 
of Commerce for International Trade.
  Michael Arthur Raynor, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Federal 
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
  Brett Giroir, of Texas, to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps 
of the Public Health Service, subject to the qualifications therefor as 
provided by law and regulations, and to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Health and Human Services.
  Heather L. MacDougall, of Florida, to be a Member of the Occupational 
Safety and Health Review Commission for a term expiring April 27, 2023.
  Callista L. Gingrich, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Holy See.

[[Page D588]]


  George Nesterczuk, of Virginia, to be Director of the Office of 
Personnel Management for a term of four years.
  1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.                  
Page S3227
Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the 
following nomination:
  James Donovan, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, 
which was sent to the Senate on May 16, 2017.                
Page S3227
Messages from the House:                                 
  Pages S3209-10
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S3210
Measures Placed on the Calendar:                             
  Page S3210
Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S3210-11
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S3213-15
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S3215-25
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S3208-09
Amendments Submitted:                                        
  Page S3225
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S3225
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S3225
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--137) 
                                                             Page S3179
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10:30 a.m. and adjourned at 5:23 p.m., 
until 8:45 a.m. on Friday, May 26, 2017. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S3227.)