[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 130 (Tuesday, August 1, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D869-D871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                            Tuesday, August 1, 2017

[[Page D869]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      See Resume of Congressional Activity.
      Senate confirmed the nomination of Christopher A. Wray, of 
      Georgia, to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4633-S4695
Measures Introduced: Eighteen bills and six resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1682-1699, S.J. Res. 48, and S. Res. 237-
241.                                                     
  Pages S4667-68
Measures Reported:
  S. 504, to permanently authorize the Asia-Pacific Economic 
Cooperation Business Travel Card Program. (S. Rept. No. 115-140)
  S. 81, to establish an advisory office within the Bureau of Consumer 
Protection of the Federal Trade Commission to prevent fraud targeting 
seniors. (S. Rept. No. 115-141)
  S. 1311, to provide assistance in abolishing human trafficking in the 
United States, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 1312, to prioritize the fight against human trafficking in the 
United States, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                             Page S4667
Measures Passed:
  Authorizing the Production of Records by the Permanent Subcommittee 
on Investigations: Senate agreed to S. Res. 237, to authorize the 
production of records by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations 
of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. 
                                                             Page S4635
  Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act: 
Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of 
S. 860, to reauthorize and improve the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention Act of 1974, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to 
the following amendment proposed thereto:                
  Pages S4649-59
  Grassley Amendment No. 741, relative to the reauthorization and 
improvement of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 
1974.                                                        
Page S4651
  Power And Security Systems (PASS) Act: Senate passed S. 190, to 
provide for consideration of the extension under the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act of nonapplication of No-Load Mode energy efficiency 
standards to certain security or life safety alarms or surveillance 
systems.                                                     
  Page S4681
  Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act: Senate passed S. 178, to 
prevent elder abuse and exploitation and improve the justice system's 
response to victims in elder abuse and exploitation cases, after 
agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:    
  Pages S4681-84
  Portman (for Grassley) Amendment No. 742, of a perfecting nature. 
                                                             Page S4681
  READ Act: Senate passed H.R. 601, to enhance the transparency and 
accelerate the impact of assistance provided under the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 to promote quality basic education in developing 
countries, to better enable such countries to achieve universal access 
to quality basic education and improved learning outcomes, to eliminate 
duplication and waste, after agreeing to the committee amendments, and 
the following amendment proposed thereto:                
  Pages S4684-86
  Portman (for Rubio) Amendment No. 743, to add provisions regarding 
the promotion of United States values and the reduction of childhood 
exposure to extremist ideologies.                            
Page S4686
  Northern Mariana Islands Economic Expansion Act: Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 
339, to amend Public Law 94-241 with respect to the Northern Mariana 
Islands, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following 
amendment proposed thereto:                              
  Pages S4686-87

[[Page D870]]


  Portman (for Murkowski/Cantwell) Amendment No. 744, to permit the 
extension of 350 nonimmigrant permits for workers in the Commonwealth 
of the Northern Mariana Islands.                             
Page S4686
  Sergeant Joseph George Kusick VA Community Living Center: Senate 
passed H.R. 2210, to designate the community living center of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs in Butler Township, Butler County, 
Pennsylvania, as the ``Sergeant Joseph George Kusick VA Community 
Living Center''.                                             
  Page S4687
  Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act: Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 
2288, to amend title 38, United States Code, to reform the rights and 
processes relating to appeals of decisions regarding claims for 
benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following 
amendment proposed thereto:                                  
  Page S4687
  Portman (for Isakson) Amendment No. 745, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S4687
  Office of Special Counsel Reauthorization Act: Senate passed S. 582, 
to reauthorize the Office of Special Counsel, after agreeing to the 
committee amendments, and the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                         Pages S4687-94
  Portman (for Johnson) Amendment No. 746, to permit an Inspector 
General to withhold certain material from the Office of Special Counsel 
if the material is derived from, or pertains to, intelligence 
activities.                                                  
Page S4687
  POWER Act: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further 
consideration of S. 717, to promote pro bono legal services as a 
critical way in which to empower survivors of domestic violence, and 
the bill was then passed.                                    
  Page S4694
  National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and Day: Committee on 
the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 203, 
designating the month of June 2017, as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress 
Awareness Month'' and June 27, 2017, as ``National Post-Traumatic 
Stress Awareness Day'', and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                             Page S4695
  World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 194, designating June 
15, 2017, as ``World Elder Abuse Awareness Day'', and the resolution 
was then agreed to.                                          
  Page S4695
  Juneteenth Independence Day: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 214, designating June 
19, 2017, as ``Juneteenth Independence Day'' in recognition of June 19, 
1865, the date on which slavery legally came to an end in the United 
States, and the resolution was then agreed to.               
  Page S4695
  Collector Car Appreciation Day: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 215, designating July 
14, 2017, as Collector Car Appreciation Day and recognizing that the 
collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important 
part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage 
of the United States, and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                             Page S4695
  National Whistleblower Appreciation Day: Committee on the Judiciary 
was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 231, designating 
July 30, 2017, as ``National Whistleblower Appreciation Day'', and the 
resolution was then agreed to.                               
  Page S4695
  Honoring July 2016 Dallas Police Shooting Victims: Committee on the 
Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 213, 
honoring the memory of Dallas Police Department Senior Corporal Lorne 
Ahrens, Sergeant Michael Smith, Officer Michael Krol, Officer Patrick 
Zamarripa, and Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police Officer Brent Thompson, 
who were killed during the attack in Dallas, Texas, that occurred 1 
year ago, on July 7, 2016, and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                             Page S4695
  National Airborne Day: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from 
further consideration of S. Res. 233, designating August 16, 2017, as 
``National Airborne Day'', and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                             Page S4695
  National Lobster Day: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from 
further consideration of S. Res. 221, designating September 25, 2017, 
as ``National Lobster Day'', and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                             Page S4695
  Congratulating the Pittsburgh Penguins: Senate agreed to S. Res. 239, 
congratulating the Pittsburgh Penguins for winning the 2017 Stanley Cup 
hockey championship.                                         
  Page S4695
  Congratulating the University of Florida baseball team: Senate agreed 
to S. Res. 240, congratulating the University of Florida baseball team 
for winning the 2017 National Collegiate Athletic Association College 
World Series.                                                
  Page S4695
  National Purple Heart Recognition Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 241, 
supporting the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition 
Day.                                                         
  Page S4695
  Rapid DNA Act: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further 
consideration of H.R. 510,

[[Page D871]]

to establish a system for integration of Rapid DNA instruments for use 
by law enforcement to reduce violent crime and reduce the current DNA 
analysis backlog, and the bill was then passed.              
  Page S4695
Measures Considered:
FDA Reauthorization Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 2430, to amend the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to revise and extend the user-fee programs 
for prescription drugs, medical devices, generic drugs, and biosimilar 
biological products.                                     
  Pages S4663-64
  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 nomination of Marvin Kaplan, of Kansas, 
to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board.        
Page S4663
House Messages:
  VA Choice and Quality Employment Act: Senate concurred in the 
amendments of the House to S. 114, to authorize appropriations and to 
appropriate amounts for the Veterans Choice Program of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, to improve hiring authorities of the Department, 
to authorize major medical facility leases.                  
  Page S4686
Washington Metrorail Safety Commission--Agreement: A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that the papers with respect to H.J. 
Res. 76, granting the consent and approval of Congress for the 
Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of 
Columbia to enter into a compact relating to the establishment of the 
Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, be returned to the House of 
Representatives at their request.                            
  Page S4640
Kaplan Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that at approximately 10 a.m., on Wednesday, August 2, 2017, 
Senate resume consideration of the nomination of Marvin Kaplan, of 
Kansas, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board, with the 
time until 11 a.m. equally divided between the two Leaders, or their 
designees.                                                   
  Page S4695
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 92 yeas to 5 nays (Vote No. EX. 181), Christopher A. Wray, of 
Georgia, to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a 
term of ten years.                                       
Pages S4644-49
  By 66 yeas to 31 nays (Vote No. EX. 182), Kevin Christopher Newsom, 
of Alabama, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.
                                                             Page S4649
  Elaine McCusker, of Virginia, to be a Principal Deputy Under 
Secretary of Defense.
  Robert Daigle, of Virginia, to be Director of Cost Assessment and 
Program Evaluation, Department of Defense.
  Robert R. Hood, of Georgia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
  Richard V. Spencer, of Wyoming, to be Secretary of the Navy.
  Ryan McCarthy, of Illinois, to be Under Secretary of the Army.
  Lucian Niemeyer, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Defense.
  Matthew P. Donovan, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of the Air 
Force.
  Ellen M. Lord, of Rhode Island, to be Under Secretary of Defense for 
Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.                      
Page S4695
Measures Placed on the Calendar:                     
  Pages S4635, S4666
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S4666
Petitions and Memorials:                                 
  Pages S4666-67
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S4668-69
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S4669-74
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S4665-66
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S4674-81
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S4681
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--182) 
                                                             Page S4649
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:47 p.m., 
until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2017. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S4695.)