[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 132 (Thursday, August 3, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D883-D888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                           Thursday, August 3, 2017

[[Page D883]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4781-S4898
Measures Introduced: Twenty-nine bills and five resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1732-1760, and S. Res. 245-249. 
                                                         Pages S4827-28
Measures Reported:
  S. 1359, to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize 
appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 
(S. Rept. No. 115-144)
  S. 1057, to amend the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and 
Control Act of 1998 to address harmful algal blooms, with an amendment 
in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 115-145)
  S. 870, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to implement 
Medicare payment policies designed to improve management of chronic 
disease, streamline care coordination, and improve quality outcomes 
without adding to the deficit, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. (S. Rept. No. 115-146)
  S. 1393, to streamline the process by which active duty military, 
reservists, and veterans receive commercial driver's licenses.
  S. 1532, to disqualify from operating a commercial motor vehicle for 
life an individual who uses a commercial motor vehicle in committing a 
felony involving human trafficking.
  S. 1536, to designate a human trafficking prevention coordinator and 
to expand the scope of activities authorized under the Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Administration's outreach and education program to 
include human trafficking prevention activities, with an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute.                                  
Page S4826
Measures Passed:
  Jessie's Law: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions was 
discharged from further consideration of S. 581, to include information 
concerning a patient's opioid addiction in certain medical records, and 
the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment 
proposed thereto:                                            
  Page S4787
  Alexander (for Manchin) Amendment No. 752, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S4787
  BENEFIT Act: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions was 
discharged from further consideration of S. 1052, to strengthen the use 
of patient-experience data within the benefit-risk framework for 
approval of new drugs, and the bill was then passed.     
  Pages S4787-88
  Trickett Wendler Right to Try Act: Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further consideration of S. 
204, to authorize the use of unapproved medical products by patients 
diagnosed with a terminal illness in accordance with State law, and the 
bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment 
proposed thereto:                                        
  Pages S4788-89
  Johnson Amendment No. 753, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                         Pages S4788-89
  FDA Reauthorization Act: By 94 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 187), Senate 
passed 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, after 
agreeing to the motion to proceed.             
  Pages S4782-87, S4792-93
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 96 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 185), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed 
to the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to 
consideration of the bill.                                   
Page S4787
  Bob Dole Congressional Gold Medal: Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 1616, to 
award the Congressional Gold Medal to Bob Dole, in recognition for his 
service to the nation as a soldier, legislator, and statesman, and the 
bill was then passed.                                    
  Pages S4804-06
  Private Corrado Piccoli Purple Heart Preservation Act: Committee on 
the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. 765, to 
amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for penalties for the 
sale of any Purple Heart awarded to a member

[[Page D884]]

of the Armed Forces, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to 
the following amendment proposed thereto:                    
  Page S4806
  Perdue Amendment No. 767, in the nature of a substitute.   
Page S4806
  MOBILE NOW Act: Senate passed S. 19, to provide opportunities for 
broadband investment, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.                                  
  Pages S4810-15
  Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act: Senate passed S. 
96, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure the integrity of 
voice communications and to prevent unjust or unreasonable 
discrimination among areas of the United States in the delivery of such 
communications.                                          
  Pages S4815-16
  Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act: Senate 
passed S. 174, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to consolidate 
the reporting obligations of the Federal Communications Commission in 
order to improve congressional oversight and reduce reporting burdens. 
                                                         Pages S4816-17
  Spoofing Prevention Act: Senate passed S. 134, to expand the 
prohibition on misleading or inaccurate caller identification 
information, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of 
a substitute.                                            
  Pages S4717-18
  Kari's Law Act: Senate passed S. 123, to amend the Communications Act 
of 1934 to require multi-line telephone systems to have a default 
configuration that permits users to directly initiate a call to 9-1-1 
without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix. 
                                                         Pages S4818-19
  DIGIT Act: Senate passed S. 88, to ensure appropriate spectrum 
planning and interagency coordination to support the Internet of 
Things, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                             Page S4819
  Wicker (for Fischer) Amendment No. 769, in the nature of substitute. 
                                                             Page S4819
  Women, Peace, and Security Act: Senate passed S. 1141, to ensure that 
the United States promotes the meaningful participation of women in 
mediation and negotiation processes seeking to prevent, mitigate, or 
resolve violent conflict.                                
  Pages S4890-91
  Saving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and 
Travel Cards Act: Senate passed S. 1099, to provide for the 
identification and prevention of improper payments and the 
identification of strategic sourcing opportunities by reviewing and 
analyzing the use of Federal agency charge cards, after agreeing to the 
following amendment proposed thereto:                    
  Pages S4891-92
  Murkowski (for Carper) Amendment No. 771, to make a technical 
correction.                                              
Pages S4891-92
  Honoring the Nation's First Responders Day: Senate agreed to S. Con. 
Res. 15, expressing support for the designation of October 28, 2017, as 
``Honoring the Nation's First Responders Day'', after agreeing to the 
committee amendment.                                         
  Page S4892
  Bridge Construction in Christian County, Missouri: Senate passed S. 
810, to facilitate construction of a bridge on certain property in 
Christian County, Missouri, after agreeing to the committee amendment 
in the nature of a substitute.                           
  Pages S4892-93
  The American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act: 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs was discharged from 
further consideration of S. 1182, to require the Secretary of the 
Treasury to mint commemorative coins in recognition of the 100th 
anniversary of The American Legion, and the bill was then passed, after 
agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:    
  Pages S4893-94
  Murkowski (for Young) Amendment No. 772, of a perfecting nature. 
                                                         Pages S4893-94
  Javier Vega, Jr. Memorial Act: Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 
1617, to designate the checkpoint of the United States Border Patrol 
located on United States Highway 77 North in Sarita, Texas, as the 
``Javier Vega, Jr. Border Patrol Checkpoint'', and the bill was then 
passed.                                                      
  Page S4894
  Removing the Sunset Provision of Public Law 105-384: Senate passed 
H.R. 374, to remove the sunset provision of section 203 of Public Law 
105-384.                                                     
  Page S4894
  Silicon Valley Leadership Group 40th Anniversary: Committee on the 
Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 209, 
commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Silicon Valley Leadership 
Group, the preeminent public policy trade association in Silicon 
Valley, and the resolution was then agreed to.               
  Page S4894
  National Estuaries Week: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged 
from further consideration of S. Res. 230, designating the week of 
September 16 through September 23, 2017, as ``National Estuaries 
Week'', and the resolution was then agreed to.           
  Pages S4894-95
  Paralympic and Adaptive Sport Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 247, 
designating July 29, 2017, as ``Paralympic and Adaptive Sport Day''. 
                                                             Page S4895

[[Page D885]]

  American Grown Flower Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 248, expressing 
the sense of the Senate that flowers grown in the United States support 
the farmers, small businesses, jobs, and economy of the United States, 
that flower farming is an honorable vocation, and designating July as 
``American Grown Flower Month''.                             
  Page S4895
  National Child Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 249, 
designating September 2017 as ``National Child Awareness Month'' to 
promote awareness of charities that benefit children and youth-serving 
organizations throughout the United States and recognizing the efforts 
made by those charities and organizations on behalf of children and 
youth as critical contributions to the future of the United States. 
                                                             Page S4895
  SOS Act: Senate passed S. 756, to reauthorize and amend the Marine 
Debris Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris, 
after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                         Pages S4895-96
  Murkowski (for Sullivan) Amendment No. 773, relative to severe marine 
debris events.                                           
Pages S4895-96
  Global War on Terrorism War Memorial Act: Senate passed H.R. 873, to 
authorize the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation to establish the 
National Global War on Terrorism Memorial as a commemorative work in 
the District of Columbia.                                    
  Page S4896
Washington Metrorail Safety Commission--Agreement: A unanimous consent 
agreement was reached providing that if the Senate receives 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, from the House, and if the text of H.J. 
Res. 76 is identical to the text at the desk, that the joint resolution 
be considered passed, the preamble be considered agreed to, and the 
motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with 
no intervening action or debate.                             
  Page S4806
Authorizing Leadership to Make Appointments--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that, notwithstanding the 
upcoming adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the 
President Pro Tempore, and the Majority and Minority Leaders be 
authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, 
conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by 
concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate. 
                                                             Page S4895
Authority for Committees--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that, notwithstanding the Senate's adjournment, 
committees be authorized to report legislative and executive matters on 
Friday, August 18, 2017, from 10 a.m. until 12 noon.         
  Page S4895
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, August 4, 2017 at 
9:45 a.m.; Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 12:30 p.m.; Friday, August 11, 
2017 at 3:30 p.m.; Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 
August 18, 2017 at 10 a.m.; Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at 7 a.m.; Friday, 
August 25, 2017 at 11:30 a.m.; Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.; 
Friday, September 1, 2017 at 3 p.m.; and that when the Senate adjourns 
on Friday, September 1, 2017, it next convene at 3 p.m., on Tuesday, 
September 5, 2017.                                           
  Page S4896
Kelly Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was 
reached providing that at 5 p.m., on Tuesday, September 5, 2017, Senate 
begin consideration of the nomination of Timothy J. Kelly, of the 
District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the 
District of Columbia; that there be 30 minutes of debate on the 
nomination, equally divided in the usual form, and that following the 
use or yielding back of time, Senate vote on confirmation of the 
nomination, with no intervening action or debate.            
  Page S4806
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 79 yeas to 17 nays (Vote No. EX. 186), Dan R. Brouillette, of 
Texas, to be Deputy Secretary of Energy.                 
Pages S4789-92
  Brooks D. Tucker, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs (Congressional and Legislative Affairs).
  Michael P. Allen, of Florida, to be a Judge of the United States 
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims for the term of fifteen years.
  Amanda L. Meredith, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States 
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims for the term of fifteen years.
  Joseph L. Toth, of Wisconsin, to be a Judge of the United States 
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims for the term of fifteen years.
  Thomas G. Bowman, of Florida, to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs.
  James Byrne, of Virginia, to be General Counsel, Department of 
Veterans Affairs.                                            
Page S4796

[[Page D886]]


  David Malpass, of New York, to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury.
  Brent James McIntosh, of Michigan, to be General Counsel for the 
Department of the Treasury.
  Andrew K. Maloney, of Virginia, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the 
Treasury.
  David J. Kautter, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the 
Treasury.
  Christopher Campbell, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
the Treasury.                                                
Page S4796
  Mira Radielovic Ricardel, of California, to be Under Secretary of 
Commerce for Export Administration.
  Richard Ashooh, of New Hampshire, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce.
  Neal J. Rackleff, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  Anna Maria Farias, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing 
and Urban Development.                                   
Pages S4796-97
  Vishal J. Amin, of Michigan, to be Intellectual Property Enforcement 
Coordinator, Executive Office of the President.
  Stephen Elliott Boyd, of Alabama, to be an Assistant Attorney 
General.
  Beth Ann Williams, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Attorney 
General.
  John W. Huber, of Utah, to be United States Attorney for the District 
of Utah for the term of four years.
  Justin E. Herdman, of Ohio, to be United States Attorney for the 
Northern District of Ohio for the term of four years.
  John E. Town, of Alabama, to be United States Attorney for the 
Northern District of Alabama for the term of four years.     
Page S4797
  Claire M. Grady, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary for 
Management, Department of Homeland Security.
  David P. Pekoske, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Homeland Security.                                           
Page S4797
  David James Glawe, of Iowa, to be Under Secretary for Intelligence 
and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security.
  Susan M. Gordon, of Virginia, to be Principal Deputy Director of 
National Intelligence.                                       
Page S4797
  Mark Andrew Green, of Wisconsin, to be Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development.
  Sharon Day, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Costa 
Rica.
  Nathan Alexander Sales, of Ohio, to be Coordinator for 
Counterterrorism, with the rank and status of Ambassador at Large.
  George Edward Glass, of Oregon, to be Ambassador to the Portuguese 
Republic.
  Robert Wood Johnson IV, of New York, to be Ambassador to the United 
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
  Luis E. Arreaga, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Guatemala.
  Krishna R. Urs, of Connecticut, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Peru.
  Kay Bailey Hutchison, of Texas, to be United States Permanent 
Representative on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization, with the rank and status of Ambassador.
  Ray Washburne, of Texas, to be President of the Overseas Private 
Investment Corporation.
  Kelley Eckels Currie, of Georgia, to be Representative of the United 
States of America on the Economic and Social Council of the United 
Nations, with the rank of Ambassador.
  Kelley Eckels Currie, of Georgia, to be an Alternate Representative 
of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly 
of the United Nations, during her tenure of service as Representative 
of the United States of America on the Economic and Social Council of 
the United Nations.
  David Steele Bohigian, of Missouri, to be Executive Vice President of 
the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
  Michael Arthur Raynor, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Federal 
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
  Maria E. Brewer, of Indiana, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Sierra Leone.
  John P. Desrocher, of New York, to be Ambassador to the People's 
Democratic Republic of Algeria.                          
Pages S4797-98
  Kelly Knight Craft, of Kentucky, to be Ambassador to Canada.
  Carl C. Risch, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(Consular Affairs).
  Lewis M. Eisenberg, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Italian 
Republic, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation 
as Ambassador to the Republic of San Marino.                 
Page S4798
  Robert L. Sumwalt III, of South Carolina, to be a Member of the 
National Transportation Safety Board for a term expiring December 31, 
2021.
  Karen Dunn Kelley, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Economic Affairs.
  Elizabeth Erin Walsh, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant 
Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and 
Foreign Commercial Service.
  Michael Platt, Jr., of Arkansas, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce.

[[Page D887]]


  Mark H. Buzby, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Maritime 
Administration.
  Peter B. Davidson, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the 
Department of Commerce.
  Robert L. Sumwalt III, of South Carolina, to be Chairman of the 
National Transportation Safety Board for a term of two years. 
                                                             Page S4798
  Peter Louis Oppenheim, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary for 
Legislation and Congressional Affairs, Department of Education.
  James J. Sullivan, Jr., of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission for a term expiring 
April 27, 2021.
  Heather L. MacDougall, of Florida, to be a Member of the Occupational 
Safety and Health Review Commission for a term expiring April 27, 2023.
  Elinore F. McCance-Katz, of Rhode Island, to be Assistant Secretary 
for Mental Health and Substance Use, Department of Health and Human 
Services.
  Lance Allen Robertson, of Oklahoma, to be Assistant Secretary for 
Aging, Department of Health and Human Services.
  Jerome M. Adams, of Indiana, to be Medical Director in the Regular 
Corps of the Public Health Service, subject to qualifications therefor 
as provided by law and regulations, and to be Surgeon General of the 
Public Health Service for a term of four years.
  Robert P. Kadlec, of New York, to be Medical Director in the Regular 
Corps of the Public Health Service, subject to qualifications therefor 
as provided by law and regulations, and to be Assistant Secretary for 
Preparedness and Response, Department of Health and Human Services. 
                                                             Page S4798
  Jessica Rosenworcel, of Connecticut, to be a Member of the Federal 
Communications Commission for a term of five years from July 1, 2015.
  Brendan Carr, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal 
Communications Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 
30, 2018.                                                
Pages S4798-99
  J. Christopher Giancarlo, of New Jersey, to be Chairman of the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
  Brian D. Quintenz, of Ohio, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission for a term expiring April 13, 2020.
  Rostin Behnam, of New Jersey, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission for a term expiring June 19, 2021. 
                                                      Pages S4799-S4800
  Althea Coetzee, of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator of the Small 
Business Administration.                                     
Page S4800
  Neil Chatterjee, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission for the term expiring June 30, 2021.
  Robert F. Powelson, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission for the term expiring June 30, 2020. 
                                                             Page S4819
  1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general.
  3 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  3 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Army and Navy.              
Page S4799, S4896-98
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Elizabeth Ann Copeland, of Texas, to be a Judge of the United States 
Tax Court for a term of fifteen years.
  Patrick J. Urda, of Indiana, to be a Judge of the United States Tax 
Court for a term of fifteen years.
  Richard Duke Buchan III, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom 
of Spain, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation 
as Ambassador to Andorra.
  Thomas J. Hushek, of Wisconsin, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
South Sudan.
  Scott C. Blader, of Wisconsin, to be United States Attorney for the 
Western District of Wisconsin for the term of four years.
  Michael B. Brennan, of Wisconsin, to be United States Circuit Judge 
for the Seventh Circuit.
  Donald C. Coggins, Jr., of South Carolina, to be United States 
District Judge for the District of South Carolina.
  Terry A. Doughty, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge 
for the Western District of Louisiana.
  Robert M. Duncan, Jr., of Kentucky, to be United States Attorney for 
the Eastern District of Kentucky for the term of four years.
  Leonard Steven Grasz, of Nebraska, to be United States Circuit Judge 
for the Eighth Circuit.
  Michael Joseph Juneau, of Louisiana, to be United States District 
Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.
  John R. Lausch, Jr., of Illinois, to be United States Attorney for 
the Northern District of Illinois for the term of four years.
  J. Douglas Overbey, of Tennessee, to be United States Attorney for 
the Eastern District of Tennessee for the term of four years.
  Charles E. Peeler, of Georgia, to be United States Attorney for the 
Middle District of Georgia for the term of four years.
  William J. Powell, of West Virginia, to be United States Attorney for 
the Northern District of West Virginia for the term of four years.

[[Page D888]]


  A. Marvin Quattlebaum, Jr., of South Carolina, to be United States 
District Judge for the District of South Carolina.
  Holly Lou Teeter, of Kansas, to be United States District Judge for 
the District of Kansas.
  Robert Earl Wier, of Kentucky, to be United States District Judge for 
the Eastern District of Kentucky.                            
Page S4896
Measures Read the First Time:                                
  Page S4826
Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S4826-27
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S4828-31
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S4831-83
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S4824-26
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S4883-89
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S4889-90
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--187) 
                                                  Pages S4787, S4792-93
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:01 p.m., 
until 9:45 a.m. on Friday, August 4, 2017. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S4896.)