[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 150 (Monday, September 18, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D985-D988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                         Monday, September 18, 2017

[[Page D985]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 2810, National Defense Authorization Act, as 
      amended.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S5775-S5823
Measures Introduced: Six bills and three resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 1823-1828, and S. Res. 260-262.               
  Page S5800
Measures Reported:
  H.R. 1117, to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency to submit a report regarding certain plans regarding 
assistance to applicants and grantees during the response to an 
emergency or disaster. (S. Rept. No. 115-158)
  H.R. 1679, to ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's 
current efforts to modernize its grant management system includes 
applicant accessibility and transparency. (S. Rept. No. 115-159) 
                                                             Page S5800
Measures Passed:
  National Defense Authorization Act: By 89 yeas to 8 nays (Vote No. 
199), Senate passed H.R. 2810, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for 
military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of 
Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, 
after taking action on the following amendments and motions proposed 
thereto:                                                  
Page S5776-84
Adopted:
  McCain/Reed Modified Amendment No. 1003, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                          
Pages S5776, S5785
  Reed (for Kaine) Amendment No. 277, to provide for the establishment 
of a visitor services facility on the Arlington Ridge tract, Virginia. 
                                                         Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Tester) Amendment No. 434, to convert the authority for a 
National Language Service Corps into a requirement for such a Corps. 
                                                         Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Heitkamp/Sullivan) Amendment No. 574, to expand the 
SkillBridge initiative to include participation by Federal agencies. 
                                                         Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Merkley) Amendment No. 660, to treat the service of 
recipients of Boren scholarships and fellowships in excepted service 
positions as service by such recipients under career appointments for 
purposes of career tenure under title 5, United States Code. 
                                                         Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Whitehouse) Amendment No. 750, to extend temporarily the 
extended period of protection for members of uniformed services 
relating to mortgages, mortgage foreclosure, and eviction. 
                                                         Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Van Hollen) Amendment No. 756, to require a report on 
compliance with Department of Defense and Service policies regarding 
runway clear zones.                                      
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Murray) Amendment No. 833, to provide for the promotion of 
financial literacy concerning retirement among members of the Armed 
Forces.                                                  
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Brown) Amendment No. 890, to ensure the continued 
designation of the Secretary of the Air Force as the Department of 
Defense Executive Agent for the program carried out under title III of 
the Defense Protection Act of 1950.                      
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Cardin/Portman) Amendment No. 900, to require a report on 
the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) and 
to provide a limitation on use of funds.                 
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Leahy) Amendment No. 903, to require the Secretary of 
Defense to conduct a feasibility study and cost estimate for a pilot 
program that uses predictive analytics and screening to identify mental 
health risk and provide early, targeted intervention for part-time 
members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.   
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Baldwin/Moran) Amendment No. 904, to prohibit or suspend 
certain health care providers from providing non-Department of Veterans 
Affairs health care services to veterans.                
Pages S5787-96

[[Page D986]]


  Reed (for Peters/Stabenow) Amendment No. 950, to authorize the 
Secretary of the Air Force to increase the Primary Aircraft 
Authorization of Air Force or Air National Guard A-10 aircraft units in 
the event conversion of an A-10 unit is in the best interest of a long-
term Air Force mission.                                  
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Heitkamp) Amendment No. 976, to express the sense of 
Congress on use of test sites for research and development on 
countering unmanned aircraft systems.                    
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Cantwell/Murray) Amendment No. 995, to extend the 
authorization of the Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker 
Health.                                                  
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Stabenow) Amendment No. 1014, to require the Government 
Accountability Office to evaluate Buy American training policies for 
the Defense acquisition workforce.                       
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Whitehouse) Amendment No. 1015, to encourage the United 
States Trade Representative to consider the impact of marine debris in 
future trade agreements.                                 
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Harris) Amendment No. 1021, to require a review of effects 
of personnel requirements and limitations on the availability of 
members of the National Guard for the performance of funeral honors 
duty for veterans.                                       
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Sanders) Amendment No. 1023, to authorize the provision of 
support for Beyond Yellow Ribbon programs.               
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Cantwell) Amendment No. 1065, to increase funding for 
environmental restoration for the Air Force, and to provide an offset. 
                                                         Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Bennet/Gardner) Amendment No. 1087, to recognize the 
National Museum of World War II Aviation.                
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Wyden) Amendment No. 1088, to authorize an additional 
$10,000,000 for the National Guard for training on wildfire response, 
and to provide an offset.                                
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Kaine) Amendment No. 1089, to establish opportunities for 
scholarships related to cybersecurity.                   
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Cortez Masto) Amendment No. 1094, to express the sense of 
Senate on increasing enrollment in Senior Reserve Officers' Training 
Corps programs at minority-serving institutions.         
Pages S5787-96
  Reed (for Durbin) Amendment No. 1100, to modify the basis on which an 
extension of the period for enlistment in the Armed Forces may be made 
under the Delayed Entry Program.                         
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Lee) Amendment No. 470, relating to mechanisms to 
facilitate the obtaining by military spouses of occupational licenses 
or credentials in other States.                          
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Moran/Tester) Amendment No. 601, to require the Secretary 
of Defense to declassify certain documents related to incidents in 
which members of the Armed Forces were exposed to toxic substances. 
                                                         Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Portman) Amendment No. 712, to require a plan to meet the 
demand for cyberspace career fields in the reserve components of the 
Armed Forces.                                            
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Inhofe) Amendment No. 780, to increase the maximum term 
for intergovernmental support agreements to provide installation 
support services.                                        
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Ernst) Amendment No. 873, to require the Administrator of 
the Small Business Administration to submit to Congress a report on the 
utilization of small businesses with respect to certain Federal 
contracts.                                               
Pages S5787-96
  McCain Amendment No. 874, to limit authorized cost increases in 
military construction projects.                          
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Johnson/Flake) Amendment No. 879, to amend title 46, 
United States Code, to provide greater flexibility to the Coast Guard 
in deciding the Federal district court in which to prosecute 
individuals engaged in drug trafficking.                 
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Murkowski) Amendment No. 908, to authorize the 
modification of the Second Division Memorial.            
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Rubio) Amendment No. 927, requiring a report on the 
availability of postsecondary credit for skills acquired during 
military service.                                        
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Isakson/Perdue) Amendment No. 943, to authorize the 
Secretary of the Air Force to enter into an agreement providing for the 
joint use of Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Marietta, Georgia with civil 
aviation.                                                
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Flake) Amendment No. 945, to require information on 
Department of Defense funding in Department press releases and related 
public statements on programs, projects, and activities funded by the 
Department.                                              
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Moran) Amendment No. 1006, to modernize Government 
information technology.                                  
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Tillis) Amendment No. 1031, to require a certification 
and report related to the enhanced multi mission parachute system. 
                                                         Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Perdue/Isakson) Amendment No. 1033, to require a report 
related to the E-8C JSTARS recapitalization program.     
Pages S5787-96

[[Page D987]]


  McCain (for Strange) Amendment No. 1034, to express the sense of 
Congress regarding fire protection in Department of Defense facilities.
                                                         Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Lankford) Amendment No. 1038, to ensure transparency in 
acquisition programs.                                    
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Rounds) Amendment No. 1039, to devolve acquisition 
authority from the Office of the Secretary of Defense to the military 
services.                                                
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Scott/Brown) Amendment No. 1050, to increase funding for 
research, development, test, and evaluation for historically Black 
colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions of 
higher education.                                        
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Portman) Amendment No. 1055, to require a report on cyber 
applications of blockchain technology.                   
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Tillis) Amendment No. 1063, to modify the definition of 
custom-developed computer software.                      
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Sullivan) Amendment No. 1073, to improve section 1653, 
relating to ground-based interceptor capability, capacity, and 
reliability.                                             
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Strange) Amendment No. 1086, to authorize $600,000,000 in 
increased funding for the procurement of one Littoral Combat Ship for 
the Navy above the President's budget request.           
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Graham/Whitehouse) Amendment No. 1096, to prohibit 
multichannel video programming distributors from being required to 
carry certain video content that is owned or controlled by the 
Government of the Russian Federation.                    
Pages S5787-96
  McCain (for Isakson/Perdue) Amendment No. 1032, to prohibit the 
availability of funds for retirement of E-8 JSTARS aircraft. 
                                                         Pages S5787-96
Withdrawn:
  McConnell (for McCain) Amendment No. 545 (to Amendment No. 1003), of 
a perfecting nature.                                 
Pages S5776, S5785
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 90 yeas to 7 nays (Vote No. 198), 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 bill.           
Page S5785
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the bill, as 
amended, be printed as passed by the Senate.                 
Page S5785
  Eliminating Government-funded Oil-painting Act: Senate passed S. 188, 
to prohibit the use of Federal funds for the costs of painting 
portraits of officers and employees of the Federal Government. 
                                                             Page S5810
  School Bus Safety Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 260, designating 
September 2017 as ``School Bus Safety Month''.               
  Page S5800
  Alaska Wild Salmon Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 261, recognizing 
the month of September 2017 as ``Alaska Wild Salmon Month''. 
                                                             Page S5800
  70th Anniversary of the Air Force: Senate agreed to S. Res. 262, 
commemorating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Air 
Force as an independent military service and celebrating the Air Force 
for 70 years of serving and defending the United States.     
  Page S5800
Emanuel Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of William J. Emanuel, of California, to be a Member of the 
National Labor Relations Board.                              
  Page S5796
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, 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 Noel J. Francisco, of the District of Columbia, to be 
Solicitor General of the United States.                      
Page S5796
  Prior to consideration of this nomination, Senate took the following 
action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S5796
Francisco Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that Senate resume consideration of the nomination of 
Noel J. Francisco, of the District of Columbia, to be Solicitor General 
of the United States, at approximately 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 
19, 2017, with the time until the cloture vote equally divided between 
the two leaders or their designees; and that if cloture is invoked, all 
post-cloture time expire at 12:15 p.m., and Senate vote on confirmation 
of the nomination with no intervening action or debate.      
  Page S5811
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S5800
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S5800
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S5801-02
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S5802-05
Additional Statements:                                       
  Page S5800
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S5805-06
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S5810
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--199) 
                                                     Pages S5785, S5796

[[Page D988]]

Adjournment: Senate convened at 3 p.m. and adjourned at 10:39 p.m., 
until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 19, 2017. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S5811.)