[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 156 (Thursday, September 28, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1022-D1024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                       Thursday, September 28, 2017

[[Page D1022]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S6193-S6235
Measures Introduced: Twenty bills and eight resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1881-1900, and S. Res. 270-277.   
  Page S6223
Measures Reported:
  S. 1766, to reauthorize the SAFER Act of 2013, with an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute.                                  
Page S6222
Measures Passed:
  Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act: Senate 
passed H.R. 3823, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend 
authorizations for the airport improvement program, to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure 
authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to provide disaster tax 
relief, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                             Page S6205
  McConnell (for Cassidy) Amendment No. 1108, to strike the provisions 
relating to development of a private flood insurance market. 
                                                             Page S6205
  The American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act: Senate 
passed H.R. 2519, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 
commemorative coins in recognition of the 100th anniversary of The 
American Legion.                                             
  Page S6232
  MAIN STREET Cybersecurity Act: Senate passed S. 770, to require the 
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to 
disseminate resources to help reduce small business cybersecurity 
risks, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, and the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                         Pages S6232-33
  McConnell (for Schatz) Modified Amendment No. 977, of a perfecting 
nature.                                                      
Page S6233
  National Workforce Development Month: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 267, designating 
September 2017 as ``National Workforce Development Month'', and the 
resolution was then agreed to.                               
  Page S6234
  Signing of the Constitution of the United States 230th Anniversary: 
Senate agreed to S. Res. 272, commemorating the 230th anniversary of 
the signing of the Constitution of the United States.        
  Page S6234
  Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 273, 
expressing support for the designation of September 2017 as ``Sickle 
Cell Disease Awareness Month'' in order to educate communities across 
the United States about sickle cell disease and the need for research, 
early detection methods, effective treatments, and preventative care 
programs with respect to sickle cell disease, complications from sickle 
cell disease, and conditions related to sickle cell disease. 
                                                             Page S6234
  National Retirement Security Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 274, 
supporting the goals and ideals of National Retirement Security Week, 
including raising public awareness of the various tax-preferred 
retirement vehicles, increasing personal financial literacy, and 
engaging the people of the United States on the keys to success in 
achieving and maintaining retirement security throughout their 
lifetimes.                                                   
  Page S6234
  Northeastern Illinois University Sesquicentennial: Senate agreed to 
S. Res. 275, congratulating Northeastern Illinois University on the 
sesquicentennial of the University.                          
  Page S6234
  Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 276, 
designating September 2017 as ``Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month''. 
                                                             Page S6234
  National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week: Senate agreed to 
S. Res. 277, designating the week of September 25 through 29, 2017, as 
``National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week''.       
  Page S6234
Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the Majority Leader and Senator Murkowski be authorized 
to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions on Friday, September 
29, 2017 through Monday, October 2, 2017.                    
  Page S6234

[[Page D1023]]

Pai Nomination--Agreement: Senate resumed consideration of the 
nomination of Ajit Varadaraj Pai, of Kansas, to be a Member of the 
Federal Communications Commission.             
  Pages S6202-05, S6205-16
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 55 yeas to 41 nays (Vote No. 208), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                  
Pages S6207-08
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
approximately 3 p.m., on Monday, October 2, 2017, Senate resume 
consideration of the nomination, post-cloture, with the time until 5:30 
p.m. equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees; that 
notwithstanding the provisions of Rule XXII, all post-cloture time on 
the nomination expire at 5:30 p.m.; and that at 5:30 p.m., Senate vote 
on confirmation of the nomination, with no intervening action or 
debate.                                                      
Page S6234
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 95 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. EX. 207), Ralph R. Erickson, of North 
Dakota, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit. 
                                               Pages S6193-S6202, S6235
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 95 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 206), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                      
Page S6197
  J. Cody Hiland, of Arkansas, to be United States Attorney for the 
Eastern District of Arkansas for the term of four years.
  Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., of Utah, to be Ambassador to the Russian 
Federation.
  Joshua J. Minkler, of Indiana, to be United States Attorney for the 
Southern District of Indiana for the term of four years.
  A. Wess Mitchell, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(European and Eurasian Affairs).
  John R. Bass, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Islamic Republic 
of Afghanistan.
  Justin Hicks Siberell, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom 
of Bahrain.
  Byung J. Pak, of Georgia, to be United States Attorney for the 
Northern District of Georgia for the term of four years.
  Robert J. Higdon, Jr., of North Carolina, to be United States 
Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina for the term of 
four years.
  59 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  9 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. 
                                                  Pages S6216-18, S6235
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Thomas Harker, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
  Robert H. McMahon, of Georgia, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Defense.
  John P. Roth, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air 
Force.
  Robert Hunter Kurtz, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development.
  Bruce Landsberg, of South Carolina, to be a Member of the National 
Transportation Safety Board for a term expiring December 31, 2022.
  Dana Baiocco, of Ohio, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27, 2017.
  Raymond Martinez, of New Jersey, to be Administrator of the Federal 
Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
  Kenneth E. Allen, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 
2021.
  A. D. Frazier, of Georgia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2022.
  Jeffrey Smith, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2022.
  James R. Thompson III, of Alabama, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 
2021.
  Irwin Steven Goldstein, of New York, to be Under Secretary of State 
for Public Diplomacy.
  Sean P. Lawler, of Maryland, to be Chief of Protocol, and to have the 
rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service.
  James Randolph Evans, of Georgia, to be Ambassador to Luxembourg.
  Linda A. Puchala, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National 
Mediation Board for a term expiring July 1, 2018.
  James Blew, of California, to be Assistant Secretary for Planning, 
Evaluation, and Policy Development, Department of Education.
  Norman Euell Arflack, of Kentucky, to be United States Marshal for 
the Eastern District of Kentucky for the term of four years.
  Michael T. Baylous, of West Virginia, to be United States Marshal for 
the Southern District of West Virginia for the term of four years.
  David G. Jolley, of Tennessee, to be United States Marshal for the 
Eastern District of Tennessee for the term of four years.

[[Page D1024]]


  Daniel R. McKittrick, of Mississippi, to be United States Marshal for 
the Northern District of Mississippi for the term of four years.
  Jesse Seroyer, Jr., of Alabama, to be United States Marshal for the 
Middle District of Alabama for the term of four years.
  Erin Angela Nealy Cox, of Texas, to be United States Attorney for the 
Northern District of Texas for the term of four years.
  Ryan T. Holte, of Illinois, to be a Judge of the United States Court 
of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years.
  Duane A. Kees, of Arkansas, to be United States Attorney for the 
Western District of Arkansas for the term of four years.
  Matthew D. Krueger, of Wisconsin, to be United States Attorney for 
the Eastern District of Wisconsin for the term of four years.
  Howard C. Nielson, Jr., of Utah, to be United States District Judge 
for the District of Utah.
  Christina E. Nolan, of Vermont, to be United States Attorney for the 
District of Vermont for the term of four years.              
Page S6234
Nominations Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of 
the following nominations:
  Ryan Dean Newman, of New Mexico, to be General Counsel of the 
Department of the Army, which was sent to the Senate on April 28, 2017.
  David G. Ehrhart, of Texas, to be General Counsel of the Department 
of the Air Force, which was sent to the Senate on June 12, 2017. 
                                                             Page S6235
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S6222
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S6222
Measures Read the First Time:                        
  Pages S6222, S6234
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S6222
Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S6222-23
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S6223-25
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S6225-31
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S6221-22
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S6231-32
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S6232
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S6232
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--208) 
                                           Pages S6197, S6202, S6207-08
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 5:17 p.m., 
until 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 2, 2017. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S6234.)