[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 166 (Monday, October 16, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1088-D1089]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                           Monday, October 16, 2017

[[Page D1088]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S6383-6420
Measures Introduced: Seven bills and four resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 1958-1964, S. Res. 291-292, and S. Con. Res. 25-26. 
                                                         Pages S6403-04
Measures Reported:
  Reported on Friday, October 13, during the adjournment:
  S. Con. Res. 25, setting forth the congressional budget for the 
United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the 
appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027.
  Reported on Monday, October 16:
  S. 21, to amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to provide 
that major rules of the executive branch shall have no force or effect 
unless a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law, with 
amendments. (S. Rept. No. 115-169)
  S. 886, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an 
Acquisition Review Board in the Department of Homeland Security. (S. 
Rept. No. 115-170)
  S. 1208, to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide for 
an option under the Secure Mail Initiative under which a person to whom 
a document is sent under that initiative may elect to have the United 
States Postal Service use the Hold for Pickup service or the Signature 
Confirmation service in delivering the document, with amendments. (S. 
Rept. No. 115-171)
  S. 1584, to amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to reauthorize 
the Judicial Conference of the United States to redact sensitive 
information contained in financial disclosure reports of judicial 
officers and employees. (S. Rept. No. 115-172)
  S. Res. 211, condemning the violence and persecution in Chechnya, 
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and with an amended 
preamble.
  S. Res. 245, calling on the Government of Iran to release unjustly 
detained United States citizens and legal permanent resident aliens. 
                                                             Page S6403
Measures Passed:
  Recognizing the African-American Soldiers of the 333rd Field 
Artillery Battalion: Committee on Armed Services was discharged from 
further consideration of S. Res. 99, recognizing the 11 African-
American soldiers of the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion who were 
massacred in Wereth, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge in 
December 1944, and the resolution was then agreed to.        
  Page S6409
  Condemning the Attack at a Country Music Festival in Las Vegas, 
Nevada: Senate agreed to S. Res. 292, condemning the brutal and 
senseless attack at a country music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, 
honoring the memory of the victims of the deadly shooting, offering 
condolences to, and expressing support for, the families and friends of 
the victims and all of the individuals who were affected by the attack, 
and applauding the dedication and bravery of law enforcement officers, 
firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, medical 
professionals, hotel security and staff, and community members in 
responding to the attack.                                    
  Page S6409
  Authorizing the Use of Emancipation Hall: Senate agreed to S. Con. 
Res. 26, authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol 
Visitor Center for the unveiling of the American Prisoners of War/
Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Chair of Honor.                  
  Page S6049
  Child Protection Improvements Act: Senate passed S. 705, to amend the 
National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a voluntary national 
criminal history background check system and criminal history review 
program for certain individuals who, related to their employment, have 
access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities, 
after withdrawing the committee amendments, and agreeing to the 
following amendments proposed thereto:                   
  Pages S6409-10
  McConnell (for Hatch) Amendment No. 1112, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S6410
  McConnell (for Hatch) Amendment No. 1113, to amend the title. 
                                                             Page S6410

[[Page D1089]]

  Child Protection Improvements Act: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of H.R. 695, to amend the 
National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a voluntary national 
criminal history background check system and criminal history review 
program for certain individuals who, related to their employment, have 
access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities, and 
the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendments 
proposed thereto:                                        
  Pages S6410-11
  McConnell (for Hatch) Amendment No. 1114, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S6411
  McConnell (for Hatch) Amendment No. 1115, to amend the title. 
                                                             Page S6411
Appointments:
  Congressional Award Board: The Chair, on behalf of the Majority 
Leader, pursuant to Public Law 96-114, as amended, appointed the 
following individual to the Congressional Award Board: Laura O'Conner 
of Utah vice Wiley Dobbs of Idaho.                           
  Page S6409
Trachtenberg Nomination--Agreement: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of David Joel Trachtenberg, of Virginia, to be a Principal 
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense.                       
  Pages S6390-92
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the nomination at approximately 10 a.m., on Tuesday, 
October 17, 2017, as provided for under the order of Thursday, October 
5, 2017.                                                     
Page S6411
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 70 yeas to 23 nays (Vote No. EX. 217), Callista L. Gingrich, of 
Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Holy See.       
Pages S6383-90, S6420
  Henry Kerner, of California, to be Special Counsel, Office of Special 
Counsel, for the term of five years.                 
Pages S6392, S6420
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Kirstjen Nielsen, of Virginia, to be Secretary of Homeland Security.
  Alex A. Beehler, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of the 
Army.
  James E. McPherson, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the 
Department of the Army.
  John C. Rood, of Arizona, to be Under Secretary of Defense for 
Policy.
  Barry Lee Myers, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Oceans and Atmosphere.
  Hannibal Ware, of the Virgin Islands, to be Inspector General, Small 
Business Administration.
  Kathleen Hartnett White, of Texas, to be a Member of the Council on 
Environmental Quality.
  Gail S. Ennis, of Maryland, to be Inspector General, Social Security 
Administration.
  Stephen Akard, of Indiana, to be Director General of the Foreign 
Service.
  Brock D. Bierman, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator of 
the United States Agency for International Development.
  Yleem D. S. Poblete, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
State (Verification and Compliance).
  Preston Rutledge, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of Labor.
  John Edward Dupuy, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Office of 
Personnel Management.
  James C. Ho, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 
Fifth Circuit.
  Jon J. Rychalski, of Montana, to be Chief Financial Officer, 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
  5 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  48 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  3 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. 
                                                         Pages S6411-20
Messages from the House:                               
  Pages S6399-6400
Measures Referred:                                       
  Pages S6400-01
Measures Placed on the Calendar:                             
  Page S6401
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S6401
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S6401-03
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S6404-05
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S6405-06
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S6398-99
Amendments Submitted:                                        
  Page S6406
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--217) 
                                                             Page S6390
Adjournment: Senate convened at 4 p.m. and adjourned at 6:44 p.m., 
until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2017. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S6411.)