[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 188 (Thursday, November 16, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1230-D1232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                        Thursday, November 16, 2017

[[Page D1230]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 2810, 
      National Defense Authorization Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S7269-S7312
Measures Introduced: Twenty-five bills and nine resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 2136-2160, S. Res. 335-342, and S. Con. Res. 
30.                                                      
  Pages S7296-97
Measures Reported:
  S. 1591, to impose sanctions with respect to the Democratic People's 
Republic of Korea, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 2099, to provide for the management by the Secretary of 
Agriculture of certain Federal land.                         
Page S7296
Measures Passed:
  Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: Senate passed H.R. 4374, to 
amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize additional 
emergency uses for medical products to reduce deaths and severity of 
injuries caused by agents of war.                            
  Page S7270
  Reaffirming the commitment of the U.S. to Cambodia: Senate agreed to 
S. Res. 279, reaffirming the commitment of the United States to promote 
democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Cambodia, after 
agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and 
the following amendment proposed thereto:                
  Pages S7308-10
  McConnell (for McCain) Amendment No. 1586, to acknowledge the 
contributions of nongovernmental organizations in Cambodia. 
                                                         Pages S7308-10
  Drive Safer Sunday: Senate agreed to S. Res. 337, designating 
November 26, 2017, as ``Drive Safer Sunday''.                
  Page S7310
  Commending and congratulating the Houston Astros: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 338, commending and congratulating the Houston Astros on winning 
the 2017 Major League Baseball World Series.                 
  Page S7310
  National Runaway Prevention Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 339, 
designating November 2017 as ``National Runaway Prevention Month''. 
                                                             Page S7310
  3d Infantry Division 100th Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Res. 340, 
commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 3d Infantry Division. 
                                                             Page S7310
Conference Reports:
  National Defense Authorization Act: Senate agreed to the conference 
report to accompany 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.
                                                         Pages S7276-78
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, November 17, 2017 at 
11 a.m.; Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 11 a.m.; Friday, November 24, 
2017 at 11 a.m.; and that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, November 
24, 2017, it next convene at 4 p.m., on Monday, November 27, 2017. 
                                                             Page S7310
Friedrich Nomination--Agreement: Senate resumed consideration of the 
nomination of Dabney Langhorne Friedrich, of California, to be United 
States District Judge for the District of Columbia.          
  Page S7275
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:

[[Page D1231]]


  By 93 yeas to 4 nays (Vote No. 279), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                      
Page S7276
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that all post-
cloture time on the nomination be yielded back; and that Senate vote on 
confirmation of the nomination at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, November 27, 
2017.                                                        
Page S7278
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
approximately 4 p.m., on Monday, November 27, 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; and 
that notwithstanding the provisions of Rule XXII, the motion to invoke 
cloture on the nomination of Gregory G. Katsas, of Virginia, to be 
United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, ripen 
following disposition of the nomination of Dabney Langhorne Friedrich. 
                                                             Page S7310
Katsas Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Gregory G. Katsas, of Virginia, to be United States 
Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit.          
  Page S7278
  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 Dabney Langhorne Friedrich, of California, to be United 
States District Judge for the District of Columbia.      
Pages S7278-79
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S7278
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S7278
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 54 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. EX. 277), Joseph Otting, of Nevada, 
to be Comptroller of the Currency for a term of five years. 
                                                         Pages S7270-75
  By a unanimous vote of 96 yeas (Vote No. EX. 280), Donald C. Coggins, 
Jr., of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the 
District of South Carolina.                                  
Page S7278
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 96 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 278), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                  
Pages S7275-76
  Brenda Burman, of Arizona, to be Commissioner of Reclamation.
  Joseph Kernan, of Florida, to be Under Secretary of Defense for 
Intelligence.
  Guy B. Roberts, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
  Robert L. Wilkie, of North Carolina, to be Under Secretary of Defense 
for Personnel and Readiness.
  Robert Behler, of Pennsylvania, to be Director of Operational Test 
and Evaluation, Department of Defense.
  Thomas B. Modly, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary of the Navy.
  James Thomas Abbott, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Labor 
Relations Authority for a term of five years expiring July 1, 2020.
  Colleen Kiko, of North Dakota, to be a Member of the Federal Labor 
Relations Authority for a term of five years expiring July 29, 2022.
  James F. Geurts, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Secretary of the 
Navy.
  Rebecca Eliza Gonzales, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of 
Lesotho.
  Robert H. McMahon, of Georgia, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Defense.
  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.
  Ernest W. Dubester, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Labor 
Relations Authority for a term of five years expiring July 1, 2019.
  Shon J. Manasco, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air 
Force.
  Lisa A. Johnson, of Washington, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Namibia.
  Routine lists in the Foreign Service.                  
Pages S7311-12
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Melissa F. Burnison, of Kentucky, to be an Assistant Secretary of 
Energy (Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs).
  John G. Vonglis, of New York, to be Chief Financial Officer, 
Department of Energy.
  Linda Capuano, of Texas, to be Administrator of the Energy 
Information Administration.
  Johnny Collett, of Kentucky, to be Assistant Secretary for Special 
Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education.
  Michael K. Atkinson, of Maryland, to be Inspector General of the 
Intelligence Community, Office of the Director of National 
Intelligence.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard.     
Page S7310
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S7295
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S7295
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S7295-96

[[Page D1232]]

Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S7296
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S7297-98
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:                  
  Page S7298
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S7293-95
Amendments Submitted:                                        
  Page S7308
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S7308
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S7308
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--280) 
                                              Pages S7275, S7276, S7278
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 5:45 p.m., 
until 11 a.m. on Friday, November 17, 2017. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S7310.)