[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 196 (Friday, December 1, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1269-D1271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                           Friday, December 1, 2017

[[Page D1269]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.R. 1, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as amended.
      See Resume of Congressional Activity.

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S7653-S7807
Measures Introduced: Three bills and two resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2182-2184, and S. Res. 346-347.               
  Page S7717
Measures Reported:
  S. 1886, to amend subchapter I of chapter 31 of title 5, United 
States Code, to authorize agencies to make noncompetitive temporary and 
term appointments in the competitive service, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 115-189)
  S. 2070, to amend the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act 
of 1994, to reauthorize the Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Alert 
Program, and to promote initiatives that will reduce the risk of injury 
and death relating to the wandering characteristics of some children 
with autism, with an amendment.                              
Page S7717
Measures Passed:
  Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: By 51 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. 303), Senate 
passed H.R. 1, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and 
V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018, 
after taking action on the following motions and amendments proposed 
thereto:                                     
  Pages S7653-55, S7655-7712
Adopted:
  McConnell (for Hatch/Murkowski) Amendment No. 1855 (to Amendment No. 
1618), of a perfecting nature.                               
Page S7700
  By 51 yeas to 50 nays, Vice President voting yea (Vote No. 298), 
Cornyn (for Cruz) Amendment No. 1852 (to Amendment No. 1618), to allow 
limited 529 account funds to be used for elementary and secondary 
education, including homeschool.                         
Pages S7704-05
  By 52 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 302), Merkley Amendment No. 1856 (to 
Amendment No. 1618), of a perfecting nature.             
Pages S7711-12
  McConnell (for Hatch/Murkowski) Amendment No. 1618, of a perfecting 
nature. (By unanimous consent, the amendment, as amended, be considered 
as original text for the purpose of further amendment, and all points 
of order be preserved.)                                      
Page S7712
Rejected:
  By 48 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 290), Wyden (for Nelson) motion to 
commit the bill to the Committee on Finance, with instructions. 
                                                             Page S7656
  By 48 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 291), Baldwin motion to commit the 
bill to the Committee on Finance, with instructions.         
Page S7656
  By 43 yeas to 57 nays (Vote No. 292), Cardin motion to commit the 
bill to the Committee on Finance, with instructions.     
Pages S7665-66
  By 48 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 293), Schumer motion to adjourn until 
12 noon, on Monday, December 4, 2017.                        
Page S7700
  By 48 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 297), Menendez motion to commit the 
bill to the Committee on Finance, with instructions.     
Pages S7703-04
  By 38 yeas to 61 nays (Vote No. 300), Manchin motion to commit the 
bill to the Committee on Finance, with instructions.     
Pages S7706-07
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 46 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 294), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected to the motion to waive all applicable sections of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, for the purposes of McConnell (for 
Sanders) Amendment No. 1720 (to Amendment No. 1618), to create a point 
of order against legislation that cuts Social Security, Medicare, or 
Medicaid benefits. Subsequently, the point of

[[Page D1270]]

order that the amendment was in violation of section 313(b)(1)(a) of 
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, was sustained, and the amendment 
thus fell.                                           
Pages S7700, S7702
  By 48 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 295), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected to the motion to waive all applicable sections of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, for the purposes of McConnell (for 
Brown) Amendment No. 1854 (to Amendment No. 1618), to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the Child Tax Credit. 
Subsequently, the point of order that the amendment was in violation of 
section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, was sustained, 
and the amendment thus fell.                             
Pages S7700-03
  By 29 yeas to 71 nays (Vote No. 296), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected to the motion to waive all applicable sections of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and applicable budget resolutions, 
for the purposes of McConnell (for Rubio/Lee) Amendment No. 1850 (to 
Amendment No. 1618), to increase the refundability of the child tax 
credit. Subsequently, the point of order that the amendment was in 
violation of section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, 
was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.              
Pages S7701-03
  By 34 yeas to 65 nays (Vote No. 299), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected to the motion to waive all applicable sections of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and applicable budget resolutions, 
for the purposes of Cornyn (for Kaine) Amendment No. 1846 (to Amendment 
No. 1618), to provide middle class tax relief. Subsequently, the point 
of order that the amendment was in violation of section 4105 of H. Con. 
Res. 71, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018, 
was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.              
Pages S7704-06
  By 48 yeas to 52 nays (Vote No. 301), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate 
rejected to the motion to waive all applicable sections of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and applicable budget resolutions, 
for the purposes of Cantwell Amendment No. 1717 (to Amendment No. 
1618), of a perfecting nature. Subsequently, the point of order that 
the amendment was in violation of section 302(f) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell. 
                                                         Pages S7707-11
  62nd Anniversary of Whiteman Air Force Base: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
347, commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the dedication of Whiteman 
Air Force Base.                                          
  Pages S7805-06
Nielsen Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Kirstjen Nielsen, of Virginia, to be Secretary of 
Homeland Security.                                           
  Page S7712
  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, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of 
Saturday, December 2, 2017, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., 
on Monday, December 4, 2017.                                 
Page S7712
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S7712
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
approximately 3 p.m., on Monday, December 4, 2017, Senate resume 
consideration of the nomination.                             
Page S7806
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  66 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  1 Army nomination in the rank of general.
  2 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force and Army.     
Pages S7714-15, S7806-07
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Phyllis L. Bayer, of Mississippi, to be an Assistant Secretary of the 
Navy.
  Thomas E. Workman, of New York, to be a Member of the Financial 
Stability Oversight Council for a term of six years.
  Jeffrey DeWit, of Arizona, to be Chief Financial Officer, National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  Tadd M. Johnson, of Minnesota, to be a Member of the Board of 
Trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation for a 
term expiring October 6, 2022.
  Lisa Johnson-Billy, of Oklahoma, to be a Member of the Board of 
Trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation for a 
term expiring August 25, 2018.
  Lisa Johnson-Billy, of Oklahoma, to be a Member of the Board of 
Trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation for a 
term expiring August 25, 2024.
  Erik Bethel, of Florida, to be United States Alternate Executive 
Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 
for a term of two years.
  David T. Fischer, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of 
Morocco.

[[Page D1271]]


  Judy Lynn Shelton, of Virginia, to be United States Director of the 
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
  James Edwin Williams, of Utah, to be Chief Financial Officer, 
Department of Labor.
  Mark Schneider, of the District of Columbia, to be Director of the 
Institute of Education Science, Department of Education for a term of 
six years.
  Barbara Stewart, of Illinois, to be Chief Executive Officer of the 
Corporation for National and Community Service.
  Jelena McWilliams, of Ohio, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for a term of six years.
  Jelena McWilliams, of Ohio, to be Chairperson of the Board of 
Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for a term of 
five years.
  Matthew D. Harris, of Utah, to be United States Marshal for the 
District of Utah for the term of four years.
  Ted G. Kamatchus, of Iowa, to be United States Marshal for the 
Southern District of Iowa for the term of four years.
  Joseph P. Kelly, of Nebraska, to be United States Attorney for the 
District of Nebraska for the term of four years.
  Joseph D. McClain, of Indiana, to be United States Marshal for the 
Southern District of Indiana for the term of four years.
  Scott W. Murray, of New Hampshire, to be United States Attorney for 
the District of New Hampshire for the term of four years.
  David A. Weaver, of Colorado, to be United States Marshal for the 
District of Colorado for the term of four years.
  David C. Weiss, of Delaware, to be United States Attorney for the 
District of Delaware for the term of four years.
  7 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, and Navy.            
Page S7806
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S7716
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S7717
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S7717
Petitions and Memorials:                                     
  Page S7717
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S7717-19
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Additional Statements:
Amendments Submitted:                                 
  Pages S7720-S7805
Privileges of the Floor:                                 
  Pages S7805-06
Record Votes: Fourteen record votes were taken today. (Total--303) 
                       Pages S7656, S7665-66, S7700, S7702-07, S7711-12
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 1, 2017 and 
adjourned at 2:06 a.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2017, until 3 p.m. on 
Monday, December 4, 2017. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the 
Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S7806.)