[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 200 (Thursday, December 7, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1295-D1296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                         Thursday, December 7, 2017

[[Page D1295]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed H.J. Res. 123, Further Continuing Appropriations 
      Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S7897-S7935
Measures Introduced: Ten bills and seven resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2204-2213, S.J. Res. 50, and S. Res. 350-355. 
                                                         Pages S7929-30
Measures Reported:
  S. Res. 150, recognizing threats to freedom of the press and 
expression around the world and reaffirming freedom of the press as a 
priority in efforts of the United States Government to promote 
democracy and good governance.
  S. 1901, to require global economic and political pressure to support 
diplomatic denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, including through 
the imposition of sanctions with respect to the Government of the 
Democratic People's Republic of Korea and any enablers of the 
activities of that Government, and to reauthorize the North Korean 
Human Rights Act of 2004, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S7929
Measures Passed:
  Further Continuing Appropriations Act: By 81 yeas to 14 nays (Vote 
No. 311), Senate passed H.J. Res. 123, making further continuing 
appropriations for fiscal year 2018.                     
  Pages S7923-25
  State of Mississippi Bicentennial: Senate agreed to S. Res. 351, 
recognizing the bicentennial of the State of Mississippi on December 
10, 2017.                                                    
  Page S7935
  National Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
352, designating the week of December 9, 2017, as ``National Nurse-
Managed Health Clinic Week''.                                
  Page S7935
  Wreaths Across America Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 353, designating 
December 16, 2017, as ``Wreaths Across America Day''.        
  Page S7935
House Messages:
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Pursuant to the order of Wednesday, December 6, 
2017, on H.R. 1, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II 
and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018, 
the Chair was authorized to appoint the following conferees on the part 
of the Senate: Senators Hatch, Enzi, Murkowski, Cornyn, Thune, Portman, 
Scott, Toomey, Wyden, Sanders, Murray, Cantwell, Stabenow, Menendez, 
and Carper.                                                  
  Page S7925
Grasz Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of Leonard Steven Grasz, of Nebraska, to be United States Circuit Judge 
for the Eighth Circuit.                                      
  Page S7925
  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 
Thursday, December 7, 2017, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m. 
on Monday, December 11, 2017.                                
Page S7925
  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 S7925
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
approximately 4 p.m., on Monday, December 11, 2017, Senate resume 
consideration of the nomination.                             
Page S7935
Willett Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Don R. Willett, of Texas, to be a Circuit Judge, United 
States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.               
  Page S7925
  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 Leonard Steven Grasz, of Nebraska, to be United States 
Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit.                        
Page S7925

[[Page D1296]]


  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S7925
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S7925
Ho Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination of 
James C. Ho, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth 
Circuit.                                                 
  Pages S7925-26
  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 Don R. Willett, of Texas, to be a Circuit Judge, United 
States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.               
Page S7926
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S7925
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S7926
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that 
notwithstanding the provisions of Rule XXII, the cloture motions filed 
during today's session ripen at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, December 11, 
2017.                                                        
Page S7926
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 61 yeas to 38 nays (Vote No. EX. 310), Joseph Balash, of Alaska, 
to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior.     
Pages S7905-09, S7935
  Susan Parker Bodine, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Administrator of 
the Environmental Protection Agency.                 
Pages S7909, S7935
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S7927
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S7927
Measures Placed on the Calendar:                             
  Page S7927
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S7927-28
Petitions and Memorials:                                     
  Page S7929
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S7929
Additional Cosponsors:                                       
  Page S7930
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S7930-34
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S7926-27
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S7934-35
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S7935
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--311) 
                                                     Pages S7909, S7925
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 6:21 p.m., 
until 4 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2017. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S7935.)