[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2018)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D594-D596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                             Thursday, May 24, 2018

[[Page D594]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2889-S2946
Measures Introduced: Forty bills and ten resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 2945-2984, and S. Res. 522-531.           
  Pages S2923-25
Measures Reported:
  Special Report entitled ``Allocation to Subcommittees of Budget 
Totals for Fiscal Year 2019''. (S. Rept. No. 115-260)
  H.R. 1397, to authorize, direct, facilitate, and expedite the 
transfer of administrative jurisdiction of certain Federal land. (S. 
Rept. No. 115-257)
  S. 2975, making appropriations for energy and water development and 
related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019. (S. 
Rept. No. 115-258)
  S. 2976, making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, 
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2019. (S. Rept. No. 115-259)
  S. Res. 386, urging the Government of the Democratic Republic of the 
Congo to fulfill its agreement to hold credible elections, comply with 
constitutional limits on presidential terms, and fulfill its 
constitutional mandate for a democratic transition of power by taking 
concrete and measurable steps towards holding elections not later than 
December 2018 as outlined in the existing election calendar, and 
allowing for freedom of expression and association, with an amendment 
in the nature of a substitute and with an amended preamble.
  S. 2602, to support carbon dioxide utilization and direct air capture 
research, to facilitate the permitting and development of carbon 
capture, utilization, and sequestration projects and carbon dioxide 
pipelines, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                             Page S2923
Measures Passed:
  Congressional Accountability Act: Senate passed S. 2952, to amend the 
Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to establish protections 
against congressional sexual harassment and discrimination. 
                                                      Pages S2899-S2907
  Veterans Cemetery Benefit Correction Act: Senate passed H.R. 4910, to 
amend title 38, United States Code, to provide outer burial receptacles 
for remains buried in National Parks.                        
  Page S2942
  Hershel ``Woody'' Williams VA Medical Center: Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3663, to 
designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in 
Huntington, West Virginia, as the Hershel ``Woody'' Williams VA Medical 
Center, and the bill was then passed.                        
  Page S2942
  National Public Works Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 528, designating 
the week of May 20 through May 26, 2018, as ``National Public Works 
Week''.                                                      
  Page S2942
  National Minority Health Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 529, 
promoting minority health awareness and supporting the goals and ideals 
of National Minority Health Month in April 2018, which include bringing 
attention to the health disparities faced by minority populations of 
the United States such as American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Asian 
Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Hawaiians or other 
Pacific Islanders.                                       
  Pages S2942-43
  National Brain Tumor Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 531, 
expressing support for the designation of May 2018 as ``National Brain 
Tumor Awareness Month''.                                     
  Page S2943
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, May 25, 2018 at 11 
a.m.; Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at 9 a.m.; Thursday, May 31, 2018 at 11:30 
a.m.; and that when the Senate adjourns on Thursday May 31, 2018, it 
next convene at 3 p.m., on Monday, June 4, 2018.             
  Page S2943
Wier Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of Robert Earl Wier, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern 
District of Kentucky.                                        
  Page S2911

[[Page D595]]


  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, May 24, 2018, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., on 
Monday, June 4, 2018.                                        
Page S2911
  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 S2911
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that Senate 
resume consideration of the nomination at approximately 3 p.m., on 
Monday, June 4, 2018; and that notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 
XXII, the cloture motions filed on Thursday, May 24, 2018 ripen at 5:30 
p.m., on Monday, June 4, 2018.                               
Page S2943
Rodriguez Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Fernando Rodriguez, Jr., to be United States District 
Judge for the Southern District of Texas.                    
  Page S2911
  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 Robert Earl Wier, to be United States District Judge for 
the Eastern District of Kentucky.                            
Page S2911
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S2911
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2911
Axon Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of Annemarie Carney Axon, to be United States District Judge for the 
Northern District of Alabama.                            
  Pages S2911-15
  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 Fernando Rodriguez, Jr., to be United States District 
Judge for the Southern District of Texas.                    
Page S2911
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S2911
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2911
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 69 yeas to 24 nays (Vote No. EX. 109), Jelena McWilliams, of Ohio, 
to be Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation for a term of five years.          
Pages S2889-97
  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. 
                                                         Pages S2889-97
  By 48 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. EX. 111), James Randolph Evans, of 
Georgia, to be Ambassador to Luxembourg.          
Pages S2897-99, S2907
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 49 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 110), Senate agreed to the motion to 
close further debate on the nomination.                      
Page S2897
  David B. Cornstein, of New York, to be Ambassador to Hungary.
  Francis R. Fannon, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(Energy Resources).
  Eliot Pedrosa, of Florida, to be United States Alternate Executive 
Director of the Inter-American Development Bank.
  Jonathan R. Cohen, of California, to be the Deputy Representative of 
the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and 
status of Ambassador, and the Deputy Representative of the United 
States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations.
  Jonathan R. Cohen, of California, to be Representative of the United 
States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United 
Nations, during his tenure of service as Deputy Representative of the 
United States of America to the United Nations.              
Page S2915
  Erica H. MacDonald, of Minnesota, to be United States Attorney for 
the District of Minnesota for the term of four years.
  Scott Patrick Illing, of Louisiana, to be United States Marshal for 
the Eastern District of Louisiana for the term of four years. 
                                                             Page S2915
  Rubydee Calvert, of Wyoming, to be a Member of the Board of Directors 
of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for a term expiring January 
31, 2022.
  Laura Gore Ross, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of 
Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for a term 
expiring January 31, 2022.                                   
Page S2917
  Annie Caputo, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission for the term of five years expiring June 30, 2021.
  David Wright, of South Carolina, to be a Member of the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission for the term of five years expiring June 30, 
2020.

[[Page D596]]


  Jeffery Martin Baran, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission for the term of five years expiring June 30, 
2023.                                                        
Page S2917
  Gregory J. Slavonic, of Oklahoma, to be an Assistant Secretary of the 
Navy.                                                    
Pages S2917-18
  6 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  32 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  4 Coast Guard nominations in the rank of admiral.
  3 Marine Corps nominations in the rank of general.
  4 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and 
Navy.                                          
Pages S2915-16, S2916-17
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Christopher Fall, of Virginia, to be Director of the Office of 
Science, Department of Energy.
  Ronald Gidwitz, of Illinois, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of 
Belgium.
  Donald Lu, of California, to be Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic.
  Ronald Mortensen, of Utah, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(Population, Refugees, and Migration).
  Denise Natali, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(Conflict and Stabilization Operations).
  Alaina B. Teplitz, of Colorado, to be Ambassador to the Democratic 
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and to serve concurrently and without 
additional compensation as Ambassador to the Republic of Maldives.
  Christine J. Toretti, of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador to the 
Republic of Malta.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, and Navy.        
Pages S2943-46
Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the 
following nomination:
  Edward Masso, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Estonia, which was sent to the Senate on September 5, 2017. 
                                                             Page S2946
Messages from the House:                                 
  Pages S2921-22
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S2922
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S2922
Petitions and Memorials:                                 
  Pages S2922-23
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S2923
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S2925-26
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S2926-37
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S2920-21
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S2442
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--111) 
                                           Pages S2896-97, S2897, S2907
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 5:23 p.m., 
until 11 a.m. on Friday, May 25, 2018. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S2943.)