[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 197 (Thursday, December 13, 2018)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1279-D1282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                        Thursday, December 13, 2018

[[Page D1279]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed S.J. Res. 54, Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen, 
      as amended.
      Senate passed S. 3749, Amending the Congressional Accountability 
      Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S7531-S7626
Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and nine resolutions were introduced, 
as follows: S. 3749-3759, S.J. Res. 69, and S. Res. 724-731. 
                                                             Page S7586
Measures Reported:
  S. 1953, to amend the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 and the Indian 
Law Enforcement Reform Act to provide for advancements in public safety 
services to Indian communities, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. (S. Rept. No. 115-433)                       
Pages S7583-84
Measures Passed:
  Amending the Congressional Accountability Act: Senate passed S. 3749, 
to amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to reform the 
procedures provided under such Act for the initiation, review, and 
resolution of claims alleging that employing offices of the legislative 
branch have violated the rights and protections provided to their 
employees under such Act, including protections against sexual 
harassment.                                              
  Pages S7540-48
  Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen: By 56 yeas to 41 nays (Vote No. 
266), Senate passed S.J. Res. 54, to direct the removal of United 
States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have 
not been authorized by Congress, after taking action on the following 
amendments proposed thereto:                             
  Pages S7534-65
Adopted:
  By 58 yeas to 41 nays (Vote No. 263), Young Amendment No. 4080, to 
clarify that this resolution prohibits United States Armed Forces from 
refueling non-United States aircraft conducting missions as part of the 
ongoing civil war in Yemen.                              
Pages S7534-65
  By a unanimous vote of 99 yeas (Vote No. 264), Corker (for Cornyn) 
Modified Amendment No. 4096, to provide that nothing in the joint 
resolution shall be construed to influence or disrupt any military 
operations and cooperation with Israel.                  
Pages S7534-65
  Cornyn Amendment No. 4090, to require a report assessing risks posed 
by ceasing support operations with respect to the conflict between the 
Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis in Yemen.            
Pages S7534-65
   Cornyn Amendment No. 4095, to require a report assessing the 
increased risk of terrorist attacks in the United States if the 
Government of Saudi Arabia were to cease Yemen-related intelligence 
sharing with the United States.                          
Pages S7534-65
Rejected:
  Cotton Amendment No. 4097, to clarify that the requirement to remove 
United States Armed Forces does not apply to the provision of materials 
and advice intended to reduce civilian casualties or further enable 
adherence to the Law of Armed Conflict.                  
Pages S7534-64
  By 45 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 265), Cotton Amendment No. 4098, to 
clarify that the requirement to remove United States Armed Forces does 
not apply to forces engaged in operations to support efforts to disrupt 
Houthi attacks against locations outside of Yemen, such as ballistic 
missile attacks, unmanned aerial vehicle attacks, maritime attacks 
against United States or international vessels, or terrorist attacks 
against civilian targets.                                
Pages S7534-64
  Supporting a Diplomatic Solution in Yemen and Condemning the Murder 
of Jamal Khashoggi: Senate passed S.J. Res. 69, supporting a Diplomatic 
Solution in Yemen and Condemning the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi. 
                                                         Pages S7565-66

[[Page D1280]]

  Stigler Act Amendments: Senate passed H.R. 2606, to amend the Act of 
August 4, 1947 (commonly known as the Stigler Act), with respect to 
restrictions applicable to Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes of 
Oklahoma, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                             Page S7576
  Lankford/Inhofe Amendment No. 4110, to clarify certain provisions. 
                                                             Page S7576
  Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act: Senate passed 
S. 2599, to provide for the transfer of certain Federal land in the 
State of Minnesota for the benefit of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, 
after agreeing to the committee amendments.              
  Pages S7576-77
  Gila River Indian Community Federal Rights-of-Way, Easements and 
Boundary Clarification Act: Senate passed H.R. 4032, to confirm 
undocumented Federal rights-of-way or easements on the Gila River 
Indian Reservation, clarify the northern boundary of the Gila River 
Indian Community's Reservation, to take certain land located in 
Maricopa County and Pinal County, Arizona, into trust for the benefit 
of the Gila River Indian Community.                          
  Page S7578
  Indian Child Welfare Act 40th Anniversary: Committee on Indian 
Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 707, 
commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 
1978, and the resolution was then agreed to.                 
  Page S7578
  Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Act: Senate passed S. 
2827, to amend the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Act, 
after withdrawing the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, and agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                             Page S7621
  McConnell (for Barrasso) Amendment No. 4112, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S7621
  Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act: Senate passed S. 645, 
to require the Secretary of Commerce to conduct an assessment and 
analysis of the effects of broadband deployment and adoption on the 
economy of the United States, after agreeing to the committee amendment 
in the nature of a substitute.                           
  Pages S7621-22
  Correcting Miscalculations in Veterans' Pensions Act: Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs was discharged from further 
consideration of H.R. 4431, to amend title 5, United States Code, to 
provide for interest payments by agencies in the case of administrative 
error in processing certain annuity deposits for prior military service 
or certain volunteer service, and the bill was then passed. 
                                                             Page S7622
  Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act: Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs was discharged from further consideration of 
H.R. 6160, to amend title 5, United States Code, to clarify the sources 
of the authority to issue regulations regarding certifications and 
other criteria applicable to legislative branch employees under Wounded 
Warriors Federal Leave Act, and the bill was then passed.    
  Page S7622
  Preventing Maternal Deaths Act: Senate passed H.R. 1318, to support 
States in their work to save and sustain the health of mothers during 
pregnancy, childbirth, and in the postpartum period, to eliminate 
disparities in maternal health outcomes for pregnancy-related and 
pregnancy-associated deaths, to identify solutions to improve health 
care quality and health outcomes for mothers.                
  Page S7622
  CURD Act: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions was 
discharged from further consideration of S. 2322, to amend the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to define the term natural cheese, and the 
bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment 
proposed thereto:                                            
  Page S7622
  McConnell (for Johnson/Wyden) Amendment No. 4113, in the nature of 
substitute.                                                  
Page S7622
  National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act: Committee on 
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs was discharged from further 
consideration of S. 2863, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to 
mint a coin in commemoration of the opening of the National Law 
Enforcement Museum in the District of Columbia, and the bill was then 
passed.                                                      
  Page S7623
  AMBER Alert Nationwide Act: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged 
from further consideration of S. 3461, to amend the PROTECT Act to 
expand the national AMBER Alert system to territories of the United 
States, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following 
amendment proposed thereto:                              
  Pages S7624-25
  McConnell (for Schatz) Amendment No. 4111, to strike the funding 
provision.                                               
Pages S7624-25
  Honoring the Life and Legacy of Rebecca Teresa Weichhand: Committee 
on the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
717, honoring the life and legacy of Rebecca Teresa Weichhand, and the 
resolution was then agreed to.                               
  Page S7625
  Human Rights Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 731, designating December 
10, 2018, as ``Human Rights Day'' and recognizing the 70th anniversary 
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.                
  Page S7625

[[Page D1281]]

  National Quantum Initiative Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6227, 
to provide for a coordinated Federal program to accelerate quantum 
research and development for the economic and national security of the 
United States, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the 
following amendment proposed thereto:                        
  Page S7625
  McConnell (for Thune/Nelson) Amendment No. 4114, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S7625
House Messages:
Save Our Seas Act--Agreement: Senate began consideration of the 
amendment of the House of Representatives to S. 756, to reauthorize and 
amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international action to reduce 
marine debris, taking action on the following motions and amendments 
proposed thereto:                                        
  Pages S7566-78
Pending:
  McConnell motion to concur in the amendment of the House to the bill, 
with McConnell (for Grassley) Amendment No. 4108, to provide for 
programs to help reduce the risk that prisoners will recidivate upon 
release from prison.                                     
Pages S7566-78
  Division I of McConnell (for Kennedy/Cotton) Amendment No. 4109 (to 
Amendment No. 4108), to require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons 
to notify each victim of the offense for which the prisoner is 
imprisoned the date on which the prisoner will be released. 
                                                         Pages S7566-78
  Division II of McConnell (for Kennedy/Cotton) Amendment No. 4109 (to 
Amendment No. 4108), to require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons 
to notify each victim of the offense for which the prisoner is 
imprisoned the date on which the prisoner will be released. 
                                                         Pages S7566-78
  Division III of McConnell (for Kennedy/Cotton) Amendment No. 4109 (to 
Amendment No. 4108), to require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons 
to notify each victim of the offense for which the prisoner is 
imprisoned the date on which the prisoner will be released. 
                                                         Pages S7566-78
  A motion was entered to close further debate on McConnell motion to 
concur in the amendment of the House to the bill, with McConnell (for 
Grassley) Amendment No. 4108 (listed above), 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 13, 
2018, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, December 
17, 2018.                                                    
Page S7567
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
approximately 3 p.m., on Monday, December 17, 2018, Senate resume 
consideration of the House Message to accompany the bill, and that 
notwithstanding the provisions of Rule XXII, the filing deadline for 
the first-degree amendments to the House Message to accompany the bill 
be at 3:15 p.m.; and that the motion to invoke cloture on McConnell 
motion to concur in the amendment of the House to the bill, with 
McConnell (for Grassley) Amendment No. 4108, ripen at 5:30 p.m. 
                                                             Page S7626
Appointments:
  Cyberspace Solarium Commission: The Chair, on behalf of the 
Democratic Leader, in consultation with the Ranking Member of the 
Senate Committee on Armed Services, pursuant to Public Law 115-232, 
appointed the following individual to serve as a member of the 
Cyberspace Solarium Commission: Suzanne Spaulding of Virginia. 
                                                             Page S7626
  Syria Study Group: The Chair, pursuant to Public Law 115-254, on 
behalf of the Democratic Leader of the Senate, appointed the following 
individual as a member of the Syria Study Group: Dana L. Stroul, of 
Maryland.                                                    
  Page S7626
Retiring Members Tributes--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that there be printed as a Senate document a 
compilation of materials from the Congressional Record in tribute to 
retiring Members of the 115th Congress, and that Members have until 
Friday, December 21, 2018, to submit such tributes.      
  Pages S7625-26
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Johnathan Bragg, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Railroad 
Retirement Board for a term expiring August 28, 2019.
  Johnathan Bragg, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Railroad 
Retirement Board for a term expiring August 28, 2024.
  Thomas Jayne, of Missouri, to be a Member of the Railroad Retirement 
Board for a term expiring August 28, 2023.                   
Page S7626
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S7582
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S7582
Measures Placed on the Calendar:                  
  Pages S7531, S7582-83
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S7583
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S7583
Petitions and Memorials:                                     
  Page S7583
Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S7584-86
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S7586-88
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S7588-97
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S7581-82

[[Page D1282]]

Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S7600-20
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S7620-21
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--266) 
                                                         Pages S7563-65
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 6:59 p.m., 
until 3 p.m. on Monday, December 17, 2018. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S7626.)