[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 63 (Thursday, April 11, 2019)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D395-D398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                           Thursday, April 11, 2019

[[Page D395]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      See Final Resume of Congressional Activity (including the History 
      of Bills) for the Second Session of the 115th Congress.
      Senate confirmed the nomination of David Bernhardt, of Virginia, 
      to be Secretary of the Interior.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2399-S2460
Measures Introduced: Eighty-one bills and fourteen resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1140-1220, S. Res. 159-171, and S. Con. Res. 
14.                                                      
  Pages S2432-36
Measures Passed:
  Lady Bears of Baylor University Division I Women's Basketball 
Championship: Senate agreed to S. Res. 163, commending and 
congratulating the Lady Bears of Baylor University on winning the 2019 
National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's basketball 
championship.                                                
  Page S2441
  University of Virginia Division I Men's Basketball Championship: 
Senate agreed to S. Res. 164, commending the University of Virginia 
men's basketball team for winning the 2019 National Collegiate Athletic 
Association Division I Men's Basketball Championship.    
  Pages S2441-42
  Importance of Vaccinations and Immunizations: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 165, recognizing the importance of vaccinations and immunizations 
in the United States.                                    
  Pages S2442-43
  Silver Star Service Banner Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 166, 
expressing support for the designation of May 1, 2019, as ``Silver Star 
Service Banner Day''.                                        
  Page S2443
  National Park Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 167, designating the 
week of April 20, 2019, through April 28, 2019, as ``National Park 
Week''.                                                      
  Page S2443
  Financial Literacy Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 168, designating 
April 2019 as ``Financial Literacy Month''.              
  Pages S2443-44
  100th Anniversary of the Founding of Easterseals: Committee on the 
Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 85, 
recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of Easterseals, a 
leading advocate and service provider for children and adults with 
disabilities, including veterans and older adults, and their caregivers 
and families, and the resolution was then agreed to.         
  Page S2455
  National 9-1-1 Education Month: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 131, designating April 
2019 as ``National 9-1-1 Education Month'', and the resolution was then 
agreed to.                                                   
  Page S2455
  National Safe Digging Month: Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
136, supporting the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month, 
and the resolution was then agreed to.                   
  Pages S2455-56
  Authorizing the Use of Emancipation Hall: Senate agreed to S. Con. 
Res. 14, authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol 
Visitor Center for an event to celebrate the birthday of King 
Kamehameha I.                                                
  Page S2456
  Authorizing the Use of Emancipation Hall: Senate agreed to H. Con. 
Res. 31, authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall for a ceremony as 
part of the commemoration of the days of remembrance of victims of the 
Holocaust.                                                   
  Page S2456
  Countering International Parental Child Abduction Month: Senate 
agreed to S. Res. 23, supporting the goals and ideals of Countering 
International Parental Child Abduction Month and expressing the sense 
of the Senate that Congress should

[[Page D396]]

raise awareness of the harm caused by international parental child 
abduction.                                               
  Pages S2456-58
Appointments:
  Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: The Chair, on 
behalf of the Vice President, pursuant to Public Law 94-304, as amended 
by Public Law 99-7, appointed the following Senators as members of the 
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki) during the 
116th Congress: Senators Wicker (Co-Chair), Boozman, Gardner, Rubio, 
and Tillis.                                                  
  Page S2455
  Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China: 
The Chair, on behalf of the President of the Senate, pursuant to Public 
Law 106-286, appointed the following Members to serve on the 
Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China: 
Senators Rubio (Co-Chair), Cotton, Daines, Lankford, and Young. 
                                                             Page S2455
  Senate National Security Working Group: The Chair, on behalf of the 
Majority Leader, pursuant to the provisions of S. Res. 64, adopted 
March 5, 2013, appointed the following Senators as members of the 
Senate National Security Working Group for the 116th Congress: Senators 
Rubio (Administrative Co-Chair), Fischer (Co-Chair), Gardner (Co-
Chair), Sasse (Co-Chair), Blunt, Graham, Inhofe, Risch, and Romney. 
                                                             Page S2455
Authorizing Leadership to Make Appointments--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that, notwithstanding the 
adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President 
Pro Tempore, and the Majority and Minority Leaders be authorized to 
make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or 
interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action 
of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate.                
  Page S2455
Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act--Agreement: A 
unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that upon receipt of 
H.R. 1222, to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to 
facilitate the establishment of additional or expanded public target 
ranges in certain States, if the text is the same as S. 94, to amend 
the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to facilitate the 
establishment of additional or expanded public target ranges in certain 
States, H.R. 1222 be considered read a third time and passed and the 
motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with 
no intervening action or debate; and that with respect to S. 94, 
passage be vitiated and the bill be indefinitely postponed. 
                                                             Page S2458
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: Monday, April 15, 2019, at 3 
p.m.; Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 11:45 a.m.; Monday, April 22, 2019, 
at 9 a.m.; Thursday, April 25, 2019, at 4:30 p.m.; and that when the 
Senate adjourns on Thursday, April 25, 2019, it next convene at 3 p.m., 
on Monday, April 29, 2019.                               
  Pages S2458-59
Cooper Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of William Cooper, of Maryland, to be General Counsel of the 
Department of Energy.                                        
  Page S2421
  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, April 11, 2019, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., on 
Monday, April 29, 2019.                                      
Page S2421
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S2420
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2421
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
approximately 3 p.m., on Monday, April 29, 2019, Senate resume 
consideration of the nomination; and that notwithstanding the 
provisions of Rule XXII, the cloture motions filed during today's 
session ripen at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, April 29, 2019.   
Pages S2458-59
Cooper Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of R. Clarke Cooper, of Florida, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of State (Political-Military Affairs).             
  Page S2421
  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 William Cooper, of Maryland, to be General Counsel of the 
Department of Energy.                                        
Page S2421
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S2421
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2421

[[Page D397]]

Hartogensis Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Gordon Hartogensis, of Connecticut, to be Director of the 
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation for a term of five years. 
                                                             Page S2421
  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 R. Clarke Cooper, of Florida, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of State (Political-Military Affairs).             
Page S2421
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S2421
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2421
Barker Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of J. Campbell Barker, of Texas, to be United States 
District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas.            
  Page S2421
   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 Gordon Hartogensis, of Connecticut, to be Director of the 
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation for a term of five years. 
                                                             Page S2421
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S2421
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2421
Brasher Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Andrew Lynn Brasher, of Alabama, to be United States 
District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama.           
  Page S2421
  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 J. Campbell Barker, of Texas, to be United States 
District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas.            
Page S2421
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S2421
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2421
Ruiz II Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Rodolfo Armando Ruiz II, of Florida, to be United States 
District Judge for the Southern District of Florida.         
  Page S2422
  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 Andrew Lynn Brasher, of Alabama, to be United States 
District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama.           
Page S2422
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                         Pages S2421-22
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2422
Arias-Marxuach--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of Raul M. Arias-Marxuach, of Puerto Rico, to be United States District 
Judge for the District of Puerto Rico.                       
  Page S2422
  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 Rodolfo Armando Ruiz II, of Florida, to be United States 
District Judge for the Southern District of Florida.         
Page S2422
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S2422
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2422
Wolson Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Joshua Wolson, of Pennsylvania, to be United States 
District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.     
  Page S2422
  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 Raul M. Arias-Marxuach, of Puerto Rico, to be United 
States District Judge for the District of Puerto Rico.       
Page S2422
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S2422
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2422
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 56 yeas to 41 nays (Vote No. EX. 77), David Bernhardt, of 
Virginia, to be Secretary of the Interior.     
Pages S2399-S2420, S2459

[[Page D398]]


  Daniel N. Rosenblum, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Uzbekistan.
  Kip Tom, of Indiana, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of 
service as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food 
and Agriculture.
  Robert K. Scott, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Malawi.
  Drew H. Wrigley, of North Dakota, to be United States Attorney for 
the District of North Dakota for the term of four years.
  Wing Chau, of Rhode Island, to be United States Marshal for the 
District of Rhode Island for the term of four years.
  Ramona L. Dohman, of Minnesota, to be United States Marshal for the 
District of Minnesota for the term of four years.
  Nick Edward Proffitt, of Virginia, to be United States Marshal for 
the Eastern District of Virginia for the term of four years. 
                                              Pages S2425, S2458, S2459
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Thomas Peter Feddo, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of the 
Treasury for Investment Security.
  Nazak Nikakhtar, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Industry and Security.
  Stephen M. Dickson, of Georgia, to be Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration for the term of five years.
  Michelle A. Bekkering, of the District of Columbia, to be an 
Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development.
  Catherine Bird, of Texas, to be General Counsel of the Federal Labor 
Relations Authority for a term of five years.
  Jonathan R. Cohen, of California, to be Ambassador to the Arab 
Republic of Egypt.
  Morse H. Tan, of Illinois, to be Ambassador at Large for Global 
Criminal Justice.
  Richard Giacolone, of Virginia, to be Federal Mediation and 
Conciliation Director.
  29 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. 
                                                             Page S2459
Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the 
following nomination:
  Robert Williams, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of State for 
South Asian Affairs, which was sent to the Senate on January 3, 2019. 
                                                             Page S2460
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S2432
Measures Read the First Time:                        
  Pages S2432, S2458
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S2432
Petitions and Memorials:                                     
  Page S2432
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S2436-37
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S2437-39
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S2431-32
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S2446-54
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S2454-55
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--77)   
  Page S2420
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 5:04 p.m., 
until 3 p.m. on Monday, April 15, 2019. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on pages S2458-59.)