[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 205 (Wednesday, December 18, 2019)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1397-D1399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                       Wednesday, December 18, 2019

[[Page D1397]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S7123-S7166
Measures Introduced: Twenty-six bills and two resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 3080-3105, S. Res. 457, and S. Con. Res. 31.
                                                         Pages S7156-57
Measures Reported:
  S. 2365, to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to authorize 
urban Indian organizations to enter into arrangements for the sharing 
of medical services and facilities. (S. Rept. No. 116-180)
  S. Res. 260, recognizing the importance of sustained United States 
leadership to accelerating global progress against maternal and child 
malnutrition and supporting the commitment of the United States Agency 
for International Development to global nutrition through the Multi-
Sectoral Nutrition Strategy, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute and with an amended preamble.
  S. 482, to strengthen the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, to 
combat international cybercrime, and to impose additional sanctions 
with respect to the Russian Federation, with an amendment in the nature 
of a substitute.
  S. 641, to update the map of, and modify the maximum acreage 
available for inclusion in, the Yucca House National Monument, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 774, to adjust the boundary of the Santa Monica Mountains National 
Recreation Area to include the Rim of the Valley Corridor, with 
amendments.
  S. 1262, to designate certain land administered by the Bureau of Land 
Management and the Forest Service in the State of Oregon as wilderness 
and national recreation areas, to withdraw certain land located in 
Curry County and Josephine County, Oregon, from all forms of entry, 
appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, location, entry, 
and patent under the mining laws, and operation under the mineral 
leasing and geothermal leasing laws, with amendments.
  S. 1890, to provide for grants for energy efficiency improvements and 
renewable energy improvements at public school facilities.
  S. 2108, to amend section 6903 of title 31, United States Code, to 
provide for additional population tiers.
  S. 2393, to promote a 21st century energy workforce, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 2399, to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to improve State loan 
eligibility for projects for innovative technology, with amendments.
  S. 2660, to establish a grant program for wind energy research, 
development, and demonstration, with amendments.         
Pages S7155-56
Measures Passed:
  Naval Air Station Pensacola: Senate agreed to S. Res. 457, condemning 
the terrorist attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola on Friday, December 
6, 2019, honoring the members of the Navy who lost their lives in the 
attack, and expressing support and prayers for all individuals affected 
by the attack.                                           
  Pages S7136-41
  Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act: Senate passed S. 153, to 
promote veteran involvement in STEM education, computer science, and 
scientific research, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.                                  
  Pages S7164-65
  Vera C. Rubin Observatory Designation Act: Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation was discharged from further consideration 
of H.R. 3196, to designate the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope as the 
``Vera C. Rubin Observatory'', and the bill was then passed. 
                                                             Page S7165
  Richard G. Lugar Post Office: Senate passed S. 3105, to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 456 North 
Meridian Street in Indianapolis, Indiana, as the ``Richard G. Lugar 
Post Office''.                                               
  Page S7165
  2020 Census: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 31, recognizing the 
importance and significance of the 2020 Census and encouraging 
individuals, families,

[[Page D1398]]

and households across the United States to participate in the 2020 
Census to ensure a complete and accurate count.              
  Page S7165
  Human Rights Day: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from 
further consideration of S. Res. 450, recognizing the 71st anniversary 
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the celebration of 
``Human Rights Day'', and the resolution was then agreed to. 
                                                             Page S7165
House Messages:
National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act--Agreement: A 
unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at approximately 
9:30 a.m., on Thursday, December 19, 2019, Senate resume consideration 
of the amendment of the House to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 
1865, 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, with the time until 11 a.m., equally divided 
between the two Leaders, or their designees; and that notwithstanding 
the provisions of Rules XXII, the motions to invoke cloture filed 
during the session of Tuesday, December 17, 2019, ripen at 11 a.m., on 
Thursday, December 19, 2019.                                 
  Page S7166
Appointments:
  United States Commission on International Religious Freedom: The 
Chair, on behalf of the President pro tempore, upon the recommendation 
of the Democratic Leader, pursuant to the Public Law 105-292, as 
amended by Public Law 106-55, Public Law 107-228, and Public Law 112-
75, appointed the following individual to the United States Commission 
on International Religious Freedom: Rabbi Sharon A. Kleinbaum of New 
York vice Ahmed M. Khawaja of California.                    
  Page S7165
Message from the President: Senate received the following message from 
the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the continuation of the 
national emergency with respect to serious human rights abuse and 
corruption that was originally declared in Executive Order 13818 of 
December 20, 2017; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM-40)                          
Page S7154
Singhal Nomination--Agreement: Senate resumed consideration of the 
nomination of Anuraag Singhal, of Florida, to be United States District 
Judge for the Southern District of Florida.          
  Pages S7136, S7141
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 76 yeas to 18 nays (Vote No. EX. 403), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.                   
Page S7136
Marston Nomination--Cloture: By 85 yeas to 7 nays (Vote No. EX. 404), 
Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination 
of Karen Spencer Marston, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District 
Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.          
  Pages S7141-42
Traynor Nomination--Cloture: By 51 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. EX. 405), 
Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination 
of Daniel Mack Traynor, of North Dakota, to be United States District 
Judge for the District of North Dakota.                      
  Page S7142
Dishman Nomination--Cloture: By 76 yeas to 17 nays (Vote No. EX. 406), 
Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination 
of Jodi W. Dishman, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge for 
the Western District of Oklahoma.                        
  Pages S7142-43
Gallagher Nomination--Cloture: By 82 yeas to 10 nays (Vote No. EX. 
407), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the 
nomination of John M. Gallagher, of Pennsylvania, to be United States 
District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.     
  Page S7143
Jones II Nomination--Cloture: By 88 yeas to 5 nays (Vote No. EX. 408), 
Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination 
of Bernard Maurice Jones II, of Oklahoma, to be United States District 
Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma.                  
  Page S7143
Vyskocil Nomination--Cloture: By 89 yeas to 4 nays (Vote No. EX. 409), 
Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination 
of Mary Kay Vyskocil, of New York, to be United States District Judge 
for the Southern District of New York.                   
  Pages S7143-44
Riggs Nomination--Cloture: By 92 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. EX. 410), 
Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination 
of Kea Whetzal Riggs, of New Mexico, to be United States District Judge 
for the District of New Mexico.                              
  Page S7144
Brown Nomination--Cloture: By 91 yeas to 2 nays (Vote No. EX. 411), 
Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination 
of Gary Richard Brown, of New York, to be United States District Judge 
for the Eastern District of New York.                    
  Pages S7144-45
Davis Nomination--Cloture: Senate resumed consideration of the 
nomination of Stephanie Dawkins

[[Page D1399]]

Davis, of Michigan, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern 
District of Michigan.                                        
  Page S7145
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 90 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. EX. 412), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.                   
Page S7145
Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that if cloture is invoked on the nominations filed on 
Monday, December 16, 2019, Senate vote on confirmation of the 
nominations at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, in 
consultation with the Democratic Leader.                     
  Page S7136
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the motions 
to invoke cloture on the nominations of Robert J. Colville, of 
Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Western 
District of Pennsylvania, and Lewis J. Liman, of New York, to be United 
States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, be 
withdrawn, and that the votes on confirmation of the nominations occur 
in the series of votes in the previous order, with all other provisions 
remaining in effect.                                         
Page S7143
Vote Correction--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that Senator Hassan be permitted to change her vote from yea 
to nay on Vote No. 380 since it will not affect the outcome. 
                                                             Page S7126
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 56 yeas to 38 nays (Vote No. EX. 402), Matthew Walden McFarland, 
of Ohio, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District 
of Ohio.                                                 
Pages S7126-36
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 55 yeas to 38 nays (Vote No. EX. 401), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.               
Pages S7126-36
  1 Army nomination in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army.                      
Page S7149
Messages from the House:                                 
  Pages S7154-55
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S7155
Measures Read the First Time:                                
  Page S7155
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S7155
Petitions and Memorials:                                     
  Page S7155
Executive Reports of Committees:                         
  Pages S7155-56
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S7157-59
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S7159-63
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S7152-54
Record Votes: Twelve record votes were taken today. (Total--412) 
                                        Pages S7128, S7135-36, S7142-45
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 8:07 p.m., 
until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 19, 2019. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S7166.)