[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 96 (Thursday, May 21, 2020)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D430-D432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                             Thursday, May 21, 2020

[[Page D430]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate confirmed the nomination of John L. Ratcliffe, of Texas, 
      to be Director of National Intelligence.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S2563-S2616
Measures Introduced: Fifty-three bills and eight resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 3792-3844, S.J. Res. 74, and S. Res. 594-
600.                                                     
  Pages S2584-86
Measures Passed:
  United States Foreign Service Day: Committee on the Judiciary was 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 556, designating May 
1, 2020, as the ``United States Foreign Service Day'' in recognition of 
the men and women who have served, or are presently serving, in the 
Foreign Service of the United States, and honoring the members of the 
Foreign Service who have given their lives in the line of duty, and the 
resolution was then agreed to.                           
  Pages S2609-10
  Older Americans Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 597, designating May 
2020 as ``Older Americans Month''.                           
  Page S2610
  National Foster Care Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 598, recognizing 
National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to raise awareness about 
the challenges of children in the foster care system, and encouraging 
Congress to implement policies to improve the lives of children in the 
foster care system.                                          
  Page S2610
  Honoring Judge Lee Roy West: Senate agreed to S. Res. 599, honoring 
the life and legacy of Judge Lee Roy West.                   
  Page S2610
Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that the actions of the Senate 
with respect to S.J. Res. 72, providing for the reappointment of 
Michael M. Lynton as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the 
Smithsonian Institution, be vitiated.                        
  Page S2564
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 22, 2020, at 9 
a.m.; Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at 9:30 a.m.; Thursday, May 28, 2020, at 
11 a.m.; and that when the Senate adjourns on Thursday, May 28, 2020, 
it next convene at 3 p.m., on Monday, June 1, 2020.          
  Page S2610
Badalamenti Nomination: Senate resumed consideration of the nomination 
of John Leonard Badalamenti, to be United States District Judge for the 
Middle District of Florida.                              
  Pages S2572-74
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 65 yeas to 28 nays (Vote No. EX. 102), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.               
Pages S2573-74
Mercardo Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Victor G. Mercado, of California, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of Defense.                                        
  Page S2574
  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 John Leonard Badalamenti, to be United States District 
Judge for the Middle District of Florida.                    
Page S2574
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S2574
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2574

[[Page D431]]

Miller Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Brian D. Miller, of Virginia, to be Special Inspector 
General for Pandemic Recovery.                               
  Page S2574
  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 Victor G. Mercado, of California, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of Defense.                                        
Page S2574
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S2574
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2574
Anderson Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of James H. Anderson, of Virginia, to be a Deputy Under 
Secretary of Defense.                                        
  Page S2574
  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 Brian D. Miller, of Virginia, to be Special Inspector 
General for Pandemic Recovery.                               
Page S2574
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S2574
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2574
Tipton Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Drew B. Tipton, of Texas, to be United States District 
Judge for the Southern District of Texas.                    
  Page S2574
  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 James H. Anderson, of Virginia, to be a Deputy Under 
Secretary of Defense.                                        
Page S2574
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S2574
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S2574
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
approximately 3 p.m., on Monday, June 1, 2020, Senate resume 
consideration of the nomination; further that at 5:30 p.m., Senate 
resume consideration of the nomination of John Leonard Badalamenti, to 
be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida; and 
that notwithstanding the provisions of Rule XXII, Monday, June 1, 2020 
count as the intervening day with respect to the motions to invoke 
cloture filed on Thursday, May 21, 2020.                     
Page S2610
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 49 yeas 44 nays (Vote No. EX. 101), John L. Ratcliffe, of Texas, 
to be Director of National Intelligence.                 
Pages S2564-72
  Kenneth J. Braithwaite, of Pennsylvania, to be Secretary of the Navy.
                                                             Page S2578
  Christopher T. Hanson, of Michigan, to be a Member of the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission for the term of five years expiring June 30, 
2024.
  David A. Wright, of South Carolina, to be a Member of the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission for the term of five years expiring June 30, 
2025.                                                    
Pages S2578-79
  34 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  8 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  12 Coast Guard nominations in the rank of admiral.
  14 Marine Corps nominations in the rank of general.
  6 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. 
                                                         Pages S2579-81
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Liam P. Hardy, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Court 
of Appeals for the Armed Forces for the term of fifteen years to expire 
on the date prescribed by law.
  Sarah E. Feinberg, of West Virginia, to be a Director of the Amtrak 
Board of Directors for a term of five years.
  Chris Koos, of Illinois, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of 
Directors for a term of five years.
  J. Mark Burkhalter, of Georgia, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of 
Norway.
  William A. Douglass, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Commonwealth 
of The Bahamas.
  Patrick Hovakimian, of California, to be General Counsel of the 
Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
  Aileen Mercedes Cannon, of Florida, to be United States District 
Judge for the Southern District of Florida.
  Toby Crouse, of Kansas, to be United States District Judge for the 
District of Kansas.

[[Page D432]]


  Dirk B. Paloutzian, of California, to be United States District Judge 
for the Eastern District of California.
  Roderick C. Young, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge 
for the Eastern District of Virginia.
  Routine lists in the Air Force and Army.               
Pages S2613-14
Measures Read the First Time:                                
  Page S2584
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S2584
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S2586-88
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:           
  Pages S2588-S2609
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S2583-84
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S2609
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--102) 
                                                         Pages S2572-74
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 5:48 p.m., 
until 9 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2020. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S2610.)