[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 135 (Thursday, July 30, 2020)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D681-D682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                            Thursday, July 30, 2020

[[Page D681]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4599-S4652
Measures Introduced: Twenty-six bills and three resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 4370-4395, S. Res. 664-665, and S. Con. Res. 
42.                                                      
  Pages S4632-33
Measures Reported:
  S. 4212, to amend title 28, United States Code, to strip foreign 
sovereign immunity of certain foreign states to secure justice for 
victims of novel coronavirus in the United States.           
Page S4632
Measures Passed:
  National Landslide Preparedness Act: Senate passed S. 529, to 
establish a national program to identify and reduce losses from 
landslide hazards, to establish a national 3D Elevation Program, after 
agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and 
the following amendment proposed thereto:                
  Pages S4644-47
  Sullivan (for Cantwell) Amendment No. 2500, to improve the 
authorizations of appropriations.                            
Page S4647
  Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act: Senate passed S. 
914, to reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System 
Act of 2009, to clarify the authority of the Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with respect to post-
storm assessments, and to require the establishment of a National Water 
Center, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                             Page S4647
  Sullivan (for Wicker) Amendment No. 2501, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S4647
  Highly Rural Veteran Transportation Program Extension Act: Senate 
passed S. 850, to extend the authorization of appropriations to the 
Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of awarding grants to 
veterans service organizations for the transportation of highly rural 
veterans, after agreeing to the committee amendment, and the following 
amendment proposed thereto:                              
  Pages S4647-48
  Sullivan Amendment No. 2502, to require a report by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs on the transportation of individuals to and from 
facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.        
Pages S4647-48
  Department of Veterans Affairs Information Technology Reform Act: 
Senate passed S. 2336, to improve the management of information 
technology projects and investments of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs.                                                 
  Pages S4648-50
  National Blueberry Month: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged 
from further consideration of S. Res. 656, recognizing the importance 
of the blueberry industry to the United States and designating July 
2020 as ``National Blueberry Month'', and the resolution was then 
agreed to.                                                   
  Page S4650
  Gold Star Families Remembrance Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 664, 
designating the week of September 20 through September 26. 2020, as 
``Gold Star Families Remembrance Week''.                     
  Page S4650
House Messages:
Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act: Senate began consideration of the 
amendment of the House of Representatives to S. 178, to condemn gross 
human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, and 
calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment of 
these communities inside and outside China, taking action on the 
following motion and amendment proposed thereto:         
  Pages S4617-22
Pending:
  McConnell motion to concur in the amendment of the House to the bill, 
with McConnell Amendment No. 2499, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                         Pages S4618-22
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S4617
  By 47 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. 153), Senate agreed to the motion to 
proceed to consideration of the amendment of the House to the bill. 
                                                         Pages S4617-18
Menezes Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Mark Wesley Menezes, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary 
of Energy.                                               
  Pages S4622-26

[[Page D682]]


  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, July 30, 2020, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., on 
Monday, August 3, 2020.                                      
Page S4650
  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 S4622
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
approximately 3 p.m., on Monday, August 3, 2020, Senate resume 
consideration of the nomination; and that notwithstanding Rule XXII, 
Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination at 5:30 
p.m., on Monday, August 3, 2020.                             
Page S4650
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 71 yeas to 21 nays (Vote No. EX. 152), Derek Kan, of California, 
to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. 
                                                         Pages S4600-16
  4 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  107 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Space Force. 
                                                         Pages S4626-29
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S4631
Measures Referred:                                       
  Pages S4631-32
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S4632
Petitions and Memorials:                                     
  Page S4632
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S4632
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S4633-35
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S4635-38
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S4630-31
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S4638-44
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S4644
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--153) 
                                                         Pages S4616-18
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 5:42 p.m., 
until 3 p.m. on Monday, August 3, 2020. (For Senate's program, see the 
remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S4650.)