[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 211 (Monday, December 14, 2020)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1082-D1084]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                          Monday, December 14, 2020

[[Page D1082]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S7453-S7472
Measures Introduced: One resolution was introduced, as follows: S. Con. 
Res. 52.                                                     
  Page S7465
Measures Reported:
  S. 92, to amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to provide 
that major rules of the executive branch shall have no force or effect 
unless a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law. (S. Rept. 
No. 116-311)
  S. 2162, to require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection to annually hire at least 600 new Border Patrol agents, to 
report quarterly to Congress on the status of the Border Patrol 
workforce, and to conduct a comprehensive staffing analysis, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 116-312)
  S. 2722, to prohibit agencies from using Federal funds for publicity 
or propaganda purposes, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. (S. Rept. No. 116-313)
  S. 2967, to establish the Commission on Intergovernmental Relations 
of the United States to facilitate the fullest cooperation, 
coordination, and mutual accountability among all levels of government, 
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 116-314)
  S. 3038, to promote innovative acquisition techniques and procurement 
strategies. (S. Rept. No. 116-315)
  S. 3658, to establish an Office of Equal Rights and Community 
Inclusion at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with an amendment 
in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 116-316)
  S. 3997, to strengthen the security and integrity of the United 
States scientific and research enterprise, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 116-317)
  S. 4153, to require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to 
evaluate the National Response Framework based on lessons learned from 
the COVID-19 pandemic, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
(S. Rept. No. 116-318)
  S. 4158, to examine the extent of the reliance of the United States 
on foreign producers for personal protective equipment during the 
COVID-19 pandemic and produce recommendations to secure the supply 
chain of personal protective equipment, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 
116-319)
  S. 4165, to repeal section 692 of the Post-Katrina Emergency 
Management Reform Act of 2006, with an amendment. (S. Rept. No. 116-
320)
  S. 4210, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the 
transfer of certain equipment during a public health emergency, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 116-321)
  S. 4224, to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to assess 
technology needs along the Southern border and develop a strategy for 
bridging such gaps, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
(S. Rept. No. 116-322)
  H.R. 1313, to amend the Implementing Recommendations of the 9 11 
Commission Act of 2007 to clarify certain allowable uses of funds for 
public transportation security assistance grants and establish periods 
of performance for such grants, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. (S. Rept. No. 116-323)                           
Page S7465
Measures Passed:
  Legend Act: Senate passed S. 2597, to require the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration to make certain operational models 
available to the public, after withdrawing the committee amendment, and 
agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:    
  Pages S7468-69
  McConnell (for Thune) Amendment No. 2705, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                              
Pages S7468-69
  Advancing Research to Prevent Suicide Act: Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation was discharged from further consideration 
of H.R. 4704, to direct the Director of the National Science Foundation 
to support multidisciplinary research on the science of suicide, and to 
advance the knowledge and understanding of issues that may be 
associated with several aspects of suicide including intrinsic and 
extrinsic factors related to areas such as wellbeing, resilience, and 
vulnerability, and the bill

[[Page D1083]]

was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed 
thereto:                                                 
  Pages S7469-70
  McConnell (for Wicker) Amendment No. 2706, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                              
Pages S7469-70
  Ensuring Innovation Act: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions was discharged from further consideration of S. 1636, to amend 
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the scope of 
new chemical exclusivity, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing 
to the following amendment proposed thereto:                 
  Page S7470
  McConnell (for Alexander) Amendment No. 2707, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S7470
  Enrollment Correction: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 52, to correct 
the enrollment of S. 3312.                               
  Pages S7470-71
Kirsch II Nomination--Agreement: Senate resumed consideration of the 
nomination of Thomas L. Kirsch II, of Indiana, to be United States 
Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit.                   
  Pages S7456-63
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 51 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. EX. 265), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.               
Pages S7456-63
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the nomination, post-cloture, at approximately 10:00 
a.m., on Tuesday, December 15, 2020; and that all time during recess, 
adjournment, Leader remarks, and morning business count post-cloture on 
the nomination.                                              
Page S7471
Dawson Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Joseph Dawson III, of South Carolina, to be United States 
District Judge for the District of South Carolina.           
  Page S7454
  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 Katherine A. Crytzer, of Tennessee, to be United States 
District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee.        
Page S7454
  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 S7454
Atchley Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Charles Edward Atchley, Jr., of Tennessee, to be United 
States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee. 
                                                             Page S7454
  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 Joseph Dawson III, of South Carolina, to be United States 
District Judge for the District of South Carolina.           
Page S7454
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S7454
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S7454
Somers Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Zachary N. Somers, of the District of Columbia, to be a 
Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of 
fifteen years.                                               
  Page S7454
  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 Charles Edward Atchley, Jr., of Tennessee, to be United 
States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee. 
                                                         Pages S7454-55
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S7454
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S7454
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  79 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  1 Army nomination in the rank of general.
  7 Coast Guard nominations in the rank of admiral.
  1 Marine Corps nomination in the rank of general.
  1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space 
Force.                                                   
Pages S7463-65
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S7465
Measures Placed on the Calendar:                             
  Page S7465
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S7465
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S7465-66
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Additional Statements:
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S7466-68
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--265) 
                                                         Pages S7462-63

[[Page D1084]]

Adjournment: Senate convened at 3 p.m. and adjourned at 7:10 p.m., 
until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S7471.)