[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 216 (Saturday, December 19, 2020)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1114-D1115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                        Saturday, December 19, 2020

[[Page D1114]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S7831-S7853
Measures Introduced: Five bills were introduced, as follows: S. 5070-
5074.                                                        
  Page S7848
Measures Passed:
  Calling for the Global Repeal of Blasphemy, Heresy, and Apostasy 
Laws: Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged from further 
consideration of S. Res. 458, calling for the global repeal of 
blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws, and the resolution was then 
agreed to, after agreeing to the following amendments proposed thereto:
                                                         Pages S7850-52
  Gardner (for Lankford) Amendment No. 2719, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                              
Pages S7850-51
  Gardner (for Lankford) Amendment No. 2720, to amend the preamble. 
                                                         Pages S7851-52
  DART Act: Senate passed S. 2204, to allow the Federal Communications 
Commission to carry out a pilot program under which voice service 
providers could block certain automated calls, after agreeing to the 
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.       
  Pages S7852-53
  Recognized Security Practices: Senate passed H.R. 7898, to amend the 
Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act to 
require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider certain 
recognized security practices of covered entities and business 
associates when making certain determinations.               
  Page S7853
  Rocky Mountain National Park Ownership Correction Act: Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources was discharged from further consideration 
of H.R. 5459, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to correct a 
land ownership error within the boundary of Rocky Mountain National 
Park, and the bill was then passed.                          
  Page S7853
House Messages:
  One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act: Senate agreed 
to the motion to concur in the amendment of the House of 
Representatives and the amendment to the title to S. 1694, to require 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to add 
recommendations and inform other relevant agencies of information 
relating to the principle of due regard and the limitation of harmful 
interference with Apollo landing site artifacts.             
  Page S7850
  Child Care Protection Improvement Act: Senate agreed to the motion to 
concur in the amendment of the House of Representatives to S. 2683, to 
establish a task force to assist States in implementing hiring 
requirements for child care staff members to improve child safety. 
                                                             Page S7853
  United States Semiquincentennial Commission Amendments Act: Senate 
agreed to the motion to concur in the amendment of the House of 
Representatives to S. 3989, to amend the United States 
Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 to modify certain membership 
and other requirements of the United States Semiquincentennial 
Commission.                                                  
  Page S7853
Johnson Nomination: By 39 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. EX. 277), Senate 
rejected the motion to close further debate on the nomination of John 
Chase Johnson, of Oklahoma, to be Inspector General, Federal 
Communications Commission.                               
  Pages S7841-42
  Senator McConnell entered a motion to reconsider the vote by which 
cloture was not invoked on the nomination.                   
Page S7842
Soskin Nomination: By 39 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. EX. 278), Senate 
rejected the motion to close further debate on the nomination of Eric 
J. Soskin, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of 
Transportation.                                              
  Page S7842
  Senator McConnell entered a motion to reconsider the vote by which 
cloture was not invoked on the nomination.                   
Page S7842
Noland Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that notwithstanding the provisions of Rule XXII, the motion 
to invoke cloture on the nomination of Brian Noland, of Tennessee, to 
be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley 
Authority, ripen at 1:30 p.m., on Sunday, December 20, 2020. 
                                                             Page S7845

[[Page D1115]]


  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
approximately 1 p.m., on Sunday, December 20, 2020, Senate resume 
consideration of the nomination.                             
Page S7853
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 51 yeas to 36 nays (Vote No. EX. 276), Thompson Michael Dietz, of 
New Jersey, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims 
for a term of fifteen years.                             
Pages S7832-41
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 50 yeas to 37 nays (Vote No. EX. 275), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.                   
Page S7833
  By 59 yeas to 25 nays (Vote No. EX. 280), Beth Harwell, of Tennessee, 
to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley 
Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2024.              
Pages S7843-46
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 61 yeas to 25 nays (Vote No. EX. 279), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.                   
Page S7843
Messages from the House:                                     
                                                             Page S7847
Executive Communications:                                
                                                         Pages S7847-48
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
                                                         Pages S7848-49
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:                  
                                                             Page S7849
Additional Statements:                                   
                                                         Pages S7846-47
Amendments Submitted:                                    
                                                         Pages S7849-50
Record Votes: Six record votes were taken today. (Total--280) 
                                        Pages S7833, S7841-43, S7845-46
Adjournment: Senate convened at 11 a.m. and adjourned at 6:49 p.m., 
until 1 p.m. on Sunday, December 20, 2020. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S7853.)