[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 218 (Monday, December 21, 2020)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1121-D1123]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                          Monday, December 21, 2020

[[Page D1121]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the amendment of the 
      House of Representatives to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 
      133, Consolidated Appropriations Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S7887-S7949
Measures Introduced: Seven bills were introduced, as follows: S. 5078-
5084.                                                        
  Page S7939
Measures Passed:
  Buying American: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 625, affirming the 
benefits of ``Buying American'', and the resolution was then agreed to, 
after agreeing to the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                             Page S7899
  Scott (FL) Amendment No. 2726, in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                             Page S7899
  Scott (FL) Amendment No. 2727, to amend the preamble.      
Page S7899
  Scott (FL) Amendment No. 2728, to amend the title.         
Page S7899
  BUILD Act: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs was 
discharged from further consideration of S. 371, to provide regulatory 
relief to charitable organizations that provide housing assistance, and 
the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment 
proposed thereto:                                        
  Pages S7901-02
  Cornyn (for Fischer) Amendment No. 2729, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                              
Pages S7901-02
  Restoring Resilient Reefs Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation was discharged from further consideration of S. 2429, to 
reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 and to establish 
the United States Coral Reef Task Force, and the bill was then passed, 
after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                             Page S7902
  Cornyn (for Rubio/Schatz) Amendment No. 2730, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S7902
  Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools Act: Senate passed H.R. 
3250, to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special 
resource study of the sites associated with the life and legacy of the 
noted American philanthropist and business executive Julius Rosenwald, 
with a special focus on the Rosenwald Schools.               
  Page S7902
  Jimmy Carter National Historical Park Redesignation Act: Senate 
passed H.R. 5472, to redesignate the Jimmy Carter National Historic 
Site as the ``Jimmy Carter National Historical Park''.       
  Page S7902
  DESCEND Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation was 
discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5126, to require 
individuals fishing for Gulf reef fish to use certain descending 
devices, and the bill was then passed.                       
  Page S7902
  Enrollment Correction: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 128, directing 
the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the 
enrollment of H.R. 1520.                                 
  Pages S7924-28
  United Nations World Food Programme: Committee on Foreign Relations 
was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 774, honoring the 
United Nations World Food Programme on the occasion of being awarded 
the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, and the resolution was then agreed to, 
after agreeing to the following amendments proposed thereto: 
                                                             Page S7928
  Boozman Amendment No. 2733, to amend the resolving clause. 
                                                             Page S7928
  Boozman Amendment No. 2734, to amend the preamble.         
Page S7928
  Port of Beirut: Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged from 
further consideration of S. Res. 682, recognizing the devastating 
explosion that rocked the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, and 
expressing solidarity with the Lebanese people, and the resolution was 
then agreed to.                                              
  Page S7928

[[Page D1122]]

  EFFORT Act: Senate passed H.R. 3153, to direct the Director of the 
National Science Foundation to support research on opioid addiction, 
after withdrawing the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, and agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                             Page S7929
  Boozman (for Wicker) Amendment No. 2732, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S7929
  Transparency in Federal Buildings Projects Act: Committee on 
Environment and Public Works was discharged from further consideration 
of H.R. 2502, to amend title 40, United States Code, to require certain 
prospectuses for public buildings to be made publicly available, and 
the bill was then passed.                                    
  Page S7929
  Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act: Committee on the Judiciary 
was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1418, to restore the 
application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health 
insurance to protect competition and consumers, and the bill was then 
passed.                                                      
  Page S7929
  Yucca House National Monument Expansion Act: Senate passed H.R. 1492, 
to update the map of, and modify the maximum acreage available for 
inclusion in, the Yucca House National Monument.             
  Page S7929
  Enrollment Correction: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 127, directing 
the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the 
enrollment of H.R. 133.                                  
  Pages S7922-30
House Messages:
  Further Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act: Senate agreed to 
the motion to concur in the amendment of the House of Representatives 
to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 1520, to amend the Public Health 
Service Act to provide for the publication of a list of licensed 
biological products.                                         
  Page S7923
  Consolidated Appropriations Act: By 92 yeas to 6 nays (Vote No. 
289), Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the amendment of the 
House of Representatives to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 133, 
making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2021, by the order of the Senate of Monday, December 
21, 2020, 60 Senators having voted in the affirmative.   
                             Pages S7922-28
Appointments:
  Independent Mexico Labor Expert Board: The Chair, on behalf of the 
President pro tempore, upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader, 
pursuant to Public Law 116-113, and in consultation with the Chairman 
of the Senate Committee on Finance, appointed the following individuals 
to the Independent Mexico Labor Expert Board: Kyle Fortson of the 
District of Columbia, and Charlotte Ponticelli of Maryland. 
                                                             Page S7949
Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that Senators Thune, Roberts, and Blunt be authorized to sign 
duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions from Monday, December 21, 2020 
through Sunday, January 3, 2021.                             
  Page S7928
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: Thursday, December 24, 2020, 
at 10 a.m.; and Monday, December 28, 2020, at 10 a.m.; and that when 
the Senate adjourns on Monday, December 28, 2020, it next convene at 12 
noon, on Tuesday, December 29, 2020.                         
  Page S7949
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 48 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. EX. 288), Eric J. Soskin, of 
Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of Transportation. 
                                                  Pages S7910, S7921-22
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 48 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 285), Senate agreed to the motion to 
proceed to the motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not 
invoked on Friday, December 19, 2020.                        
Page S7910
  By 48 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. EX. 286), Senate agreed to the motion 
to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on Friday, 
December 19, 2020.                                           
Page S7910
  By 48 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. EX. 287), Senate upon reconsideration 
agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination. 
                                                         Pages S7910-11
  C. Kevin Blackstone, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior 
Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador to the 
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
  Cynthia Kierscht, of Minnesota, to be Ambassador to the Islamic 
Republic of Mauritania.
  Brian D. McFeeters, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to Malaysia.
  David Reimer, of Ohio, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, 
Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone.
  Geeta Pasi, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Federal Democratic 
Republic of Ethiopia.                                        
Page S7930
Messages from the House:                                 
  Pages S7938-39
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S7939
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S7939-40

[[Page D1123]]

Additional Statements:                                       
  Page S7938
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S7940-49
Record Votes: Five record votes were taken today. (Total--289) 
                                     Pages S7910-11, S7921-22, S7927-28
Adjournment: Senate convened at 12 noon on Monday, December 21, 2020 
and adjourned at 1:47 a.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, until 12 noon 
on Thursday, December 24, 2020. (For Senate's program, see the remarks 
of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S7949.)