[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 165 (Thursday, September 23, 2021)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1030-D1032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                       Thursday, September 23, 2021

[[Page D1030]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S6631-S6681
Measures Introduced: Forty-two bills and seven resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 2810-2851, and S. Res. 380-386. 
                                                         Pages S6673-74
Measures Passed:
  Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act: Senate 
passed H.R. 5293, to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend and 
modify certain authorities and requirements relating to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs.                                         
  Page S6666
  Use of Capitol Grounds: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 41, authorizing 
the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial 
Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition. 
                                                             Page S6666
  National Clean Energy Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 381, proclaiming 
the week of September 20 through September 24, 2021, to be ``National 
Clean Energy Week''.                                         
  Page S6666
  Rail Safety Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 382, expressing support 
for the designation of the week of September 20 through September 26, 
2021, as ``Rail Safety Week'' in the United States, and supporting the 
goals and ideals of Rail Safety Week to reduce rail-related accidents, 
fatalities, and injuries.                                
  Pages S6666-67
  National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week: Senate agreed 
to S. Res. 383, designating the week beginning September 12, 2021, as 
``National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week''. 
                                                         Pages S6666-67
  Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week: Senate agreed to S. 
Res. 384, designating the week of September 20 through September 24, 
2021, as ``Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week''. 
                                                         Pages S6666-67
  Telehealth Awareness Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 385, supporting 
the designation of the week of September 19 through September 25, 2021, 
as ``Telehealth Awareness Week''.                        
  Pages S6666-67
  Death of Parliamentarian Emeritus Bob Dove: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
386, relative to the death of Robert Britton ``Bob'' Dove, 
Parliamentarian Emeritus of the United States Senate.        
  Page S6667
Measures Considered:
Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act--
Cloture: Senate began consideration of the motion to proceed to 
consideration of H.R. 5305, making continuing appropriations for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for providing emergency 
assistance.                                              
  Pages S6665-66
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to proceed 
to consideration of the bill, 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, September 23, 2021, a vote on 
cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, September 27, 2021. 
                                                         Pages S6665-66
  Prior to the consideration of this measure, Senate took the following 
action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S6665
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 
approximately 3 p.m., on Monday, September 27, 2021, Senate resume 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill; 
and that the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to 
consideration of the bill ripen at 5:30 p.m.                 
Page S6681
Donfried Nomination: Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of 
Karen Erika Donfried, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant 
Secretary of State (European Affairs and Eurasian Affairs). 
                                                         Pages S6655-63
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 65 yeas to 21 nays (Vote No. EX. 380), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.               
Pages S6655-56
Medina Nomination: Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of 
Monica P. Medina, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary of State for 
Oceans

[[Page D1031]]

and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs   
  Pages S6663-64
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 57 yeas to 26 nays (Vote No. EX. 381), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.               
Pages S6663-64
Phee Nomination: Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Mary 
Catherine Phee, of Illinois, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(African Affairs).                                           
  Page S6664
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 58 yeas to 25 nays (Vote No. EX. 382), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.                   
Page S6664
Robinson Nomination: Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of 
Todd D. Robinson, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs).   
  Pages S6664-65
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 54 yeas to 29 nays (Vote No. EX. 383), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.               
Pages S6664-65
Lewis Nomination: Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of 
Jessica Lewis, of Ohio, to be an Assistant Secretary of State 
(Political-Military Affairs).                                
  Page S6665
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 62 yeas to 21 nays (Vote No. EX. 384), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.                   
Page S6665
Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached 
providing that notwithstanding Rule XXII, that upon the use or yielding 
back of time on the nomination of Karen Erika Donfried; Senate vote on 
confirmation of the nominations of Monica P. Medina, of Maryland, to be 
Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental 
and Scientific Affairs, Mary Catherine Phee, of Illinois, to be an 
Assistant Secretary of State (African Affairs), Todd D. Robinson, of 
New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (International 
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs), and Jessica Lewis, of Ohio, to 
be an Assistant Secretary of State (Political-Military Affairs) at a 
time and in an order to be determined by the Majority Leader, following 
consultation with the Republican Leader; with 1 hour for debate equally 
divided prior to each vote, and the Republican debate be controlled by 
Senator Cruz.                                                
  Page S6661
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 68 yeas to 30 nays (Vote No. EX. 375), Florence Y. Pan, of the 
District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the 
District of Columbia.                                    
Pages S6631-34
  By 85 yeas to 11 nays (Vote No. EX. 377), Sarah Bianchi, of Virginia, 
to be Deputy United States Trade Representative (Asia, Africa, 
Investment, Services, Textiles, and Industrial Competitiveness), with 
the rank of Ambassador.                                  
Pages S6634-42
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 85 yeas to 13 nays (Vote No. EX. 376), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.                   
Page S6634
  By 72 yeas to 14 nays (Vote No. EX. 379), Daniel J. Kritenbrink, of 
Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (East Asian and Pacific 
Affairs).                                                
Pages S6643-55
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 77 yeas to 18 nays (Vote No. EX. 378), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.               
Pages S6642-43
  Jane Toshiko Nishida, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Administrator 
of the Environmental Protection Agency.                      
Page S6666
Executive Communications:                                    
  Page S6670
Petitions and Memorials:                                 
  Pages S6670-72
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S6672
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S6674-76
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S6676-81
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S6668-69
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S6681
Record Votes: Ten record votes were taken today. (Total--384) 
                              Pages S6634, S6642-43, S6655-56, S6663-65
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9 a.m. and adjourned, as a further mark 
of respect to the memory of the late Robert Britton ``Bob'' Dove, 
Parliamentarian Emeritus of the United States Senate, in accordance 
with S. Res. 386, at 9:47 p.m., until 3 p.m. on Monday, September 27, 
2021. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in 
today's Record on page S6681.)

[[Page D1032]]