[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 130 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D801-D806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                            Thursday, July 27, 2023

[[Page D801]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate passed S. 2226, National Defense Authorization Act, as 
      amended.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S3713-S3846
Measures Introduced: One hundred sixty-one bills and fourteen 
resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2555-2715, S.J. Res. 39-42, 
S. Res. 319-327, and S. Con. Res. 19.                    
  Pages S3752-58
Measures Reported:
  Special Report entitled ``Joint Economic Committee on the 2023 
Economic Report of the President''. (S. Rept. No. 118-86)
  S. 2587, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2024. (S. Rept. No. 118-81)
  S. 1868, to require an interagency study to produce a security 
assessment process on adjacent space to high-security leased space to 
accommodate a Federal agency, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. (S. Rept. No. 118-82)
  S. 2605, making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, 
environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 
30, 2024. (S. Rept. No. 118-83)
  S. 2624, making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health 
and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2024. (S. Rept. No. 118-84)
  S. 2625, making appropriations for the Department of Homeland 
Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024. (S. Rept. No. 
118-85)
  S. 133, to extend the National Alzheimer's Project, with an 
amendment.
  S. 134, to require an annual budget estimate for the initiatives of 
the National Institutes of Health pursuant to reports and 
recommendations made under the National Alzheimer's Project Act.
  S. 1855, to reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program for Type 1 
Diabetes and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians.       
Page S3752
Measures Passed:
  Commemorating Tony Bennett:  Senate agreed to S. Res. 322, 
commemorating the life, legacy, and entertainment career of Tony 
Bennett.                                                     
  Page S3275
  National Defense Authorization Act: Senate passed H.R. 2670, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense and for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, after striking all after the 
enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the text of S. 2226, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, as amended. Subsequently, 
Senate indefinitely postponed S. 2226.                   
  Pages S3730-31
  Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network:  Senate passed H.R. 
2544, to improve the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. 
                                                         Pages S3731-33
  Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day:  Senate agreed to S. Res. 323, 
supporting the goals and ideals of Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness 
Day on August 21, 2023.                                      
  Page S3839
  National Farmers Market Week:  Senate agreed to S. Res. 324, 
designating the week of August 6 through August 12, 2023, as ``National 
Farmers Market Week''.                                       
  Page S3839
  National Anti-Counterfeiting and Consumer Education and Awareness 
Month:  Senate agreed to S. Res. 325, recognizing the importance of 
trademarks in the economy and the role of trademarks in protecting 
consumer safety, by designating the month of August as ``National Anti-
Counterfeiting and Consumer Education and Awareness Month''. 
                                                             Page S3839

[[Page D802]]

  National Poll Worker Recruitment Day:  Senate agreed to S. Res. 326, 
recognizing August 23, 2023, as ``National Poll Worker Recruitment 
Day''.                                                       
  Page S3839
  Disaster Assistance Simplification Act:  Senate passed S. 1528, to 
streamline the sharing of information among Federal disaster assistance 
agencies, to expedite the delivery of life-saving assistance to 
disaster survivors, to speed the recovery of communities from 
disasters, to protect the security and privacy of information provided 
by disaster survivors, after agreeing to the committee amendments, and 
the following amendment proposed thereto:                
  Pages S3839-43
  Schumer (for Peters) Amendment No. 1088, of a perfecting nature. 
                                                         Pages S3841-43
  Disaster Assistance Deadlines Alignment Act:  Senate passed S. 1858, 
to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act to establish a deadline for applying for disaster 
unemployment assistance, after agreeing to the following amendment 
proposed thereto:                                            
  Page S3843
  Schumer (for Peters) Amendment No. 1091, to add an applicability 
provision.                                                   
Page S3843
  Duck Stamp Modernization Act:  Committee on Environment and Public 
Works was discharged from further consideration of S. 788, to amend the 
Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013 to allow States to issue 
fully electronic stamps under that Act, and the bill was then passed, 
after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                         Pages S3843-44
  Schumer (for Boozman) Amendment No. 1089, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S3844
  I-27 Numbering Act:  Committee on Environment and Public Works was 
discharged from further consideration of S. 992, to amend the 
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to designate 
the Texas and New Mexico portions of the future Interstate-designated 
segments of the Port-to-Plains Corridor as Interstate Route 27, and the 
bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment 
proposed thereto:                                            
  Page S3844
  Schumer (for Cruz) Amendment No. 1090, in the nature of a substitute.
                                                             Page S3844
  Starr-Camargo Bridge:  Committee on Environment and Public Works was 
discharged from further consideration of S. 1608, to provide for the 
expansion of the Starr-Camargo Bridge near Rio Grande City, Texas, and 
the bill was then passed.                                
  Pages S3844-45
Measures Indefinitely Postponed:
  National Defense Authorization Act: By 86 yeas to 11 nays (Vote No. 
212), Senate passed S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for 
military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of 
Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, 
by the order of the Senate of Thursday, July 27, 2023, 60 Senators 
having voted in the affirmative, and after taking action on the 
following amendments and motions proposed thereto:       
  Pages S3713-29
Adopted:
  By 96 yeas to 3 nays (Vote No. 202), Barrasso Amendment No. 999 (to 
Amendment No. 935), to require the Secretary of Energy to establish a 
Nuclear Fuel Security Program, expand the American Assured Fuel Supply 
Program, establish an HALEU for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration 
Projects Program, and submit a report on a civil nuclear credit 
program, and to enhance programs to build workforce capacity to meet 
critical mission needs of the Department of Energy. (Pursuant to the 
order of Wednesday, July 26, 2023, the amendment having achieved 60 
affirmative votes, was agreed to.)                       
Pages S3717-18
  Cardin/Young Amendment No. 705 (to Amendment No. 935), to identify 
countries that are champions in the battle to combat global corruption. 
(A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the 
requirement of a 60 affirmative vote threshold, be vitiated.) 
                                                             Page S3719
  Scott (SC) Amendment No. 944 (to Amendment No. 935), to require an 
assessment of the impact and feasibility of restricting gifts and 
grants to United States institutions of higher education from entities 
on the Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List. (A 
unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the requirement 
of a 60 affirmative vote threshold, be vitiated.)            
Page S3719
  By 94 yeas to 4 nays (Vote No. 206), Gillibrand Amendment No. 1065 
(to Amendment No. 935), to amend title XXXIII of the Public Health 
Service Act with respect to funding for the World Trade Center Health 
Program. (Pursuant to the order of Wednesday, July 26, 2023, the 
amendment having achieved 60 affirmative votes, was agreed to.) 
                                                         Pages S3722-23
  By 61 yeas to 37 nays (Vote No. 207), Hawley Amendment No. 1058 (to 
Amendment No. 935), to extend the period for filing claims under the 
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act and to provide for compensation 
under such Act for claims relating to Manhattan Project waste, and to 
improve compensation for workers involved in uranium mining. (Pursuant 
to the order of Wednesday, July 26, 2023, the amendment having achieved 
60 affirmative votes, was agreed to.)                    
Pages S3723-24

[[Page D803]]


  By 96 yeas to 2 nays (Vote No. 208), Menendez Amendment No. 638 (to 
Amendment No. 935), to reauthorize the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act 
of 2018. (Pursuant to the order of Wednesday, July 26, 2023, the 
amendment having achieved 60 affirmative votes, was agreed to.) 
                                                             Page S3724
  By 86 yeas to 11 nays (Vote No. 209), Schatz/Murkowski Amendment No. 
1078 (to Amendment No. 935), to reauthorize the Native American Housing 
Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996. (A unanimous-consent 
agreement was reached providing that the requirement of a 60 
affirmative vote threshold, be vitiated.)                
Pages S3724-25
  Young Amendment No. 230 (to Amendment No. 935), to ensure that the 
Department of Defense has received an unqualified opinion on its 
financial statements by October 1, 2027. (A unanimous-consent agreement 
was reached providing that the requirement of a 60 affirmative vote 
threshold, be vitiated.)                                 
Pages S3726-27
  Daines/Tester Amendment No. 1084 (to Amendment No. 935), to provide 
for the settlement of the water rights claims of the Fort Belknap 
Indian Community. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing 
that the requirement of a 60 affirmative vote threshold, be vitiated.) 
                                                             Page S3727
  By 94 yeas to 3 nays (Vote No. 211), Reed/Wicker Amendment No. 1087 
(to Amendment No. 935), to provide for a manager's amendment. 
                                                         Pages S3727-28
  Schumer (for Reed/Wicker) Amendment No. 935, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S3728
  Rejected:
  By 11 yeas to 88 nays (Vote No. 203), Sanders Amendment No. 1030 (to 
Amendment No. 935), to reduce military spending. (Pursuant to the order 
of Wednesday, July 26, 2023, the amendment having failed to achieve 60 
affirmative votes, was not agreed to.)                   
Pages S3718-19
  By 50 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. 204), Marshall Amendment No. 874 (to 
Amendment No. 935), to prohibit the flying, draping, or other display 
of any flag other than the flag of the United States at public 
buildings. (Pursuant to the order of Wednesday, July 26, 2023, the 
amendment having failed to achieve 60 affirmative votes, was not agreed 
to.)                                                     
Pages S3720-21
  By 51 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. 205), Kennedy Amendment No. 1034 (to 
Amendment No. 935), to prohibit allocations of Special Drawing Rights 
at the International Monetary Fund for perpetrators of genocide and 
state sponsors of terrorism without congressional authorization. 
(Pursuant to the order of Wednesday, July 26, 2023, the amendment 
having failed to achieve 60 affirmative votes, was not agreed to.) 
                                                         Pages S3721-22
  By 55 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. 210), Rubio Amendment No. 523 (to 
Amendment No. 935), to provide that sums in the Thrift Savings Fund may 
not be invested in securities that are listed on certain foreign 
exchanges. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that 
the amendment, having failed to achieve 60 affirmative votes, was not 
agreed to.)                                                  
Page S3726
Withdrawn:
  Schumer Amendment No. 936 (to Amendment No. 935), to add an effective 
date.                                                        
Page S3728
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the motions 
to invoke cloture on Schumer (for Reed/Wicker) Amendment No. 935 
(listed above) and on the bill, be withdrawn.                
Page S3728
Appointments:
  Migratory Bird Conservation Commission:  The Chair announced, on 
behalf of the Republican Leader, pursuant to Public Law 70-770, the 
appointment of the following individual to the Migratory Bird 
Conservation Commission: Senator Boozman.                    
  Page S3839
  Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki):  The 
Chair, on behalf of the Vice President, pursuant to Public Law 94-304, 
as amended by Public Law 99-7, appointed the following Senators as 
members of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe 
(Helsinki) during the 118th Congress: Senators Wicker, Boozman, Tillis, 
and Scott (SC).                                              
  Page S3839
  United States Holocaust Memorial Council:  The Chair, on behalf of 
the President pro tempore, pursuant to Public Law 96-388, as amended by 
Public Law 97-84, and further amended by Public Law 106-292, 
reappointed the following Senators to the United States Holocaust 
Memorial Council for the 118th Congress: Senators Rubio and Scott (SC).
                                                             Page S3839
  Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China: 
 The Chair, on behalf of the President of the Senate, pursuant to 
Public Law 106-286, appointed the following Members to serve on the 
Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China 
during the 118th Congress: Senators Rubio, Cotton, Daines, and 
Sullivan.                                                    
  Page S3839
Authorizing Leadership to Make Appointments--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that, notwithstanding the 
upcoming adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the 
President pro tempore and the Majority and Minority Leaders be 
authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, 
conferences, or interparliamentary conferences

[[Page D804]]

authorized by law, by concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order 
of the Senate.                                               
  Page S3839
Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that Senators Duckworth, Cardin, and Kaine be authorized to 
sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions from July 28, 2023, 
through September 4, 2023.                                   
  Page S3839
Committee Reporting--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, from 12:00 noon 
until 2:00 p.m., committees be authorized to report legislative and 
executive matters.                                           
  Page S3839
Printing of National Defense Authorization Act--Agreement: A unanimous-
consent agreement was reached providing that S. 2226, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, as passed by the Senate, be printed. 
                                                             Page S3839
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: Friday, July 28, 2023, at 
11:45 a.m.; Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 12:15 p.m.; Friday, August 4, 
2023, at 12 noon; Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at 10 a.m.; Friday, August 
11, 2023, at 9 a.m.; Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 12 noon; Friday, 
August 18, 2023, at 1 p.m.; Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 2 p.m.; 
Friday, August 25, 2023, at 12 noon; Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at 11:45 
a.m.; and Friday, September 1, 2023, at 11:45 a.m.; and that when the 
Senate adjourns on Friday, September 1, 2023, it next convene at 3 
p.m., on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.                         
  Page S3845
Jefferson Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Philip Nathan Jefferson, of North Carolina, to be Vice 
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 
                                                             Page S3738
  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 27, 2023, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m. on 
Tuesday, September 5, 2023.                                  
Page S3738
  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 S3738
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that Senate 
resume consideration of the nomination at approximately 3 p.m., on 
Tuesday, September 5, 2023; and that the motions to invoke cloture 
filed during the session of Thursday, July 27, 2023, ripen at 5:30 p.m.
                                                             Page S3845
Wilcox Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Gwynne A. Wilcox, of New York, to be a Member of the 
National Labor Relations Board.                              
  Page S3738
  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 Philip Nathan Jefferson, of North Carolina, to be Vice 
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 
                                                             Page S3738
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S3738
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S3738
Cook Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of Lisa DeNell Cook, of Michigan, to be a Member of the Board of 
Governors of the Federal Reserve System.                     
  Page S3738
  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 Gwynne A. Wilcox, of New York, to be a Member of the 
National Labor Relations Board.                              
Page S3738
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S3738
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S3738
Kugler Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Adriana Debora Kugler, of Maryland, to be a Member of the 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.            
  Page S3738
  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 Lisa DeNell Cook, of Michigan, to be a Member of the 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.            
Page S3738

[[Page D805]]


  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S3738
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S3738
Gomez Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of Anna M. Gomez, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal 
Communications Commission.                               
  Pages S3738-39
  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 Adriana Debora Kugler, of Maryland, to be a Member of the 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.            
Page S3738
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S3738
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S3738
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Eric W. Kneedler, of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador to the Republic 
of Rwanda.
  Hugo Yue-Ho Yon, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Maldives.
  Kathleen A. FitzGibbon, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Republic 
of Niger.
  Matthew D. Murray, of Maryland, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign 
Service, Class of Counselor, for the rank of Ambassador during his 
tenure of service as United States Senior Official for the Asia-Pacific 
Economic Cooperation (APEC).
  Ervin Jose Massinga, of Washington, to be Ambassador to the Federal 
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
  Yael Lempert, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom 
of Jordan.
  Martina Anna Tkadlec Strong, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the United 
Arab Emirates.
  Nicole D. Theriot, of Louisiana, to be Ambassador to the Co-operative 
Republic of Guyana.
  Jennifer L. Johnson, of New York, a Career Member of the Senior 
Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador to the 
Federated States of Micronesia.
  Julie Turner, of Maryland, to be Special Envoy on North Korean Human 
Rights Issues, with the rank of Ambassador.
  Gerald H. Acker, of Michigan, to be a Commissioner on the part of the 
United States on the International Joint Commission, United States and 
Canada.
  Robin Dunnigan, of California, to be Ambassador to Georgia.
  William W. Popp, of Missouri, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Uganda.
  Bryan David Hunt, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Sierra Leone.
  Joel Ehrendreich, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Republic of 
Palau.
  Nisha Desai Biswal, of Virginia, to be Deputy Chief Executive Officer 
of the United States International Development Finance Corporation.
  Jack A. Markell, of Delaware, to be Ambassador to the Italian 
Republic, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation 
as Ambassador to the Republic of San Marino.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Foreign Service, Marine Corps, 
and Navy.                                                
Pages S3845-46
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
  Jeffrey M. Bryan, of Minnesota, to be United States District Judge 
for the District of Minnesota.
  Richard E.N. Federico, of Kansas, to be United States Circuit Judge 
for the Tenth Circuit.
  Joshua Paul Kolar, of Indiana, to be United States Circuit Judge for 
the Seventh Circuit.
  Eumi K. Lee, of California, to be United States District Judge for 
the Northern District of California.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, and Navy.            
Page S3845
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S3750
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S3750
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S3750-52
Petitions and Memorials:                                     
  Page S3752
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S3758-61
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S3761-73
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S3746-50
Amendments Submitted:                                 
  Pages S3773-S3838
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S3838-39
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S3839
Text of S. 2226 as Previously Passed:
Record Votes: Eleven record votes were taken today. (Total--212) 
                                               Pages S3718-20, S3722-29
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 11:05 p.m., 
until 11:45 a.m. on Friday,

[[Page D806]]

July 28, 2023. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority 
Leader in today's Record on page S3845.)