[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 205 (Wednesday, December 13, 2023)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1297-D1299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                       Wednesday, December 13, 2023

[[Page D1297]]

                              Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS

      Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 2670, 
      National Defense Authorization Act.


                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S5927-S5968


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page D1297, Wednesday, December 13, 2023, the following 
language appears: Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S5927-
S6968
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Chamber Action 
Routine Proceedings, pages S5927-S5968


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


     Measures Introduced: Thirty-four bills and seven resolutions 
     were introduced, as follows: S. 3480-3513, and S. Res. 496-
     502.                                                29Measures 
     Reported:
  S. 2414, to require agencies with working dog programs to implement 
the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office relating to 
the health and welfare of working dogs, with an amendment in the nature 
of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 118-137)
  Report to accompany S. 1284, to improve forecasting and understanding 
of tornadoes and other hazardous weather. (S. Rept. No. 118-138)
  S. 66, to establish a task force on improvements for notices to air 
missions, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 127, to prevent unfair and deceptive acts or practices and the 
dissemination of false information related to pharmacy benefit 
management services for prescription drugs, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.
  S. 576, to enhance safety requirements for trains transporting 
hazardous materials, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 1153, to require the Secretary of Commerce to establish the 
National Manufacturing Advisory Council within the Department of 
Commerce, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 1280, to require coordinated National Institute of Standards and 
Technology science and research activities regarding illicit drugs 
containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other substances of 
concern, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 1409, to protect the safety of children on the internet, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 1418, to amend the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 
1998 to strengthen protections relating to the online collection, use, 
and disclosure of personal information of children and teens, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 1421, to require origin and location disclosure for new products 
of foreign origin offered for sale on the internet, with an amendment 
in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 2116, to require the Secretary of Commerce to produce a report 
that provides recommendations to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, 
and impact of Department of Commerce programs related to supply chain 
resilience and manufacturing and industrial innovation, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  S. 2201, to increase knowledge and awareness of best practices to 
reduce cybersecurity risks in the United States, with an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute.                                  
Page S5960
       Measures Passed:
     SIREN Reauthorization Act: Senate passed S. 265, to 
     reauthorize the rural emergency medical service training and 
     equipment assistance program, after agreeing to the committee 
     amendment in the nature of a substitute.       
       Pages S5966-67
     Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act:  Senate passed S. 
     229, to require SelectUSA to coordinate with State-level 
     economic development organizations to increase foreign direct 
     investment in semiconductor-related manufacturing and 
     production.                                        
       Page S5967
     Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act: Senate passed S. 318, to 
     amend the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to improve the administration 
     of the Marine Debris

[[Page D1298]]

     Foundation, to amend the Marine Debris Act to improve the 
     administration of the Marine Debris Program of the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, after agreeing to the 
     committee amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
                                                    Pages S5967-68
     Sandra Day O'Connor: Senate agreed to S. Res. 499, 
     acknowledging the lifetime of service of Sandra Day O'Connor 
     to the United States as a successful Arizona State Senator, 
     trailblazer, expert collaborator, educational advocate, and 
     one of the greatest Justices of the Supreme Court of the 
     United States.                                     
       Page S5966
     National First-Generation College Celebration Day:  Senate 
     agreed to S. Res. 500, designating November 8, 2023, as 
     ``National First-Generation College Celebration Day''. 
                                                        Page S5966
     Authorize Testimony and Representation:  Senate agreed to S. 
     Res. 501, to authorize testimony and representation in United 
     States v. Nformangum.                              
       Page S5966
     Authorize Testimony and Representation:  Senate agreed to S. 
     Res. 502, to authorize testimony and representation in United 
     States v. Antonio.                                 
       Page S5966
       Conference Reports:
     National Defense Authorization Act: By 87 yeas to 13 nays 
     (Vote No. 343), Senate agreed to the conference report to 
     accompany 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. 
                                          Pages S5927-46, S5946-56
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 65 yeas to 35 nays (Vote No. 342), three-fifths of those Senators 
duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed 
to the motion to waive all applicable points of order. Subsequently, 
the point of order that section 7902 of the conference report to 
accompany the bill violates Rule XXVIII of the Standing Rules of the 
Senate was not sustained, and thus the point of order fell. 
                                                             Page S5955
Message from the President: Senate received the following message from 
the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report of the continuation of the 
national emergency that was originally declared in Executive Order 
14059 of December 15, 2021, with respect to global illicit drug 
trafficking; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
and Urban Affairs. (PM-33)                                   
Page S5958
Fonzone Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Christopher Charles Fonzone, of Pennsylvania, to be an 
Assistant Attorney General.                                  
  Page S5956
  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 Brandon S. Long, of Louisiana, to be United States 
District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.        
Page S5956
  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 S5956
Hill Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of Sara E. Hill, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge for 
the Northern District of Oklahoma.                           
  Page S5956
  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 Christopher Charles Fonzone, of Pennsylvania, to be an 
Assistant Attorney General.                                  
Page S5956
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S5956
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S5956
  Edwards, Jr. Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was 
reached providing that at approximately 10 a.m., on Thursday, December 
14, 2023, Senate resume consideration of the nomination of Jerry 
Edwards, Jr., of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the 
Western District of Louisiana; and that the motions to invoke cloture 
filed during the session of Monday, December 11, 2023 ripen at 12 noon.
                                                             Page S5968
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  Nickolas Guertin, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the 
Navy.
  Betty Y. Jang, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees 
of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation for a term expiring 
December 10, 2029.
  Laura Dove, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of 
the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation for a term expiring 
November 17, 2029.
  Laura Dove, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of 
the James Madison Memorial

[[Page D1299]]

Fellowship Foundation for a term expiring November 17, 2023.
  3 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  3 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.                  
Page S5968
Messages from the House:                                 
  Pages S5958-59
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S5959
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S5959
Executive Communications:                                
  Pages S5959-60
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S5960
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S5962-63
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S5963-66
Additional Statements:                                   
  Pages S5957-58
Notices of Intent:                                           
  Page S5966
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                          
  Page S5966
Privileges of the Floor:                                     
  Page S5966
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--343) 
                                                         Pages S5955-56
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:44 p.m., 
until 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 14, 2023. (For Senate's program, 
see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S5968.)