[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 209 (Tuesday, December 19, 2023)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1318-D1320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                         Tuesday, December 19, 2023

[[Page D1318]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S6031-S6069
Measures Introduced: One bill and three resolutions were introduced, as 
follows: S. 3557, S. Res. 515-516, and S. Con. Res. 24.      
  Page S6057
Measures Reported:
  Report to accompany S. 1414, to improve the instant messaging service 
used by the National Weather Service. (S. Rept. No. 118-140)
  Report to accompany S. 1416, to provide guidance for and investment 
in the upgrade and modernization of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio All Hazards Network. (S. Rept. 
No. 118-141)                                                 
Page S6057
Measures Passed:
  To Amend the Siletz Reservation Act:  Senate passed H.R. 2839, to 
amend the Siletz Reservation Act to address the hunting, fishing, 
trapping, and animal gathering rights of the Confederated Tribes of 
Siletz Indians.                                              
  Page S6061
  Grand Ronde Reservation Act:  Senate passed H.R. 1722, to amend the 
Grand Ronde Reservation Act.                             
  Pages S6061-62
  Combating Human Rights Abuses Act:  Senate passed S. 484, to require 
the Secretary of Commerce to provide training and guidance relating to 
human rights abuses, including such abuses perpetrated against the 
Uyghur population by the Government of the People's Republic of China, 
after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: 
                                                             Page S6062
  Merkley (for Peters/Lummis) Amendment No. 1379, in the nature of a 
substitute.                                                  
Page S6062
  National Medal of Honor Highway:  Committee on Environment and Public 
Works was discharged from further consideration of S. 1478, to 
designate United States Route 20 in the States of Oregon, Idaho, 
Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, 
Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts as the ``National Medal of 
Honor Highway'', and the bill was then passed.               
  Page S6062
  University of Iowa Women's Basketball Team:  Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation was discharged from further consideration 
of S. Res. 423, recognizing the University of Iowa women's basketball 
team's historic ``Crossover at Kinnick'' game and the importance of 
women's sports, and the resolution was then agreed to, after agreeing 
to the following amendment proposed thereto:             
  Pages S6062-63
  Merkley (for Ernst) Amendment No. 1380, to amend the resolution. 
                                                         Pages S6062-63
  Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2023, Part II:  Senate passed 
H.R. 6503, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend 
authorizations for the airport improvement program, to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure 
authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.              
  Page S6067
Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act 
(Regulation B) Veto--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was 
reached providing that notwithstanding rule XXII, the veto message with 
respect to S.J. Res. 32, providing for congressional disapproval under 
chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the 
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to ``Small Business 
Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)'', be 
considered at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in 
concurrence with the Republican Leader prior to January 31, 2024; that 
there be up to two hours for debate equally divided between the two 
Leaders or their designees; and that Senate vote on passage of the 
joint resolution, the objections of the President to the contrary 
notwithstanding.                                         
  Pages S6048-50
Message from the President: Senate received the following message from 
the President of the United States:
  Transmitting, pursuant to the Constitution, the report of the veto of 
S.J. Res. 32, a joint resolution that would disapprove of the Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau's final rule titled ``Small Business 
Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)''; 
ordered to be printed in the

[[Page D1319]]

Record, spread in full upon the Journal, and held at the desk. (PM-34) 
                                                         Pages S6056-57
Crews Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of S. Kato Crews, of Colorado, to be United States District Judge for 
the District of Colorado.                                    
  Page S6047
  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 Joseph Goffman, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.        
Page S6047
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S6047
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S6047
Mehalchick Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Karoline Mehalchick, of Pennsylvania, to be United States 
District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.      
  Page S6047
  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 S. Kato Crews, of Colorado, to be United States District 
Judge for the District of Colorado.                          
Page S6047
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S6047
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S6047
Kazen Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of John A. Kazen, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the 
Southern District of Texas.                                  
  Page S6048
  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 Karoline Mehalchick, of Pennsylvania, to be United States 
District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.      
Page S6047
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S6047
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.                                     
Page S6048
Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the motions to invoke cloture filed during the sessions 
of Monday, December 18, 2023, and Tuesday, December 19, 2023, ripen at 
5:30 p.m., on Monday, January 8, 2024; and that the nominations remain 
in status quo, notwithstanding the provisions of Rule XXXI, paragraph 
6, of the Standing Rules of the Senate.                      
  Page S6068
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
  By 50 yeas to 17 nays (Vote No. EX. 349), Christopher Charles 
Fonzone, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Attorney General. 
                                                             Page S6040
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 49 yeas to 18 nays (Vote No. EX. 348), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.               
Pages S6039-40
  By 52 yeas to 14 nays (Vote No. EX. 351), Sara E. Hill, of Oklahoma, 
to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of 
Oklahoma.                                                
Pages S6041-42
  During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 52 yeas to 14 nays (Vote No. EX. 350), Senate agreed to the motion 
to close further debate on the nomination.               
Pages S6040-41
  By 49 yeas to 15 nays (Vote No. EX. 352), Elizabeth H. Richard, of 
Virginia, to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, with the rank and 
status of Ambassador at Large.                               
Page S6042
  John David Russell, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge 
for the Northern District of Oklahoma.                   
Pages S6067-68
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the motion 
to invoke cloture on the nomination, be withdrawn.           
Page S6068
  5 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
  3 Army nominations in the rank of general.
  5 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
  2 Space Force nominations in the rank of general.
  Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space 
Force.                                                   
Pages S6068-69
Messages from the House:                                     
  Page S6057
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S6057
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S6057-58
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S6058-60
Additional Statements:                                       
  Page S6056
Amendments Submitted:                                    
  Pages S6060-61
Notices of Intent:                                           
  Page S6061
Record Votes: Five record votes were taken today. (Total--352) 
                                                         Pages S6039-42


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

  
  On page D1319, December 19, 2023, the following language 
appears: Messages from the House: Page S6057 Enrolled Bills 
Presented: Page S6057 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S6057-58 
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S6058-60 
Additional Statements: Page S6056 Amendments Submitted: Pages 
S6060-61
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Messages from the 
House: Page S6057 Enrolled Bills Presented: Page S6057 Additional 
Cosponsors: Pages S6057-58 Statements on Introduced Bills/
Resolutions: Pages S6058-60 Additional Statements: Page S6056 
Amendments Submitted: Pages S6060-61 Notices of Intent: Page S6061


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



[[Page D1320]]


     Adjournment: Senate convened at 11 a.m. and adjourned at 9:38 
     p.m., until 12 noon on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. (For 
     Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in 
     today's Record on page S6068.)