[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 130 (Friday, August 7, 2026)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D823-D828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Friday, August 7, 2026
[[Page D823]]
Daily Digest
HIGHLIGHTS
Senate passed H.R. 5334, Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and
Iran Act, as amended.
Senate passed H.R. 6500, Continuing Appropriations and Extensions
Act, as amended.
Senate confirmed the nomination of Todd Blanche, of Florida, to
be Attorney General.
Senate
Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4531-S4615
Measures Introduced: Twenty-five bills and eleven resolutions were
introduced, as follows: S. 5359-5383, S.J. Res. 212, S. Res. 842-849,
and S. Con. Res. 38-39.
Pages S4563-64
Measures Reported:
S. 4189, to reduce the price of insulin and provide for patient
protections with respect to the cost of insulin, with an amendment in
the nature of a substitute.
Page S4563
Measures Passed:
Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act: By 86 yeas to 11
nays (Vote No. 224), Senate passed H.R. 5334, to impose sanctions and
other measures with respect to the Russian Federation, as championed by
the late Senator Lindsey O. Graham, by the order of the Senate of
Thursday, August 6, 2026, 60 Senators having voted in the affirmative,
and after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto:
Pages S4538-40
Adopted:
Graham/Blumenthal Amendment No. 6711, to impose sanctions and other
measures with respect to the Russian Federation.
Page S4538
Graham/Blumenthal Amendment No. 6712, to amend the title.
Page S4540
Rejected:
By 32 yeas to 64 nays (Vote No. 223), Paul Amendment No. 6715 (to
Amendment No. 6711), to strike the provision relating to duties on
countries that purchase Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas or
facilitate sanctions evasion.
Pages S4538-39
Stop Secret Spending Act: Senate passed H.R. 2069, to amend the
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to ensure
that other transaction agreements are reported to USAspending.gov.
Page S4547
Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act: Committee on
Finance was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5366, to
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to codify and extend the rules
for personal casualty losses arising from major disasters and the rules
for the exclusion from gross income of compensation for losses or
damages resulting from certain wildfires, and the bill was then passed.
Page S4547
Federal Building Threat Notification Act: Senate passed S. 2542, to
direct the Director of the Federal Protective Service to establish
guidance relating to emergency protocols for buildings, after agreeing
to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Pages S4547-48
Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers'
Benefit Program Expansion Act: Senate passed S. 3897, to revise
administrative procedures relating to public safety officers' death
benefits, after withdrawing the committee amendment in the nature of a
substitute, and agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:
Pages S4549-50
Moreno (for Gillibrand) Amendment No. 6764, in the nature of a
substitute.
Page S4550
Diversity Jurisdiction Inflation Adjustment Act: Committee on the
Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. 4850, to
amend title 28, United States Code, to adjust thresholds relating to
[[Page D824]]
jurisdiction for inflation, and the bill was then passed.
Pages S4550-51
Common Cents Act: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
was discharged from further consideration of S. 1525, to direct the
Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting the penny, to require cash
transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents, and the
bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment
proposed thereto:
Page S4551
Moreno (for Lummis/Gillibrand) Amendment No. 6766, in the nature of a
substitute.
Page S4551
Intellectual Property Rights in Trade: Committee on Finance was
discharged from further consideration of S. 2677, to expand the sharing
of information with respect to suspected violations of intellectual
property rights in trade, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing
to the following amendment proposed thereto:
Page S4551
Moreno (for Grassley) Amendment No. 6767, in the nature of a
substitute.
Page S4551
National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Extension Act: Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources was discharged from further
consideration of H.R. 2196, to provide for an extension of the
legislative authority of the National Emergency Medical Services
Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District
of Columbia and its environs, and the bill was then passed.
Page S4551
Land in Paducah, Kentucky: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1276, to remove
restrictions from a parcel of land in Paducah, Kentucky, and the bill
was then passed.
Pages S4551-52
Chicago Cubs Baseball Teams 150th Anniversary: Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation was discharged from further consideration
of S. Res. 815, commending the Chicago Cubs baseball teams as it
celebrates its 150th anniversary on August 29, 2026, and the resolution
was then agreed to, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed
thereto:
Pages S4552-53
Moreno (for Durbin) Amendment No. 6765, in the nature of a
substitute.
Pages S4552-53
National Lighthouse Day: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged
from further consideration of S. Res. 820, designating August 7, 2026,
as ``National Lighthouse Day'', and the resolution was then agreed to.
Page S4553
National Community Health Center Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 843,
expressing support for the designation of the first week of August
2026, as ``National Community Health Center Week'', encouraging all
people of the United States to participate by visiting their local
community health center, and celebrating the important partnership
between community health centers and the communities they serve.
Page S4553
Wildland Firefighting Efforts: Senate agreed to S. Res. 844, honoring
the lives and service of Emily Barker, Nicholas Hutcherson, Sydney
Watson, Nathan Matthews, Nicholas Dale, and all those who serve on the
front lines of wildland firefighting efforts in the United States.
Page S4553
National Child Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 845,
designating September 2026 as ``National Child Awareness Month'' to
promote awareness of charities that benefit children as well as youth-
serving organizations throughout the United States and recognizing the
efforts made by those charities and organizations on behalf of children
and youth as critical contributions to the future of the United States.
Page S4553
Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 846,
designating August 21, 2026, as ``Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness
Day''.
Page S4553
Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act: By 90 yeas to 6 nays, 1
Senator responding present (Vote No. 228), Senate passed H.R. 6500,
making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2027,
by the order of the Senate of Saturday, August 8, 2026, 60 Senators
having voted in the affirmative, and after taking action on the
following amendments and motions proposed thereto:
Pages S4542-47, S4548, S4553-55
Adopted:
Thune (for Collins) Amendment No. 6732, in the nature of a
substitute.
Page S4555
Collins Amendment No. 6750, to amend the title.
Page S4555
Rejected:
Budd Amendment No. 6747 (to Amendment No. 6732), to strike section
2019. (By 61 yeas to 32 nays (Vote No. 227), Senate tabled the
amendment.)
Pages S4554-55
Withdrawn:
Thune Amendment No. 6736 (to Amendment No. 6732), to change the
enactment date.
Page S4554
Thune Amendment No. 6737 (to Amendment No. 6736), of a perfecting
nature.
Page S4554
Thune Amendment No. 6738 (to the language proposed to be stricken by
Amendment No. 6732), to change the enactment date.
Page S4554
Thune Amendment No. 6739 (to Amendment No. 6738), of a perfecting
nature.
Page S4554
During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the
following action:
[[Page D825]]
By 91 yeas to 6 nays, one Senator responding present (Vote No. EX.
226), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, having
voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed to the motion to close further
debate on Thune (for Collins) Amendment No. 6732 (listed above).
Page S4542
Thune motion to commit the bill to the Committee on Appropriations,
with instructions, Thune Amendment No. 6740, to change the enactment
date, fell when cloture was invoked on Thune (for Collins) Amendment
No. 6732.
Page S4542
Thune Amendment No. 6741 (the instructions (Amendment No. 6740) of
the motion to commit), of a perfecting nature, fell when Thune motion
to commit the bill to the Committee on Appropriations, with
instructions, Thune Amendment No. 6740 (listed above), fell.
Page S4542
Thune Amendment No. 6742 (to Amendment No. 6741), of a perfecting
nature, fell when Thune Amendment No. 6741 (the instructions (Amendment
No. 6740) of the motion to commit) (listed above), fell.
Page S4542
Measures Considered:
Help America Vote Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration of motion to
proceed to consideration of S. 5271, to amend the Help America Vote Act
of 2002 to require voters to provide photo identification.
Page S4556
During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the
following action:
By 52 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 231), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to
consideration of the bill.
Page S4556
Digital Asset Market Clarity Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration
of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 3633, to provide for
a system of regulation of the offer and sale of digital commodities by
the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission, to amend the Federal Reserve Act to prohibit the
Federal reserve banks from offering certain products or services
directly to an individual, to prohibit the use of central bank digital
currency for monetary policy.
Page S4557
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 Saturday, August 8, 2026, a vote on
cloture will occur at 2:15 p.m., on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Page S4557
Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the
following action:
Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session to
consider the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill.
Page S4557
Protect College Sports Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement
was reached providing that notwithstanding Rule XXII, Senate vote on
the motion to invoke cloture with respect to the motion to proceed to
consideration of S. 4668, to protect the name, image, and likeness
rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote
fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, at a time to be
determined by the Majority Leader, in consultations with the Democratic
Leader, no earlier than September 15, 2026, and no later than September
23, 2026.
Page S4553
Hostilities With Iran--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement
was reached providing that, notwithstanding Rule XXII, at a time to be
determined by the Majority Leader, in concurrence with the Democratic
Leader, no later than Friday, October 2, 2026, H. Con. Res. 89,
directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers
Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with
Iran, be discharged from the Committee on Foreign Relations and Senate
proceed to its consideration; provided further, that there be 6 hours
for debate only, with the time equally divided between the two Leaders
or their designees, on the concurrent resolution, and that following
the use or yielding back of time, Senate vote on adoption of the
concurrent resolution.
Page S4557
Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached
providing that all members of the Republican conference be authorized
to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions from August 7, 2026,
through September 14, 2026.
Page S4557
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 authorized by law, by
concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate.
Page S4557
Byrne Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination
of Matthew R. Byrne, of Ohio, to be United States District Judge for
the Southern District of Ohio.
Page S4557
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
[[Page D826]]
Senate, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of Saturday,
August 8, 2026, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., on Monday,
September 14, 2026.
Page S4557
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 S4557
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
By 51 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. EX. 225), Senate confirmed the
following nominations en bloc:
Charlton Allen, of North Carolina, to be General Counsel of the
Federal Labor Relations Authority for a term of five years.
John Breslow, of Arizona, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus.
Christopher Michael De Bono, of the District of Columbia, to be an
Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for
the term of fifteen years.
Edward Eppler, of Connecticut, to be Chief Financial Officer,
Department of Transportation.
Michael Kavoukjian, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of
Norway.
Sriprakash Kothari, of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury.
Glen Smith, of Iowa, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural
Development.
Frank Garcia, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors
of the African Development Foundation for a term expiring September 22,
2031.
Michael Vance, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State
(Intelligence and Research).
Sharon E. Goodie, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate
Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of
fifteen years.
Michael McDonald, of the District of Columbia, to be Chairperson of
the National Endowment for the Humanities for a term of four years.
William Hague, of Washington, to be an Assistant Secretary of the
Interior.
Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and
Wildlife.
Karen Sessions, of Texas, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer
Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27,
2025.
Todd Steggerda, of Virginia, to be Representative of the United
States of America to the Office of the United Nations and Other
International Organizations in Geneva, with the rank of Ambassador.
Bradford Pentony Wilson, of New Jersey, to be Archivist of the United
States.
Adam Cassady, of Virginia, to be Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace
and Digital Policy.
Kaveh Farzad, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy
(International Affairs).
Preston Wells Griffith III, of Virginia, to be Representative of the
United States of America to the Vienna Office of the United Nations,
with the rank of Ambassador.
Preston Wells Griffith III, of Virginia, to be Representative of the
United States of America to the International Atomic Energy Agency,
with the rank of Ambassador.
Kenneth Sorenson, of Hawaii, to be United States Attorney for the
District of Hawaii for the term of four years.
Johnson TeeHee II, of Oklahoma, to be United States Marshal for the
Eastern District of Oklahoma for the term of four years.
James Arnott, of Missouri, to be United States Marshal for the
Western District of Missouri for the term of four years.
Jack Chambers, of West Virginia, to be United States Marshal for the
Southern District of West Virginia for the term of four years.
William Trachman, of Colorado, to be Ambassador to the United
Republic of Tanzania.
Fleet White, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State
(Political-Military Affairs).
Erin Browne, of New York, to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury.
Brian Cavanaugh, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary for Management,
Department of Homeland Security.
Thomas B. Chapman, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National
Transportation Safety Board for a term expiring December 31, 2028.
Jason Holt, of Oklahoma, to be United States Marshal for the Northern
District of Oklahoma for the term of four years.
James Macy, of Wisconsin, to be a Member of the National Labor
Relations Board for the term of five years expiring August 27, 2030.
David M. Prouty, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National Labor
Relations Board for the term of five years expiring August 27, 2031.
Timothy VerHey, of Michigan, to be United States Attorney for the
Western District of Michigan for the term of four years.
Eric Wendt, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of
Albania.
James Woodruff, of Florida, to be Chairman of the Merit Systems
Protection Board.
Michael Christopher DiLorenzo, of the District of Columbia, to be an
Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for
the term of fifteen years, Craig S. Iscoe, retired.
Craig Edward Leen, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate
Judge of the Superior Court of
[[Page D827]]
the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years.
Christine Michelle Macey, of the District of Columbia, to be an
Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for
the term of fifteen years.
John Barlow Timmer, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate
Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of
fifteen years.
Roger Mason, of Virginia, to be Director of the National
Reconnaissance Office.
Christopher Phelan, of Minnesota, to be Chairman of the Council of
Economic Advisers.
Rudolph Bauer, of South Carolina, to be Ambassador to Belize.
Sean Costello, of Alabama, to be United States Attorney for the
Southern District of Alabama for the term of four years.
Erich Hernandez-Baquero, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary of
the Air Force.
Don Richard Berthiaume, Jr., of Virginia, to be Inspector General,
Department of Justice.
David Brat, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Commonwealth of
Australia.
Hal Duncan, of Texas, to be Deputy Director of the Office of
Management and Budget.
George McMaster, of South Carolina, to be an Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury.
Juan Segura, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State
(Western Hemisphere Affairs).
Juan Segura, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of
the Inter-American Foundation for a term expiring September 20, 2026.
Juan Segura, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of
the Inter-American Foundation for a term expiring September 20, 2032.
Francis Brooke, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.
Cameron Hamilton, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
Brendan Hanrahan, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of State
(European and Eurasian Affairs).
Karen Jean Hedlund, of New York, to be a Member of the Surface
Transportation Board for a term expiring December 31, 2030.
Brett Matsumoto, of Maryland, to be Commissioner of Labor Statistics,
Department of Labor, for a term of four years.
Barbera Thornhill, of North Carolina, to be Director of the Office to
Monitor and Combat Trafficking, with the rank of Ambassador at Large.
David Cummins, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Transportation
Security Administration for a term of five years.
John Crews, of Virginia, to be a Member of the National Credit Union
Administration Board for a term expiring August 2, 2031.
Charles Baldis, of Virginia, to be Special Counsel, Office of Special
Counsel, for the term of five years.
Jules Hurst III, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense
(Comptroller).
Christopher Anderson, of Wisconsin, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom
of Cambodia.
Donald Blome, of Illinois, to be an Assistant Secretary of State
(Near Eastern Affairs).
Katherine Bowles, of Alabama, to be an Assistant Secretary of State
(Legislative Affairs).
Stanley Brown, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of
Equatorial Guinea.
Joseph Burkhalter, of Georgia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of
Moldova.
Mark Cruz, of Oregon, to be Director of the Indian Health Service,
Department of Health and Human Services, for the term of four years.
John Hurley, of California, to be Representative of the United States
of America to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development, with the rank of Ambassador.
Brien Lorenze, of Virginia, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer
Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27,
2024.
Christopher Nassar, of Oklahoma, to be United States Attorney for the
Northern District of Oklahoma for the term of four years.
Daniel Perez, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Federative Republic
of Brazil.
Laurence Socha, of Illinois, to be Ambassador to the Republic of The
Gambia.
James Andrew Crowell IV, of the District of Columbia, to be an
Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the
term of fifteen years.
Stuart Gordon Nash, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate
Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of
fifteen years.
Pages S4531-38, S4540-42, S4614-15
Routine lists in the Army, and Coast Guard.
Pages S4548-49, S4615
By 50 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. EX. 230), Todd Blanche, of Florida,
to be Attorney General.
Pages S4555-56, S4615
During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the
following action:
By 50 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. 229), Senate agreed to the motion to
close further debate on the nomination.
Page S4555
[[Page D828]]
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
Dennis Kirk, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of the
Interior.
Leslie Becera, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of
Transportation.
Justin Bytheway, of Utah, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Tonga.
Marc Dillard, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of
Madagascar, and to serve concurrently and without additional
compensation as Ambassador to the Union of the Comoros.
Michael Doyle, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Occupational
Safety and Health Review Commission for a term expiring April 27, 2031.
William Flens, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Chad.
Natasha Franceschi, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic
of Nicaragua.
Steven Gillen, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic.
Charles Goodman III, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Togolese
Republic.
Keith Heffern, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Gabonese
Republic.
Mary Lazare, of Florida, to be Assistant Secretary for Aging,
Department of Health and Human Services.
Jessica Long, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Islamic Republic
of Mauritania.
Peter Lord, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Benin.
John McIntyre, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi.
Julia Nesheiwat, of Florida, to be Ambassador-at-Large for the
Arctic.
Nutan Patel, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Cabo
Verde.
Michael Rigas, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors
of the Export-Import Bank of the United States for the remainder of the
term expiring January 20, 2027.
Michael Rigas, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors
of the Export-Import Bank of the United States for a term expiring
January 20, 2031.
Danielle Thumann Severs, of North Carolina, to be a Member of the
Federal Communications Commission for a term of five years from July 1,
2024.
Robert Stebbins, of New York, to be Deputy Chief Executive Officer of
the United States International Development Finance Corporation.
Loren E. Sweatt, of Virginia, to be a Member of the National
Mediation Board for a term expiring July 1, 2029.
Routine lists in the Air Force, and Navy.
Pages S4606-14
Measures Discharged:
Page S4562
Executive Communications:
Pages S4562-63
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S4564-67
Additional Statements:
Pages S4559-62
Amendments Submitted:
Pages S4583-S4606
Record Votes: Nine record votes were taken today. (Total--231)
Pages S4538-40, S4542, S4554-56
Motion to Adjourn: By voice vote, Senate agreed to the motion to
adjourn.
Pages S4556-57
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m., on Friday, August 7, 2026, and
adjourned at 4:56 a.m., on Saturday, August 8, 2026, until 10 a.m. on
Monday, August 10, 2026. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the
Majority Leader in today's Record on page S4606.)