Senate Daily Digest — Thursday, 12/7/2023
Senate convened at 10 a.m., adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
Thursday, 12/7/2023 — Activity – On the Floor – Votes: 3 – Confirmed: 230
Legislation: New: 30, Action: 3, Voted: 2, Passed: 1
Amendments: Offered: 2
Committee — Meetings: 4 • Legislation: Reported: 2
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1276-D1277]
Thursday, December 7, 2023
[[Page D1276]]
Daily Digest
Senate
Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S5831-S5881
Measures Introduced: Twenty-eight bills and two resolutions were
introduced, as follows: S. 3430-3457, and S. Res. 491-492.
Pages S5851-52
Measures Reported:
S. 3430, to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to
expand the mental health care workforce and services, reduce
prescription drug costs, and extend certain expiring provisions under
Medicare and Medicaid. (S. Rept. No. 118-121)
S. 2973, to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to
establish requirements relating to pharmacy benefit managers under the
Medicare and Medicaid programs, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute. (S. Rept. No. 118-122)
Page S5850
Measures Passed:
Honoring First Lady Rosalynn Carter: Senate agreed to S. Res. 492,
honoring the life of First Lady Rosalynn Carter.
Page S5875
Measures Considered:
Relieve Act: Senate continued consideration of the motion to proceed to
consideration of H.R. 815, to amend title 38, United States Code, to
make certain improvements relating to the eligibility of veterans to
receive reimbursement for emergency treatment furnished through the
Veterans Community Care program.
Pages S5831-34
Removal of United States Armed Forces From Hostilities in Syria: By 13
yeas to 84 nays (Vote No. 333), Senate rejected the motion to discharge
the Committee on Foreign Relations of S.J. Res. 51, directing the
removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in Syria that
have not been authorized by Congress.
Pages S5834-37
Conference Reports:
National Defense Authorization Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration
of 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, taking action on the following
amendments and motions proposed thereto:
Pending:
Schumer motion to recommit the conference report to accompany the
bill to the Committee on Conference, with instructions.
Page S5838
Schumer Amendment No. 1373 (to the instructions of the motion to
recommit the conference report to accompany the bill to the Committee
on Conference), to modify the effective date.
Page S5838
Schumer Amendment No. 1374 (to Amendment No. 1373), to modify the
effective date.
Pages S5838-39
A motion was entered to close further debate on the conference report
to accompany the bill, 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 Harry Coker, Jr., of Kansas, to
be National Cyber Director.
Page S5836
During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the
following action:
By 82 yeas to 15 nays (Vote No. 334), Senate agreed to the motion to
proceed to consideration of the conference report to accompany the
bill.
Pages S5837-38
Appointments:
Commission on Reform and Modernization of the Department of State:
The Chair, pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 117-263, on behalf
of the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations,
appointed the following individual to serve as a member of the
Commission on Reform and Modernization of the Department of State:
Stephen Biegun of Michigan.
Pages S5875-76
Coker Jr. Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the
nomination of Harry Coker, Jr., of Kansas, to be National Cyber
Director.
Page S5836
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
[[Page D1277]]
of the nomination of Richard E.N. Federico, of Kansas, to be United
States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit.
Page S5836
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 S5836
Federico Nomination--Agreement: Senate resumed consideration of the
nomination of Richard E.N. Federico, of Kansas, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit.
Pages S5839-42
During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the
following action:
Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to
consider the nomination.
Page S5839
By 63 yeas to 32 nays (Vote No. EX. 335), Senate agreed to the motion
to close further debate on the nomination.
Page S5840
A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at
approximately 3:00 p.m., on Monday, December 11, 2023, Senate resume
consideration of the nomination, post-cloture; that all post-cloture
time on the nomination be considered expired at 5:30 p.m., and that
upon disposition of the nomination, Senate resume consideration of the
nomination of Harry Coker, Jr., of Kansas, to be National Cyber
Director.
Page S5876
O'Malley Nomination-Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was
reached providing that at a time to be determined by the Majority
Leader, in consultation with the Republican Leader, Senate begin
consideration of the nomination of Martin O'Malley, of Maryland, to be
Commissioner of Social Security; that there be one hour for debate
equally divided in the usual form on the nomination; and that upon the
use or yielding back of time, Senate vote on confirmation of the
nomination, without intervening action or debate.
Page S5844
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
1 Army nomination in the rank of general.
6 Coast Guard nominations in the rank of admiral.
Routine lists in the Coast Guard.
Page S5881
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
Routine lists in the Army, Navy, and Space Force.
Page S5880
Messages from the House:
Pages S5849-50
Measures Referred:
Page S5849
Executive Communications:
Page S5850
Petitions and Memorials:
Page S5850
Executive Reports of Committees:
Pages S5850-51
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S5852-53
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Page S5853
Additional Statements:
Page S5849
Amendments Submitted:
Pages S5854-75
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Page S5875
Privileges of the Floor:
Page S5875
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--335)
Pages S5837-38, S5840
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 4:50 p.m.,
until 3 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2023. (For Senate's program, see
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page
S5876.)