Senate Daily Digest — Wednesday, 5/15/2024
Senate convened at 10 a.m., adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
Wednesday, 5/15/2024 — Activity – On the Floor – Votes: 5 – Confirmed: 3
Legislation: New: 30, Action: 6, Voted: 1, Passed: 5, Not Passed: 1
Committee — Meetings: 14 • Legislation: Action: 36, Hearing: 24, Markup: 12
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D494-D495]
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
[[Page D494]]
Daily Digest
Senate
Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S3691-S3740
Measures Introduced: Sixteen bills and fourteen resolutions were
introduced, as follows: S. 4337-4352, S.J. Res. 79-85, and S. Res. 687-
693.
Pages S3710-11
Measures Reported:
S. 2770, to prohibit the distribution of materially deceptive AI-
generated audio or visual media relating to candidates for Federal
office, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
S. 3875, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to
provide further transparency for the use of content that is
substantially generated by artificial intelligence in political
advertisements by requiring such advertisements to include a statement
within the contents of the advertisements if generative AI was used to
generate any image, audio, or video footage in the advertisements, with
an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
S. 3897, to require the Election Assistance Commission to develop
voluntary guidelines for the administration of elections that address
the use and risks of artificial intelligence technologies, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Page S3710
Measures Passed:
National Hospital Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 689, supporting the
goals and ideals of National Hospital Week, to be observed from May 12
through May 18, 2024.
Page S3711
National Senior Fraud Awareness Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 690,
supporting the designation of May 15, 2024, as “National Senior Fraud
Awareness Day” to raise awareness about the increasing number of
fraudulent scams targeted at seniors in the United States, to encourage
the implementation of policies to prevent those scams from happening,
and to improve protections from those scams for seniors.
Page S3711
DIPG Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day: Senate agreed to S. Res.
691, expressing support for the designation of May 17, 2024, as “DIPG
Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day” to raise awareness of, and
encourage research on, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma tumors and
pediatric cancers in general.
Page S3711
National Fentanyl Awareness Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 692,
supporting the mission and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in
2024, including increasing individual and public awareness of the
impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young
people.
Page S3711
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month:
Senate agreed to S. Res. 693, recognizing the significance of Asian
American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month as an
important time to celebrate the significant contributions of Asian
Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history of
the United States.
Page S3711
Measures Failed:
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds: By 46 yeas to 49
nays (Vote No. 168), Senate failed to pass S.J. Res. 57, providing for
congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States
Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Treasury relating
to “Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds”.
Pages S3698-S3705
Appointments:
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom: The
Chair, on behalf of the President pro tempore, upon the recommendation
of the Republican Leader, pursuant to Public Law 105-292, as amended by
Public Law 106-55, Public Law 107-228, and Public Law 112-75,
reappointed the following individual to the United States Commission on
International Religious Freedom: Eric M. Ueland of Oregon.
Page S3739
Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Furnaces--Agreement: A
unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that
notwithstanding Rule XXII and 5 USC 802, and at a time to be determined
by the Majority Leader, in consultation with the Republican Leader, no
later than May 24, 2024, if S.J. Res. 58, providing for congressional
disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United
[[Page D495]]
States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating
to “Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for
Consumer Furnaces” is discharged from the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources, it be in order for Senator Cruz, or his designee, to
move to proceed to consideration of the joint resolution; that if the
motion is agreed to, there be ten hours of debate equally divided
between the proponents and opponents of the joint resolution; that upon
the use or yielding back of that time, Senate vote on passage of the
joint resolution; and that all other provisions under chapter 8 of
title 5, United States Code, remain in effect except the 60 session day
clock.
Page S3739
Securities and Exchange Commission Rule, and Theeler and Aframe
Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached
providing that notwithstanding 5 USC 802, that upon conclusion of
morning business on Thursday, May 16, 2024, Senate begin consideration
of H.J. Res. 109, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter
8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission relating to “Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 121”, which was received from the House of
Representatives and is at the desk; that at 11:30 a.m., Senate vote on
passage of the joint resolution, with all other provisions under
chapter 8 of title 5, United State Code, remaining in effect except the
60 session day clock; that following disposition of the joint
resolution, Senate execute the order of Tuesday, May 7, 2024, with
respect to the nomination of Camela C. Theeler, of South Dakota, to be
United States District Judge for the District of South Dakota; and that
upon disposition of the nomination of Camela C. Theeler, Senate resume
consideration of the nomination of Seth Robert Aframe, of New
Hampshire, to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit.
Page S3739
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
By 49 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. EX. 164), Courtney Diesel O'Donnell,
of California, to be United States Permanent Representative to the
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, with
the rank of Ambassador.
Pages S3691-96, S3740
By 51 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. EX. 166), Sanket Jayshukh Bulsara, of
New York, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District
of New York.
Pages S3697, S3739
During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the
following action:
By 52 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. EX. 165), Senate agreed to the motion
to close further debate on the nomination.
Page S3696
By 61 yeas to 33 nays (Vote No. EX. 167), Eric C. Schulte, of South
Dakota, to be United States District Judge for the District of South
Dakota.
Pages S3697-98
Messages from the House:
Page S3709
Measures Referred:
Page S3709
Executive Communications:
Pages S3709-10
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S3711-13
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S3713-21
Additional Statements:
Pages S3708-09
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Pages S3721-22
Record Votes: Five record votes were taken today. (Total--168)
Pages S3696-98, S3705
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 8:04 p.m.,
until 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 16, 2024. (For Senate's program, see the
remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S3739.)