Senate Daily Digest — Wednesday, 9/25/2024
Senate convened at 10 a.m., adjourned, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late James Ralph Sasser, former Senator for the State of Tennessee, in accordance with S.Res. 888, at 9:48 p.m.
Wednesday, 9/25/2024 — Activity – On the Floor – Votes: 4 – Confirmed: 7
Legislation: New: 172, Action: 29, Voted: 2, Passed: 28
Amendments: Agreed to: 3
Committee — Meetings: 10 • Legislation: Action: 38, Hearing: 5, Markup: 33, Reported: 14
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D951-D955]
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
[[Page D951]]
Daily Digest
HIGHLIGHTS
Senate passed H.R. 9747, Continuing Appropriations and Extensions
Act.
Senate
Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S6387-S6469
Measures Introduced: One hundred twenty-nine bills and forty-three resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 5164-5292, S.J. Res. 111-
116, S. Res. 856-890, and S. Con. Res. 42-43.
Pages S6435-41
Measures Reported:
Report to accompany S. 3891, to amend the Public Works and Economic
Development Act of 1965 to update and expand Federal economic
development investment in the economic recovery, resiliency, and
competitiveness of communities, regions, and States across the United
States. (S. Rept. No. 118-233)
H.R. 1823, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 207 East Fort Dade Avenue in Brooksville, Florida,
as the “Specialist Justin Dean Coleman Memorial Post Office
Building”.
H.R. 3354, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 220 North Hatcher Avenue in Purcellville, Virginia,
as the “Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Post Office Building”.
H.R. 6810, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 518 North Ridgewood Drive in Sebring, Florida, as
the “U.S. Army Air Corps Major Thomas B. McGuire Post Office
Building”.
H.R. 6983, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 15 South Valdosta Road in Lakeland, Georgia, as the
“Nell Patten Roquemore Post Office”.
H.R. 7180, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 80 1st Street in Kingsland, Arkansas, as the
“Kingsland 'Johnny Cash' Post Office”.
H.R. 7385, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 29 Franklin Street in Petersburg, Virginia, as the
“John Mercer Langston Post Office Building”.
H.R. 7417, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 135 West Spring Street in Titusville, Pennsylvania,
as the “Edwin L. Drake Post Office Building”.
H.R. 7606, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 1087 Route 47 South in Rio Grande, New Jersey, as
the “Carlton H. Hand Post Office Building”.
H.R. 7607, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19, Northeast Corner of US
Route 9 South and Main Street in the Township of Middle, County of Cape
May, New Jersey, as the “George Henry White Post Office Building”.
H.R. 7893, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 306 Pickens Street in Marion, Alabama, as the
“Albert Turner, Sr. Post Office Building”.
S. 3181, to designate the Air and Marine Operations Marine Unit of
the U.S. Customs and Border Protection located at 101 Km 18.5 in Cabo
Rojo, Puerto Rico, as the “Michel O. Maceda Marine Unit”.
S. 4404, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 840 Front Street in Casselton, North Dakota, as the
“Commander Delbert Austin Olson Post Office”.
S. 4634, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 154 First Avenue East in Jerome, Idaho, as the
“Representative Maxine Bell Post Office”.
S. 4803, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 31143 State Highway 65 in Pengilly, Minnesota, as
the “First Lieutenant Richard Arne Koski Post Office”.
Page S6435
Measures Passed:
Certify Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Report:
Senate agreed to S. Res. 837, authorizing the President of the Senate
to certify the report of the Committee on Health, Education,
[[Page D952]]
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate regarding the refusal of Dr. Ralph de
la Torre to appear and testify before the Committee.
Pages S6405-08
Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act: By 78 yeas to 18 nays
(Vote No. 255), Senate passed H.R. 9747, making continuing
appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2025, by the order of the
Senate of Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 60 Senators having voted in the
affirmative.
Page S6408
Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act: Senate
passed S. 5284, to increase the penalty for prohibited provision of a
phone in a correctional facility.
Page S6415
Rural Broadband Protection Act: Senate passed S. 275, to require the
Federal Communications Commission to establish a vetting process for
prospective applicants for high-cost universal service program funding,
after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a
substitute.
Page S6464
Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act: Senate
passed S. 1570, to amend the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment
Screening Act to require hygienic handling of breast milk and baby
formula by security screening personnel of the Transportation Security
Administration and personnel of private security companies providing
security screening.
Page S6465
Strengthening the Commercial Driver's License Information System Act:
Senate passed S. 3475, to amend title 49, United States Code, to allow
the Secretary of Transportation to designate an authorized operator of
the commercial driver's license information system.
Page S6465
Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act: Senate passed
S. 3698, to amend title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, to
revise references in such title to individuals with intellectual
disabilities.
Page S6466
Eugene E. Siler, Jr. United States Courthouse Annex: Senate passed S.
4293, to designate the United States courthouse annex located at 310
South Main Street in London, Kentucky, as the “Eugene E. Siler, Jr.
United States Courthouse Annex”.
Page S6466
Senator Dianne Feinstein Federal Building: Committee on Environment
and Public Works was discharged from further consideration of S. 4489,
to designate the Federal building located at 50 United Nations Plaza in
San Francisco, California, as the “Senator Dianne Feinstein Federal
Building”, and the bill was then passed.
Page S6466
Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act: Senate passed H.R.
7189, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a national
congenital heart disease research, surveillance, and awareness program.
Page S6466
Authorizing the Use of Emancipation Hall: Senate agreed to H. Con.
Res. 127, authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol
Visitor Center for the unveiling of a statue of Martha Hughes Cannon.
Page S6466
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act: Senate passed
H.R. 7777, to increase, effective as of December 1, 2024, the rates of
compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the
rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of
certain disabled veterans.
Pages S6466-67
Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act: Senate passed H.R.
4190, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to repay the estates of deceased beneficiaries for
certain benefits paid by the Secretary and misused by fiduciaries of
such beneficiaries.
Page S6467
Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act: Senate passed S. 5292, to
amend the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 to modify a
provision relating to the acquisition of a Coast Guard icebreaker.
Page S6467
National Principals Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 876, designating
October 2024 as “National Principals Month”.
Page S6467
National Community Policing Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 877,
designating the week of October 6, 2024, through October 12, 2024, as
“National Community Policing Week”.
Page S6467
James Earl Jones: Senate agreed to S. Res. 878, honoring the life,
legacy, and contributions of James Earl Jones.
Page S6467
Permitting the Collection of Clothing, Toys, Food, and Housewares:
Senate agreed to S. Res. 879, permitting the collection of clothing,
toys, food, and housewares during the holiday season for charitable
purposes in the Senate buildings.
Page S6467
Lights On Afterschool: Senate agreed to S. Res. 880, supporting
afterschool programs and Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration
of afterschool programs held on October 24, 2024.
Page S6467
Day of the Deployed: Senate agreed to S. Res. 881, designating
October 26, 2024, as the “Day of the Deployed”.
Page S6467
National Clean Energy Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 882, designating
the week of September 23
[[Page D953]]
through September 27, 2024, as “National Clean Energy Week”.
Page S6467
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America 120th Anniversary: Senate agreed
to S. Res. 883, recognizing Big Brothers Big Sisters of America on its
120th anniversary.
Page S6467
Gold Star Families Remembrance Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 884,
designating the week of September 22 through September 28, 2024, as
“Gold Star Families Remembrance Week”.
Page S6467
Energy Efficiency Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 885, designating
October 2, 2024, as “Energy Efficiency Day” in celebration of the
economic and environmental benefits that have been driven by private
sector innovation and Federal energy efficiency policies.
Page S6467
Bat Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 886, expressing support for the
designation of the week of October 24, 2024, to October 31, 2024, as
“Bat Week”.
Page S6467
National 4-H Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 887, expressing support
for the designation of October 7 through October 12, 2024, as
“National 4-H Week”.
Page S6467
James Ralph Sasser: Senate agreed to S. Res. 888, honoring the life
of James Ralph Sasser, former Senator for the State of Tennessee.
Page S6467
Murder of James Wright Foley: Committee on Foreign Relations was
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 805, commemorating the
tenth anniversary of the murder of James Wright Foley and calling for
the moral courage to prioritize the return of Americans held captive
abroad and take all necessary efforts to deter international hostage
taking and arbitrary detention, and the resolution was then agreed to,
after agreeing to the following amendments proposed thereto.
Pages S6468-69
Schumer (for Shaheen/Graham) Amendment No. 3300, in the nature of a
substitute.
Page S6468
Schumer (for Shaheen/Graham) Amendment No. 3301, to amend the
preamble.
Page S6468
Measures Considered:
Budget Resolution: By 39 yeas to 56 nays (Vote No. 252), Senate did
not agree to the motion to proceed to consideration of S. Con. Res. 41,
setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government
for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels
for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.
Pages S6396-97
Appointments:
Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Review Board: The Chair
announced, on behalf of the Majority Leader, pursuant to the provisions
of Public Law 107-12, the reappointment of the following individual to
serve as a member of the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Review
Board: Trevor Whipple of Vermont.
Page S6464
Social Security Advisory Board: The Chair, on behalf of the President
pro tempore, and in consultation with the Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Finance, pursuant to Public Law 103-296, reappointed the
following individual as a member of the Social Security Advisory Board:
Robert Charles Joondeph of Oregon.
Page S6464
State and Local Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board:
The Chair announced, on behalf of the Majority Leader and the
Republican Leader, pursuant to Public Law 110-298, the appointment of
the following individual to serve as a member of the State and Local
Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board: Juan Figueroa of
New York.
Page S6464
Commission on Reform and Modernization of the Department of State:
The Chair, on behalf of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations, pursuant to Public Law 117-263, announced the appointment of
the following individual to serve as a member of the Commission on
Reform and Modernization of the Department of State: Jay Snyder of New
York.
Page S6464
Forgotten Heroes of The Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act--
Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that
notwithstanding the passage of S. 91, to award a Congressional Gold
Medal to 60 diplomats, in recognition of their bravery and heroism
during the Holocaust, Schumer (for Hagerty) Amendment No. 3299 to the
bill, to amend the title, be agreed to.
Page S6464
Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached
providing that Senators Bennet and Schumer be authorized to be
authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions from
September 25, 2024, through September 27, 2024.
Page S6464
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 S6464
Pro Forma Sessions--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was
reached providing that the
[[Page D954]]
Senate adjourn, to then convene for pro forma sessions only, with no
business being conducted, on the following dates and times, and that
following each pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until the next pro
forma session: Friday, September 27, 2024, at 10 a.m.; Tuesday, October
1, 2024, at 1 p.m.; Friday, October 4, 2024, at 10 a.m.; Tuesday,
October 8, 2024, at 2:30 p.m.; Friday, October 11, 2024, at 8:30 a.m.;
Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 1:30 p.m.; Friday, October 18, 2024, at
10 a.m.; Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 8 a.m.; Friday, October 25,
2024, at 10:30 a.m.; Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.; Friday,
November 1, 2024, at 11:30 a.m.; Monday, November 4, 2024, at 11 a.m.;
Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 12 noon; and Friday, November 8, 2024,
at 12 noon; and that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, November 8,
2024, it next convene at 3 p.m., on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
Page S6469
Perry Nomination--Agreement: Senate continued consideration of the
nomination of April M. Perry, of Illinois, to be United States District
Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.
Pages S6408-15
A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the motion
to invoke cloture with respect to the nomination be withdrawn; and that
Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination at 5:30 p.m., on Tuesday,
November 12, 2024.
Page S6415
A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at
approximately 3 p.m., on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, Senate resume
consideration of the nomination; and that the motions to invoke cloture
filed during the session of the Senate of Wednesday, September 25,
2024, ripen on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.
Page S6469
Hawley Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the
nomination of Jonathan E. Hawley, of Illinois, to be United States
District Judge for the Central District of Illinois.
Page S6415
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, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of
Wednesday, September 25, 2024, a vote on cloture will occur on
Wednesday, November 13, 2024.
Page S6415
Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the
following action:
Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session.
Page S6415
Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to
consider the nomination.
Page S6415
Huitema Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the
nomination of David Huitema, of Maryland, to be Director of the Office
of Government Ethics.
Pages S6415-16
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 Jonathan E. Hawley, of Illinois, to be United States
District Judge for the Central District of Illinois.
Pages S6415-16
Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the
following action:
Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session.
Page S6415
Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to
consider the nomination.
Page S6415
Fung Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination
of Cathy Fung, of California, to be a Judge of the United States Tax
Court.
Page S6416
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 David Huitema, of Maryland, to be Director of the Office
of Government Ethics.
Page S6416
Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the
following action:
Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session.
Page S6416
Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to
consider the nomination.
Page S6416
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
By 58 yeas to 37 nays (Vote No. EX. 254), Byron B. Conway, of
Wisconsin, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District
of Wisconsin.
Pages S6387-96, S6397-98, S6404-05
During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the
following action:
By 58 yeas to 37 nays (Vote No. EX. 253), Senate agreed to the motion
to close further debate on the nomination.
Page S6397
Ann C. Fisher, of South Dakota, to be a Commissioner of the Postal
Regulatory Commission for a term expiring October 14, 2030.
Ashley Jay Elizabeth Poling, of North Carolina, to be a Commissioner
of the Postal Regulatory Commission for a term expiring November 22,
2030.
Jeffrey Samuel Arbeit, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of
the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years.
Benjamin A. Guider III, of Louisiana, to be a Judge of the United
States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years.
[[Page D955]]
Routine lists in the Foreign Service.
Pages S6398, S6416
Messages from the House:
Page S6431
Measures Referred:
Pages S6431-32
Measures Placed on the Calendar:
Page S6432
Executive Communications:
Pages S6432-34
Petitions and Memorials:
Pages S6434-35
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S6441-44
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S6444-62
Additional Statements:
Pages S6429-31
Amendments Submitted:
Pages S6462-63
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Pages S6463-64
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--255)
Pages S6397, S6405, S6408
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned, as a further
mark of respect to the memory of the late James Ralph Sasser, former
Senator for the State of Tennessee, in accordance with S. Res. 888, at
9:48 p.m., until 10 a.m. on Friday, September 27, 2024. (For Senate's
program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on
page S6469.)