Daily Digest

Thursday, March 1, 2018

HIGHLIGHTS

See Résumé of Congressional Activity.

Measures Introduced: Thirteen bills and five resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2477–2489, and S. Res. 419–423.
Page S1316

Measures Passed:

Rural Wireless Access Act: Senate passed S. 1621, to require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a methodology for the collection by the Commission of information about commercial mobile service and commercial mobile data service.
Page S1320


Department of Veterans Affairs memorial headstones and markers: Committee on Veterans' Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3656, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a consistent eligibility date for provision of Department of Veterans Affairs memorial headstones and markers for eligible spouses and dependent children of veterans whose remains are unavailable, and the bill was then passed.
Pages S1320–21


Tribal Cemeteries burial benefits: Committee on Veterans' Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 2248, to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide certain burial benefits for spouses and children of veterans who are buried in tribal cemeteries, and the bill was then passed.
Page S1321


Veterans Cemetery Benefit Correction Act: Committee on Veterans' Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 2372, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide outer burial receptacles for remains buried in National Parks, and the bill was then passed.
Page S1321


National Eating Disorders Awareness Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 419, designating the week of February 26 through March 4, 2018, as ``National Eating Disorders Awareness Week'' and supporting the goals and ideals of raising awareness and understanding of eating disorders.
Page S1321


World Wildlife Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 420, designating March 3, 2018, as ``World Wildlife Day''.
Page S1321


Condemning the horrific attack in Parkland, Florida: Senate agreed to S. Res. 421, condemning the horrific attack in Parkland, Florida, and expressing support and prayers for all those impacted by that tragedy.
Page S1321


Read Across America Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 422, designating March 2, 2018, as ``Read Across America Day''.
Page S1321


Rare Disease Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 423, designating February 28, 2018, as ``Rare Disease Day''.
Page S1321

Measures Considered:

Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 2155, to promote economic growth, provide tailored regulatory relief, and enhance consumer protections.
Pages S1307–09

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, a vote on cloture will occur on Tuesday, March 6, 2018.
Page S1307

Prior to the consideration of this measure, Senate took the following action:

Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session.
Page S1307

Scholer Nomination--Agreement: By 96 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 43), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination of Karen Gren Scholer, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas.
Pages S1304–05

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at approximately 3 p.m., on Monday, March 5, 2018, Senate resume consideration of the nomination, under the order of Wednesday, February 28, 2018.
Page S1321

Self Nomination: Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Tilman Eugene Self III, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia.
Page S1305

During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the following action:

By 85 yeas to 12 nays (Vote No. 44), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.
Page S1305

Doughty Nomination: Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Terry A. Doughty, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.
Page S1307

During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the following action:

By 94 yeas to 2 nays (Vote No. 45), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.
Page S1307

Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:

By 69 yeas to 28 nays (Vote No. EX. 42), A. Marvin Quattlebaum, Jr., of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina.
Page S1304

Gregory Doud, of Kansas, to be Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Office of the United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador.

Jason Kearns, of Colorado, to be a Member of the United States International Trade Commission for the term expiring December 16, 2024.

Dennis Shea, of Virginia, to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (Geneva Office), with the rank of Ambassador.

C.J. Mahoney, of Kansas, to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (Investment, Services, Labor, Environment, Africa, China, and the Western Hemisphere), with the rank of Ambassador.
Page S1322

34 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.

2 Army nominations in the rank of general.

3 Marine Corps nominations in the rank of general.

2 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.

Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy.
Pages S1322–23

Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:

Henry E. Hudson, of Virginia, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2021.

William Graham Otis, of Virginia, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2021.

William H. Pryor, Jr., of Alabama, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2023.

William H. Pryor, Jr., of Alabama, to be Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission.

Luis Felipe Restrepo, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2019.
Pages S1321–22

Nomination Discharged: The following nomination were discharged from further committee consideration and placed on the Executive Calendar:

Anne Marie White, of Michigan, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Environmental Management), which was sent to the Senate on January 8, 2018, from the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
Page S1322

Messages from the House:
Page S1313

Measures Placed on the Calendar:
Pages S1295, S1313

Executive Communications:
Pages S1313–14

Petitions and Memorials:
Pages S1314–16

Executive Reports of Committees:
Page S1316

Additional Cosponsors:
Page S1317

Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S1317–19

Additional Statements:
Page S1313

Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Pages S1319–20

Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--45)
Pages S1304, S1305, S1307

Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 4:58 p.m., until 3 p.m. on Monday, March 5, 2018. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S1321.)

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Lieutenant General Paul M. Nakasone, USA, to be general and Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service/Commander, United States Cyber Command, Department of Defense, and Brent K. Park, of Tennessee, to be Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration, and Anne Marie White, of Michigan, to be an Assistant Secretary (Environmental Management), both of the Department of Energy, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.

SEMIANNUAL MONETARY POLICY REPORT

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress, including S. 2155, to promote economic growth, provide tailored regulatory relief, and enhance consumer protections, after receiving testimony from Jerome H. Powell, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine implementation of positive train control, including opportunities to provide Federal assistance, after receiving testimony from Susan Fleming, Director, Physical Infrastructure, Government Accountability Office; Barry J. DeWeese, Assistant Inspector General for Surface Transportation Audits, Department of Transportation; David L. Mayer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York, New York; and Richard Anderson, Amtrak, Washington, D.C.

ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE CYBER SECURITY

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine private sector and government challenges and opportunities to promote the cyber security and resiliency of our nation's critical energy infrastructure, after receiving testimony from former Representative Jim Matheson, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Arlington, Virginia; Bruce J. Walker, Assistant Secretary of Energy, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability; Barbara Endicott-Popovsky, University of Washington Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity, Bothell; Robert M. Lee, Dragos, Hanover, Maryland; and William H. Sanders, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana.

REBUILDING AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Administration's framework for rebuilding infrastructure in America, after receiving testimony from Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of Transportation; and R.D. James, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Department of Defense.

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Robert Frank Pence, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Finland, who was introduced by Senator Cornyn, and Trevor D. Traina, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Austria, both of the Department of State, and Judy Lynn Shelton, of Virginia, to be United States Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.

FEDERAL MANAGERS

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management concluded a hearing to examine the role of Federal managers in hiring, after receiving testimony from Mark Reinhold, Associate Director, Employee Services, Office of Personnel Management; Angela Bailey, Chief Human Capital Officer, Department of Homeland Security; and Kevin E. Mahoney, Director of Human Resources and Chief Human Capital Officer, Department of Commerce.

NOMINATION

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nomination of John F. Ring, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board, after the nominee testified and answered questions in his own behalf.

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Billy J. Williams, to be United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, Mark S. James, to be United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri, Daniel C. Mosteller, to be United States Marshal for the District of South Dakota, and Jesse Seroyer, Jr., to be United States Marshal for the Middle District of Alabama, all of the Department of Justice.

BUSINESS MEETING

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to consider pending intelligence matters.

Committee recessed subject to the call.

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community.

Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 22 public bills, H.R. 5132–5153; 1 private bill, H.R. 5154; and 3 resolutions, H. Res. 759–761 were introduced.
Pages H1340–41

Additional Cosponsors:
Page H1342

Reports Filed: There were no reports filed today.

Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
Page H1337

Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the Guest Chaplain, Rev. Gene Hemrick, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Washington, DC.
Page H1337

Social Security Advisory Board--Reappointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's reappointment of the following individual on the part of the House to the Social Security Advisory Board for a term of six years: Ms. Nancy Altman of Bethesda, Maryland.
Page H1337

Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform--Appointment: The Chair announced on behalf of the Speaker and Majority Leader of the Senate, the joint appointment of the following Member to the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform as co-chair: Representative Womack.
Page H1337

Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans--Appointment: The Chair announced on behalf of the Speaker and Majority Leader of the Senate, the joint appointment of the following Senator to the Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans as co-chair: Senator Hatch.
Pages H1337–38

Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform--Appointment: Read a letter from Representative Pelosi, Minority Leader, in which she announced her joint appointment with the Minority Leader of the Senate of the following Member to serve as co-chair of the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform: Representative Lowey.
Page H1338

Expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives on the death of the Reverend Billy Graham: The House agreed to discharge from committee and agree to H. Res. 759, expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives on the death of the Reverend Billy Graham.
Page H1338

Senate Referrals: S. Con. Res. 35 was held at the desk. S.J. Res. 53 was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Page H1337

Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate by the Clerk and subsequently presented to the House today appear on pages H1337.

Quorum Calls--Votes: There were no yea-and-nay votes, and there were no Recorded votes. There were no quorum calls.

Adjournment: The House met at 1:30 p.m. and at 1:36 p.m., pursuant to House Resolution 759, the House stands adjourned as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Billy Graham.

No hearings were held.

No joint committee meetings were held.

No meetings/hearings scheduled.

Full Committee, hearing on H.R. 1917, the ``Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns Act of 2017''; and H.R. 1119, the ``Satisfying Energy Needs and Saving the Environment Act'', 5 p.m., H–313 Capitol.March 1, 2018* These figures include all measures reported, even if there was no accompanying report. A total of 13 written reports have been filed in the Senate, 102 reports have been filed in the House.

Résumé of Congressional Activity

The first table gives a comprehensive résumé of all legislative business transacted by the Senate and House.

The second table accounts for all nominations submitted to the Senate by the President for Senate confirmation.

DATA ON LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY

Days in session

3530
. .

Time in session

207 hrs., 44126 hrs., 39
. .

Congressional Record:

Pages of proceedings

1,2931,268
. .

Extensions of Remarks

. .223
. .

Public bills enacted into law

821
29

Private bills enacted into law

. .1
1

Bills in conference

. .. .
. .

Measures passed, total

54104
158

Senate bills

87
. .

House bills

1164
. .

Senate joint resolutions

1. .
. .

House joint resolutions

. .. .
. .

Senate concurrent resolutions

21
. .

House concurrent resolutions

77
. .

Simple resolutions

2525
. .

Measures reported, total

* 39* 102
141

Senate bills

162
. .

House bills

2287
. .

Senate joint resolutions

. .. .
. .

House joint resolutions

. .. .
. .

Senate concurrent resolutions

. .. .
. .

House concurrent resolutions

. .. .
. .

Simple resolutions

113
. .

Special reports

1. .
. .

Conference reports

. .. .
. .

Measures pending on calendar

21650
. .

Measures introduced, total

261500
761

Bills

202397
. .

Joint resolutions

36
. .

Concurrent resolutions

413
. .

Simple resolutions

5284
. .

Quorum calls

. .2
. .

Yea-and-nay votes

4167
. .

Recorded votes

. .22
. .

Bills vetoed

. .. .
. .

Vetoes overridden

. .. .
. .

DISPOSITION OF EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS

Civilian nominations, totaling 313 (including 145 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows:

Other Civilian nominations, totaling 579 (including 2 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows:

Air Force nominations, totaling 1,355 (including 76 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows:

Army nominations, totaling 2,335 (including 12 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows:

Navy nominations, totaling 81 (including 11 nominations carried over from the First Session), disposed of as follows:

Marine Corps nominations, totaling 1,312, disposed of as follows:

Program for Monday: Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Karen Gren Scholer, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas.

At 5:30 p.m., Senate will vote on confirmation of the nominations of Karen Gren Scholer, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, Tilman Eugene Self III, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia, and Terry A. Doughty, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

Program for Monday: To be announced.

HOUSE

Aderholt, Robert B., Ala., E246, E248

Bordallo, Madeleine Z., Guam, E247

Buchanan, Vern, Fla., E249

Bustos, Cheri, Ill., E246

Byrne, Bradley, Ala., E243

Esty, Elizabeth H., Conn., E244, E245

Gallego, Ruben, Ariz., E247

Graves, Sam, Mo., E246, E247, E248

Griffith, H. Morgan, Va., E245

Nadler, Jerrold, N.Y., E247

Pallone, Frank, Jr., N.J., E246

Payne, Donald M., Jr., N.J., E246

Perlmutter, Ed, Colo., E243, E245, E245, E246, E247, E248, E248

Roskam, Peter J., Ill., E248

Scott, Robert C. ``Bobby'', Va., E244

Smith, Adam, Wash., E243

Smith, Christopher H., N.J., E249

Velázquez, Nydia M., N.Y., E245

Young, David, Iowa, E244