Congressional Record
Proceedings, Debates of the U.S. Congress
December 15, 2015
114th Congress, 1st Session
Issue: Vol. 161, No. 182 — Daily Edition
Entire Issue (PDF)
Sections in This Issue:
Daily Digest
Daily Digest Section (PDF)
Daily Digest/Senate
[Daily Digest] [Pages D1320-D1321] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] Tuesday, December 15, 2015 [[Page D1320]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S8647-8688. Measures Introduced: Five bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2401-2405, and S. Res. 335-336. Page S8684 Measures Reported: H.R. 998, to establish the conditions under which the Secretary of Homeland Security may establish preclearance facilities, conduct preclearance operations, and provide customs services outside the United States, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 114-180) S. 1169, to reauthorize and improve the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 114-181) S. 1318, to amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for protection of maritime navigation and prevention of nuclear terrorism, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Page S8684 Measures Passed: Pilot's Bill of Rights 2: Senate passed S. 571, to amend the Pilot's Bill of Rights to facilitate appeals and to apply to other certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, to require the revision of the third class medical certification regulations issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and the following amendment proposed thereto: Pages S8674-82 Inhofe (for Feinstein/Reed) Amendment No. 2928, to clarify the administrative authorities and to improve the physician certification. Page S8678 Honoring the Portland Timbers: Senate agreed to S. Res. 336, honoring the Portland Timbers as the champions of Major League Soccer in 2015. Page S8686 Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that Senate consider individually the following nominations, at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Democratic Leader: Wilhelmina Marie Wright, of Minnesota, to be United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota, John Michael Vazquez, of New Jersey, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey, Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger, of Iowa, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa, and Leonard Terry Strand, of South Dakota, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Iowa; that there be 30 minutes for debate for each nomination, equally divided in the usual form; that upon the use or yielding back of time on the respective nomination, Senate vote, without intervening action or debate, on confirmation of the nominations. Page S8687 Nominations Status Quo--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that all judicial nominations received by the Senate during the 114th Congress, first session, remain in status quo, notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXXI, paragraph 6, of the Standing Rules of the Senate. Page S8687 Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations: Anthony Rosario Coscia, of New Jersey, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years. Derek Tai-Ching Kan, of California, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years. Dana J. Boente, of Virginia, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia for the term of four years. Robert Lloyd Capers, of New York, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York for the term of four years. John P. Fishwick, Jr., of Virginia, to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia for the term of four years. Emily Gray Rice, of New Hampshire, to be United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire for the term of four years. Pages S8687, S8688 Messages from the House: Page S8683 Enrolled Bills Presented: Page S8683 Executive Communications: Pages S8683-84 [[Page D1321]] Executive Reports of Committees: Page S8684 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S8684-86 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Page S8686 Additional Statements: Pages S8682-83 Amendments Submitted: Pages S8686-87 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S8687 Privileges of the Floor: Page S8687 Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:06 p.m., until 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 16, 2015. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S8688.)
Daily Digest/Senate Committee Meetings
[Daily Digest] [Page D1321] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) NOMINATIONS Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Patrick Joseph Murphy, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of the Army, Janine Anne Davidson, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of the Navy, and Lisa S. Disbrow, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of the Air Force, all of the Department of Defense, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Marcel John Lettre, II, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Gabriel Camarillo, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, and Vice Admiral Kurt W. Tidd, to be Admiral, and Commander, United States Southern Command, all of the Department of Defense, and John E. Sparks, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. AFGHANISTAN Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee received a closed briefing on an assessment of Afghanistan intelligence from national security briefers. TRANSITION ASSISTANCE Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine transition assistance, after receiving testimony from Susan Kelly, Director, Transition to Veterans Program Office, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness; Curtis L. Coy, Deputy Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Economic Opportunity, Veterans Benefits Administration; Teresa W. Gerton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training Service; Elizabeth Voticky, The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Georgia; Matthew Kress, Starbucks Coffee Company, Seattle, Washington; Eric Eversole, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and Daniel Smith, The American Legion, both of Washington, D.C.; and Lieutenant Colonel Michael Zacchea, USMC (Ret.), University of Connecticut Entrepreneur Bootcamp for Veterans, Hartford. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community.
Daily Digest/House of Representatives
[Daily Digest] [Pages D1321-D1322] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 15 public bills, H.R. 4246- 4260; and 4 resolutions, H.J. Res. 76-77; H. Con. Res. 102; and H.Res. 565, were introduced. Pages H9327-28 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H9329-30 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 3878, to enhance cybersecurity information sharing and coordination at ports in the United States, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 114-379, Part 1); H.R. 2285, to improve enforcement against trafficking in cultural property and prevent stolen or illicit cultural property from financing terrorist and criminal networks, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 114-380, Part 1); and Committee on Ethics. In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Jared Polis (H. Rept. 114-381). Page H9327 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Kelly (MS) to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. Page H9309 Recess: The House recessed at 12:25 p.m. and reconvened at 2 p.m. Page H9313 [[Page D1322]] Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by voice vote. Pages H9313, H9322 United States Holocaust Memorial Council--Appointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the following Members on the part of the House to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council: Representatives Israel and Deutch. Page H9313 Recess: The House recessed at 2:05 p.m. and reconvened at 4 p.m. Pages H9313-14 Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and agree to the following measure: Supporting freedom of the press in Latin America and the Caribbean and condemning violations of press freedom and violence against journalists, bloggers, and individuals exercising their right to freedom of speech: H. Res. 536, amended, supporting freedom of the press in Latin America and the Caribbean and condemning violations of press freedom and violence against journalists, bloggers, and individuals exercising their right to freedom of speech, by a 2/3 yea- and-nay vote of 399 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 694. Pages H9318-22 Recess: The House recessed at 4:45 p.m. and reconvened at 6:30 p.m. Page H9321 Appointing the day for the convening of the second session of the One Hundredth Fourteenth Congress: The House agreed to H.J. Res. 76, appointing the day for the convening of the second session of the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress. Page H9322 Privileged Resolution: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 102, providing for a joint session of Congress to receive a message from the President. Page H9322 Meeting Hour: Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow, December 16. Page H9322 Suspension--Proceedings Postponed: The House debated the following measure under suspension of the rules. Further proceedings were postponed. Combat Terrorist Use of Social Media Act of 2015: H.R. 3654, amended, to require a report on United States strategy to combat terrorist use of social media. Pages H9314-18 Senate Message: Message received from the Senate by the Clerk and subsequently presented to the House today appears on page H9313. Senate Referral: S. 2044 was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Page H9326 Quorum Calls--Votes: One yea-and-nay vote developed during the proceedings of today and appears on page H9321. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 12 noon and adjourned at 7:51 p.m.
Daily Digest/House Committee Meetings
[Daily Digest] [Page D1322] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] Committee Meetings No hearings were held. Joint Meetings No joint committee meetings were held.
Daily Digest/NEW PUBLIC LAWS
[Daily Digest] [Page D1322] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] NEW PUBLIC LAWS (For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D1316) H.R. 2250, Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016. Signed on December 11, 2015. (Public Law 114-96) S. 599, to extend and expand the Medicaid emergency psychiatric demonstration project. Signed on December 11, 2015. (Public Law 114-97) S. 611, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reauthorize technical assistance to small public water systems. Signed on December 11, 2015. (Public Law 114-98) S. 1170, to amend title 39, United States Code, to extend the authority of the United States Postal Service to issue a semipostal to raise funds for breast cancer research. Signed on December 11, 2015. (Public Law 114-99)
Daily Digest/COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR 2015-12-16
[Daily Digest] [Pages D1322-D1323] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold hearings to examine the Administration's strategy in Afghanistan, 2:30 p.m., SD-419. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: business meeting to consider the nominations of Robert A. Salerno, and Darlene Michele Soltys, both to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, 10:55 a.m., SD-338. House Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ``Examining the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Mass Data Collection Program'', 10:30 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Foreign Affairs, Full Committee, hearing entitled ``The Future of U.S.-Pakistan Relations'', 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. [[Page D1323]] Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, hearing entitled ``Egypt Two Years After Morsi (Part II)'', 1 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Government Operations, hearing entitled ``Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Office of Government Ethics (OGE), and Office of Special Council (OSC) Reauthorization'', 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. Joint Meetings Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: to hold hearings to examine Azerbaijan's persecution of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reporter Khadija Ismayilova, 2 p.m., 2200-RHOB.
Daily Digest/Next Meeting of the SENATE + Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES + Other End Matter
[Daily Digest] [Pages D1323-D1324] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087-390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. The public proceedings of each House of Congress, as reported by the Official Reporters thereof, are printed pursuant to directions of the Joint Committee on Printing as authorized by appropriate provisions of Title 44, United States Code, and published for each day that one or both Houses are in session, excepting very infrequent instances when two or more unusually small consecutive issues are printed one time. Public access to the Congressional Record is available online through the U.S. Government Publishing Office, at www.fdsys.gov, free of charge to the user. The information is updated online each day the Congressional Record is published. For more information, contact the GPO Customer Contact Center, U.S. Government Publishing Office. Phone 202-512-1800, or 866-512-1800 (toll-free). E-Mail, contactcenter@gpo.gov. To place an order for any of these products, visit the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at: bookstore.gpo.gov. Mail orders to: Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 979050, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000, or phone orders to 866-512 091800 (toll-free), 202-512-1800 (D.C. area), or fax to 202-512-2104. Remit check or money order, made payable to the Superintendent of Documents, or use VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or GPO Deposit Account. Following each session of Congress, the daily Congressional Record is revised, printed, permanently bound and sold by the Superintendent of Documents in individual parts or by sets. With the exception of copyrighted articles, there are no restrictions on the republication of material from the Congressional Record. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Record, U.S. Government Publishing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received. [[Page D1324]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 11 a.m., Wednesday, December 16 Senate Chamber Program for Wednesday: Senate will be in a period of morning business until 6 p.m. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 9 a.m., Wednesday, December 16 House Chamber Program for Wednesday: Consideration of the following measures under suspension of the rules: 1) H.R. 3750--First Responders Passport Act of 2015; 2) H.R. 2241--Global Health Innovation Act of 2015; 3) Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2297--Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015; 4) H.R. 3878--Strengthening Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Coordination in Our Ports Act of 2015; 5) Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2820--Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Authorization Act of 2015; and 6) S. 1347--Electronic Health Fairness Act of 2015. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Aguilar, Pete, Calif., E1799 Beyer, Donald S., Jr., Va. E1795 Blum, Rod, Iowa, E1800 Blumenauer, Earl, Ore., E1794 Bordallo, Madeleine Z., Guam, E1797 Buck, Ken, Colo., E1792 Butterfield, G.K., N.C., E1798 Cartwright, Matt, Pa., E1791, E1796 Chabot, Steve, Ohio, E1792 Cohen, Steve, Tenn., E1790, E1793 Comstock, Barbara, Va., E1788 Davis, Danny K., Ill., E1793 DesJarlais, Scott, Tenn., E1787 Dingell, Debbie, Mich., E1793 Forbes, J. Randy, Va., E1797 Gohmert, Louie, Tex., E1789 Griffith, H. Morgan, Va., E1799 Guinta, Frank C., N.H., E1796 Hastings, Alcee L., Fla., E1794 Hudson, Richard, N.C., E1792 Issa, Darrell E., Calif., E1790 Katko, John, N.Y., E1787 Marchant, Kenny, Tex., E1795 McCarthy, Kevin, Calif., E1796 McSally, Martha, Ariz., E1788 Norton, Eleanor Holmes, The District of Columbia, E1794 Payne, Donald M., Jr., N.J., E1789 Perry, Scott, Pa., E1792, E1796, E1797 Poe, Ted, Tex., E1791, E1798 Ryan, Paul D., Wisc., E1787 Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho, Northern Mariana Islands, E1789 Sewell, Terri A., Ala., E1793 Smith, Christopher H., N.J., E1800 Titus, Dina, Nev., E1800 Trott, David A., Mich., E1789 Van Hollen, Chris, Md., E1791 Veasey, Marc A., Tex., E1795 Walker, Mark, N.C., E1795 Westmoreland, Lynn A., Ga., E1787 Williams, Roger, Tex., E1797 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E1795 Young, David, Iowa, E1787, E1791, E1791, E1792, E1793, E1794, E1795, E1796, E1797, E1799