Congressional Record
Proceedings, Debates of the U.S. Congress

[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]
[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]
[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]
[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]
[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]
[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]
[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