# Congressional Record/Volume 167/Issue 4/Daily Digest

Daily Digest
HIGHLIGHTS
             The House of Representatives and Senate met in joint session to count electoral votes.
Senate
Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S13–S42
Measures Introduced: One bill was introduced, as follows: S. 13.Page S40
Electoral Ballot Count: Senate met in Joint Session with the House of Representatives to count the electoral ballots of the States cast in the election of the President and Vice President of the United States. Pages S13–32
During the counting of electoral ballots today, Senate also took the following action:
By 6 yeas to 93 nays (Vote No. 1), the objection to the Presidential electoral vote certificate from the State of Arizona was not sustained.Pages S31–32
By 7 yeas to 92 nays (Vote No. 2), the objection to the Presidential electoral vote certificate from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was not sustained.Page S38
Pro Forma Sessions—Agreement: A unanimous consent agreement was reached providing that the 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, January 8, 2021, at 10 a.m.; Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at 12:30 p.m.; Friday, January 15, 2021, at 10 a.m.; and that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, January 15, 2021, it next convene on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at 12 noon.Page S40
Message from the President: Senate received the following message from the President of the United States:
Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the issuance of an Executive Order declaring additional steps to be taken concerning the national emergency with respect to the information and communications technology and services supply chain declared in Executive Order 13873 of May 15, 2019, received during adjournment of the Senate on January 5, 2021; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM–1) Page S39
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
Jason Abend, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of Defense.
William Patrick Joseph Kimmitt, of Virginia, to be a Member of the United States International Trade Commission for a term expiring June 16, 2029.
Barbera Hale Thornhill, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Singapore.
51 Air Force nominations in the rank of general.
26 Army nominations in the rank of general.
4 Space Force nominations in the rank of general.
Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force.Pages S40–42
Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the following nomination:
Chad F. Wolf, of Virginia, to be Secretary of Homeland Security, which was sent to the Senate on January 3, 2021.
Messages from the House:Pages S39–40
Measures Referred:Page S40
Measures Placed on the Calendar:Page S40
Measures Read the First Time:Page S40
Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total—2) Pages S31–32, S38
Adjournment: Senate convened at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 and adjourned at 3:48 a.m. on Thursday, January 7, 2021, until 10 a.m. on Friday, January 8, 2021. (For Senate’s program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today’s Record on page S40.)
​Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community.
House of Representatives
Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 19 public bills, H.R. 217–235; and 1 resolution, H. Res. 20, were introduced.Pages H115–16
Additional Cosponsors: Page H117
Reports Filed: There were no reports filed today.
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative Swalwell to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.Page H75
Electoral College Vote Tellers: Pursuant to S. Con. Res. 1, to provide for the counting on January 6, 2021, of the electoral votes for President and Vice President of the United States, and the order of the House of January 4, 2021, the Chair announced the Speaker’s appointment of Representatives Lofgren of California and Rodney Davis of Illinois as tellers on the part of the House to count electoral votes.Page H75
Recess: The House recessed at 12:06 p.m. and reconvened at 12:55 p.m.Page H76
Joint Session: The Joint Session was called to order at 1:05 p.m. and dissolved at 1:14 p.m. for consideration of the objection to the electoral votes for Arizona. Page H76
Recess: The House recessed at 2:18 p.m. and reconvened at 2:26 p.m.Page H85
Recess: The House recessed at 2:29 p.m. and reconvened at 9:02 p.m.Page H85
Joint Session: The Joint Session was called to order at 11:41 p.m. and dissolved at 12:22 a.m. for consideration of the objection to the electoral votes for Pennsylvania. Following consideration, the joint session resumed at 3:25 a.m. and dissolved at 3:44 a.m.Pages H94–98
Declaration of the Election of President and Vice President: Pursuant to the provisions of S. Con. Res. 1, and the requirements of the Constitution and laws relating to the election of President and Vice President of the United States, the two Houses of Congress met in joint session with Vice President Pence as the presiding officer to count the electoral votes. The following votes were cast for President: Joseph R. Biden, Jr. of Delaware, 306; and Donald J. Trump of Florida, 232. The following votes were cast for Vice President: Kamala D. Harris of California, 306; and Michael R. Pence of Indiana, 232. After announcing the results of the certification process, the Vice President announced that the Joint Session was dissolved and that the results of the proceedings had during the Joint Session would be entered into the Journals of both Houses. Pages H76–H115
During the joint session, a Representative objected to the certification of electoral votes from Pennsylvania. The objection, having been signed by a Senator, was received and the joint meeting was dissolved for the purpose of considering the objection in each House. The objection was not agreed to in the House by a yea and nay vote of 138 yeas to 282 nays, Roll No. 11. Subsequently, notification was received in the House that the Senate disposed of the objection by a vote of 7 yeas to 92 nays. Upon resumption of the joint session, the Vice President announced that the original certification submitted by the State of Pennsylvania would stand as regular in form and authentic.Pages H98–H112
During the Joint Session various House Members rose to make a point of order, object to the counting of the electoral votes from Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin or to make a motion. The presiding officer and Chair, Vice President Pence, held that each case required a writing signed by both a Member of the House and a Senator. None were signed by a Senator and none were received.
During the joint session, a Representative objected to the certification of electoral votes from Arizona. The objection, having been signed by a Senator, was received and the joint meeting was dissolved for the purpose of considering the objection in each House. ​The objection was not agreed to in the House by a yea and nay vote of 121 yeas to 303 nays, Roll No. 10. Subsequently, notification was received in the House that the Senate disposed of the objection by a vote of 6 yeas to 93 nays. Upon resumption of the joint session, the Vice President announced that the original certification submitted by the State of Arizona would stand as regular in form and authentic. Pages H77–93
Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he notified Congress that he had issued an Executive Order that takes additional steps concerning the national emergency with respect to the information and communications technology and services supply chain declared in Executive Order 13873 of May 15, 2019—referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 117–6). Pages H75–76
Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate today appear on pages H94 and H112.
Quorum Calls—Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H93 and H112.
Adjournment: The House met at 12 noon and adjourned at 3:48 a.m.
Committee Meetings No hearings were held.
Joint Meetings No joint committee meetings were held.
NEW PUBLIC LAWS
(For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D1135)
H.R. 3465, to authorize the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs. Signed on December 23, 2020. (Public Law 116–253)
H.R. 4761, to ensure U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, agents, and other personnel have adequate synthetic opioid detection equipment, that the Department of Homeland Security has a process to update synthetic opioid detection capability. Signed on December 23, 2020. (Public Law 116–254)
S. 199, to provide for the transfer of certain Federal land in the State of Minnesota for the benefit of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Signed on December 23, 2020. (Public Law 116–255)
S. 1014, to establish the Route 66 Centennial Commission. Signed on December 23, 2020. (Public Law 116–256)
S. 2258, to provide anti-retaliation protections for antitrust whistleblowers. Signed on December 23, 2020. (Public Law 116–257)
S. 2904, to direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to support research on the outputs that may be generated by generative adversarial networks, otherwise known as deepfakes, and other comparable techniques that may be developed in the future. Signed on December 23, 2020. (Public Law 116–258)
S. 2981, to reauthorize and amend the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002. Signed on December 23, 2020. (Public Law 116–259)
H.R. 133, making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, providing coronavirus emergency response and relief. Signed on December 27, 2020. (Public Law 116–260)
S. 212, to amend the Native American Business Development, Trade Promotion, and Tourism Act of 2000, the Buy Indian Act, and the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to provide industry and economic development opportunities to Indian communities. Signed on December 30, 2020. (Public Law 116–261)
S. 900, to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Bozeman, Montana, as the “Travis W. Atkins Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic”. Signed on December 30, 2020. (Public Law 116–262)
S. 2472, to redesignate the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Plum Brook Station, Ohio, as the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility. Signed on December 30, 2020. (Public Law 116–263)
S. 3257, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 311 West Wisconsin Avenue in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, as the “Einar ‘Sarge’ H. Ingman, Jr. Post Office Building”. Signed on December 30, 2020. (Public Law 116–264)
S. 3461, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2600 Wesley Street in Greenville, Texas, as the “Audie Murphy Post Office Building”. Signed on December 30, 2020. (Public Law 116–265)
S. 3462, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 909 West Holiday Drive in Fate, Texas, as the “Ralph Hall Post Office”. Signed on December 30, 2020. (Public Law 116–266)
S. 4126, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 104 East Main Street ​in Port Washington, Wisconsin, as the “Joseph G. Demler Post Office”. Signed on December 30, 2020. (Public Law 116–267)
S. 4684, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 440 Arapahoe Street in Thermopolis, Wyoming, as the “Robert L. Brown Post Office”. Signed on December 30, 2020. (Public Law 116–268)
S. 5036, to amend the Overtime Pay for Protective Services Act of 2016 to extend the Secret Service overtime pay exception through 2023. Signed on December 30, 2020. (Public Law 116–269)
S. 461, to strengthen the capacity and competitiveness of historically Black colleges and universities through robust public-sector, private-sector, and community partnerships and engagement. Signed on December 31, 2020. (Public Law 116–270)
S. 914, to reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, to clarify the authority of the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with respect to post-storm assessments, and to require the establishment of a National Water Center. Signed on December 31, 2020. (Public Law 116–271)
S. 979, to amend the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 to incorporate the recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office relating to advance contracts. Signed on December 31, 2020. (Public Law 116–272)
S. 1130, to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life. Signed on December 31, 2020. (Public Law 116–273)
S. 1342, to require the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere to update periodically the environmental sensitivity index products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for each coastal area of the Great Lakes. Signed on December 31, 2020. (Public Law 116–274)
S. 1694, to require the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to add recommendations and inform other relevant agencies of information relating to the principle of due regard and the limitation of harmful interference with Apollo landing site artifacts. Signed on December 31, 2020. (Public Law 116–275)
S. 1869, to require the disclosure of ownership of high-security space leased to accommodate a Federal agency. Signed on December 31, 2020. (Public Law 116–276)
S. 2174, to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Act, the Attorney General is authorized to use funds appropriated for the operationalization, maintenance, and expansion of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (Namlls) for the purpose of carrying out this Act. Signed on December 31, 2020. (Public Law 116–277)
S. 2216, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical determinations relating to eligibility for the family caregiver program, and temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible for the family caregiver program. Signed on December 31, 2020. (Public Law 116–278)
S. 2683, to establish a task force to assist States in implementing hiring requirements for child care staff members to improve child safety. Signed on December 31, 2020. (Public Law 116–279)
S. 2730, to establish and ensure an inclusive and transparent Drone Advisory Committee. Signed on December 31, 2020. (Public Law 116–280)
S. 3312, to establish a crisis stabilization and community reentry grant program. Signed on December 31, 2020. (Public Law 116–281)
S. 3989, to amend the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 to modify certain membership and other requirements of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission. Signed on December 31, 2020. (Public Law 116–282)
COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)
Senate
No meetings/hearings scheduled.
House
| Next Meeting of the SENATE 10 a.m., Friday, January 8 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will meet in a pro forma session. | Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 11 a.m., Monday, January 11 House Chamber Program for Monday: House will meet in Pro Forma session at 11 a.m. |
Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue
HOUSE
* Boyle, Brendan F., Pa., E17
* Connolly, Gerald E., Va., E12
* DesJarlais, Scott, Tenn., E14
* Fulcher, Russ, Idaho, E17
* González-Colón, Jenniffer, Puerto Rico, E12
* Good, Bob, Va., E15
* Griffith, H. Morgan, Va., E11, E16
* Hastings, Alcee L., Fla., E9
* Jackson Lee, Sheila, Tex., E19
* Kind, Ron, Wisc., E13
* Levin, Mike, Calif., E16
* Lowenthal, Alan S., Calif., E10
* Neguse, Joe, Colo., E9, E10, E12, E14, E16, E18, E20
* Perlmutter, Ed, Colo., E10, E14
* Rose, John W., Tenn., E16
* Ryan, Tim, Ohio, E10
* Simpson, Michael K., Idaho, E18
* Smith, Christopher H., N.J., E13
* Stanton, Greg, Ariz., E9
* Stefanik, Elise M., N.Y., E9
* Trahan, Lori, Mass., E11
* Weber, Randy K., Sr., Tex., E18
* Wilson, Joe, S.C., E11, E15
* Yarmuth, John A., Ky., E10
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