H.R. 2810: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018

This was a vote to pass H.R. 2810 in the Senate.

The Senate approved nearly $700 billion for its version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, which begins Oct. 1. The amount approved by the Senate exceeds the budget request from President Donald Trump requested surpasses Budget Control Act limits. A final bill will need to lower defense spending to bring it within limits set by the Budget Control Act. Its features this year include procurement reform provisions, such as an online commercial marketplace for contractors and changes to the bid protest procedures. Another provision dedicates $500 million to improving cybersecurity for government agencies. Government contractors would get increased business opportunities under a section of the bill that allows the Defense Department to conduct public-private competitions to outsource more work.

Passed.

H.R. 3110: Financial Stability Oversight Council Insurance Member Continuity Act

This was a vote to approve H.R. 3110 in the Senate.

This bill would allow the Independent Member with insurance expertise on the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) to continue to serve for up to 18 months after the end of the member’s term if a successor has not been appointed and confirmed. Under current law, the FSOC is composed of ten voting members-the heads of nine federal financial agencies and an independent member with insurance expertise appointed by the president, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Dodd-Frank Act established a six-year term on the FSOC for the Independent Member, which is set to expire on September 30, 2017. Absent the appointment and confirmation of a successor, the expiration of the Independent Member’s term would leave the FSOC without a voting member with insurance expertise because the Dodd-Frank Act did not make allowance for the position to be filled by an acting official.

Passed.

On the Nomination PN299: Noel J. Francisco, of the District of Columbia, to be Solicitor General of the United States

This was a vote to confirm the nomination of Noel J. Francisco as U.S. Solicitor General under P.N. 299 in the Senate.

The Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s solicitor general nominee by a narrow margin along party lines. Noel J. Francisco was able to advance to the Senate vote after the Senate Judiciary Committee also approved his nomination by a small majority. The solicitor general oversees government lawsuits brought before the U.S. Supreme Court. His previous job assignments included working as principal deputy U.S. solicitor general, associate counsel to President George W. Bush and an attorney in the global law firm of Jones Day. When the Supreme Court’s next session opens in a few weeks, Francisco is expected to direct the strategy in legal challenges to Trump’s travel ban to the United States from some Middle Eastern countries as well as landmark religious liberty and voting rights cases.

Passed.

Source: GovTrack