Senate Homeland Security committee advances a batch of bills, confirms several nominees

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on March 12 advanced a broad package of bills and reported four executive and judicial nominees after a series of roll‑call votes.

The committee approved numerous bipartisan measures on issues ranging from research oversight to border security and whistleblower protections. Most bills were adopted by voice or unanimous roll call with little or no debate. The committee also voted to report four nominees to the full Senate.

The package included: S.854, the Risky Research Review Act; S.855, the Royalty Transparency Act; S.269, the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act; the Guidance Clarity Act (Sen. Lankford's bill); the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act (S.861); a bill described in the transcript as a large account labeled a "$766,000,000,000" proposal; the Stop Secret Spending Act (S.872); the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act (S.727); the Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act (S.874); the HELP Response and Recovery Act (S.594); the Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act (S.865); the Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act (S.856); the Northern Border Security Enhancement…