Wednesday, February 1, 2017

9:25  p.m. The Senate adjourned. The Senate will reconvene at 11 a.m. Thursday and will resume consideration of H.J. Res. 38.

8:59 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about Rex Tillerson.

8:56 p.m. Senator Gardner secured consent that February 27 be the date of the delivery of George Washington’s farewell speech on the Senate floor. By consent the Senate designated February 5 to begin National Tribal Colleges and Reservations Week. The Senate likewise designated January, 2017 as National Stalking Awareness Month. The Senate gave first reading to S. 274, to nullify the effect of the recent executive order that temporarily restricted individuals from certain countries from entering the U.S.

8:28 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about the stream protection rule.

8:15 a.m. Senator Cantwell spoke about the stream protection rule.

8:04 p.m. Senator Perdue spoke about Judge Gorsuch.

7:58 p.m. Senator Carper spoke about the stream protection rule.

7:42 p.m. Senator Capito spoke about the stream protection rule.

7:37 p.m. Senator Schatz spoke about stream protection.

7:22 p.m. Senator Tillis spoke about criminal justice.

7:04 p.m. Senator Cantwell spoke about stream protection.

6:49 p.m. Senator Lee spoke on the Gorsuch nomination.

6:47 p.m. Motion to proceed is agreed to 56-42. There are now up to ten hours of debate. Senators Donnelly, Heitkamp, Manchin and McCaskill joined Republicans in favor. Senators Coons and Durbin did not vote.

6:27 p.m. Roll call vote began on the motion to proceed to H.J. Res 38, the motion of disapproval regarding the stream protection rule.

6:24 p.m. By a vote of  55 to 42, the Senate passed the motion to proceed. Senators Donnelly, Heitkamp, Manchin and McCaskill joined Republicans in favor. Senators Coons, Durbin and Sessions did not vote.

5:52 p.m. Roll call vote began on motion to proceed to legislative session.

5:50 p.m. ML McConnell spoke about H J Res 38, regarding the stream protection rule.

5:27 p.m. Senators Hatch and Hirono spoke about Judge Gorsuch.

5:17 p.m. Senator Warren spoke about President Trump.

5:07 p.m. Senator Gardner spoke on the Gorsuch nomination.

4:56 p.m. Senator Kaine spoke on World Interfaith Harmony Week.

4:47 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke about the Supreme Court vacancy.

4:40 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke on the Gorsuch nomination.

4:39 p.m. Motion to proceed to executive session to consider the Devos nomination is agreed to 52-47.  Senators Coons did not vote.

4:11 p.m. Roll call vote began on the motion to proceed to executive session in order to consider the Devos nomination.

4:10 p.m. The motion to approve the journal was agreed to 54-44.  Senators Coons and Sessions did not vote.

3:47 p.m. Roll call vote began on the motion to read the journal.

3:46 p.m. The motion to proceed to legislative session was agreed to 53-44.  Senators Heitkamp, Menendez and King joined all who GOP (who voted) in favor. Senators Coons, Sessions and Tillis missed the vote.

3:26 p.m. Roll call vote began on the motion to proceed to legislative session.

3:25 p.m. The motion to table the motion to reconsider was agreed to 55-43.  Senators Senators Heitkamp, King, Manchin and Warner voted to table.  Senators Coons and Sessions did not vote.

3:05 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to table the motion to reconsider the vote on the nomination of Rex Tillerson.

3:00 p.m. Rex Tillerson was confirmed as Secretary of State by a vote of 56-43. Democrats voting aye: Heitkamp, Manchin and Warner. Independent voting aye: King. Not voting: Coons.

2:30 p.m. The Senate began voting on the nomination of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State.

2:23 p.m. Senator Donnelly spoke against the nomination of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State.

2:15 p.m. Senator Shaheen spoke against the Executive Order about refugees.

2:00 p.m. Senator Murkowski spoke against the DeVos nomination.

1:53 p.m. Senator Collins spoke against the DeVos nomination.

1:30 p.m. Senator Thune spoke about Judge Gorsuch.

1:11 p.m. Senator Heinrich spoke about the immigration executive order and the Tillerson nomination.

1:02 p.m. Senator Schumer clarified earlier remarks relating to Judge Gorsuch.

12:48 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the nomination of Rex Tillerson. He spoke about Judge Gorsuch.

12:28 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about Judge Gorsuch.

12:13 p.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about Judge Gorsuch.

12:03 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about Judge Gorsuch.

*****

The Senate will convene at noon.

After leader remarks, the Senate will resume post-cloture debate on Rex Tillerson’s nomination to be secretary of state.

At about 2:30 p.m., a confirmation vote is expected on Tillerson.

More votes are possible today, but none have been scheduled.