The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m. and resume consideration of S. 937, the Covid-hate crimes legislation.
At 5:30 p.m. the Senate will proceed to executive session and conduct a cloture vote on the nomination of Lisa Monaco to be Deputy Attorney General.
Cloture has also been filed on the nomination of Gary Gensler to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission until 2026.
6:43 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 3:00 p.m. on Monday April 19th.
6:37 p.m. ML Schumer wrapped up for the evening.
4:40 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on the following: Lisa Monaco to be Deputy Attorney General and re-appointing Gary Gensler to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission until 2026.
4:39 p.m. The motion to discharge the Gupta nomination from the Judiciary Committee was agreed to on a party line tally of 49-34.
Senators not voting: 16 Republicans: Barrasso, Braun, Burr, Daines, Inhofe, Lummis, Marshall, Moran, Paul, Portman, Risch, Romney, Rounds, Thune, Tillis and Toomey; 1 Democrat: Tester.
3:55 p.m. The Senate began a vote on the motion to discharge from the Judiciary committee PN79-4, Vanita Gupta, to be Associate Attorney General.
1:54 p.m. Senators Lee, Durbin, Klobuchar, Coons, Cornyn, Whitehouse, Blackburn, Cramer, Cruz and Braun spoke on the Gupta nomination.
1:28 p.m. Senator Reed spoke on bringing troops home from Afghanistan.
1:20 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke against the Gupta nomination.
1:11 p.m. Senator Kaine spoke supporting the Gupta nomination and supporting S. 937.
12:46 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke supporting the Gupta nomination.
12:43 p.m. The Senate began up to 4 hours of debate on the motion to discharge the Gupta nomination.
12:42 p.m. By a vote of 49-45 the Senate moved to proceed to Executive Session for the consideration of the motion to discharge from Judiciary Committee, Vanita Gupta, of Virginia, to be Associate Attorney General. This was a party line vote. Senators Marshall, Moran, Portman, Sanders and Tillis did not vote.
12:00 p.m. The Senate began a vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session in order to discharge the nomination of Vanita Gupta from the Committee on the Judiciary.
11:21 a.m. Senator Kennedy spoke about drug pricing. Senator Kennedy asked unanimous consent to call up and pass the related bill, S. 1132. Senator Crapo objected.
10:49 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on the infrastructure package.
10:34 a.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke supporting the Gupta nomination.
10:25 a.m. RL McConnell spoke on the filibuster, on the passing of Carol Barr and the Carol Act, and on departing staffer Katelyn Bunning.
10:13 a.m. ML Schumer spoke supporting S. 937, Covid-19 Hate Crimes legislation and on the Gupta nomination.
10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.
*****
The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.937, a bill to facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes, and for other purposes, post-cloture.
At 12:00 p.m., all post-cloture time will be considered expired and the motion to proceed to S.937 will be agreed to. At that time, a vote is expected on the motion to proceed to Executive Session in order to move to discharge the nomination of Vanita Gupta to be Associate Attorney General from the Committee on the Judiciary.
There will then be up to 4 hours of debate on the motion to discharge. Upon the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate will vote on the motion to discharge the Gupta nomination from the Committee on the Judiciary.
6:27 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 15. They will resume consideration of the motion to proceed S. 937, a bill to facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes. At 12 noon all post-cloture time will expire and the motion to proceed will be agreed to. At noon, the Senate is expected to have a roll call vote on a motion to proceed to Executive Session in order to move to discharge the nomination of Vanita Gupta from the Judiciary Committee.
During wrap-up:
Agreed to by voice vote, S. Res. 148 Recognizing the importance of paying tribute to those individuals who have faithfully served and retired from the armed forces.
Passed by voice vote, S. 400, renaming the Dept. of Transportation Headquarters to the William T. Coleman building.
6:18 p.m. Senator Burr paid tribute to Alvin Sykes.
5:53 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about the infrastructure bill.
5:43 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the hate crimes bill.
5:30 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke about electric cars.
5:20 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about voting rights.
5:10 p.m. Senator Scott (FL) and Senator Barrasso spoke about election laws and S. 1.
5:08 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke about anti-Asian hate crimes and violence.
4:56 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about S. 937.
4:55 p.m. By a vote of 92-6, the cloture motion on the motion to proceed to S. 937 was agreed to. Voting no: Cotton, Cruz, Hawley, Marshall, Paul and Tuberville. Not voting: Rounds and Tillis.
4:15 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #13, S.937, a bill to facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes.
4:12 p.m. By a vote of 53-45, the Mallory nomination was confirmed. Voting aye: Collins, Graham and Portman. Not voting: Rounds and Tillis.
3:33 p.m. The Senate began voting on the nomination of Brenda Mallory, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality.
3:21 p.m. Senator Hirono spoke about anti-Asian hate crimes and violence.
2:14 p.m. Senators Warnock, Murkowski, Toomey, Padilla, Cortez Masto and Cassidy read Dr. Martin Luther King’s letter from the Birmingham jail.
2:12 p.m. Senator Brown announced that 6 Senators will read Dr. Martin Luther King’s letter from the Birmingham jail.
1:55 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the filibuster.
1:39 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about Afghanistan.
1:29 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke about the filibuster and also spoke about the voting rights bill.
1:17 p.m. Senator Carper spoke about the Mallory nomination.
1:15 p.m. By a vote of 53-45, cloture was invoked on the Mallory nomination. Voting aye: Collins, Graham and Portman. Not voting: Rounds and Tillis.
12:28 p.m. The Senate began voting on cloture on the nomination of Brenda Mallory, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality
12:26 p.m. By a vote of 53-45 the Gensler nomination was confirmed. Republicans voting aye: Senators Collins, Grassley and Lummis. Not voting: Senators Rounds and Tillis.
11:45 a.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of Gary Gensler to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
11:30 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about the border crisis.
11:15 a.m. Senator Marshall spoke about Kansas voters and democracy.
11:00 a.m. Senator McConnell spoke about Afghanistan, about the filibuster and about voting rights.
10:45 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about Asian hate crimes, about infrastructure and also about the troop removal from Afghanistan.
The Senate will convene at 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, April 14th at 11:45 am – 2 roll call votes:
Wednesday, April 14th at 3:30 pm – 2 roll call votes:
6:41 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned under the provisions of S.Res. 152, until 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, and does so as a further mark of respect to the memory of United States Capitol Police Officer William Francis “Billy” Evans.
Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Gary Gensler, to be Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission, post-cloture.
At 11:45 a.m., all post-cloture debate time will be considered expired and the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Gensler nomination, and upon its disposition there will be an immediate cloture vote on the nomination of Brenda Mallory, to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality.
If cloture is invoked on the Mallory nomination, then at 3:30 p.m. all post-cloture time will be considered expired and the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination. Upon disposition of the Mallory nomination, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #13, S.937, a bill to facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes.
6:39 p.m. Senator Hassan began wrap up. By unanimous consent the Senate passed S.Res 152, Honoring the memory of Officer William Francis “Billy” Evans of the U.S. Capitol Police for his selfless acts of heroism on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol on April 2, 2021.
6:37 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Gary Gensler to be a member of the SEC by a vote of 53-45. Senators Collins, Grassley and Lummis voted yes.
Senators Rounds and Tillis did not vote.
6:09 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Gary Gensler to be a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
6:08 p.m. The Sherman nomination was confirmed, 56-42 with Republicans Burr, Capito, Collins, Murkowsi, Portman and Romney joining all Democrats and Independents in favor. Republicans Rounds and Tillis did not vote.
5:25 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Wendy Sherman to be Deputy Secretary of State.
5:12 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke paying tribute to Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Jim Smith and also on Fentanyl.
4:57 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the President’s infrastructure plan.
4:35 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke about the Coast Guard Congressional Fellow program.
4:22 p.m. Senator Brown spoke supporting the Gensler nomination to lead the SEC.
4:13 p.m. Senator Toomey spoke on the SEC.
4:01 p.m. Senator Thune spoke honoring the life Officer Billy Evans and service of Officer Ken Shaver and on court packing.
3:30 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on Georgia voting laws and restrictions.
3:29 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Sherman nomination, 55-42. Republicans Burr, Capito, Collins, Murkowski, Portman, Romney and Rounds joined Democrats/Independents in favor. Senators not voting: Booker, Tillis and Warnock.
2:55 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Wendy Sherman to be Deputy Secretary of State.
2:54 p.m. The Trottenberg nomination was confirmed 82-15. Voting no, all Republicans: Blackburn, Braun, Cotton, Cruz, Daines, Hagerty, Hawley, Kennedy, Lee, Paul, Rubio, both Scotts, Shelby and Tuberville voting no. Not voting: Two Democrats: Booker and Warnock, one Republican: Tillis.
2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from recess and began a roll call vote on confirmation of Polly Trottenberg to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation.
12:50 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m.
12:39 p.m. RL McConnell spoke on Officer Billy Evans lying in honor in the Capitol Rotunda, on troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, and on the American Jobs Plan.
12:21 p.m. ML Schumer spoke on violence against Asian Americans and racial bias and on the Trottenberg nomination.
The Senate will convene at 12:00 p.m. and following Leader remarks, resume consideration of the nomination of Polly Trottenberg to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation.
The Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.
At 2:15 p.m. proceed to two roll call votes:
**Confirmation of the Trottenberg nomination.
**Cloture on the nomination of Wendy Sherman to be Deputy Secretary of State.
We expect a confirmation vote on the Sherman nomination and a cloture vote on the nomination of Gary Gensler to be Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission later today.
6:15 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about the Amazon union vote.
5:30 p.m. Senate is currently voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the Trottenberg nomination. The motion was invoked 81-14.
5:15 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke about the problems with Biden’s executive orders, especially the lack of jobs created by canceling the Keystone pipeline.
5:00 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about issues with immigration.
4:20 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the power of big tech and the lack of regulation and oversight on the industry.
4:10p.m. Leader Schumer paid tribute to fallen Capitol Police officer, Billy Evans and passed H. Con. Res 27 approving Evans’ lying in state in the rotunda on Tuesday.
3:30 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on the problem with illegal immigration at the border.
3: 15 p.m. Senator Tuberville spoke on the problem with illegal immigration at the border.
3:10 p.m. Leader McConnell paid tribute to fallen Capitol Police officer, Billy Evans.
3:00 p.m. Senator Durbin paid triubute to fallen Capitol Police officer, Billy Evans and the history of the filabuster.
The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m.
Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #55, Polly Trottenberg to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation.
At 5:30pm, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Trottenberg nomination.
Cloture has also been filed on the following:
1. Executive Calendar #35, Wendy Sherman to be Deputy Secretary of State.
3. Executive Calendar #33, Gary Gensler to be Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
4. Brenda Mallory to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality.
5. Motion to proceed to S.937, a bill to facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes.
The Senate convened for a pro forma session at 2:00 p.m., Senator Warner presiding. No business was conducted.
The Senate met in pro forma session at 10:00 a.m., Senator Van Hollen presiding. No business was conducted.
11:00 a.m. The Senate met in a pro forma session with Senator Cardin presiding. No business was conducted.
5:29 p.m. When the adjourns on Thursday April 8th, it will next convene at 3:00 p.m. on Monday April 12th. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and resume consideration of Polly Trottenberg, to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation.
The Senate will meet for pro forma sessions on:
5:25 p.m. ML Schumer began wrap up:
The Senate will meet for pro forma sessions on:
When the Senate stands adjourned on Thursday April 8th, it will next convene at 3:00pm on Monday April 12th.Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and resume consideration of Executive Calendar #55, Polly Ellen Trottenberg, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation.
3:59 p.m. Senators Booker and Bennett spoke on the Child Tax Credit.
3:57 p.m. Senator Brown spoke on the Adeyemo nomination and on the child tax credit.
3:52 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke on Alexei Navalny.
3:52 p.m. The nomination of Adewale Adeyemo to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury was confirmed by voice vote.
3:45 p.m. ML Schumer filed cloture on the following:
3:44 p.m. H.R. 1868 was agreed to 90-2. Senators Paul and Toomey voted no.
2:54 p.m. Roll call vote began on passage of H.R. 1868.
2:53 p.m. The Scott amendment was not agreed to on a party line vote of 47-50 with Republicans Hyde-Smith, Moran and Sasse absent.
2:19 p.m. Roll call vote began on the Scott of Florida amendment to H.R. 1868.
2:03 p.m. ML Schumer and Senators Braun, Manchin, Scott of Florida and Feinstein spoke on H.R. 1868.
2:02 p.m. H.R. 1799 was passed, 92-7. Senators voting against: Cruz, Crapo, Hawley, Lee, Paul, Risch and Shelby. Senator Sasse did not vote.
1:30 p.m. Roll call vote began on passage of H.R. 1799, the PPP extension, with a 60 vote threshold.
1:23 p.m. The motion to waive was agreed to 64-36. Republican YEAs: Burr, Collins, Cramer, Graham, Hoeven, Inhofe McConnell, Murkowski, Portman, Romney, Shelby, Sullivan Thune.
12:50 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Paul amend to H.R. 1799, PPP Extension. 60 vote threshold.
12:47 p.m. By a vote of 48-52, the Senate did not agree to the Rubio Amendment #1405 in relation to H.R.1799, PPP Extension Act.
Senators Collins and Portman voted no.
12:11 p.m. Roll call vote began on the Rubio amendment 1405 to establish appropriate limitations on the Administrator of the Small Business Administration establishing new priorities for processing lender applications.
12:08 p.m. Senators Rubio and Cardin spoke on the Rubio amendment to H.R. 1799.
12:07 p.m. By a vote of 48-52 the Senate did not agree to the Kennedy amendment.
Senators Collins and Portman voted no.
10:54 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the Kennedy amendment #1401 prohibiting PPP loans and second draw loans for applicants convicted of a felony in relation to a riot or civil disorder during the 2-year period preceding the date of the application.
10:47 a.m. Senator Kennedy spoke on his amendment to H.R. 1799.
10:37 a.m. Senators Lankford, Cardin and Marshall spoke on the paycheck protection program.
10:27 a.m. RL McConnell spoke on immigration, election laws and the pandemic response.
10:11 a.m. ML Schumer had the second reading of H.R. 1868, authorizing a dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the department of Homeland Security. He then spoke on accomplishments of the last few months and the agenda for the months ahead.
10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.
Additional roll call votes—including on confirmation of the nomination of Adewale O. Adeyemo to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury—are expected during Thursday’s session of the Senate. It is possible the Senate will consider H.R.1868, a bill to prevent across-the-board direct spending cuts, and for other purposes
11:03 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m.
Senators Sullivan on Alaskan of the week; Senator Sasse spoke on the separation of powers in government.
8:32 p.m. Senator Casey spoke on gun violence.
8:20 p.m. Senators Klobuchar, Cortes-Masto, and Blumenthal spoke on gun violence.
6:56 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about gun violence.
6:41 p.m. Senator Bennet spoke about the shootings in Colorado.
6:40 p.m. The Senate agreed that after morning business on Thursday, post-cloture time on H.R. 1799 be deemed expired, the motion to proceed be agreed to, the amendments of Senators Kennedy and Rubio be in order, and Senator Paul be recognized to raise a budget point of order.
At 11 a.m., the Senate will vote on the amendments in the order listed and on passage — with 60 votes required for passage.
6 p.m. By a vote of 98 to 2, the Senate confirmed the nomination of David Turk to be deputy secretary of Energy. NAYs: Hawley, Paul.
5:33 p.m. By a vote of 52 to 48, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Rachel Levine to be assistant secretary of H.H.S. Republicans Collins and Murkowski voted YEA.
4:33 p.m. Senator Smith spoke about the recent shootings.
4:25 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke about immigration and also paid tribute to Judge Peter Hall.
4:07 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about prescription drug prices and also about the cattle industry.
3:45 p.m. Senator Lee spoke about human trafficking and immigration. He asked Unanimous consent that the Senate pass S. 88. Senator Durbin objected.
3:23 p.m. Senator Scott (FL) spoke about coronavirus bill. He asked unanimous consent that the Senate pass S. 948. Senator Wyden objected.
3:05 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke about immigration. He asked unanimous consent that the Senate pass S. 890. Senator Lujan objected.
2:27 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke about immigration and the border. She asked unanimous consent to pass S. 903-dna testing. Senator Padilla objected.
2:08 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about immigration.
1:52 p.m. Senator Ernst spoke about immigration.
1:27 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about the S.B.A.’s paycheck protection program and about the Equal Rights Amendment.
1:13 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about immigration.
12:48 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke about the border and immigration. He asked Unanimous Consent to proceed to S. Res. 132-sense of the Senate that the current influx of migrants at the border constitutes a crisis. Senator Padilla objected and explained why. He offered an amendment to the bill. Senator Inhofe objected.
12:53 p.m. Senator Padilla spoke about immigration.
12:47 p.m. By a vote of 98-2 cloture was invoked on the nomination of David Turk to be deputy secretary of Energy. Voting no: Senators Hawley and Paul.
12:21 p.m. The Senate is voting on whether to invoke cloture on the nomination of David Turk to be deputy secretary of Energy.
12:20 p.m. By a vote of 52 to 48, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Rachel Levine to be assistant secretary of H.H.S. Republicans Collins and Murkowski voted YEA.
11:17 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about Senate rules and about election law.
10:50 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke about gun violence and nominations.
***
The Senate will convene at 10:30 a.m.
At 11:30 a.m. the Senate will proceed to 2 votes on the following:
Further, at 4:45 p.m., the Senate will proceed to 2 votes on the following: