7:31 p.m. Senate adjourned until 10:00 a.m. Tuesday.

7:18 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke on gun violence.

7:05 p.m. Senator Gillibrand spoke on gun violence.

7:02 p.m. ML McConnell wraps up for the evening.  S. 1894, regarding the Jones Act was read for the first time.  S.396, regarding marine fish conservation;and H.R. 1616, authorizing the National Computer Forensics Institute were passed by voice vote.  UC that when the Senate adjourns it do so until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, and resume consideration of the Cissna nomination.  Recess for weekly conference luncheons from 12:30-2:15.  Adjourn following remarks of Senators Gillibrand and Blumenthal.

6:15 p.m. Senators Murphy, Durbin and Casey spoke on guns.

6:12 p.m. ML McConnell calls up and files cloture on the following four nominations:

1. Lee Cissna to be Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

2. Eric Hargan to be Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services.

3. Randle Quarles to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

4. Callista Gingrich to be Ambassador to the Holy See.

6:05 p.m. Senator Flake spoke on the nomination of Amy Barrett to be a Circuit Court judge on the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

6:04 p.m. The Pai nomination was confirmed 52-41.

Senators in favor: 48 Republicans 4 Democrats: Manchin, McCaskill, Peters and Tester.

Senators against: 40 Democrats, 1 Independent: Sanders.

Senators not voting: 4 Republicans: Cochran, Heller, McCain and Toomey. 2 Democrats: Cortez Masto and Menendez. Independent: Sanders

5:33 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the Pai nomination.

5:29 p.m. Senator Thune spoke in support of the Pai nomination.

5:04 p.m. Senator Cantwell spoke about Las Vegas and the Pai nomination.

4:44 p.m. Senator Fischer paid tribute to Nebraskans Lyle Strom and William Riley.

4:34 p.m. Senator Warren spoke about Las Vegas and the Pai nomination.

4:23 p.m. Senator Capitol spoke about Las Vegas and the Pai nomination.

4:03 p.m. Senator Udall spoke about Las Vegas. He spoke against the Pai nomination.

3:52 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about Las Vegas and about taxes.

3:35 p.m. Senator Moran spoke about regulation of the internet. He spoke in favor of the Pai nomination.

3:38 p.m. Senator Schatz spoke about Law Vegas.

3:07 p.m. The Senate resumed consideration of the Pai nomination. Senator Hatch spoke about the Las Vegas massacre. He paid tribute to the late Elder Robert D. Hales of the Church of Latter Day Saints. He spoke about criminal justice reform.

3:04 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the Las Vegas massacre.

3:03 p.m. The Senate observed a moment of silence for the victims of the massacre in Las Vegas.

**********

The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m.

There will be a moment of silence when the Senate convenes to acknowledge the tragedy in Las Vegas.

Following any leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Ajit Pai to be a member of the Federal Communications Commission until 5:30 p.m.

At 5:30 p.m., all post-cloture time will expire and the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Pai nomination.

The Senate convened for a pro forma session at 8:30 a.m. Senator Blunt presided and no business was conducted.

The Senate is now adjourned until Monday, September 25th, at 4:00 p.m.

On Monday, following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to resume consideration of the nomination of William Emanuel to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board, with the time until 5:30 p.m.

At 5:30 p.m., there will be a roll call vote on confirmation of the Emanuel nomination.

10:39 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. Tuesday.

10:06 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about health care.

9:52 p.m. Senator Schatz spoke about health care.

9:29 p.m. Senator Casey spoke about health care.

8:48 p.m. Senator Booker spoke about health care.

7:56 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about health care.

7:41 p.m. Senator Baldwin spoke about health care.

7:34 p.m. Senator Warren spoke about health care.

7:32 p.m. Senator Lankford secured consent for the passage of S. 1888, banning the use of federal funds for portraits of federal employees and of Senate Resolutions 260, 261 and 262, en bloc.

The Senate consented to convene Tuesday at 10 a.m., to resume consideration of the Francisco nomination, to vote on cloture at 11 a.m. and, with post-cloture time deemed expired, to vote on confirmation at 12:15 p.m.

The Senate agreed to recess for policy luncheons Tuesday from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m.

7:04 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about health care.

6:52 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on health care.

6:51 p.m. ML McConnell called up and filed cloture on the nomination of William Emanuel to be a member of the National Labor Relations Board.

6:50 p.m. By a tally of 89-8, the Senate passes H.R.2810, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018.

Voting against:
4 Democrats: Gillibrand, Leahy, Merkley and Wyden
3 Republicans: Corker, Lee and Paul
1 Independent: Sanders

Not voting: Graham, Menendez and Rubio

6:22 p.m. Roll call vote began on passage of H.R.2810, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018.

6:19 p.m. Several amendments agreed to by unanimous consent. Here is the list:
Democrats
1. Kaine #277
2. Tester #434
3. Heitkamp #574
4. Merkley #660
5. Whitehouse #750
6. Van Hollen #756
7. Murray #833
8. Brown #890
9. Cardin #900
10. Leahy #903
11. Baldwin #904
12. Peters #950
13. Heitkamp #976
14. Cantwell #995
15. Stabenow #1014
16. Whitehouse #1015
17. Harris #1021
18. Sanders #1023
19. Cantwell #1065
20. Bennet #1087
21. Wyden #1088
22. Kaine #1089
23. Cortez Masto #1094
24. Durbin #1100

Republicans
1. Lee #470
2. Moran #601
3. Portman #712
4. Inhofe #780
5. Ernst #873
6. McCain #874
7. Johnson #879
8. Murkowski #908
9. Rubio #927
10. Isakson #943
11. Flake #945
12. Moran #1006
13. Tillis #1031
14. Perdue #1033
15. Strange #1034
16. Lankford #1038
17. Rounds #1039
18. Scott #1050
19. Portman #1055
20. Tillis #1063
21. Sullivan #1073
22. Strange #1086
23. Graham #1096
24. Isakson #1032

6:04 p.m. Senators Reed and McCain spoke on Defense authorization.

6:03 p.m. Cloture invoked on H.R. 2810, Defense authorization 90-7.

Senators voting against:
4 Democrats: Durbin, Gillibrand, Merkley and Wyden
2 Republicans: Lee and Paul
1 Independent: Sanders

Senators not voting:
2 Republicans: Graham and Rubio
1 Democrat: Menendez

5:32 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on H.R.2810, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018.

5:09 p.m. UC achieved that Senators McCain and Reed have twenty minutes of debate time between the two votes this evening.

4:52 p.m. Senator Hirono spoke on health care.

4:40 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke on the defense bill.

4:21 p.m. Senator Young spoke on the defense bill.

4:12 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke on health care.

3:55 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the defense bill and health care.

3:33 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke about Hurricane Irma and about the defense bill.

3:26 p.m. Senator Lee spoke in support of the nominee for assistant attorney general for the anti-trust division of the Justice Department.

3:25 p.m. The Senate resumed consideration of the defense bill.

3:02 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the defense bill, a law enforcement nominee and a retiring Senate Library employee.

***

The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m. and resume consideration of H.R.2810, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018..

At 5:30 p.m., the McCain amendment #545 will be withdrawn, the Senate will adopt the Amend #1003, as modified and vote on the motion to invoke cloture on H.R.2810, NDAA.  If cloture is invoked, all post-cloture time will be considered expired and the Senate will vote on passage of the bill, as amended.

Monday, September 18 at 5:30pm – 2 roll call votes

1. Motion to invoke cloture on H.R.2810, National Defense Authorization Act, as amended
2. Passage of H.R.2810, NDAA, as amended

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

The Senate has adjourned until 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 14th under provisions of S. Res. 254 as a mark of respect for former Senator Pete Domenici.

During wrap-up the following legislation was passed by unanimous consent:

• S. Res. 252- Designating September 2017 as National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day
• S. Res. 253- National Hispanic Serving Institutions Week
• S. Res. 254- Relative to the death of Pete Domenici, former U.S. Senator, the State of New Mexico

****

6:37 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about the wildfires in Oregon.

6:34 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell filed cloture on H.R. 2810, NDAA and the McCain substitute amendment #1003, as modified. Both ripen Friday. At a time TBD, the Senate will have 40 minutes of debate on the nomination of Pamela Hughes Patenaude followed by a vote on confirmation. The nomination of Douglas W. Domenech, to be an Assistant Secretary of Interior, was agreed to by voice vote.

6:09 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change.

5:49 p.m. Senator McCain modified his substitute amendment to H.R. 2810 by unanimous consent and spoke on the defense authorization bill. Senator Reed spoke on the defense authorization bill.

5:31 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke about DACA.

5:52 p.m. Senator Baldwin spoke about an amendment to deal with Buy American provisions of the defense bill.

4:03 p.m. Senator Donnelly spoke about a measure to combat the shift of jobs overseas.

3:46 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke about the NDAA.

3:34 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke about medical marijuana research.

3:14 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about healthcare.

3:03 p.m. Senator Tester spoke about wildfire devastation.

2:37 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke on her amendment on election apparatus security.

2:25 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke about possible base closures and the McCain amendment on that topic.

2:10 p.m. Senator Isakson spoke on the NDAA, in particular on its effects in Georgia.

2:05 p.m. Senator Rounds spoke about Tricare and NDAA.

1:54 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke about NDAA.

1:41 p.m. Senator Thune spoke about tax reform.

1:15 p.m. Senator Coons spoke about AUMF and DACA.

12:56 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about disaster relief efforts and the NDAA.

12:55 p.m. Senator McConnell called up McCain amendment #545.

12:55 p.m. The Senate tabled the Paul amendment #871 by a vote of 61-36.

• Senators voting yes: 48 Republicans, 13 Democrats (Carper, Casey, Cortez Masto, Donnelly, Hassan, Manchin, McCaskill, Reed, Schatz, Shaheen, Stabenow, Warner, and Whitehouse)
• Senators voting no: 31 Democrats, 3 Republicans, (Heller, Lee, and Paul) and 2 Independents.

12:17 p.m. Senator Corker moved to table the Paul amendment and the Senate began voting on the motion to table.

12:05 p.m. Senators Reed, McCain, and Corker spoke on the Paul amendment.

11:54 a.m. Senator Paul spoke on his amendment #871.

11:46 a.m. Senator Moran spoke against the Paul amendment #871.

11:41 a.m. Senator Murphy spoke in support of Paul amendment #871.

11:36 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke in support of Paul amendment #871

11:31 a.m. Senator Cardin spoke in support of Paul amendment #871.

11:23 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell paid tribute to former New Mexican Senator Peter Domenici.

• The Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to  H.R. 2810, NDAA, by voice vote and McCain offered substitute amendment #1003 and McConnell offered Paul amendment #871 to #1003.

10:58 a.m. Senator Reed spoke on the Defense Authorization bill.

10:25 a.m. Senator McCain thanks DL Schumer for advocacy of bipartisan work. Discusses Defense authorization bill.

10:13 a.m. Democratic Leader Schumer spoke on tax reform and health care, and briefly on DACA.

10:04 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke on the Defense Authorization.  Achieved UC that there will be one hour equally divided on the motion to proceed between Senators McCain and Reed.

The Senate convened at 10:00 a.m.

***

Following any leader remarks, resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 2810, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018;  with no post-cloture time remaining.

Once the bill is pending, we expect Senator McCain to offer a substitute amendment and for Majority Leader McConnell to offer Senator Paul’s AUMF amendment.

We could see a vote on a motion to table the AUMF amendment in the morning.

6:02 p.m. Senate adjourns

6:01 p.m. ML McConnell wraps up for the evening.  UC that Senate adjourn until 10:00 a.m. Wednesday.  At that time, resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 2810, National Defense Authorization, with no post cloture time remaining.

5:54 p.m. Senators Reed and Lee spoke on NDAA.

5:27 p.m. Senators Flake and Warren spoke on NDAA.

5:03 p.m. Senator Kaine spoke about the national defense authorization.

4:49 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about Defense audits.

4:31 p.m. Senator Boozman spoke about former Razorbacks coach John Franklin Broyles.

3:48 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke about the national defense authorization.

3:21 p.m. Senator Paul spoke about unconstitutional authorization of wars.

3:20 p.m. By a vote of 81-16, Kevin Hassett is confirmed to be Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers.

Senators voting no: Blumenthal, Booker, Cortez Masto, Duckworth, Gillibrand, Harris, Heinrich, Hirono, Markey, Merkley, Sanders, Schatz, Schumer, Udall, Van Hollen and Warren.

Senators not voting: Menendez, Nelson and Rubio.

2:35 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the nomination of Kevin Hassett to be Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers.

2:16 p.m. Senators Warren and Brown spoke on the Hassett nomination.

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from the recess and proceeded to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Kevin Hassett to be Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers.  Under the previous UC, the vote on the nomination is slated to start at 2:35 p.m.

12:05 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m. to accommodate the weekly caucus luncheons.

10:40 a.m. Senator Kennedy paid tribute to Donna Britt, a Louisiana newscaster who is battling Lou’s Gehrig’s disease.

10:27 a.m. Minority Leader  Schumer spoke about hurricane relief and about the defense bill. He spoke about election integrity.

10:14 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about immigration.

10:02 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the defense authorization.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and following any leader remarks resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.2810, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018; post cloture.  Under unanimous consent, Senator Paul has up to four hours of post cloture debate on the motion to proceed.

The Senate will recess from 12:30-2:15 p.m. to accommodate the caucus luncheons.

At 2:15, proceed to executive session and following twenty minutes of debate, vote on the nomination of Kevin Hassett to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers; thus a vote is expected at approximately 2:35 p.m.

7:45 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 10:00 a.m.

7:37 p.m. ML McConnell does wrap-up for the night.   UC that Senator Paul has up to 4 hours of post cloture debate on the motion to proceed.  UC that at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, the Senate proceed to Executive session to vote on the nomination of Kevin Hassett to be the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors.

Wrap up:

Passed H.R.3732, to amend section 1113 of the Social Security Act to provide authority for increased fiscal year 2017 and 2018 payments for temporary assistance to United States citizens returned from foreign countries.

Passed S.J.Res.49, condemning the violence and domestic terrorist attack that took place during events between August 11 and August 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia, recognizing the first responders who lost their lives while monitoring the events, offering deepest condolences to the family and friends of those individuals who were injured by the violence, expressing support for the Charlottesville community, rejecting White supremacists, the Ku Klux Klan, neo-nazis, and other hate groups, and urging the President and the President’s Cabinet to use all available resources to address the threats posed by those groups.

Passed S.416, Small Business Capital Formation Enhancement Act.

Passed S.327, Fair Access to Investment Research Act, with Warren-Heller amendment and committee-reported amendments.

Passed S.444, Supporting America’s Innovators Act.

Passed S.462, Securities and Exchange Commission Overpayment Credit Act.

Passed S.484, U.S. Territories Investor Protection Act, with committee-reported amendments.

Passed S.488, Encouraging Employee Ownership Act.

Passed S.102, Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act, with committee-reported amendment.

Passed S.1311, Abolish Human Trafficking Act of 2017, with Cornyn and committee-reported amendment.

Passed S.1312, Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017, with Grassley and committee-reported amendment.

6:08 p.m. Senator Hoeven paid tribute to the new Miss America, from North Dakota who was an intern in his office last year.

6:07 p.m. Cloture invoked on motion to proceed to the Defense authorization 89-3.

Senators voting against: Paul, Sanders and Wyden.

Senators not voting: Flake, Graham, Isakson, Menendez, Nelson, Rubio, Scott and Strange.

5:30 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2810, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018.

5:07 p.m. Senator McCain spoke about the defense authorization bill.

4:45 p.m. Senator Fischer spoke about September 11 attacks.

3:43 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about Hurricane Irma. He spoke about the September 11 attacks.

3:18 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about immigration.

3:08 p.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the September 11 attacks.

3:03 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the September 11 attacks and about the defense authorization bill.

* * *

The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m. Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will observe a moment of silence in remembrance of the lives lost in the attacks of September 11^th, 2001.

Following the moment of silence, the Senate will proceed with Leader remarks, and then will resume consideration of the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 2810, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018

At 5:30 p.m. the Senate will vote on the Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 2810.

The Senate adjourned at 6:45 p.m. and will reconvene tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.

6:30 p.m. Senator Bennett and Cantwell spoke about DACA.

6:25 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Timothy Kelly 94-2. Senators Gillibrand and Warren voted no. Senators Cochran, Menendez, Moran, and Shaheen did not vote.

5:30 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the Timothy Kelly nomination.

5:18 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke supporting the nomination of Timothy Kelly to be US District Judge for the District of Colombia.

5:04 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke about Hurricane Harvey.

3:42 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the hurricane and about immigration.

3:27 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about Hurricane Harvey.

3:17 p.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the hurricane and North Korea.

3:03 p.m. Majority Leaders McConnell acted under Rule XIV to have S.1757, a border security measure, placed directly on the Senate calendar. He spoke about Hurricane Harvey and legislative priorities including disaster relief, a federal budget, and extension of the debt limit.

* * * * *

The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of Morning Business until 5:00 p.m.

At 5:00 p.m., the Senate will proceed to consideration the nomination of Timothy Kelly to be US District Judge for the District of Columbia, with a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination at 5:30 p.m.

The Senate convened at 3:00 p.m. for a pro forma session, Senator Daines presided and no business was conducted.

The Senate convened for a pro forma session at 2:30 p.m.  No business was conducted. Senator Blunt presided.

The Senate convened for a pro forma session at 4:30 p.m.  Senator Kennedy presided, and no business was conducted.