The Senate convened for a pro forma session at 10:00 a.m., with Senator Boozman presiding. No business was conducted.

The Senate convened for a pro forma session at 10:00 a.m., with Senator Isakson presiding. No business was conducted.

The Senate convened for a pro forma session at 10:00 a.m., with Senator  Barrasso presiding. No business was conducted.

The Senate convened for a pro forma session at 1:00 p.m., with Senator Crapo presiding. No business was conducted.

7:13 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change.

6:48 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about climate change.

6:40 p.m. ML McConnell did wrap-up.  The Senate passed S. Res. 525 designating August 16, 2016 as National Airborne day.
The Senate passed S.Con.Res. 44, designating the sunflower as the flower of military caregivers.

6:28 p.m. Senator Scott spoke about a need for unity in the United States and the violence of last week.

6:18 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke on climate change.

6:01 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about the military.

5:45 p.m. Senator Kaine spoke on climate change.

5:42 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change.

5:33 p.m. Senator Warren spoke on climate change.

5:24 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change.

5:17 p.m. Senator Udall spoke on climate change.

5:03 p.m. Senator Coons spoke on climate change.

5:00 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change.

4:50 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke on climate change.

4:40 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the deadly protest in Dallas last week.

4:40 p.m. The Senate resumed the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5293 (DOD Appropriations).

4:25 p.m. Senator Reid spoke about the Koch brothers and their role in blocking action on climate change.

4:15 p.m. Leader McConnell asked unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to and pass the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 2577 (MilCon-VA Appropriations). Reid objected.

4:10 p.m. Senator Reid asked unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to and pass H.R. 5243; that all after the enacting clause be stricken; that the substitute amendment, which is the text of the Blunt-Murray amendment ($1.1 billion in Zika funding) be agreed to; that there be 1 hour of debate followed by a vote on passage of the bill, as amended. McConnell objected.

4:00 p.m. Leader McConnell filed cloture on the Conference Report to accompany S. 524 (Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016). He also called up H.R. 1270 (An act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the amendments made by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act). The bill was read for the second time. Further consideration of the bill was objected to. The bill was placed on the Calendar.

The Senate will convene at 4:00 PM on Monday, July 11, 2016. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 5293 (DOD Appropriations). There will be no roll call votes during Monday’s session. The next roll call vote is expected around noon on Tuesday, July 12, 2016.

The Senate will next convene Monday, April 11th,  at 3:00 pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of Morning business until 4:00 pm with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Following Morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.636, the vehicle for the FAA reauthorization.

At 5:00 pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #215, Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr., of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee.

At 5:30 pm, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the Crenshaw nomination.

8:20 p.m.  The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 7. They will resume consideration of FAA reauthorization bill with votes to occur on amendments but not scheduled at this time. During wrap up the Senate passed the following by voice vote:

• S. 1638-Homeland Security headquarters consolidation
• S. 1492-Conveyance of Federal property to Anchorage, Alaska
• S. Res. 415-Congratulating Villanova Wildcats

8:15 p.m. The Senate agreed to, by voice vote, the motion to proceed to the FAA reauthorization bill. Senator Thune offered a substitute amendment to the bill. He also offered two amendments to the substitute-one for himself and one for Senator Gardner.

6:25 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about the Supreme Court Vacancy and also about manufacturing.

5:54 p.m. Senator Warner spoke about federal servant, John Wagner.

5:20 p.m. Senator McCain and Senator Flake spoke about the FAA reauthorization bill.

5:05 p.m. Senator Casey and Senator Toomey spoke about their amendment on aviation security to the FAA reauthorization bill.

4:41 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke about the FAA reauthorization bill.

4:34 p.m. Senator Moran spoke about FAA reauthorization bill.

4:16 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about gun violence.

3:07 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke on the Supreme Court vacancy.

2:57 p.m. Senator Coons spoke on Iran.

2:27 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke on the Supreme Court vacancy.

2:00 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on nuclear sanctions.

1:01 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about the Supreme Court vacancy.

12:26 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke about the FAA reauthorization bill.

12:17 p.m. Senator Thune spoke about the FAA reauthorization bill.

12:00 p.m. Senator Reid spoke about Senator Grassley and the Supreme Court vacancy.

11:31 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about defense department whistle blowers.

11:30 a.m. The motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 636 (FAA reauthorization) was agreed to by a vote of 98-0. Senators Cruz and Sanders were absent.

10:20 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke in praise of Sen. Grassley, chairman of the Judiciary Committee and about the Supreme Court vacancy.

10:18 a.m. The Senate is on the Motion to Proceed to HR 636, the vehicle for FAA Reauthorization.

10:13 a.m. Senator Reid spoke about the FAA reauthorization and the Supreme Court vacancy.

10:08 a.m. ML McConnell spoke about FAA Reauthorization.  There will be a vote on cloture on the motion to proceed at 11:00 a.m. today.   ML McConnell also spoke about administration regulations on investment advisors anticipated today that he believes will be harmful to lower and middle class investors.

10:00 ML McConnell opened the Senate.

The Senate has adjourned until 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 6th, and will resume consideration of H.R. 636, the legislative vehicle for the FAA Re-authorization. At 11:00 am the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.636.

During wrap-up:

• Exec. Cal. #434, the nomination of John E. Sparks, VA, to be a Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, was confirmed by voice vote.

• S.Res.406 – Girl Scout Gold Award, was passed by voice vote.

• S.Res.413 – Gold Star Wives, was passed by voice vote.

****

4:30 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the SCOTUS nomination.

4:22 p.m. Senator Toomey paid tribute to Villanova’s NCAA basketball championship and spoke on the FAA reauthorization bill.

4:03 p.m. Senator Enzi paid tribute to Tom McGrady and Joseph Medicine Crow.

3:20 p.m. Senator Coats spoke on government waste.

2:33 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on the Affordable Care Act.

2:15 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change.

12:30 p.m. The Senate recessed for the weekly party caucuses.

12:00 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke on the SCOTUS nomination.

11:45 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the SCOTUS nomination and current process.

11:20 a.m. Senator Casey spoke on the Villanova game and followed with opioid addiction.

11:00 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on terrorism, drug trafficking, and airline employees.

10:49 a.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke in favor of considering Judge Garland and on tick-borne diseases.

10:25 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke in favor of considering Judge Garland.

10:10 a.m. DL Reid spoke about FAA reauthorization, immigration and prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.  He also urged the Senate to move forward with the confirmation process for Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland.

The Senate convened at 10:00 a.m.  ML McConnell spoke about the Senate moving to bipartisan FAA re-authorization.  He also spoke about President Obama’s executive order on immigration, which will be contested in the Supreme Court.  He spoke about releasing prisoners from Guantanamo Bay.

6:10 p.m. S.1890, the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 was agreed to by a roll call vote of 87-0.

5:20 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke in favor of S. 1890.

5:00 p.m. The Senate resumed consideration of Cal.#355, S.1890, the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016.

4:01 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about watchdogs.

3:20 p.m. Senator Daines paid tribute to the late Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow and Heller Mayor, Russ Whitter.

3:10 p.m. Leader Reid spoke on the judicial nomination and confirmation process.

3:00 p.m. Leader McConnell welcomed the Senate back and praised the actions of the Capitol Police during an emergency last week. He also welcomed the new Capitol Police Chief. He then spoke on S. 1890, the Defend Trade Secrets Act. He asked moved to the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 636,the vehicle for F.A.A. REAUTHORIZATION.

**Today in the Senate**
Senate will convene at 3:00 pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of Morning business until 5:00 pm with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. At 5:00 pm, the Senate will proceed to consideration of Cal.#355, S.1890, the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016. There will be 30 minutes of debate, equally divided. At 5:30 pm the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on passage of S.1890, as amended.

6:15 a.m. Senate adjourns until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday February 24.

6:13 p.m. Senator Daines takes the Senate out for the night. UC that Senate adjourn until 9:30 a.m. Following leader time, resume consideration of Califf nomination, with a vote on confirmation of the nomination at 11:00 a.m.

6:07 p.m. Senator Daines paid tribute to departing staffer Ali Lockman.

5:43 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke for the 128th time on climate change.

5:04 p.m. Senator Murray spoke on the Supreme Court vacancy.

3:48 p.m. Senator Manchin spoke on the prescription drug crisis.

3:36 p.m. Senator Roberts spoke on Guantanomo.

3:14 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke on Takata airbags.

3:00 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke on the nomination process for a new justice.

2:45 p.m. Senator Boxer expressed her outrage at Republicans for holding up the nomination process.

2:35 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the nomination process for a new justice.

2:15 p.m. Senator Hatch paid tribute to Scalia and spoke about the nomination process for a new justice.

12:26 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15.

11:19 a.m. Senators Ayotte and Markey spoke on the prescription drug and heroin epidemic.

10:38 a.m. Senators Leahy, Schumer and Durbin spoke on the Supreme Court vacancy.

10:31 a.m. Senator Inhofe spoke on the Supreme Court vacancy briefly before discussing the nomination of the Inspector General of the Veterans Affairs Department.

10:16 a.m. DL Reid references this mornings prayer acknowledging Senator McCaskill before turning to discuss the Supreme Court vacancy.

10:03 a.m.  ML McConnell spoke on the Califf nomination and the prescription drug problem before turning to discuss Guantanamo, and finally the Supreme Court vacancy.

***

The Senate convened at 10:00 a.m.

Following leader remarks the Senate will be post-cloture on the nomination of Robert Califf to be commissioner of the FDA.  If all time is used, this will likely expire around 12:15 a.m. Wednesday.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 -2:15 p.m. for caucus lunch meetings.