11:33 a.m. The Senate is currently voting on the motion to waive the Klobuchar point of order.

11:31 a.m. Senator Klobuchar made a point of order that the pending measure contains an unfunded intergovernmental mandate, and thus it violates section 425(a)(2) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

11:31 a.m. By a vote of 49-51, the Senate did not agree to the Markey motion to commit (re: Rural Hospitals).

11:06 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the Markey motion to commit (re: Rural Hospitals).

11:05 a.m. Senator Crapo spoke on H.R. 1 and the motion to commit (re: Rural Hospitals).

11:03 a.m. Senator Markey spoke on H..R. 1 and made a motion to commit (re: Rural Hospitals).

10:42 a.m. Leader Schumer made a motion to commit (re: Health Care costs). The amendment was rejected by a vote of 47-53. Party line vote.

10:40 a.m. Senator Crapo asked for a moment of silence to pay respect to the fallen firefighters in Idaho.

10:37 a.m. The Senate is currently voting on the question – does the decision of the chair stand that Amendment #2360 does not violate section 313(b)(1)(B) of the Congressional Budget Act? The decision of the Chair stands by a roll call vote of 53-47.

10:06 a.m. The decision of the Chair stands by a roll call vote of 53-47.

• Senator Thune made a point of order under section 313(b)(1)(B) of the Congressional Budget Act against Title VII of substitute amendment #2360.

• The Chair responded that under the Congressional Budget Act and the precedents of the Senate, the Chair must rely on determinations made by the Budget Committee in assessing the budgetary effects of the amendment. Section 312 of the Budget Act states:  

For purposes of this title and title IV, the levels of new budget authority, outlays, direct spending, new entitlement authority, and revenues for a fiscal year shall be determined on the basis of estimates made by the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives or the Senate, as applicable.

• The Chair continued that unless the Budget Committee, speaking through its Chairman, asserts that the amendment causes a violation of the Budget Act, the Chair will not so hold.

• Senator Merkley appealed the ruling of the Chair and asked for the yeas and nays.

9:35 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to appeal the ruling of the Chair that the Graham Amendment #2360 does not violate section 313(b)(1)(E) of the Congressional Budget Act.

9:30 a.m. Democrat Leader Schumer spoke on the motion to appeal the ruling of the Chair regarding H.R. 1.

9:31 a.m. Senator Graham spoke on H.R. 1

9:14 a.m. Majority Leader Thune spoke on H.R. 1.

9:06 a.m. Democrat Leader Schumer spoke on H.R. 1.

9:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

The Senate will convene at 9:00 a.m. Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R. 1, the Leaders be recognized and following their remarks all debate time will be expired.

The question pending before the Senate will be, does the decision of the Chair stand as the Judgement of the Senate that Graham amendment in the nature of a substitute #2360 does not violate section 313(b)(1)(E) of the Congressional Budget Act?

Following Leader remarks, the Senate is expected to vote on the motion to appeal the ruling of the Chair that the Graham Amendment #2360 does not violate section 313(b)(1)(E) of the Congressional Budget Act.