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Tuesday, December 16, 2025

8:04 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 17th, 2025.

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.1071, NDAA, post-cloture.  At approximately 11:30 a.m., all post-cloture time will be considered expired and the Senate will vote on the motion to concur. The Senate will then vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #593, Jared Isaacman, of Pennsylvania, to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.  If cloture is invoked, there would be up to two hours of debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the Isaacman nomination followed by the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #594, Douglas Weaver, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30th.

Wednesday, December 17th at approximately 11:30 a.m. – 2 Roll Call Votes:

  1. Motion to concur in the House amendment to S.1071, NDAA.
  2. Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #593 Jared Isaacman, of Pennsylvania, to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Wednesday, December 17th if cloture is invoked up to two hours then – 2 Roll Call Votes:

  1. Confirmation Executive Calendar #593 Jared Isaacman, of Pennsylvania, to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  2. Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #594 Douglas Weaver, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30th.

Please note, Senator Thune has filed cloture on the following:

  1. Executive Calendar #593 Jared Isaacman, of Pennsylvania, to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  2. Executive Calendar #594 Douglas Weaver, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30
  3. En bloc nominations listed in S.Res.532
  4. Executive Calendar #560 Joshua Simmons, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency
  5. Executive Calendar #70 Keith Bass, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense
  6. Executive Calendar #574 Alexander C. Van Hook, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana
  7. Executive Calendar #476 Sara Bailey, of Texas, to be Director of National Drug Control Policy

WRAP UP:

Legislative Business

Passed the following bills:

Cal. #72, S.612 – To amend the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act to authorize grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations, and for other purposes

Cal. #252, S.594, Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt (HELP) Response and Recovery Act

Cal. #253, S. 727, CBPO Retirement Technical Corrections Act

Cal. #257 S. 856, Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act

Cal. #258, S. 865, Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act

Cal. #264, S. 861, Disaster Assistance Simplification Act

S.355 FDA Modernization Act 3.0 w/Booker-Schmitt sub amdt

S.1049 – Preventing Child Trafficking Act of 2025

S.3021 – ENFORCE Act

S.3490 – To establish the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park and to designate the America’s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark

H.R. 131, Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act

H.R. 187, MapWATERS Act

H.R. 410, Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act

H.R. 1043,  La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act

Adopted the following resolution:

S.Res.546 – Hospice and Palliative Care Month

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Congressional Review Act, the following CRA’s will remain in status quo through January 16th, 2026:

  • Cal. #290, S.J.Res.86 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Air Plan Approval; South Dakota; Regional Haze Plan for the Second Implementation Period”
  • Cal. #293, S.J.Res.84 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services relating to “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Market Integrity and Affordability”.

Notwithstanding Rule 22, the Senate will vote on passage of Cal. #203 S.J.Res.82, disapproving the rule submitted by the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to “Policy on Adhering to the Text of the Administrative Procedure Act” at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Democratic Leader, no later than Friday, December 19th.

No Additional Executive Business

5:24 p.m. Senator Sullivan thanked the Senators who worked on the recently-passed en bloc legislation.

5:17 p.m. Senator Lee spoke on bipartisanship and bicameral work, and he thanked the Senators who worked on the recently-passed en bloc legislation. He then spoke on the First Step Act.

5:14 p.m. Senator Bennet thanked the Senators who worked on the en bloc legislation and spoke on the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act.

5:13 p.m. The Senate passed the following bills en bloc by voice vote:

  • H.R. 131 – Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act
  • H.R. 187 – MAPWaters Act of 2025
  • H.R. 410 – Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2025
  • H.R. 1043 –  La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act

5:09 p.m. Senator Hoeven spoke on his hold on one of the bills listed in the UC request but did not object.

5:05 p.m. Senator Padilla discussed his concerns in regards to the en bloc UC request but did not object.

5:04 p.m. Senator King spoke on his concerns in regards to the en bloc UC request but did not object.

5:01 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke on the Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans Allotment Act. He then asked unanimous consent to proceed to the following bills en bloc:

  • H.R. 131 – Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act
  • H.R. 187 – MAPWaters Act of 2025
  • H.R. 410 – Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2025
  • H.R. 1043 –  La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act

4:55 p.m. Senator Booker paid tribute to Senator Durbin. He then spoke on the First Step Act of 2018.

4:48 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on the First Step Act.

4:30 p.m. Senator Peters spoke on disaster relief and border patrol employees. He then received unanimous consent for the Senate to pass the following bills en bloc:

  • S. 594 – HELP Response and Recovery Act, as amended
  • S. 727 – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act, as amended
  • S. 861 – Disaster Assistance Simplification Act

4:01 p.m. Senator Schmitt spoke in support of the nominations.

3:05 p.m. Senator Murray spoke on the devastating flooding in Washington.

3:01 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke in support of the ENFORCE Act.

2:35 p.m. Senators Blumenthal and Shaheen spoke on the Russia and Ukraine War.

2:15 p.m. Senator Graham spoke about Russia and kidnapped Ukrainian children. He then asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to pass S.2978, Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act, with the Graham Substitute amendment. Senator Paul objected.

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from recess.

1:00 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m.

12:48 p.m. Senator Scott (SC) spoke about antisemitism.

12:27 p.m. Senators Gillibrand and Hawley spoke about the Fort Ontario State Historic Site. Senator Hawley then received unanimous consent for the Senate to pass S. 3490, a bill to establish the Holocaust park to Church Hill National Museum Landmark and for other purposes.

12:15 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on child trafficking. He then received unanimous consent for the Senate to pass S.3021, the ENFORCE Act.

12:07 p.m. Senators Ossoff and Grassley spoke on child trafficking. Senator Ossoff then asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to pass S. 1049, Preventing Child Trafficking Act of 2025. There was no objection and the bill is passed.

11:45 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke on women’s suffrage.

11:40 a.m. Senator Schatz spoke on S. 612 in regards to Native American tourism. He then received unanimous consent to pass S.612, a bill to amend the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act to authorize grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations, and for other purposes.

11:31 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on health care.

11:19 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke on jobs, the economy, and the Epstein files.

11:10 a.m. Majority Leader Thune spoke on the NDAA.

11:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the Russian Orthodox church and Ukraine.

11:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

******

The Senate will convene today 11:00 a.m.. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.1071, National Defense Authorization Act, post-cloture.

The Senate will recess from 1:00 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

Roll call votes are possible during Tuesday’s Session.

A few reminders:

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Congressional Review Act, the following CRA’s will remain in status quo through January 16th, 2026:

  • Cal. #290, S.J.Res.86 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Air Plan Approval; South Dakota; Regional Haze Plan for the Second Implementation Period”
  • Cal. #293, S.J.Res.84 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services relating to “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Market Integrity and Affordability”.

Notwithstanding Rule 22, the Senate will vote on passage of Cal. #203 S.J.Res.82, disapproving the rule submitted by the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to “Policy on Adhering to the Text of the Administrative Procedure Act” at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Democratic Leader, no later than Friday December 19th.

Majority Leader Thune has filed cloture on the following nominations:

  • Jared Isaacman to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  • Douglas Weaver to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
  • Joshua Simmons to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency.
  • Keith Bass to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
  • Alexander C. Van Hook to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.
  • Sara Bailey to be Director of National Drug Control Policy.

En bloc nominations (pursuant to S.Res.532):

  • Senator Thune filed cloture on the en bloc nominations listed pursuant to S.Res.532 on December 11th.