Thursday, July 27, 2017

1:58 a.m. the Senate adjourned until 4 p.m. Monday.

1:55 a.m. Senator McConnell announced that the next vote will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday:  Cloture on Kevin Newsome to be a U.S. District Court judge.

1:48 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the health care vote.

1:47 a.m. Senator McConnell spoke about the health care vote. He sought consent to adjourn the Senate and reconvene tomorrow to consider  H.R. 2810, the 2018 Defense Authorization. Senator Paul objected.

1:39 a.m. By a vote of  49 to 51, Amendment #667, the “skinny repeal” of the Obama health care law, has failed. Republicans voting NAY: Collins, McCain, Murkowski.

1:24 a.m. The vote began on amendment #667.

12:59 a.m. By a party line vote of 48 to 52, the Murray motion to commit failed.

12:21 p.m. The Senate began voting on the Murray motion to commit the bill to the HELP committee.

11:10 p.m. Senator Enzi spoke about the health care repeal.

10:57 p.m. Senator Hirono spoke about health care.

10:45 p.m. Senator Booker spoke about health care.

10:27 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about health care.

10:16 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about health care.

10:09 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about health care.

10:06 p.m. Senator Murray offered a motion to recommit.

9:53 p.m. Senator McConnell called up Amendment #667, to eliminate individual and employer mandate penalties, among other purposes. By consent: Votes at about midnight on the Murray motion to recommit and McConnell Amendment #667.

9:52 p.m. By a vote of 52 to 48, the Senate passed the Heller amendment to repeal the tax on Cadillac plans. Democratic YEAS: Cortez-Masto and Heinrich. Republican NAYS: Corker and Sasse.

9:02 p.m. The vote began on the Heller amendment #502, to repeal Cadillac tax.

8:58 p.m.  By a vote of 43 to 57, the Schumer motion to recommit was not agreed to. Voting NAY all Republicans and Democrats Durbin, Gillibrand, Kaine, Murphy and Warner.

8:32 p.m. The vote began on the Schumer motion to commit.

8:18 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke about health care.

8:10 p.m. Senator Bennet spoke about health care.8:01 p.m. Senator Coons spoke about health care.

7:55 p.m. Senator Kaine spoke about health care.

7:50 p.m. Senator Schatz spoke about health care.

7:43 p.m. Senator Heller spoke about health care.

7:32 p.m. Senator Tillis announced that there will be two votes at 8:30. 1) Schumer motion to commit 2) Heller amend #502 (strike sunset of Cadillac tax repeal).

7:00 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke about the health care repeal.

6:46 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about health care.

6:30 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke about health care.

6:25 p.m. H.R. 3364 was agreed to by a vote 98-2. Senators Sanders and Paul voted no.

6:01 p.m. The Senate began voting on passage of H.R. 3364.

5:39 p.m. Senators Cardin, Corker, McCain, Schumer, Brown, Crapo, Menendez, and Gardner spoke supporting H.R.3364, Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act.

5:38 p.m. The Senate rejected the motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Strange amendment #389 by a vote of 50-50. Republican Senators Collins and Murkowski voted no.

5:02 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to Strange amendment #389, to H.R.1628.

5:00 p.m. Senator Schatz raised a point of order against the Strange amendment.

4:52 p.m. Senator Strange spoke supporting his amendment.

4:40 p.m. Senator Enzi spoke about the need to repeal and replace the health care law.

4:38 p.m. Senator Enzi asked u.c. that at 5:00 p.m. the Senate proceed to a vote in relation to the Strange amendment #389. Following disposition of the Strange amendment, there will be 20 minutes of debate equally divided, followed by a roll call vote on passage of H.R.3364, Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act. Finally, following disposition of H.R.3364, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.1628.

4:24 p.m. Senator Grassley about health care.

4:21 p.m. Senator Wyden responded to Senator Toomey regarding Medicaid.

3:59 p.m. Senator Toomey spoke about reforms to Medicaid.

3:35 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about the importance of Medicaid.

3:21 p.m. Senator Kennedy spoke about health care.

3:09 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke supporting H.R. 1628.

3:03 p.m. Senator Enzi introduced an amendment for Senator Strange (#389).

3:03 p.m. The Senate rejected the Daines amendment, as modified #340 by a vote of 0-57.

  • 43 dems voted present. Donnelly, Heitkamp, Manchin, Tester, and King (I) joined GOP voting no.

2:23 p.m. The Senate began voting on adoption of the Daines amendment as modified.

2:21 p.m. Senator Sanders spoke on health care.

2:10 p.m. Senators Daines and Roberts spoke about the Daines amendment.

1:44 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about health care.

1:23 p.m. Senator Bennett spoke about health care.

1:18 p.m. Senator Heinrich spoke about health care.

1:12 p.m. Senator Udall spoke about health care.

1:06 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about health care.

12:54 p.m. Senator Sasse spoke about health care.

12:47 p.m. Senator Murray spoke about health care.

12:50 p.m. Senator Flake spoke about the Wounded Officer’s Recovery Act and H.R. 3298 was passed by unanimous consent, including the Flake amendment.

12:28 p.m. Senator Moran spoke about health care.

11:44 a.m. Senator Sanders spoke against H.R. 1628.

11:37 a.m. Senator Peters spoke against H.R. 1628.

11:29 a.m. Senator Alexander spoke about the need to repeal and replace Obamacare.

11:27 a.m. ML McConnell spoke about the legislative agenda following the health care debate.

11:26 a.m. Senator McCain expressed that defending our nation should be our first priority.

11:23 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about health care and expressed that the reconciliation process is preventing the Senate from moving to NDAA.

11:20 a.m. Senator McCain spoke on NDAA and health care legislation, Senator Sanders reserved the right to object.

10:57 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about health care.

10:33 a.m. Senator Carper spoke about health care.

10:04 a.m. ML McConnell spoke about health care.

The Senate will convene at 10:00am. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.1628, American Health Care Act of 2017 with the time until 2:15pm equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees. There is approximately ten hours of debate time remaining on H.R. 1628

At 2:15pm, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote in relation to the Daines amend #340 as modified.