Tuesday, August 1, 2017

7:52 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 2nd.

The next roll call vote will be on the cloture motion for Marvin Kaplan, KS, to be member of the National Labor Relations Board.

7:05 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke on climate change.

6:38 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change.

6:30 p.m. ML McConnell  filed cloture was filed on H.R. 2430 – to amend the FDA act – user fees. The Senate then went into Executive Session and confirmed en bloc by voice vote: Cal # 61,63,162,174,194,246, 248 and 249 –  Defense Department nominations.

6:07 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke on an agreement with Senator Murray to begin health care hearings after the Senate returns from the August recess (after September 4th).

6:05 p.m.  The Senate passed S. 860, to reauthorize Juvenile Justice Act, as amended (Grassley Amend), by unanimous consent.

6:01 p.m.   Senators Grassley and Whitehouse spoke on juvenile justice reform.

Senator Portman spoke on Human Trafficking and backpage.com.

Newsom was confirmed by a vote of 66 to 31 to be US District Judge.

5:29 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the Newsom nomination.

5:25 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Wray nomination 92-5. Senators Burr, Franken, and McCain did not vote.

  • 5 Democrats voted no: Senators Gillibrand, Markey, Merkley, Warren, and Wyden.

4:51 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the Wray nomination to be Director of the FBI.

4:44 p.m. Senators Isakson and Schumer spoke supporting the Wray nomination.

3:39 p.m. Senator Feinstein spoke supporting the Wray nomination.

3:22 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke about the Wray nomination.

3:03 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke supporting the Wray nomination.

2:33 p.m. Senator Thune spoke on the economy.

2:16 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke about the importance of bipartisanship and foreign disclosure.

2:15 p.m. The Senate reconvened following recess and began consideration of the nomination of Christopher Wray to be Director of the FBI for a term of 10 years.

12:31 p.m. The papers, regarding H.J. Res. 76, were sent back to the House at their request by unanimous consent. The Senate has recessed for weekly caucus lunches and will reconvene at 2:15 p.m. and proceed to the nomination of Christopher Wray to be Director of the FBI with 4 hours of debate. At 6:15 p.m. the Senate will have a roll call vote on confirmation of the Wray nomination and then move to a vote on the confirmation of the Newsom nomination. 

12:24 p.m. Senator Shelby spoke in support of the Newsom nomination.

11:50 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about nominations.

11:26 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about health care and nominations.

11:18 a.m. Senator Gardner spoke about North Korea.

10:51 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about health care.

10:29 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about pending nominations and asked u.c. to agree to S.Res. 237, to authorize the production of records by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and read H.R. 3219, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2018 (minibus) for the second time (rule 14) and placed on the calendar.

10:19 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about health care.

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The Senate will convene at 10:00 AM. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to resume consideration of Executive Calendar #172, Kevin Christopher Newsom, of Alabama, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit with all time during Morning Business, recess, adjournment and Leader remarks counting post-cloture.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 to 2:15 PM to allow for the weekly conference meetings.

Leader McConnell has filed cloture on Executive Calendar #175, Marvin Kaplan, of Kansas, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board.