Wednesday, February 7, 2018

11:44 p.m. The Senate adjourned to reconvene at 10:30 a.m.  When the Senate convenes it will resume consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 695, with the time until the cloture vote (expected at 11;30 a.m.) equally divided.

ML McConnell filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate Amendment with a further Amendment to H.R. 1892, an act to amend title 4 (the legislative vehicle for the CR).  ML McConnell filled the amendment tree on the underlying bill.
7:28 p.m. Senate stands in recess subject to the call of the chair.

6:25 p.m. Senators Klobochar and Blumenthal spoke on DACA ad dreamers.

6:10 p.m. McConnell passed in wrap up the folowing:

Executive Session:

Barbara Stewart, IL, CEO, Corporation for National and Community Service

Brett, Giroir, TX, Medical Director in regular corps of the Public Health Service and to be Asst Secy, HHS

Legislative Session:

S. Res 385 – trafficking

S. Res 397, 398, 399

6:00 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on DACA.

5:43 p.m. Senator Carper spoke about Renewable Fuels Standard and also spoke about Dreamers.

5:35 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke about unions and Renewable Fuels Standard.

5:23 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the Northey nomination and the Renewable Fuels Standard.

5:03 p.m. Senators Stabenow, Ernst, and Klobuchar spoke about the Northey nomination.

4:44 p.m. Senator Grassley asked unanimous consent to proceed to to consideration of the nomination of William Northey to be Under Secretary of Agriculture. Senator Cruz objected and spoke about the Renewable Fuels Standard.

4:18 p.m. Senators Nelson and Rubio spoke about the disaster aid bill.

4:04 p.m. Senator Toomey paid tribute to the Philadelphia Eagles and spoke about tax reform.

3:55 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about military funding.

3:28 p.m. Senator Murkowski spoke about the Lucky Wishbone diner.

3:04 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about good paying jobs and work conditions.

2:29 p.m. Senator Tester spoke about community health centers.

2:19 p.m Senator Kennedy spoke about tax reform.

2:13 p.m. Senator Young spoke about tax reform.

2:01 p.m. Senator Capito spoke about tax reform.

1:48 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke about tax reform.

1:34 p.m. Senator Heitkamp spoke about the family and medical leave act.

1:23 p.m. Senators Gillibrand and Duckworth spoke on the family and medical leave act.

1:09 p.m. Senator Scott spoke on tax reform.

12:59 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke about the Russian investigation and the integrity of the upcoming 2018 election.

12:49 p.m.  Democratic Leader Schumer joined Majority Leader McConnell on budget deal.

12:43 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell announced a two year budget deal.

12:39 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke about the Mueller investigation.

12:30 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about the need for new public works.

12:15 p.m. Senator Warren spoke about Attorney General Sessions.

11:40 a.m. Senator Udall spoke about the Mueller investigation.

11:32 a.m. The Senate resumed consideration of the House-passed defense spending bill, H.R. 695.

*****

The Senate will convene at 11:30 a.m.

Following any leader remarks, resume consideration of the House message to accompany  H.R. 695: The Defense Appropriations bill.

Cloture has been filed on the motion to concur.