Wednesday, April 28, 2021

8:25 p.m. The Senate will adjourn upon the dissolution of the Joint Session of Congress and will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 29. They will resume consideration of S. 914, Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 with the following amendments in order:

  • Rubio/Scott #1471 (as modified)
  • Shaheen #1461
  • Kennedy #1469
  • Lee #1472

At 11:30 the Senate will vote on the amendments in the order listed with 60 affirmative votes required for the adoption of the Lee amendment and also for passage of the bill. At 1:45 p.m. the Senate will vote on passage of the bill.

Agreed to during wrap-up:

  • S. Res. 186 Honoring the humanitarian work of Aristides de Souza Mendes
  • S. Res. 187-Congratulating the University of Wisconsin Badgers on winning the 2021 NCAA women’s ice hockey championship

5:26 p.m. The Senate recessed until 8:25 p.m.

5:16 p.m. By a vote of 52-42, S .J. Res. 14 was agreed to. Republicans voting aye: Collins, Graham and Portman. Not voting: Cantwell, Cramer, Paul, Rounds, Shelby and Toomey.

4:19 p.m. By a vote of 68-26 the nomination of Samantha Powers to be Administrator of USAID. Republicans voting aye: Blunt, Burr, Capito, Collins, Cornyn, Crapo, Fischer, Graham, Inhofe, Johnson, McConnell, Moran, Murkowski, Portman, Risch, Romney, Sasse, Wicker and Young. Not voting: Cantwell, Cramer, Paul, Rounds, Shelby and Toomey.

3:31 p.m. The Senate began voting on Power nomination.

3:24 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about Worker’s memorial day.

3:10 p.m. Senator Scott of Florida spoke about the rising costs of consumer goods.

3:05 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the Fentanyl crisis.

2:58 p.m. Senator Booker spoke briefly on the Fentanyl crisis and on supporting the Powers nomination.

2:48 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke on the Fentanyl crisis and asked unanimous consent to call up and pass S. 1410. Senator Booker objected.

2:02 p.m. Senators Ernst, Barrasso, Portman, Hoeven, Tillis, and Marshall spoke about bipartisanship and President Biden’s first 100 days in office.

1:47 p.m. Senator Carper spoke supporting S.J.Res. 14.

1:36 p.m. Senator Kennedy spoke on the proposed tax increases.

1:27 p.m. Senator Markey spoke on S.J.Res. 14, the Methane CRA.

1:22 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke against the Powers nomination.

1:20 p.m. By a vote 67-28, cloture was invoked on the nomination of Samantha Power to be administrator of USAID. Republicans voting aye: Senators Blunt, Burr, Capito, Collins, Cornyn, Crapo, Fischer, Graham, Johnson, McConnell, Moran, Murkowski, Portman, Risch, Romney, Sasse, Wicker and Young. Not voting: Cantwell, Cramer, Paul, Rounds and Shelby.

12:13 p.m. Senator King spoke in support of S.J. Res. 14.

11:37 a.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke in support of S.J. Res 14.

11:16 a.m. Senator Casey spoke about Worker’s Memorial Day.

11:11 a.m. Senator Capito spoke against S.J. Res. 14.

10:55 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about tonight’s joint session and about President Biden’s policies.

10:36 a.m. Senator Heinrich spoke about S.J. Res 14.

10:26 p.m. Senator McConnell spoke about tonight’s joint session, the Biden infrastructure/jobs plan, Iran and also bipartisanship.

10:13 a.m. The motion to proceed to S. J .Res. 14 -providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to ‘‘Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Review’’ [Methane]- was agreed to by voice vote. Senator Schumer spoke about the resolution, the infrastructure bill and about the State of the Union speech.

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Following Leader remarks, ML Schumer is expected to move to proceed to S.J.Res.14, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to ‘‘Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Review’’ [Methane].

Under the rule, once a motion to proceed is agreed to (expected voice vote) there will be up to 10 hours of debate equally divided prior to a vote on adoption of the joint resolution.

At 12:30 p.m., the cloture motion will ripen on Executive Calendar #61, Samantha Power, of Massachusetts, to be Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. At that time, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture.

The Senate is expected to vote on confirmation of the Power nomination and on adoption of S.J.Res.14 during Wednesday’s session.

At 9:00 p.m., President Joe Biden will address a Joint Session of Congress from the Hall of the House of Representatives in the U.S. Capitol. The Senate will begin gathering in the Senate Chamber at 8:15 p.m. to proceed as a body to the Hall of the House.