Thursday, June 17, 2021

3:48 p.m. The Senate adjourned.

3:38 p.m. ML Schumer wrapped up for the day and week. He filed cloture on the following: Christopher Fonzone to be General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; Kiran Ahuja to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the motion to proceed to S.2093.

The following were approved by UC en bloc: Pamela Melroy to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Richard Spinrad to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; Matthew Quinn to be Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Tanya Marie Trujillo to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior; Chris Inglis to be National Cyber Director.

The following were adopted by UC S.1340, NC judicial districts; S.Res.276, University of Florida Gators Men’s Tennis, S.Res.277, University of Mississippi Women’s Golf; by voice vote, adopted S.Res.278, United Spinal Association.

S.2118, Clean Energy for America Act had its first reading.

3:23 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke on voting rights and a decision announced by the Supreme Court today on religious schools.

2:45 p.m. Senators Stabenow and Blunt spoke on mental health.

2:29 p.m. Senator Cassidy spoke on hurricanes.

2:13 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke on the Helsinki Commission.

2:12 p.m. The Tien nomination was confirmed, 60-34.

Senators voting in favor: 46 Democrats, 12 Republicans: Blunt, Capito, Collins, Fischer, Graham, Johnson, Murkowski, Portman, Romney, Rounds, Scott of South Carolina and Young; 2 Independents: King and Sanders.


Senators not voting:4 Republicans: Burr, Cramer, Moran and Thune; 2 Democrats: Booker and Peters.

1:45 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the Tien nomination.

1:15 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 1:45 p.m.

1:00 p.m. Senator Gillibrand spoke about military justice system and asked unanimous consent that the Senate take-up and vote on S.1520, Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act of 2021. Senator Reed objected.

Republicans voting yes: Blunt, Capito, Collins, Cornyn, Fischer, Graham, Johnson, Murkowski, Portman, Romney, Rounds, Rubio, Scott (SC), Tillis, and Young.

Senators not voting: Booker, Cramer, Moran, and Peters.

1:00 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Tien nomination, 63-33.

12:27 p.m. Roll call vote began on the nomination of John Tien to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.

12:24 p.m. The Beaudreau nomination was confirmed 88-9. Senators voting against: 8 Republicans: Cruz, Hawley, Kennedy, Lee, Paul, Shelby, Sullivan and Tuberville; 1 Independent: Sanders.

Senators not voting: Booker, Cramer, and Peters.

11:42 a.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the nomination of Tommy Beaudreau to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior.

11:16 a.m. Senators Durbin and Murkowski spoke on victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and the crime victims fund and asked UC to take up and pass HR.1562. Senator Toomey sought to add an amendment and he and Senator Durbin each objected to the others requests.

11:00 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on Covid-19 and social media platforms.

10:49 a.m. Senator Carper spoke in favor of the Tien nomination and expressed condolences for Senator Peters after the recent death of his mother.

10:32 a.m. RL McConnell spoke on voting rights, authorization of military force, and Guantanamo Bay.

10:18 a.m. ML Schumer spoke on infrastructure, voting rights, January 6.

S.2093, was placed on the calendar under the Rule 14 process.

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and resume consideration of the nomination of Tommy Beaudreau to be Deputy Secretary of Interior. 

At 11:30 a.m. there will be two roll call votes:
1. Confirmation of the Beaudreau nomination.

2. Cloture on the nomination of John Tien to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.

The Senate will recess following the cloture vote on the Tien nomination.

At 1:45 p.m. the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Tien nomination.