Monday, June 15, 2015

7:07 p.m., the Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 16.

7:05 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell secured passage of these measures by voice votes:

— S. 565, to cut the cost of operating the federal fleet;

— S.Res. 201, to declare June 19 to be Juneteenth Independence Day;

— S. Res. 202, to declare June 15 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

6:25 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about summer nutrition programs.

6:13 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta.

6:11 p.m. The Senate confirmed Matthew T. Maguire as United States Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development by a roll call vote of 62-24.

The Senate then confirmed Gentry O. Smith to be Director of the Office of Foreign Missions by voice vote.

5:22 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke in favor of the federal program that defers action to deport certain undocumented immigrants.

5:16 p.m. Senator Corker spoke in favor of the pending nominations.

5 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke in favor of confirmation of the nominations of Matthew Maguire (to be executive director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and Gentry Smith (to be director of the Office of Foreign Missions).

4:44 p.m. Senator Coats spoke about government waste.

4:08 p.m. Senator Hirono described a soldier’s murder of his child. The senator argued for her amendment to protect the children of military families from abuse. Senator Hirono also spoke about educational opportunities for immigrants.

3:48 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the defense bill.

3:09 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke about space diplomacy and the international space station.

2:52 p.m.  Senator Ernst spoke in favor of her amendment, #1549.  It provides temporary authority to provide weapons to Iraqi Kurds against ISIS.

2:25 p.m. The following votes were scheduled for tomorrow after Senator McCain asked unanimous consent:
11:30 a.m. Tuesday: vote on McCain-Feinstein amendment #1889
2:15 p.m. Tuesday 3 votes:
Ernst amendment #1549
Gillibrand amendment #1578 and
cloture on the McCain substitue amendment #1463.

2:03 p.m. Democratic Leader Reid and Senator Durbin spoke on immigration.

The Senate convened at 2:00pm. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of Morning business for one hour.

Following Morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.1735, the Defense authorization bill.

At 5:00pm the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations, with 30 minutes of debate, followed by roll call votes on both nominations.

  1. Exec.Cal.#131 – Matthew T. McGuire, of the District of Columbia, to be United States Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  2. Exec.Cal.#132 – Gentry O. Smith, of North Carolina, to be Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, and to have the rank of Ambassador.

 

The Majority Leader filed cloture on the underlying bill (HR 1735) and the McCain substitute amendment #1463.

Pending Amendments to H.R.1735, NDAA:

McCain SA #1463 (substitute, which is the text of S.1376, the National Defense Authorization Act as reported by the Senate Armed Services Committee)

 

The following amendments are pending to the substitute:

McCain SA#1456 (naval vessels)

Cornyn SA #1486 (report on energy security issues involving Europe and the Russian Federation)

Markey SA #1645 (SoS re: crude oil exports)

Vitter SA #1473, as modified (retirement of Army combat units)

Blumenthal SA #1564, as modified (civil penalties)

Paul SA #1543, as modified (employee cost savings suggestions programs)

Durbin SA #1559, as modified (inverted domestic corporations)

McCain-Feinstein SA #1889 (torture prohibition)

Fischer SA #1825 (Merchant Marines)

Lee SA #1687 (sage grouse) to Vitter SA #1473, as modified (Army combat unites)

Ernst SA #1549 (arming the Kurds)

Gillibrand SA #1578 (military sexual assault)