6:53 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 8. At 10:45 they will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 2028 (Energy and Water Appropriations). The cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2028 will occur at 12:45.

6:47 p.m. The following was passed by unanimous consent in wrap up:

• S. 32-provide DoJ extra tools for targeting drug trafficking
• H.R. 623-authorize a social media working group for the Department of Homeland Security
• S. 2162-esthablish 10 year term limit for the Librarian of Congress
• S. Res. 275-Resolution for Dyslexia Awareness
• S. Res. 280-designating October as National Women’s Small Business month
• S.Res. 281-designating week of Oct. 5 is National Health Information Technology week
• H.Con. Res. 81-corrections to H.R. 1375

6:20 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke about the Global meeting about reducing emissions.

5:55 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke about the freedom of religion.

5:38 p.m. Senator Tester and Senator Heinrich spoke about the Energy and Water Conservation Fund.

5:34 p.m. Senator Cantwell spoke about the Energy and Water Conservation Fund.

5:24 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke about the Energy and Water Bill and the status of other appropriations bills in the Senate.

5:20 p.m. Senator Boozman spoke about National Rice Month.

5:13 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the EB-5 Regional Center Investment Program.

5:00 p.m. Senator Peters spoke about the shipwrecks in Lake Michigan and about making the lake a marine sanctuary.

4:45 p.m. Senator Hoeven spoke about the NDAA and also in support of the Energy and Water bill.

4:12 p.m. Senators Markey, Schatz, and Whitehouse spoke on clean energy jobs.

3:52 p.m. Senator Coats discussed his latest “waste of the week”; this week discussing studies of robots replacing humans at the National Science Foundation.

3:41 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke on national security and the Defense Authorization.

3:24 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke on the Defense Authorization.

3:09 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke on the Trans Pacific Partnership.

3:08 p.m. ML McConnell moves to proceed to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill.  He filed cloture on that motion yesterday, thus, the cloture vote on that motion to proceed is set to occur one hour after the Senate convenes tomorrow, Thursday, October 8th.

3:07 p.m. Conference Report to accompany H.R 1735, NDAA agreed to 70-27. Democrats voting in favor: Bennet, Blumenthal, Cantwell, Casey, Donnelly, Feinstein, Heinrich, Heitkamp, Kaine, King, Klobuchar, McCaskill, Menendez, Murphy, Murray, Peters, Shaheen, Stabenow, Tester, Udall, and Warner. Republicans voting against: Cruz and Paul. Senators Graham, Roberts, and Rubio did not vote.

2:30 p.m. Roll call vote began on Passage of the Conference Report to accompany H.R.. 1735, Defense Authorization.

2:28 p.m. Motion to Waive agreed to 71-26.  All Democrats/Independents that voted for cloture yesterday voted to waive today. Democrats/Independents voting in favor: Bennet, Blumenthal, Cantwell, Casey, Donnelly, Feinstein, Heinrich, Heitkamp, Kaine, King, Klobuchar, McCaskill, Menendez, Murphy, Murray, Peters, Shaheen, Stabenow, Tester, Udall, and Warner. Senator Paul, the only Republican to vote against cloture, also voted against the motion to waive.  Senators Graham, Roberts and Rubio did not vote.

2:06 p.m. The Senate is currently voting on the motion to waive the budget act in relation to the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 1735, NDAA.

1:32 p.m. Senator McCain spoke in support of the NDAA.

12:58 p.m. Senator Reed spoke in support of the NDAA.

12:51 p.m. Senator Perdue spoke in support of the NDAA (Defense Authorization conference report, which will be voted on at 2:00 p.m.)

12:26 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke about the Internet, and content appropriate for children.  He told about letters he has written to Google about YouTube kids and the responses from Google.

12:11 p.m. Senator Hoeven spoke about the DRIVE act and the NDAA.

11:55 a.m. Senator Boxer spoke about Defense funding. She also spoke about a highway trust fund shutdown and the importance of America’s transportation infrastructure.

11:40 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about Defense funding.  A vote on final passage of the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 1735 (the National Defense Authorization Act) is expected at 2:00 p.m..

11:05 a.m. Senator Menendez spoke about Cuba.

9:56 a.m. Senator Hatch talked about the Senate tradition of extended debate.

9:47 a.m. Minority Leader Reid spoke about the defense authorization.

9:33 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell took steps to place on the calendar  S. 2146 (sanctuary jurisdictions). He spoke about S. 1300, the Adoptive Family Relief Act. Senator McConnell also spoke about the Pentagon authorization and about the administration’s Middle East policy.

**********

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. and will resume post-cloture debate on the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 1735, National Defense Appropriations Authorization. A vote on final passage of  the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 1735 is expected at 2 p.m. 

Ahead: On Thursday, Oct. 8, a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2028, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, is expected one hour after the Senate convenes.

The Senate has adjourned until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, October 7^th and will resume post-cloture debate on the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 1735, National Defense Appropriations Authorization. A vote on final passage of  the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 1735 is expected at 2:00 p.m. 

A cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2028, the Energy and Water Development Approps bill, is expected 1 hour after the Senate convenes on Thursday, October 8^th.

The following legislation was passed by unanimous consent during wrap-up:

• R. 34, To authorize and strengthen the tsunami detection forecast warning, research and mitigation program.
• R. 3116, To extend by 15 years the authority of the Secretary of Commerce to conduct the quarterly financial report program.
• Con.Res. 22, Recognizing the 50^th anniversary of the White House Fellows program.
• Res. 279, Honoring the Redland Little League Team of Lewisberry, Pa, for their performance in the 2015 Little League World Series.
• Res. 272, Congratulating the University of Kansas for 150 years of outstanding service to the state of Kansas, the United States, and the world.
• 2146, A bill to hold sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for defying federal law, had its first reading.

***

6:20 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on gun control.

5:54 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the filibuster.

5:36 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change.

5:32 p.m. Senator Flake spoke on the Defense authorization.

5:27 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke on the defective Takata airbags.

5:05 p.m. Senator Hirono spoke on the land and water conservation fund.

4:35 p.m. Senators Blumenthal and Murphy spoke on gun violence.

4:20 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke on the Defense authorization.

4:08 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on the latest employment numbers.

3:53 p.m. Senator Daines spoke on the Defense authorization.

2:55 p.m. Senator Udall engaged in a colloquy with Senators  Inhofe, Whitehouse, Vitter, and Manchin on the Toxic Substances Control Act.

2:31 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the Freedom of Information Act and Hillary Clinton.

2:30 p.m. Cloture invoked 73-26.  Democrats voting in favor: Bennet, Blumenthal, Cantwell, Casey, Donnelly, Feinstein, Heinrich, Heitkamp, Kaine, King, Klobuchar, McCaskill, Menendez, Murphy, Murray, Peters, Shaheen, Stabenow, Tester, Udall, and Warner.  Republicans voting against: Paul.  Senator Rubio did not vote.

1:01 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the Defense Authorization bill.

12:52 p.m. Senator McCain spoke about the Defense Authorization Bill.

12:45 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about Democrat objections to Republican funding strategy and the Defense Authorization Bill conference report.  He also spoke about guns.

12:34 p.m. Senator Thune spoke about appropriations bills, the Defense Authorization Bill, and Democrats who are not supporting these efforts.

12:20 p.m. Senator Reed spoke about the conference report on the National Defense Authorization Act.  He objects to a shift of funding into the non-capped Overseas Contingency Operations fund.

12:07 p.m. Senator Reid spoke about the Koch brothers.  He also spoke in opposition to the conference report on the National Defense Authorization Act and said Democrats would sustain a presidential veto of the bill.

12:01 p.m. ML McConnell offered a motion to proceed to HR 2028, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2016.  He filed cloture on that motion to proceed.  He spoke about passing the Defense Authorization conference report.

12:00 p.m. The Senate convened at 12:00pm and resume consideration of the conference report to accompany the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (H.R. 1735), until 1:00 p.m.

• At 1:00pm, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the conference report to accompany H.R. 1735.

• Caucuses will meet, but the Senate will not recess.

7:00 pm. Senate stands adjourned until 12:00 pm. tomorrow. Senate passed the following in wrap up: S. res 277, October as national principal’s month.

6:30 p.m. Senate confirmed Dale A. Drozd, CA, to be U.S. District Judge of the Eastern District of California. There will be no further votes during today’s session. Senator Graham spoke on the flooding in South Carolina and Senator Brown spoke on prescription drugs costs.

4:40 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about a law that would facilitate finding missing adults.

4:28 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke about the separation of powers and the leak from personnel files of Rep. Jason Chaffetz’s unsuccessful application to be a Secret Service agent.

4:05 p.m. Senator Reid spoke about the death of his former staffer, Janice Shelton. He also spoke about guns and in favor of background checks.

4:02 p.m. ML McConnell spoke about the Defense Authorization conference report, which he said will come up for a Senate vote tomorrow.

The Senate convened at 4 p.m.

The Senate is in morning business until 5:00 p.m., when the Senate will begin debate on the nomination of Dale A. Drozd to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of California, with a confirmation vote at 5:30 p.m.

Senator McConnell has filed cloture on the conference report on H.R. 1735, the defense authorization for fiscal year 2016. Cloture will ripen Tuesday, Oct. 6.

The Senate stands adjourned until 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5.

At 5 p.m. Monday, the Senate will begin debate on the nomination of Dale A. Drozd to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of California, with a confirmation vote at 5:30 p.m.

Senator McConnell has filed cloture on the conference report on H.R. 1735, the defense authorization for fiscal year 2016. Cloture will ripen Tuesday, Oct. 6.

5:54 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5

5:51 p.m.   By unanimous consent, Majority Leader McConnell set debate to begin Monday at 5 p.m. on Calendar #138, the nomination of Dale A. Drozd to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of California, with a confirmation vote at 5:30 p.m.  By voice vote the Senate passed S.Res. 276 to make the week of Oct. 18 National Character Counts Week.

5:35 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about the Milcon/Veterans bill.

5:07 p.m. Senator Carper spoke about veterans. He also spoke about traffic.

4:57 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke about the Milcon/Veterans appropriation.

4:49 p.m. Senator Scott paid tribute to the late Greg Alia.

4:47 p.m. By voice vote, the Senate passed H.R. 1624, amending Title I of the Affordable Care Act. Senators McConnell, Alexander and Scott spoke about Scott’s health care legislation.

4:22 p.m. Senator Peters spoke about preventing an oil spill on the Great Lakes.

4:12 p.m. Senator Coons spoke in memory of James H. Gilliam Sr.

3:42 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke about religious liberty.

3:34 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the Criminal Justice Reform Bill.

3:24 p.m. Senator Daines spoke about Gene Turnage, Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice.

3:15 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the Continuing Resolution.

2:34 p.m. Senators Coons, Baldwin and Franken spoke about National Manufacturing Day.

2:32 p.m. Senator McConnell filed cloture on the conference report to H.R. 1735-NDAA.

2:22 p.m. Cloture on H.R. 2029 was not invoked by a vote of 50 to 44 with Senator Donnelly voting in favor. Senators Boxer, Cruz, Graham, McCain, Rubio, and Vitter missed the vote.

1:45 p.m. The Senate is currently voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2029, MilCon/VA Appropriations.

***

1:33 p.m. Senator Tester spoke on the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

1:31 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke on foreign policy and Russia.

1:27 p.m. Senator Coons spoke on the nomination of Gayle Smith to be Administrator of USAID.

1:09 p.m. Senator Shaheen spoke on the Land and Water Conservation Fund and asked unanimous consent that the Senate pass S. 2101, Land and Water Conservation Fund. Senator Lankford objected to the request. Senator Shaheen also spoke on the nomination of Gayle Smith to be Administrator of USAID.

12:54 p.m. Senator Tillis spoke on TPP.

12:52 p.m. Senator Kirk spoke in favor of the MilCon/VA bill.

12:27 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke in favor of the MilCon/VA bill.

11:55 a.m. Senator Ayotte attempted to get unanimous consent to pass the extension of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Senator Lee objected.

11:38 a.m. Senator Flake and Senator Johnson introduced and spoke about Border Jobs for Vets bill.

11:27 a.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke in favor of fully funding the VA bill.

11:10 a.m. The Senate resumed debate on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2029, the military construction-Veterans Administration appropriation. Senator Murkowski spoke in favor of cloture on the motion to proceed.

10:47 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the expiration of the September 11th first responders health care bill.

10:37 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the criminal justice reform bill.

10:20 a.m. Senator Capito spoke on the VA/Milcon bill.

10:15 a.m. Senator Boozman spoke on the short term CR.

9:55 a.m. Senators Cassidy, Collins, and Isakson spoke on the VA/Milcon bill.

9:40 a.m. DL Reid responds to ML McConnell on foreign policy, the  defense authorization, the VA/Milcon bill,and several programs not included in the CR.

9:34 a.m. ML McConnell spoke on the defense authorization bill, the VA/Milcon bill, and the state of foreign policy.

***

The Senate convened at 9:30am and following leader time, will proceed to a period of morning business.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 (H.R. 2029), until 1:45pm.

At 1:45pm, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2029.

6:05 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about federal management and poor maintenance of federally owned land.

6:00 p.m. Senator Heinrich proposed a UC to pass S 2101, a bill to amend title 54, United States Code, to extend the Land and Water Conservation Fund.  Senator Lee objected and spoke against the measure.

5:47 p.m. Senator Mikulski spoke about passage of the CR and a new budget deal.

5:20 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about above- and below- ground gas in the U.S.

5:00 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about global warming.

3:50 p.m. Senator Tester spoke against the Mil-Con appropriations bill.

3:34 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke about Minnesota VA.

3:20 p.m. Senator Gardner spoke about Colorado Veterans and Aurora VA center.

2:45 p.m. Senator Merkley and Senator Udall spoke about how to fix a broken Senate.

2:32 p.m. Senator Coats spoke about government waste.

1:54 p.m. Senator Baldwin spoke on the Perkins Loan Program and asked unanimous consent that the Senate pass H.R. 3594, the Higher Education Extension Act of 2015. Senator Alexander objected.

1:49 p.m. Senator Casey spoke on the Perkins Loan Program.

1:37 p.m. Senator Udall spoke on the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

1:25 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on the ACA.

12:45 p.m. Senators Daines, Ayotte, Alexander, Collins and Burr spoke about the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

12:16 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke about rising sea levels in Southern Florida.

12:05 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about abortion and passing further abortion laws while avoiding a government shutdown.

11:19 a.m. Senator McCain spoke on Syria and Russia.

10:36 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on positive train control, and later paid tribute to former governor of South Dakota Walter Dale Miller.

10:33 a.m. ML McConnell called up and filed cloture on the motion to proceed to HR 2029, the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Department Appropriations.

10:32 a.m. Motion to concur in relation to HR 719 (CR through December 11) agreed to 78-20.  No votes: Blunt, Boozman, Burr, Coats, Cotton, Crapo, Cruz, Heller, Inhofe, Lankford, Lee, Moran, Paul, Risch, Sasse, Scott, Sessions, Shelby, Toomey, and Vitter.  Senators Graham and Rubio did not vote.  

10:01 a.m. The Senate began voting on the Motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to accompany H.R. 719 with amendment #2689 (CR through December 11).

9:59 a.m. Amendment #2690 was withdrawn by unanimous consent.

9:47 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the CR.

9:35 a.m. Minority Leader Reid spoke about the continuing resolution.

9:32 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell paid tribute to Rep. Ed Whitfield and spoke about the continuing resolution.

****

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m.; and following any leader time, resume consideration of the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 719, with the further amendment #2689, the CR through December 11th.

The roll call vote on the motion to concur regarding amendment #2689 (CR) will occur at approximately 10:00 a.m.  

6:06 p.m. The Senate adjourns until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday September 30th.

5:50 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change for the 113th time.

5:47 p.m. ML McConnell wraps up the Senate for the evening.  Passed by UC: S Res 217.  (A resolution designating October 8, 2015, as “National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day).  UC that following speech of Senator Whitehouse, adjourn until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 30th.  Following leader remarks, resume consideration of motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 719, with the further amendment #2689, the CR through December 11th.  Vote on motion to concur regarding amendment #2689 (CR) will occur at approximately 10:00 a.m.  

5:26 p.m. Senator Schatz spoke on China and climate change.

3:50 p.m. Senator Sanders spoke on the high prices of prescription drugs.

3:40 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on the difficulty filling judicial vacancies.

3:30 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke on the Perkins Loan Program

3:20 p.m. Senator Portman spoke on the Perkins Loan Program

3:10 p.m. Senator Murray spoke on the Perkins Loan Program

2:54 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the continuing resolution.

2:49 p.m. Senator Casey spoke on the Perkins Loan Program.

2:44 p.m. Senator Ayotte spoke on the Perkins Loan Program.

2:34 p.m. Senator Baldwin spoke on the Perkins Loan Program.

2:33 p.m. H.R. 3614, the Airport Improvement Program, was passed by unanimous consent.

2:27 p.m. Senator Collins spoke on the Perkins Loan Program.

2:19 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke on TPP.

12:03 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m.

11:50 a.m. Senator Gillibrand spoke in favor of renewing the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

11:35 a.m. Senator Brown spoke in tribute to Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey, who opposed approval of thalidomide in the U.S. and played an important role in drug safety in the U.S. She died at the age of 101 in August.

10:16 a.m. Senator Paul spoke against the continuing resolution.

10:06 a.m. The Senate resumed consideration of Amendment #2689 to H.R. 719, the text of the continuing resolution.

10:05 a.m. Senator McConnell proceeded under Rule 14 to place no the calendar S. 2089, a bill to promote clean energy sources.

10:02 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the continuing resolution.

  * * * * *

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. and will resume consideration of H.R. 719, the legislative vehicle for the resolution to continue federal appropriations until Dec. 11.

From 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, the Senate will recess for weekly policy lunches.

Cloture has been invoked on Amendment #2689, the text of the continuing resolution. If all post-cloture time for debate is used, it will expire at 12:18 a.m. Wednesday.

7:29 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29.

7:27 p.m. By voice vote, the Senate confirmed en bloc a series of promotions in the Coast Guard and the armed forces. By voice votes, the Senate passed S-599 (to extend Medicare and Medicaid demonstration projects on mental health) and S. Res. 271 (to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Dinosaur National Monument). Senator Daines took steps to place on the calendar S-2089, a bill to promote clean energy sources.

7:19 p.m. Objection was heard to Senator Cruz’s unanimous consent request for additional time.

6:19 p.m. Senator Cruz moved to table amendment #2690 to H.R. 719 and offer his amendment #2701 but the motion was objected to by voice vote. Senator Cruz spoke about the continuing resolution.

6:18 p.m. Cloture was invoked on amendment #2689 by a vote of 77 to 19.

5:41 p.m. The Senate is currently voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 719  with amendment #2689, the legislative vehicle for the continuing resolution.

5:34 p.m. Senator Cochran spoke in favor of the Portman measure.

5:05 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about his amendment to the continuing resolution.

4:47 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on the continuing resolution.

4:37 p.m. Senator Reid spoke on the continuing resolution.

4:34 p.m. ML McConnell spoke on the continuing resolution.

***

The Senate will convene at 4:30 p.m. and will resume consideration of the message to accompany H.R. 719, the vehicle for the continuing resolution.

At 5:30 p.m., a cloture vote is expected on McConnell amendment #2689, the resolution to continue spending on federal programs through December 11.

The Senate has adjourned until 4:30 p.m. Monday, September 28th and will resume consideration of the message to accompany H.R. 719, the vehicle for the continuing resolution. A roll call vote is expected at 5:30 p.m. on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur with amendment #2689.

S.Res. 213 – Designating October 31st, 2015 as the National Day of Remembrance for Nuclear Weapons Program Workers, was passed by unanimous consent.

***

1:07 p.m. S. 2082 – Aurora, Colorado’s Veteran’s Hospital was passed by unanimous consent.

11:56 a.m. Senator Sullivan spoke on US relations with China.

11:03 a.m.  Majority Leader McConnell and Democratic Leader Reid paid tribute to Speaker Boehner.

The Senate convened at 10:30am and following leader time will be in morning business.  There will be no roll call today.

• During Thursday’s session, Senator McConnell filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House message accompanying the TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act of 2015 (H.R. 719), with an amendment [the legislative vehicle for a continuing resolution until December 11, 2015].  He then filled the amendment tree and filed cloture on the motion to concur with an amendment [Cochran amendment #2689, the text of the CR].  That cloture vote is expected to occur at 5:30pm on Monday, September 28, 2015.  If cloture is invoked, absent agreement there will be up to thirty hours of debate prior to a roll call vote on the motion to concur with an amendment.

The Senate has adjourned until 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 25th with no roll call votes. The next vote is expected Monday, September 28th at 5:30 p.m. on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 719 with an amendment #2689 (the continuing resolution).

The following legislation was passed by unanimous consent during wrap-up:
• H.R. 1020 including Thune amdt.  – Stem education to include computer science.
• S.Res. 258 – Designating the week of Sept. 20th as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.
• S.Res. 269 – Designating the week of Sept. 19th as National Estuaries Week.
• S.Res. 270 – Designating September 2015 as Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month

***

6:18 p.m. ML McConnell spoke on Planned Parenthood and moved to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 719 with an amendment #2689 (the text being the continuing resolution). He then filled the tree and filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 719 with an amendment #2689.

5:26 p.m. Senator Udall spoke in favor of a clean CR and the budget.

4:54 p.m. Senator Carper spoke on transportation.

4:44 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke about the “pilots bill or rights.”

4:34 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke about the volkswagen controversy.

4:15 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about gun violence.

3:52 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke about Andre Sakharov and Soviet totalitarian communism. He also spoke about Liu Xiabo, a Chinese dissident.

3:26 p.m. Senator Reed spoke in favor of a clean CR.

3:15 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the visit of Pope Francis.

3:12 p.m. ML McConnell tore down the tree on H.R 61 with the CR including planned parenthood funding language, offered substitute amendment (#2680) with new CR, and filled the tree back up.  ML McConnell did NOT as of yet file cloture on the substitute amendment.

3:10 p.m. By a vote of 47-52, cloture was not invoked on H.R. 61.  Democrats voting for cloture: Manchin. Republicans voting against cloture: Ayotte, Collins, Cotton, Heller, Kirk, Murkowski, Paul, Sasse. Not voting: Boxer.

1:50 p.m. Cloture vote began on H.R. 61.

1:49 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the Pope, Planned Parenthood ad the continuing resolution.

1:34 p.m. Senator Coats spoke about government waste.

1:22 p.m. Senator Murray warned against a government shutdown.

1:20 p.m. Senator Flake joined in the tribute to Richard Scott.

1:14 p.m. Senator Lee paid tribute to the late Mormon church leader, Richard G. Scott.

1:12 p.m. The Senate resumed consideration of H.J. Res. 61.

1:02 p.m. Minority Leader Reid spoke about the address of Pope Francis to Congress and about the possibility of a government shutdown.

* * * * * * * * * *

*         The Senate will convene at 1:00 p.m. and resume consideration of H.J.Res. 61 [the vehicle for the continuing resolution].

*         At 2:00 p.m., the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Cochran amendment (#2669) [text of which is a continuing resolution until December 11, 2015, that defunds Planned Parenthood].