The Senate has adjourned until 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 3rd. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 2012, the energy bill.
Wrap-Up:
- S.2306, to require the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to undertake remediation oversight of the West Lake Landfill located in Bridgeton, Missouri, was passed by unanimous consent.
- S. Res. 353, S. Res. 354, S. Res. 355, and S. Res. 356 were passed by unanimous consent en bloc.
- H.R. 4168, the Small Business Capital Formation Enhancement Act, was read for the first time.
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7:32 p.m. Senator Cantwell spoke on the energy bill.
7:28 p.m. The following amendments to S. 2012 were approved en bloc by voice vote:
- Hirono #3064
- Hirono #3065, as modified
- Klobuchar #3179
- Carper #3145
- Heitkamp #3174
- Collins #3140, as modified
- Baldwin #3156
- Carper #3143
- Boxer #3194, as modified
- Inhofe #3205
- Booker #3160
6:32 p.m. Senator Gardner spoke on the energy bill.
6:22 p.m. Senator Warren spoke against the Trans Pacific Partnership.
6:04 p.m Senators Wyden and Crapo spoke on forest fires.
5:55 p.m. Senator Schatz paid tribute to Hawaiian state senator Gil L. Kahele
5:51 p.m. Senator Brown spoke on lead poisoning.
5:45 p.m. ML McConnell filed cloture on the Murkowski substitute amendment #2953 to S. 2012 and S. 2012.
4:41 p.m. Senator Murkowski praises work done on this bill thus far, hopes to finish by the end of the week.
4:39 p.m. Whitehouse amendment not agreed to 43-52, (60 vote threshold).
Senators voting in favor: 42 Democrats, 1 Independent (King).
Senators voting against: 50 Republicans, 2 Democrats (Heitkamp, Manchin).
Senators not voting: 5 (4 Republicans – Cruz, Graham, Rubio, Shelby) (1 Independent – Sanders)
4:23 p.m. Roll call vote began on the Whitehouse amendment (#3125) to require campaign finance disclosures for certain persons benefitting from fossil fuel activities.
4:20 p.m. The Senate agrees to the Durbin amendment (#3095) to increase funding for the Office of Science of the Department of Energy by voice vote.
4:17 p.m. Schatz amendment not agreed to 45-50. (60 vote threshold).
Senators voting in favor: 42 Democrats, 3 Republicans (Alexander, Ayotte, Collins), 1 Independent (King).
Senators voting against: 47 Republicans, 3 Democrats (Donnelly, Heitkamp, Manchin).
Senators not voting; 5 (4 Republicans – Cruz, Graham, Rubio, Shelby) (1 Independent – Sanders).
4:01 p.m. Roll call vote began on the Schatz amendment (#3176) to phase out tax preferences for fossil fuels on the same schedule as the phase out of the tax credits for wind facilities. (#3176)
3:58 p.m. Sullivan amendment not agreed to 49-46. (60 vote threshold).
Senators voting in favor: 49 Republicans
Senators voting against: 44 Democrats, 1 Independent (King), 1 Republican (Collins).
Senators not voting: 5 (4 Republicans – Cruz, Graham, Rubio, Shelby); (1 Independent – Sanders).
3:41 p.m. Roll call vote began on the Sullivan amendment (#2996) to require each agency to repeal or amend one or more rules before issuing or amending a rule.
3:38 p.m. Barrasso amendment not agreed to 52-43. (60 vote threshold).
Senators voting in favor: 50 Republicans, 2 Democrats (Heitkamp, Manchin).
Senators voting against: 42 Democrats, 1 Independent (King).
Senators not voting: 5 (4 Republicans – Cruz, Graham, Rubio, Shelby), (1 Independent – Sanders).
3:20 p.m. Roll call vote began on the Barrasso amendment (#3030) establishing deadlines and expediting permits for certain natural gas gathering lines on Federal land and Indian land.
3:17 p.m. The Senate accepted the Rounds amendment #3182 regarding establishment of a conservation incentives landowner education program by a voice vote.
3:15 p.m. Franken amendment not agreed to 43-52, (60 vote threshold).
Senators voting in favor: 41 Democrats, 1 Independent (King), 1 Republican (Collins).
Senators voting against: 49 Republicans, 3 Democrats (Heitkamp and Manchin, Tester)
Senators not voting: 5 (4 Republicans – Cruz, Graham, Rubio, Shelby) 1 Independent – Sanders).
2:55 p.m. Lee amendment not agreed to 47-48. (60 vote threshold) The Senate will next vote on the Franken amendment #3115 regarding energy efficiency resource standards for electricity and natural gas suppliers.
Senators voting in favor: 46 Republicans, 1 Democrat (Manchin).
Senators voting against:44 Democrats, 3 Republicans (Alexander, Ayotte, Kirk) 1 Independent (King).
Senators not voting: 5 (4 Republicans – Cruz, Graham, Rubio, Shelby) (1 Independent – Sanders).
2:32 p.m. Roll call vote began on the Lee Amendment #3023 regarding authority of the President to declare national monuments.
2:29 p.m. Senator Cantwell spoke in opposition to the Lee amendment, prior to Senator Lee wrapping up in support of his amendment.
2:15 p.m. The Senate returns to session, Senator Flake spoke in support of the Lee amendment.
At 2:30 p.m., the Senate will conduct eight (8) roll call votes, each with 60 vote affirmative thresholds.
- Lee amendment to modify the authority of the President of the United States to declare national monuments. (#3023)
- Franken amendment to establish a Federal energy efficiency resource standard for electricity and natural gas suppliers. (#3115)
- Rounds amendment to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the secretary of Agriculture to establish a conservation incentives landowner education program. (#3182, as modified)
- Barrasso amendment to establish deadlines and expedite permits for certain natural gas gathering lines on Federal land and Indian land. (#3030)
- Sullivan amendment to require each agency to repeal or amend 1 or more rules before issuing or amending a rule. (#2996)
- Schatz amendment to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to phase out tax preferences for fossil fuels on the same schedule as the phase out of the tax credits for wind facilities. (#3176)
- Durbin amendment to increase funding for the Office of Science of the Department of Energy. (#3095)
- Whitehouse amendment to require campaign finance disclosures for certain persons benefitting from fossil fuel activities. (#3125)
12:50. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m.
12:48 p.m. The Senate is scheduled to conduct 8 roll call votes beginning at 2:30. After the disposition of the Franken amendment, #3115, the Senate will votes on the following votes in order. Each will have a 60-vote affirmative threshold:
Rounds #3182 (as modified)
Barrasso #3030
Sullivan #2996
Schatz #3176
Durbin #3095
Whitehouse #3125
12:31 p.m. Senator Lee called up his amendment, #3023 to amendment #2953. Lee spoke about federal lands and his amendment updating the antiquities act, by adding input from neighbors about monument destinations. He also spoke against a monument designation for the Utah site called Bears Ears.
12:00 p.m. Senators Shaheen, Portman and Cornyn spoke about Energy efficiency and the Energy bill.
11:47 a.m. Senator Cassidy and Senator Vitter spoke on the Cassidy amendment to the energy bill.
11:37 a.m. Senator Franken spoke on the energy bill.
11:34 a.m. Senator Cantwell spoke on the energy bill.
11:13 a.m. Senator Murkowski spoke on the energy bill.
11 a.m. Senator Markey spoke about opioid addiction.
10:49 a.m. Senator Thune spoke in favor of the energy bill.
10:27 a.m. Senator Boxer spoke about the Flint water crisis and about a natural gas leak in California.
10:20 a.m. Senator Hatch spoke in favor of the Judicial Redress Act, which would allow people to seek the correction of errors in their electronic records.
10:07 a.m. Minority Leader McConnell spoke about contaminated water in Flint, Michigan. He endorsed the Stabenow-Peters amendment to address the Flint water crisis.
10:02 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke in favor of the energy bill.
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The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. and will resume consideration of the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 (S. 2012).
The Senate will recess for the weekly caucus luncheons from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m.
At 2:30 p.m., the Senate will proceed to roll call votes on the following amendments. No second degree amendments are in order to either amendment and each is subject to an affirmative 60-vote threshold:
o Lee amendment on presidential authority to declare national monuments (#3023);
o Franken amendment to set standard for electricity and natural gas suppliers (#3115).
The following amendments are currently pending to S. 2012:
- Murkowski substitute (#2953);
o Cassidy-Markey amendment on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (#2954);
o Murkowski amendment on bulk-power system reliability impact statements (#2963)