7:12 p.m. The Senate adjourned. The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday and will resume consideration of S.J. Res. 50, to disapprove of a measure relating to tax credits, with a vote at 2:45 p.m. Following disposition of S.J. Res. 50, the Senate will resume consideration of the appropriations minibus, H.R.3055.
6:55 p.m. Senator Bennet spoke against the tax measure.
6:50 p.m. Senator Merkley paid tribute to his departing staffer Kaelin Gaffney
6:30 p.m. Senator Moran spoke about appropriations. During wrap-up, the Senate:
— Acted under Rule XIV to place directly on the Senate Calendar S.J.Res. 59, expressing the sense of Congress disapproving of the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Syria and Turkey’s incursion into Syria.
— Passed by consent S.Res 373, expressing support for September to be Sickle Cell Awareness Month.
— Passed by voice vote S.1590, to amend the State Department authorizing statute to take action against criminal trafficking in wildlife.
6:14 p.m. Senator Jones spoke about a bill relating to college expenses.
6:05 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke about aid to college students.
4:58 p.m. Senator Reed spoke about the appropriation for Labor, HUD and related agencies. He spoke about Russian efforts to influence U.S. elections.
4:55 p.m. The Senate consented to Senator Durbin’s motion to proceed to S.J.Res. 50, to disapprove of a measure relating to tax credits. There will be up to 10 hours of debate.
4:50 p.m. Senator Leah spoke about appropriations.
4:44 p.m. ML McConnell moved to proceed to Calendar #141, H.R.3055, CJS, Ag, Interior, MilConVA, THUD Appropriations by voice vote. Senate Amendment #948 and Senate Amendment #950 are now pending to Calendar #141, H.R.3055, CJS, Ag, Interior, MilConVA, THUD Appropriations.
4:25 p.m. Senator Collins spoke supporting H.R. 3055, an act making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes (the legislative vehicle for minibus II, with the THUD, Agriculture, Interior, and CJS Senate texts).
4:10 p.m. Senator Enzi spoke about pension plans.
4:02 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about health care.
3:59 p.m. Senator Cotton paid tribute to an Arkansan former MIA from the Korean War whose remains were recently discovered.
3:57 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the motion to proceed to HR 3055, 92-2.
Senators voting against: Blackburn and Paul.
Senators not voting: Democrats Booker, Harris, Whitehouse and Warren; Independent Sanders; Republican Isakson.
3:32 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the motion to proceed to HR 3055.
3:23 p.m. Democratic Leader Schumer spoke on the situation in Syria and asked UC to take up and pass the House passed bill, HJ Res 77; Senator Paul objected.
3:22 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Bremberg nomination 50-44.
YEAs 50 Republicans.
NAYs 41 Democrats, Independent King, Republicans Collins and Murkowski.
NOT VOTING: Democrats Booker, Harris, Whitehouse and Warren; independent Sanders; Republican Isakson.
2:45 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the nomination of Andrew Bremberg to be Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva.
2:30 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke on HR 3055.
2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from recess. Senator Shelby spoke on the appropriations process and HR 3055.
1:21 p.m. The Senate recessed until 2:15 p.m.
1:20 p.m. By a vote of 50 to 43, the Senate invoked cloture on the Bremberg nomination.
YEAs 50 Republicans.
NAYs 40 Democrats, independent King, Republicans Collins and Murkowski.
NOT VOTING: Democrats Bennet, Booker, Harris, Whitehouse and Warren; independent Sanders; Republican Isakson.
12:55 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the Bremberg nomination.
12:54 p.m. By a tally of 91 to 2, the Senate ratified Treaty Document #116-1, Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of North Macedonia. Senators Lee and Paul voted against.
YEAs: 51 Republicans, 39 Democrats, independent King.
NAYs: Republicans Lee and Paul.
NOT VOTING: Democrats Bennet, Booker, Harris, Markey and Warren; independent Sanders; Republican Isakson.
12:20 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on ratification of Treaties Calendar #5, Treaty Document #116-1, Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of North Macedonia (requires 2/3).
11:58 a.m. Senator Johnson spoke supporting ratification of Treaty 116-1.
11:52 a.m. Senator Paul spoke against the ratification of Treaty 116-1.
11:30 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on Russian interference in U.S. elections. Senator Durbin asked u.c. to call up and pass S 1540, Election Security Act. Senator Kennedy objected.
11:06 a.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke urging action on election security legislation. Senator Klobuchar asked u.c. to call up and pass S 1356, Honest Ads Act. Senator Thune objected.
10:46 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke abuts opioid drug epidemic.
10:39 a.m. Senator Perdue spoke about health care legislation.
10:25 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about pending legislation, including appropriations. He spoke about Syria.
10:14 -Majority Leader spoke about nominations. He spoke about the situation in Syria.
10:03 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the Marine Corporal Harold Keller of Iowa, one of those who planted the American flag on Iwo Jima, during the World War II battle.
***
The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. and will resume post-cloture consideration of the Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of North Macedonia (Treaty No.116-1).
At noon, there will be two votes:
- Passage of the resolution to ratify the Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of North Macedonia (Treaty No.116-1).
- Cloture on the nomination of Andrew Bremberg to be Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva.
The Senate will recess for weekly caucus luncheons from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m.
Afternoon roll call votes expected: confirmation of the Bremberg nomination and cloture on the motion to proceed to the fiscal 2020 “minibus” appropriation, H.R.3055, for the Departments of Commerce and Justice and related agencies (and including the texts for the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Interior, Commerce and Justice).
Other votes are possible today.
Cloture has ripened for H.R.2740, the fiscal 2020 appropriation for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and related agencies (and including texts for spending on defense, foreign operations, energy and water).
