5:10 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 21. They will turn to consideration of Treaty Doc 116-1, Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of North Macedonia with a vote on cloture to occur at 5:30 p.m.
The Senate began rule 14 process for S. 2644-Sanctions for Turkey. Read for the first time and placed on the calendar.
Passed by unanimous consent:
- H.R. 1396-Congressional Gold Medals for Katherine Johnson and Dr. Christine Darden.
- S. 2258-Anti-retaliation for antitrust whistle blowers.
- S. Res. 364-Congratulating the Washington Mystics
- S. Res. 365-Designating October 16, 2019 and 2020 as World Food Day.
4:28 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about Medicare Part D.
4:02 p.m. Senator Rubio spoke about Syria.
3:38 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about crimes committed by Saudi nationals.
Senator Wyden asked unanimous consent to pass S. 2635-A bill to require the director of the FBI to declassify any information relating to whether the Saudi government assisted with a Saudi citizen or national in departing the U.S. while they were awaiting trial. It passed without objection.
3:26 p.m. Senator Ernst spoke about Turkey and Syria.
3:11 p.m. Senator Reed spoke about Turkey and Syria.
3:05 p.m. Senator Romney spoke about Turkey and Syria.
2:55 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell filed cloture on the following:
- exec. cal. #5, Treaty Doc 116-1, Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of North Macedonia.
- exec. cal. #441, Andrew P. Bremberg, to be Representative to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Oranizations in Geneva.
- H.R. 3055, Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Develpment, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Constructions, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act 2020.
- H.R. 2740, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act 2020.
2:47 p.m. Senator Enzi spoke about the Budget and the Score Keeping Report.
2:37 p.m. Senator Warner spoke about the 2019 Federal Employee of the Year.
2:16 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about immigration and asked unanimous consent for passage of S. 2603. Senator Lee objected.
2:15 p.m. Passage of S.J. Res. 54 was not agreed to by a vote of 53 to 36 (2/3rd majority required for passage).
10 GOP voting in favor: Blunt, Collins, Lee, Murkowski, Paul, Portman, Romney, Rubio, Toomey, and Wicker.
Senators not voting: Alexander, Booker, Cassidy, Cornyn, Cruz, Harris, Isakson, Klobuchar, Moran, Perdue, and Sanders.
1:45 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of S.J.Res.54, terminating the border wall national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019, notwithstanding the objections of the President to the contrary.
1:20 p.m. Senator Lee spoke about the allocation of green cards to high skilled immigrants. Senator Lee asked u.c. to consider and pass H.R. 1044, Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act with the Lee amendment. Senator Durbin objected.
1:13 p.m. Senator Baldwin spoke about failing state pension funds and asked u.c to call up and pass S. 2598, A bill to require the payment of user fees by qualified professional asset managers seeking an individual exemption from certain requirements. Senator Lee objected.
1:11 p.m. Senator Braun spoke about Syria and Turkey.
1:07 p.m. Senator Lee spoke on the need for an declaration of war with Syria.
1:00 p.m. Senator Paul asked u.c to call up and pass S. 2624, Prohibiting Arms Sales to Turkey. Senator Risch objected.
12:50 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke supporting the consideration of H.J.Res 77, Opposing the decision to end certain United States efforts to prevent Turkish military operations against Syrian Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria and asked u.c. to consider the measure. Senator Paul objected.
12:49 p.m. The Senate did not agree to S.J.Res. 53, providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Repeal of the Clean Power Plan, by a tally of 41-53.
Republican Senator Collins voted in favor.
Democrats voting against: Senators Jones, Manchin and Sinema.
Senators not voting: 3 Democrats: Booker, Harris, and Klobuchar; 2 Republicans: Alexander and Isakson; 1 Independent: Sanders.
12:05 p.m. Roll call vote began on passage of S.J.Res.53, providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Repeal of the Clean Power Plan.
11:59 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke against the clean power plan bill.
11:50 a.m. Senator Shaheen spoke on troop withdrawal from Syria.
11:45 a.m. Senator Cramer spoke against the upcoming clean power plan vote.
11:26 a.m. Senators Murray and Blumenthal spoke on President Trump and election interference.
11:18 a.m. Senator Blunt spoke on the upcoming clean power plan vote.
11:07 a.m. Senator Udall spoke about immigration and the border with Mexico.
10:59 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about the NDAA.
10:49 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about Rep. Elijah Cummings and the USMCA.
10:46 a.m. Senator Cardin spoke about Rep. Elijah Cummings.
10:45 a.m. The motion to proceed to S.J. Res. 53 was agreed to.
10:28 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about Rep. Elijah Cummings, Syria, and the Clean Power Plan.
10:05 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about Rep. Elijah Cummings, Turkey, and the Clean Power Plan. S.J.Res. 58 and H.J. Res. 77 were placed on the Legislative Calendar by the Rule IVX process en bloc.
10:03 a.m. Senator Boozman spoke about this morning’s guest chaplain, Dr. Robert Louis.
The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m.
Following Leader remarks, we expect a motion to proceed will be made to S.J.Res.53, relating to the disapproval of the repeal of the Clean Power Plan. We expect that the motion to proceed will be agreed to by voice vote.
12:00 noon – 1 roll call vote: Passage of S.J.Res.53, providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Repeal of the Clean Power Plan; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Electric Utility Generating Units; Revisions to Emission Guidelines Implementing Regulations”.
The Senate has received the veto message accompanying S.J.Res.54, relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019.
1:45 p.m. – 1 roll call vote: Passage of S.J.Res.54, terminating the border wall national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019, notwithstanding the objections of the President to the contrary.
