4:45 p.m. The Senate concluded its business and adjourned. The next legislation session will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15. The following pro forma sessions have been scheduled:
Friday, September 27th at 11:40am; Tuesday, October 1st at 12:00 Noon; Friday, October 4th at 4:30pm; Tuesday, October 8th at 12:00 Noon; and Friday, October 11th at 2:15pm.
4:40 p.m. Wrap Up:
Legislative Business
Adopted S.Res.252: designating September 2019 as “National Democracy Month”.
Adopted S.Res.346: designating October 8, 2019, as “National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day”.
Adopted S.Res.347: designating October 2, 2019, as “Energy Efficiency Day”.
Adopted S.Res.348: proclaiming the week of September 23 through September 27, 2019, as “National Clean Energy Week”.
Adopted S.Res.349: supporting the designation of September 20, 2019, as “National Concussion Awareness Day”.
Adopted S.Res.350: designating September 2019 as “National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month”.
Adopted S.Res.351: designating the week of September 29 through October 5, 2019, as “National Community Policing Week”.
Adopted S.Res.352: recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States and the immense contributions of Latinos to the United States.
Adopted S.Res.353: recognizing September 24, 2019, as “National Voter Registration Day”.
Adopted S.Res.354: designating September 2019 as “National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month”.
Adopted S.Res.355: designating the week of September 22 through September 28, 2019, as “National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week”.
Passed by voice vote Calendar #180, S.737: Building Blocks of STEM Act, with Rosen-Crapo substitute amendment.
Began the Rule 14 process to place on the Legislative Calendar of Business S.2593, End Government Shutdowns (Portman).
Executive Business
Confirmed the following nominations:
ARMY
Executive Calendar #423, Ryan McCarthy, to be Secretary of Army
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Executive Calendar #446 – W. Stephen Muldrow, of Puerto Rico, to be United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico for the term of four year
Executive Calendar #447 – Michael D. Baughman, of Pennsylvania, to be United States Marshal for the Western District of Pennsylvania for the term of four years
Executive Calendar #448 – Kerry Lee Pettingill, of Oklahoma, to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma for the term of four years
Executive Calendar #449 – Fernando L. G. Sablan, of Guam, to be United States Marshal for the District of Guam and concurrently United States Marshal for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands for the term of four years
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Executive Calendar #398 – Lana J. Marks, of Florida, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of South Africa
Executive Calendar #442 – John Leslie Carwile, of Maryland, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Latvia
Executive Calendar #443 – Erin Elizabeth McKee, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador of the United States of America to the Solomon Islands and Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Vanuatu
Executive Calendar #444 – Anthony F. Godfrey, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Serbia
Executive Calendar #445 – Herro Mustafa, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Bulgaria
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION
Executive Calendar #455 – Adam Seth Boehler, of Louisiana, to be Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation
ARMY
Executive Calendar #424 – Brig. Gen. Douglas A. Sims, II to be Major General
Executive Calendar #425 – Col. Curtis A. Buzzard to be Brigadier General
AIR FORCE
Executive Calendar #426 – Col. Linell A. Letendre to be Brigadier General
ARMY
Executive Calendar #427 – Lt. Gen. James H. Dickinson to be Lieutenant General
Executive Calendar #428 – Maj. Gen. Ricky L. Waddell to be Lieutenant General
Executive Calendar #429 – Maj. Gen. Jason T. Evans to be Lieutenant General
Executive Calendar #430 – Maj. Gen. Raymond S. Dingle to be Lieutenant General
NAVY
Executive Calendar #431 – Rear Adm. Daryl L. Caudle to be Vice Admiral
AIR FORCE
Executive Calendar #432 – Maj. Gen. Glen D. VanHerck to be Lieutenant General
ARMY
Executive Calendar #433 – Brig. Gen. Arthur J. Logan to be Major General
AIR FORCE
Executive Calendar #434 – Lt. Gen. Anthony J. Cotton to be Lieutenant General
NAVY
Executive Calendar #435 – Vice Adm. Colin J. Kilrain to be Vice Admiral
AIR FORCE
Executive Calendar #436 – Brig. Gen. Timothy D. Haugh to be Lieutenant General
Executive Calendar #437 – Maj. Gen. Michael A. Minihan to be Lieutenant General
Executive Calendar #438 – Maj. Gen. Scott A. Kindsvater to be Lieutenant General
NAVY
Executive Calendar #439 – Vice Adm. David M. Kriete to be Vice Admiral
Executive Calendar #440 – Vice Adm. Stuart B. Munsch to be Vice Admiral
And all nominations on the Secretary’s Desk in the FOREIGN SERVICE, AIR FORCE, ARMY, MARINE CORPS, and NAVY.
4:02 p.m. Senator Jones spoke about the current state of democracy.
3:56 p.m. Senator Hawley spoke about life expectancy.
3:48 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke about The Future Act.
3:25 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about former Marines John Kelly, former Secretary Jim Mattis, and General Joe Dunford.
3:08 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about Americorps and on departing staffer Jenny Donahue.
3:04 Senator Braun asked u.c. to change his vote on roll call vote #311 (on passage of H.R. 4378) from yes to no.
2:42 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about government shutdowns.
2:23 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell filed cloture on the following nominations:
- Barbara Barrett to be Secretary of the Air Force.
- Frank Volk to be US District Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia.
- Charles Eskridge to be US District Judge for the Southern District of Texas.
- David Novak to be US District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.
- Rachel Kovner to be US District Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
12:54 p.m. Roll call vote began on passage of HR 4378, the CR through November 21.
12:53 p.m. The Senate did NOT agree to the Paul amendment 24-73.
Senators voting in favor: 24 Republicans: Barrasso, Blackburn, Braun, Cornyn, Crapo, Cruz, Daines, Enzi, Ernst, Fischer, Grassley, Johnson, Kennedy, Lankford, Lee, Paul, Risch, Rubio, Sasse, Scott of South Carolina, Sullivan, Tillis, Toomey and Young.
Senators voting against: 43 Democrats, 29 Republicans, 1 Independent: King.
Senators not voting: 2 Democrats: Booker and Warren; 1 Independent: Sanders.
12:15 p.m. The Senate began voting on Paul amendment #942 to H.R. 4378.
12:08 p.m. Senator Paul called up his amendment #942 (rate reduction in operations) to H.R. 4378, continuing appropriations for FY 2020.
12:06 p.m. Senator Murray spoke against the Scalia nomination.
12:03 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke supporting the need for a permanent funding fix for HBCU’s.
11:59 a.m. Senator Menendez spoke supporting the FUTURE act.
11:54 a.m. Senator Murray spoke about funding for minority colleges and universities.
11:38 a.m. Senator Jones spoke about the FUTURE Act and asked unanimous consent to pass H.R. 2486, FUTURE Act. Senator Alexander objected and spoke about the bill.
11:17 a.m. Senator Rosen spoke about the shooting at the Route 91 Music Festival in Las Vegas.
11:07 a.m. Senator Cortez Masto spoke about the shooting at the Route 91 Music Festival in Las Vegas.
10:56 a.m. Senator Thune criticized Democratic positions on impeachment, prescription drug prices and other issues.
10:51 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about Hispanic Americans in Texas.
10:41 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the Ukraine matter. He spoke about appropriations. He spoke about the Scalia nomination.
10:23 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. He paid tribute to the retiring financial clerk of the Senate, Ileana Garcia.
The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and proceed to the consideration of HR 4378, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Health Extenders Act of 2019.
12:15pm – 2 roll call votes:
- Paul amendment #942 (re: 2 percent across-the-board cut) to H.R.4378.
- Passage of H.R. 4378. (60 vote threshold)
1:30pm – 2 roll call votes:
- Confirmation of Executive Calendar #415 Gen. John E. Hyten to be Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs.
- Confirmation of Executive Calendar #450 Eugene Scalia, of Virginia, to be Secretary of Labor.
