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9: 58 p.m. The Senate adjourned at 9:58 p.m. and will next meet for a pro forma session only on the following dates.

Tuesday August 5th 1 p.m.
Friday August 8th 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday August 12 at 8:00 am
Friday August 15th at 10:15 a.m.
Tuesday August 19 at 10 a.m.
Friday August 22 at 9 a.m.
Tuesday Augst 26th 12 noon
Friday August 29th at 7 a.m.

The Senate will next convene on Tuesday September 2nd 2025. Following Leader Remarks, the Senate will proceed to S.2296 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.

At 5:30 p.m. the Senate will vote on the motion to proceed of S. 2296, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.

9:54 p.m. Majority Leader Thune started wrap up

• Agreed to by unanimous consent – S. Res. 369 – Designating August 21st as Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day
• Agreed to by unanimous consent – S. Res. 370 – Commending the Superdome on the Occasion of its Golden Jubilee and its years of service to the state of Louisiana and the United States.
• Passed by unanimous consent – S. 2682 -A bill to designate the medical center of department of medical affairs in West Haven Connecticut as the Paul Budd Buka Medical Center.
• Passed by unanimous consent – H.R. 2170 – To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River, New Jersey, the Leonard G. ‘Bud’ Lomell, VA Clinic, and for other purposes.
• Passed by unamious consent – S. 1155 – A bill to amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to make technical corrections.
• Passed by unanimous consent – H.R. 2808 – Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act
• Majority Leader Thune filed cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2296, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.

9:54 p.m. By a vote of 71-23, the Senate confirmed Marcus Molinaro to be Federal Transit Administrator.

9:39 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Marcus Molinaro to be Federal Transit Administrator.

9:39 p.m. By a vote of 72-22, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Adam Telle to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army.

9:28 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Adam Telle to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army.

9:25 p.m. By a vote of 59-35, the Senate confirmed Sean Cairncross to be National Cyber Director. Not voting: Senators Bennet, Gallego, McConnell, Scott (SC), Welch, and Wicker.

9:10 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Sean Cairncross to be National Cyber Director.

9:06 p.m. By a vote of 52-42, the Senate confirmed the nomination of John Arrigo to be Ambassador to the Portuguese Republic.

• Senator Shaheen voted in favor and Senators Gallego, McConnell, Murphy, Scott (SC), Welch and Wicker did not vote.

8:55 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of John Arrigo to be Ambassador to the Portuguese Republic.

8:54 p.m. By a vote of 50-45, the Senate confirmed Catherine Hanson to be Chief Financial Officer, Environmental Protection Agency. Not voting: Senators Gallego, McConnell, Scott (SC). Welch and Wicker.

8:43 p.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of Catherine Hanson to be Chief Financial Officer, Environmental Protection Agency.

8:42 p.m. By a vote of 78-17, the Senate confirmed Luke Lindberg to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.

8:26 p.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of Luke Lindberg to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.

8:26 p.m. By a vote of 75-20, the Senate confirmed Luke Lindberg to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.

8:13 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #162 Luke Lindberg to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.

8:12 p.m. By a vote of 50-45, the Senate confirmed Jeanine Pirro to be United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. This was a party line vote. Senators Gallego, McConnell, Scott (SC). Welch and Wicker did not vote.

7:55 p.m. The Senate is voting on confirmation of Jeanine Pirro to be United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.

7:46 p.m. By a vote of 51-45, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Jeanine Pirro to be United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.

party line vote with Senators Gallego, McConnell, Welch and Wicker not voting.

7:27 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Jeanine Pirro to be United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.

7:27 p.m. Vote update- Following the cloture vote on Jeanine Pirro to be United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Senate will vote on the following:

1. Confirmation of nomination of Jeanine Pirro to be United States Attorney for the District of Columbia for the term of four years.
2. Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Luke Lindberg to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.
3. Confirmation of the nomination of Luke Lindberg to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.
4. Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Catherine Hanson to be Chief Financial Officer, Environmental Protection Agency.
5. Confirmation of the nomination of Catherine Hanson to be Chief Financial Officer, Environmental Protection Agency.
6. Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of John Arrigo to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Portuguese Republic.
7. Confirmation of the nomination of John Arrigo to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Portuguese Republic.
8. Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Sean Cairncross to be National Cyber Director.
9. Confirmation of the nomination of Sean Cairncross to be National Cyber Director.
10. Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Adam Telle to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army.
11. Confirmation of the nomination of Adam Telle to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army.
12. Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Adam Telle to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army.
13. Confirmation of the nomination of Marcus Molinaro to be Federal Transit Administrator.

7:26 p.m. By a vote of 52-44, the Senate confirmed Jason Quinones to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

Democrat voting in favor: Senator Durbin. Senators Gallego, Lee, McConnell, Welch, and Wicker did not vote.

6:28 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Jason Quinones to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

6:18 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on Pirro nomination.

5:30 p.m. Senators Whitehouse, Schiff, Van Hollen, and Merkley spoke on the Epstein files.

5:15 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke on nominations.

5:10 p.m. Senator Moody spoke on nominations.

4:57 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke against the Pirro nomination.

4:51 p.m. Senator Cassidy spoke on nominations.

4:50 p.m. By a vote of 49-45, the invoked cloture on the nomination of Jason Quinones to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. It was a party line vote with Senators Gallego, Kennedy, McConnell, Tillis, Welch, and Wicker not voting.

4:14 p.m. The Senate began voting on cloture on the nomination of Jason Quinones to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

4:14 p.m. By a vote of 49-44, the Senate confirmed the Burch nomination. It was a party line vote with Senators Gallego, Kelly, Kennedy, McConnell, Tillis, Welch, and Wicker not voting.

3:33 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the nomination of Brian Burch to be Ambassador to the Holy See.

3:29 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on nominations.

3:24 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on nominations.

3:02 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke on nominations.

3:02 p.m. The Chair gave a reminder on Senate floor rules.

2:46 p.m. Senator Schmitt spoke on nominations.

2:33 p.m. Senator Cantwell paid tribute to Washingtonian Bill Neukom.

2:19 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke on nominations.

2:08 p.m. Senator Moran paid tribute to departing staffer Mark Crowley. He also paid tribute to Kansan Gene.

2:04 p.m. By a vote of 51-45, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Brian Burch to be Ambassador to the Holy See. It was a party line vote. Senators not voting: Gallego, McConnell, Welch and Wicker.

1:11 p.m. By a vote of 53-44, the Senate confirmed Andrew Puzder to be US Representative to the European Union. Dems in favor: Hassan & Shaheen. GOP against: Murkowski. Not voting: Gallego, McConnell & Welch.

Now voting on cloture on Brian Burch to be Ambassador to the Holy See.

12:38 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the nomination of Andrew Puzder to be US Representative to the European Union with the rank of Ambassador.

12:05 p.m. Senator Markey asked UC to take up and pass S. 1593 regarding tariffs. Senator Moreno objected. Senators Markey and Moreno continued discussing tariffs.

11:56 a.m. Senators Van Hollen and Merkley continued speaking on the Epstein files.

11:32 a.m. Senators Blumenthal, Wyden and Van Hollen spoke on the Epstein files. Senator Van Hollen asked UC to take up and pass S.2557, Senator Barrasso objected.

11:22 a.m. Senators Merkley and Durbin spoke on the Epstein files.

11:14 a.m. Senator Merkley spoke on Jeffrey Epstein and President Trump and asked unanimous consent to take up and pass S. 2557, directing the Justice Department to release Epstein files. Senator Barrasso objected.

10:47 a.m. Senator Cramer spoke on nominations.

10:46 a.m. By a vote of 52-41, the Senate invoked cloture on the Puzder nomination. Democrats voting in favor: Hassan and Shaheen. Republican voting against: Murkowski. Not voting: Duckworth, Gallego, McConnell, Sanders, Tillis, Warner and Welch.

10:03 a.m. The Senate began voting on cloture on the nomination of Andrew Puzder to be US Representative to the European Union with the rank of Ambassador.

9:58 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke on appropriations and nominations.

9:43 a.m. Majority Leader Thune spoke on appropriations and nominations.

9:32 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the 2016 Presidential race and Russia.

9:30 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. and following any Leader remarks will resume consideration of the nomination of Andrew Puzder to be US Representative to the European Union with the rank of Ambassador.

At approximately 10:00 a.m., the Senate will vote on cloture on the Puzder nomination.

Cloture has also been filed on the following nominations:
1. Brian Burch to be Ambassador to the Holy See
2. Jason Quinones to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
3. Jeanine Pirro to be United States Attorney for the District of Columbia
4. Luke Lindberg to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs
5. Catherine Hanson to be Chief Financial Officer, Environmental Protection Agency
6. John Arrigo to be Ambassador to Portugal
7. Sean Cairncross to be National Cyber Director
8. Adam Telle to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army
9. Marcus Molinaro to be Federal Transit Administrator

If cloture is invoked on each nomination in the list above, there will be up to 2 hours prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. Following disposition of the nomination, the Senate will vote on cloture on the next nomination.