Home

6:11 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned. The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Martin O’Malley to be Commissioner of Social Security. At approximately 5:30 p.m., the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on confirmation of the O’Malley nomination.

6:00 p.m. ML Schumer spoke on military back pay and began wrap up:

• Passed by unanimous consent, S. 3553, a bill to provide a retroactive effective date for the promotions of senior officers of the Armed Forces.
• Confirmed by voice vote en bloc: Executive Calendar #214 Lisa A. Johnson to be Ambassador to the Lebanese Republic; Executive Calendar #431 Todd Gloria to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation for a term expiring December 10, 2023; and Executive Calendar #432 Todd Gloria to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation for a term expiring December 10, 2029. (Reappointment).
• Under the provisions of Rule XIV, H.R. 1147, Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, was read for the first time.
• Passed by unanimous consent S. 474, REPORT Act, with Blackburn substitute amendment.
• Passed by unanimous consent S. 195, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act .
• Passed by unanimous consent H.R. 3315, National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act.
• Passed by unanimous consent S. 2228, Building Chips in America Act, with Kelly-Cruz substitute amendment.
• Passed by voice vote en bloc H.J.Res.. 62, A joint resolution providing for the reappointment of Michael Govan as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution; H.J.Res. 63, A joint resolution providing for the appointment of Antoinette Bush as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution; and H.J.Res. 64, A joint resolution providing for the reappointment of Roger W. Ferguson as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
• Passed by unanimous consent S. 382, Puyallup Tribe of Indians Land Into Trust Confirmation Act.
• Adopted by unanimous consent en bloc S.Res. 507, A resolution expressing support for the designation of September 25, 2023, as ‘‘National Ataxia Awareness Day’’, and raising awareness of ataxia, ataxia research, and the search for a cure; S.Res. 508, A resolution recognizing Interscholastic Athletic Administrators’ Day on December 14, 2023; S.Res. 509, A resolution recognizing the first commemoration of the anti-LGBTQ+ attack that occurred on November 19–20, 2022, at Club Q, an LGBTQ+ bar in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and S.Res. 453, A resolution celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of Texas Christian University.

4:59 p.m. Senator Booker paid tribute to departing staffer Zach McCue.

4:31 p.m. Senator Marshall spoke in support of H.R. 1147, Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023 and asked unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to and pass H.R. 1147. Senator Stabenow objected.

4:30 p.m. By a vote of 64-22, the Senate confirmed Brandon S. Long to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

3:51 p.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of the Brandon S. Long to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

3:50 p.m. Senator Durbin got consent to vitiate the cloture motion on the Long nomination

3:49 p.m. By a vote of 66-24, the Senate confirmed Jerry Edwards, Jr. to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

• Senators Barrasso, Blumenthal, Cramer, Daines, Fischer, Hagerty, Hyde-Smith, Lummis, Tuberville, and Welch did not vote.

2:59 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Jerry Edwards, Jr. to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

2:57 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on supplemental appropriations and said the Senate will return for business on Monday to work on supplemental appropriations.

2:33 p.m. Senators Barrasso and Risch spoke on H.R. 1042, Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act. Senator Barrasso asked unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to and pass H.R. 1042. Senator Brown objected and then withdrew his objection after receiving agreement of Senators Risch and Manchin on strengthening the domestic supply chain. Senator Manchin then spoke and Senator Cruz objected to H.R. 1042.

1:58 p.m. Senator Cruz asked unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to and pass H.R. 6503, Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2023, Part II. Senator Bennett objected and spoke on Ukraine. Senator Cruz continued to talk about the FAA reauthorization and on Ukraine. Senator Bennett responded.

1:46 p.m. Senators Cruz, Moran, and Budd spoke on the FAA reauthorization.

1:21 p.m. Senator Kennedy spoke on seafood and asked unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to and vote on S. 3533, Seafood Import Monitoring Program Audit Program. Senator Wyden objected.

1:01 p.m. Senator Warren spoke supporting the nomination of Ronald Keohane, to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense. Senator Warren asked unanimous consent to consider the Keohane nomination. Senator Budd objected.

1:01 p.m. By a vote of 66-31, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Jerry Edwards, Jr. to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

Republican Senators voting in favor: Capito, Cassidy, Collins, Cornyn, Ernst, Graham, Grassley, Hyde-Smith, Kennedy, McConnell, Moran, Murkowski, Romney, Rounds, Rubio, Wicker, and Young.

Democrats voting against: Senator Menendez.

11:54 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Jerry Edwards, Jr. to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

11:36 a.m. Senator Murphy spoke on the anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

11:14 a.m. Senator Vance spoke on his legislation for a tax for large university endowments and asked unanimous consent for the Senate to proceed and agree to S. 3514. Senator Wyden objected.

11:00 a.m. Senator Booker spoke on the First Step Act.

10:48 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the war in Israel and Gaza. He also spoke on the First Step Act.

10:43 a.m. Senator Moran spoke on FAA reauthorization.

10:20 a.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke about the national security supplemental request, anti-Semitism on college campuses and energy.

10:10 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on the ongoing negations to the national security supplemental, the war in Ukraine and Russia, the NDAA and the House impeachment inquiry.

10:03 a.m. Senator Kaine spoke about the visiting Chaplin, Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy, Rear Adm. Gregory Todd

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene today 10:00 a.m.. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Jerry Edwards, Jr. to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

At 12:00 noon the Senate will hold one vote:

1. Motion to invoke cloture on the Jerry Edwards, Jr. to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

Additional votes are expected during Thursday’s session.

As a reminder, Majority Leader Schumer cloture has been filed on the following nominations:
• Christopher Charles Fonzone to be an Assistant Attorney General.
• Sara E. Hill to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma.