8:06 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 18th, 2025. With time for the two leaders reserved for their use later in the day, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and resume consideration of the en bloc nominations provided for under the provisions of S. Res. 532. All time during recess, adjournment, morning business, and leader remarks will count towards post-cloture.
At approximately 12:00 noon – 1 roll call vote:
- Passage of S. J. Res. 82, a joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to “Policy on Adhering to the Text of the Administrative Procedure Act”.
Additional roll call votes are expected.
8:00 p.m. Senator Murkowski wrapped up:
- S. 2393 – passed by unanimous consent. Fiscal Year 2025 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act
- S. 3436 – passed by UC. Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act
- S. Res. 492 – agreed to by UC.
- S. Res. 566 – agreed to by UC.
- H. Con. Res. 66 – agreed to by UC.
- The following nominations were confirmed en bloc: Calendar #581, 602-607, and all nominations on the Secretary’s desk with the exception of PN-89.
7:26 p.m. Senator Welch spoke on the Navy barricade around Venezuela.
7:09 p.m. Senator Kennedy spoke about savings bonds.
7:07 p.m. By a party-line vote of 53-47, the Senate invoked cloture on the nominations included in S. Res. 532, en bloc.
6:32 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nominations included in S. Res. 532, en bloc.
6:30 p.m. By a vote of 71-29, the Senate confirmed Douglas Weaver to be a Member of the NRC.
- Democrats/Independents voting in favor: Duckworth, Fetterman, Gallego, Hassan, Heinrich, Kelly, Kim, King (I), Klobuchar, Merkley, Ossoff, Padilla, Reed, Schiff, Shaheen, Slotkin, Welch, and Whitehouse.
5:42 p.m. The Senate is currently voting on the confirmation of the nomination of Douglas Weaver to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
5:07 p.m. Senators Mullin, Hassan and Cassidy spoke in support of the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act. Senator Mullin asked for unanimous consent to pass the bill. Senator Sanders objected and offered a modification to the request. Senator Mullin objected.
4:06 p.m. Senators Moody and Scott of Florida spoke in support of S.3082 – American Shores Protection Act of 2025. Senator Moody then asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to pass S. 3082. Senator Lee objected.
4:02 p.m. By a vote of 69-27, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination Douglas Weaver, to be a Member of the NRC.
- Senators not voting: Coons, Ernst, Grassley, and Lujan
- Democrats/Independents voting in favor: Duckworth, Fetterman, Gallego, Hassan, Heinrich, Kelly, Kim, King (I), Klobuchar, Merkley, Ossoff, Padilla, Reed, Schiff, Shaheen, Slotkin, Welch, and Whitehouse.
3:21 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Douglas Weaver, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
3:20 p.m. By a vote of 67-30, the Senate confirmed Jared Isaacman to be Administrator of NASA.
- Democrats/Independents voting in favor: Baldwin, Cantwell, Durbin, Fetterman, Gallego, Gillibrand, Hassan, Heinrich, Kaine, Kelly, Kim, King (I), Schiff, Shaheen, Slotkin, and Warner.
- Senators not voting: Coons, Ernst, and Grassley.
2:38 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Jared Isaacman to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
2:35 p.m. Senator Moran spoke in support of the Isaacman nomination and NASA.
2:20 p.m. Senators Cruz, Cantwell, and Moran spoke on the January 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision and the ROTOR Act. Senator Cruz achieved passage of S.2503, as amended, through unanimous consent.
2:09 p.m. Senator Schiff spoke on the Venezuela boat strikes and asked unanimous consent for the Senate to pass the bill at the desk to require the release of video strikes conducted on September 2nd, 2025, against designated terrorist organizations in the area of responsibility of the U.S. Southern Command. Senator Mullin objected.
1:58 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke on recent attacks on Americans around the world.
1:45 p.m. Senator Banks spoke on his trip to the Reagan Presidential Library and military recruitment.
1:37 p.m. Senator Peters spoke on the national debt.
1:32 p.m. Senator Tuberville paid tribute to recently-passed Ella Cook, a victim of the Brown University shooting.
1:24 p.m. Senator Cotton paid tribute to recently-passed Norman Podhoretz, a political commentator.
1:04 p.m. Senator Lee spoke on land management policy legislation. He then asked unanimous consent for the Senate to pass the following legislation en bloc: S. 1084, S. 1142, S. 1016 (as amended), and S. 603. Senator Heinrich objected; he expressed his concern about procedure and spoke against S. 1084.
1:03 p.m. By a vote of 67-30, the Senate invoked cloture on Jared Isaacman to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
- Democrats/Independents voting in favor: Baldwin, Cantwell, Durbin, Fetterman, Gallego, Gillibrand, Hassan, Heinrich, Kaine, Kelly, Kim, King (I), Schiff, Shaheen, Slotkin, and Warner.
- Senators not voting: Coons, Ernst, and Grassley.
12:26 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Jared Isaacman to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
12:25 p.m. By a vote of 77-20, the Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.1071, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026.
- Democrats/Independents voting in favor: Senators Alsobrooks, Baldwin, Blumenthal, Blunt Rochester, Cortez Masto, Durbin, Fetterman, Gallego, Gillibrand, Hassan, Heinrich, Hickenlooper, Hirono, Kaine, Kelly, King (I), Lujan, Peters, Reed, Rosen, Schumer, Shaheen, Slotkin, Warner, Warnock and Whitehouse.
- Republicans voting against: Senators and Paul.
- Senators not voting: Coons, Ernst, and Grassley.
11:38 a.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.1071, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.
11:30 a.m. Senator Wicker spoke on the NDAA.
11:22 a.m. Senator Cantwell spoke in favor of the nominations of Jared Isaacman to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and extreme weather in the Midwest.
11:10 a.m. Senator Padilla spoke on federal spending.
10:57 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the economy, the Coast Guard, health care, Venezuela and wished Herman Vasquez a happy retirement after 28 years of service to the United States Senate.
10:36 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about affordability.
10:30 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about Republican accomplishments.
10:17 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about nominations.
10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.
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The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.1071, {National Defense Authorization Act of 2026}.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., all post-cloture time will be considered expired, and the Senate will proceed to two roll call votes relative to the following:
• Motion to concur in the House amendment to S.1071, National Defense Authorization Act of 2026.
• Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Jared Isaacman to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
If cloture is invoked, there will be up to 2 hours of debate, then the Senate will proceed to two roll call votes relative to the following:
• Confirmation of the nomination of Jared Isaacman to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
• Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Douglas Weaver to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Additional roll call votes are expected during Wednesday’s session.
