10:04 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 1, 2025.
9:55 p.m. ML Thune achieved passage of the following by UC:
1. S Res 361, designating August 16, 2025 as National Airborne Day.
2. S Res 362, printing the Senate Manual for the 118th Congress.
9:53 p.m. ML Thune achieved confirmation by UC of the following nominations en bloc, Exec Cal 325-340 (all military nominations) except for PN 89.
9:45 p.m. Majority Leader filed cloture on the following nominations:
1. Andrew Puzder to be US Representative/Ambassador to the European Union.
2. Brian Burch to be Ambassador to the Vatican.
3. Jason Quinones to be US Attorney for the Southern District.
4. Jeanine Pirro to be US Attorney for the District of Columbia.
5. Luke Lindberg to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.
6. Catherine Hanson to be Chief Financial Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency.
7. John Arrigo to be Ambassador to Portugal.
8. Sean Cairncross to be National Cyber Director.
9. Adam Telle to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army.
10. Marcus Molinaro to be Federal Transit Administrator.
9:43 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke on the appropriations process.
9:37 p.m. Majority Leader Thune spoke on the appropriations process.
9:22 p.m. Senator Collins spoke on the appropriations process.
8:38 p.m. Senator Moran spoke on appropriations and asked unanimous consent to add the Agriculture, Legislative Branch, and Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bills to H.R. 3944; the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. Senator Van Hollen asked Senator Moran to modify his request to include the Van Hollen amendment #3126. Senator Moran objected to the modification and Senator Van Hollen objected to the underlying request.
8:38 p.m. By a vote of 52-45, the Senate invoked cloture on Nicholas Kent to be Under Secretary of Education.
Not voting: Senators Kelly, Gallego, and Tillis.
8:10 p.m. The Senate began voting on cloture on the nomination of Nicholas Kent to be Under Secretary of Education.
8:09 p.m. On a party line vote of 52-45, the Senate invoked cloture on the Woll nomination. Not voting: Gallego, Kelly, and Tillis.
7:55 p.m. The Senate began voting on cloture on the nomination of David Wall to be General Counsel at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
7:54 p.m. On a party line vote of 52-44, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Casey Mulligan to be Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Small Business Administration.
Not voting: Gallego, Kelly, Tillis and Warnock.
7:43 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Casey Mulligan to be Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Small Business Administration.
7:42 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Lucas nomination on a party line vote of 52-45.
Not voting: Senators Gallego, Kelly, and Tillis.
7:06 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the nomination of Andrea Lucas to be a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
7:02 p.m. Senator Ernst spoke supporting the nomination of Casey Mulligan to be Chief Counsel for Advocacy, SBA.
6:12 p.m. Senator Markey spoke about government funding.
5:44 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke on the President’s legislative accomplishments.
5:06 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke on Presidential nominees.
4:45 p.m. Senator Warnock spoke on Gaza.
4:33 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke about Israel and Hamas.
4:17 p.m. Senator Kennedy spoke on Medicaid.
4:17 p.m. By a vote of 53-44, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Matthew Kozma to be Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security. Party line vote. Senators Duckworth, Gallego, and Kelly did not vote.
3:46 p.m. Majority Leader Thune announced that at 7:00 p.m. today, the Senate will proceed to four roll call votes on the following:
- Confirmation of Executive Calendar #254 Andrea Lucas to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring July 1, 2030. (Reappointment)
- Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #59 Casey Mulligan to be Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Small Business Administration.
- Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #118 David Woll to be General Counsel of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #165 Nicholas Kent to be Under Secretary of Education.
3:45 p.m. By a vote of 53-44, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Andrea Lucas to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
- Senators not voting: Duckworth, Gallego, and Kelly.
3:16 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Andrea Lucas to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
3:15 p.m. By a vote of 53-45, the Senate confirmed Cheryl Mason to be Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs. It was a party line vote with Senators Gallego and Kelly not voting.
2:44 p.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of Cheryl Mason to be Inspector General, Department of Veteran Affairs.
2:43 p.m. By a vote of 59-39, the Senate confirmed Gadyaces Serralta to be Director of the United States Marshals Service. Democrat/Independent senators who voted in favor: Durbin, Fetterman, Hassan, Kaine, King, and Shaheen. Senators Gallego and Kelly did not vote.
2:10 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Gadyaces Serralta to be Director of the United States Marshals Service.
1:46 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke on inspectors general and the Mason nomination.
1:40 p.m. Senator Ricketts paid tribute to former Chicago Cubs’ second baseman Ryne Sandberg.
12:50 p.m. Senator Tillis spoke on tariffs on Brazilian imports. He then spoke on blue slips and district judge nominations.
12:21 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on presidential nominees.
12:07 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel.
12:06 p.m. By a vote of 52-45, the Senate confirmed Tyler Clarkson to be General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture. Party line vote. Senators Crapo, Gallego, Kelly did not vote.
11:33 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Tyler Clarkson to be General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture.
11:33 a.m. By a vote of 53-41, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Cheryl Mason to be Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs. It was a party line vote with Senators Blumenthal, Cantwell, Gallego, Hassan, Kelly, and Warren not voting.
10:55 a.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Cheryl Mason to be Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs
10:43 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about healthcare, the One Big Beautiful Bill and nominations.
10:30 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about trade, social security and the rail merger.
10:14 a.m. Majority Leader Thune spoke on the bipartisan appropriations process and nominations.
10:13 a.m. HR. 4016, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026 was placed on the Calendar under Rule XIV.
10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about local pharmacy’s and drug costs.
10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.
***
The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m., and following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and resume consideration of the nomination of Cheryl Mason to be Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs.
At approximately 11:00 a.m. the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Cheryl Mason to be Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs, followed by a vote on confirmation of the nomination of Tyler Clarkson to be General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture.
At approximately 2:15 p.m. the Senate will vote on confirmation of Gadyaces Serralta to be Director of the United States Marshals Service. Following disposition of the Serralta nomination, the Senate will vote on confirmation of Cheryl Mason to be Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs. Following disposition of the Mason nomination, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Andrea Lucas to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring July 1, 2030, followed by a vote on confirmation of Matthew Kozma to be Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security.
Additional roll call votes are expected during today’s session.
