7:12 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 10:00am on Thursday, March 10, 2022. The Senate will not be in session on Wednesday. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. As a reminder, the confirmation vote on Executive Calendar #547 Maria L. Pagan, of Puerto Rico, to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (Geneva Office), with the rank of Ambassador will be at a time to be determined. The Senate is expected to begin processing appropriations legislation as early as Thursday. The current CR expires at midnight on Friday, March 11th.
During wrap-up:
- S.Res.539 – directing the Architect of the Capitol to obtain and place a memorial plaque for United States Capitol Police Officer William F. Evans at the north security kiosk of the Capitol, was adopted by unanimous consent.
- S.66 – South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act, was passed by unanimous consent.
- S.2299 – CADETS Act, was passed by voice vote.
6:52 p.m. Senator Casey spoke in support of the nomination of Elizabeth Watson to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor and asked unanimous consent that the Senate confirm her nomination. Senator Braun objected. Senator Casey also spoke on the STURDY Act.
6:52 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the Pagan nomination, 78-19.
Senators voting No: Blackburn, Boozman, Braun, Cotton, Cruz, Hawley, Hyde-Smith, Johnson, Lankford, Lee, Lummis, Marshall, Paul, Rubio, Scott (FL), Scott (SC), Shelby, Sullivan, and Tuberville.
Not voting: Hagerty, Inhofe, and Sanders.
6:23 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #547, Maria L. Pagan to be a Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (Geneva Office), with the rank of Ambassador.
6:22 p.m. H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act was agreed to, 79-19. By unanimous consent, the cloture petition was withdrawn on the Gonzalez nomination.
Voting No: Senators Blackburn, Braun, Cornyn, Crapo, Cruz, Hyde-Smith, Johnson, Lankford, Lee, Paul, Risch, Romney, Rubio, Sasse, Scott, Scott, Shelby, Toomey and Tuberville.
Not voting: Senators Hagerty and Inhofe.
5:57 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act.
5:54 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke on the Postal Service Reform Act.
5:52 p.m. Senator Portman spoke on the Postal Service Reform Act.
5:52 p.m. The motion to waive the Budget Act was agreed to, 68-30.
5:04 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to H.R. 3076.
5:03 p.m. Senator Sanders spoke on the Postal Service Reform Act.
5:00 p.m. Senator Scott (FL) spoke on the Postal Service Reform Act.
4:56 p.m. Senator Peters spoke on the Postal Service Reform Act.
4:48 p.m. Senator Portman spoke on energy and the Postal Service Reform Act.
4:14 p.m. Senator Reed spoke on energy and asked unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the following nominations: Executive Calendar #s 599 (Ashish S. Vazirani to be a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense), 477 (Alex Wagner to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force), 472 (Rachel Jacobson to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army). Senator Hawley objected.
4:05 p.m. Senator Carper spoke on the Postal Service Reform Act.
3:58 p.m. Senator Moran spoke on the Postal Service Reform Act.
3:49 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on pharmacies.
3:47 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer received unanimous consent for amendment #4955 to H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act, to be withdrawn and the Senate proceed to four votes at 4:50 p.m.:
- The motion to waive the Budget point of order with respect to H.R.3076.
- Passage of H.R.3076, a bill to provide stability to and enhance the services of the United States Postal Service, and for other purposes.
- Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Maria L. Pagan to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (Geneva Office), with the rank of Ambassador.
- Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Ed Gonzalez to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security.
3:29 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on energy.
3:13 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the supply chain and globalization and energy security.
3:00 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on SCOTUS nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.
2:46 p.m. Senator Scott (FL) spoke on the Postal Service Reform Act and asked unanimous consent for the Senate to vote on his amendment #4933. Senator Peters objected.
2:32 p.m. Senator Lee spoke on the Postal Service Reform bill and asked unanimous consent to vote on his amendment #4936 to H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act. Senator Peters objected.
2:15 p.m. Senators Cotton and Boozman paid tribute to Arkansas Department of Corrections Officer Sergeant Joshua Caudell and West Memphis Firefighter Jason Lang.
12:19 p.m. The Senate stands in recess for weekly caucus lunches until 2:15 p.m.
12:04 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke on International Women’s Day.
11:44 a.m. Senator Murkowski spoke on the Postal Reform bill and International Women’s Day.
11:27 a.m. Senator Haggerty spoke on the Ukraine crisis and ongoing negotiations.
11:15 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on the inflation.
11:00 a.m. Leader McConnell spoke on the situation in Ukraine and the administration’s lack of planning or assistance before the invasion.
10:45 a.m. Leader Schumer spoke on the anti-lynching legislation and the omnibus appropriations process.
The Senate meets at 10:30 a.m., following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Calendar #273, H.R.3076, Postal Service Reform Act, post-cloture.
The Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
By unanimous consent, all time during adjournment, recess, Morning Business, and Leader remarks count post-cloture on H.R.3076.
Roll Call votes are expected during Tuesday’s session but have not yet been set.
As a reminder, last week, cloture was filed on the following nominations:
1. Executive Calendar #547 Maria L. Pagan, of Puerto Rico, to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (Geneva Office), with the rank of Ambassador.
2. Executive Calendar #719 Ed Gonzalez, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security.
