1:47 a.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 24th.
1:46 a.m. ML McConnell announced pro forma sessions on December 24th at 10:00 a.m. and on December 28th at 10:00 a.m. and that the Senate will return on December 29th at 12:00 p.m. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business. Votes are possible on December 29th.
1:44 a.m. ML McConnell asked consent to call up nominations en bloc, P.N. 1938, P.N. 2024, P.N. 2101, P.N. 2030 and P.N. 2025.
1:42 a.m. ML McConnell spoke on the NDAA and potential veto override.
12:56 a.m. Senator Boozman asked unanimous consent to call up and pass H.Con.Res. 127, making a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 133. Passed by unanimous consent.
12:56 a.m. Senator Boozman asked unanimous consent to call up and pass H.R. 1492, Yucca House National Monument Expansion Act. Passed by unanimous consent.
12:55 a.m. Senator Boozman asked unanimous consent to call up and pass H.R. 1418, Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act. Passed by unanimous consent.
12:54 a.m. Senator Boozman asked unanimous consent to call up and pass H.R. 2502, Transparency in Federal Buildings Projects Act of 2019. The bill was passed by unanimous consent.
12:52 a.m. Senator Boozman asked unanimous consent to call up and pass H.R. 3153, EFFORT Act with the Wicker substitute amendment was passed by voice vote, as amended.
12:36 a.m. Senator Boozman asked unanimous consent to call up and pass S.Res. 682, A resolution recognizing the devastating explosion that rocked the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, and expressing solidarity with the Lebanese people. Adopted by unanimous consent.
12:35 a.m. Senator Boozman asked unanimous consent to call up and pass S.Res. 774, A resolution honoring the United Nations World Food Programme on the occasion of being awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize w/Boozman amend. Adopted by unanimous consent.
11:39 p.m. Passed, 92-6: Motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.133, the legislative vehicle for the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
Senators voting against: Blackburn, Cruz, Johnson, Lee, Paul and Scott of FL.
Not voting: Senators Enzi and Rounds.
10:45 p.m. The Senate began a vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.133, the legislative vehicle for the COVID/Omnibus appropriations bill (60 vote affirmative threshold)
10:45 p.m. The Senate passed H.Con.Res. 128 – 7-day CR by voice vote.
10:44 p.m. The Senate passed by voice vote H.R. 1520, an act to amend the public health service act to provide for the publication of a list of licensed biological products, with an amendment to the Senate amendment.
10:20 p.m. Senator Hoeven, Cramer and Lankford spoke on the wind production tax credit. Senator Hoeven asked unanimous consent
to strike a 1 yr extension of the wind production tax credit from H.R. 133, Omnibus-Covid bill. Senator Wyden objected.
10:13 p.m. ML McConnell asked u.c. that the Senate proceed to up to an hour of debate on concurring in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 133, Omnibus-Covid bill (60 vote affirmative threshold).
9:45 p.m. By a vote of 48-47, the Senate confirmed Executive Calendar #904, Eric J. Soskin to be Inspector General, Department of Transportation.
9:28 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Cal. #904 Eric J. Soskin to be Inspector General, Department of Transportation.
9:18 p.m. ML McConnell paid tribute to the Offices of the Secretary of the Senate, Parliamentarians, Senate Sergeant at Arms, Architect of the Capitol, Attending Physicians office, Cloakrooms, U.S. Capitol Police and Senate staff.
9:00 p.m. Senator Collins spoke supporting the omnibus/Covid funding legislation.
8:42 p.m. Senator Moran paid tribute to Sheriff Alan Weber.
8:40 p.m. Senator Cantwell spoke about safety management.
8:02 p.m. Senator Casey is speaking on the Russia’s hacking into government agencies. Senator Barrasso spoke on the Covid Omnibus bill.
7:55 p.m. Senator Bur and Tillis ask for unanimous consent to pass legislation recognizing the Lumbee Indians which was objected to.
Senator Booker propounded an unanimous consent agreement to confirm nominations for the State Department which was objected to by Senator Risch. Senator Risch proposed adding confirmation to Senator booker’s list and nomination for Ambassador of Pakistan, which Senator Booker would not agree to.
6:55 The Senate agreed to the motion to reconsider Executive Calendar #904 Eric J. Soskin to be Inspector General, Department of Transportation by a tally of 48-46.
6:23 p.m. The vote on the motion to proceed to the motion to reconsider passed 48-46. The Senate is now voting on the motion to reconsider the cloture vote of the same nomination.
5:40 p.m. Senate now voting on motion to proceed to the motion reconsider the cloture vote of Executive Calendar #904 Eric J. Soskin to be Inspector General, Department of Transportation.
5:06 p.m. Senator Murkowski spoke about Covid vaccines in Alaska and then to discuss “Title Z”, an energy act within H.R. 113, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
4:20 p.m. Senator Schumer paid tribute to his staff and Senator Sullivan spoke on the “Alaskan of the Week”.
4:00 p.m. The Senate passed the following bills by unanimous consent:
S. 371, regarding housing relief; H.R. 3250, regarding Interior Department report; H.R. 5472 regarding Jimmy Carter National Park; and H.R. 5126, regarding fishing.
3:45 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on H.R. 113, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (Covid and omnibus package).
3:10 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell and Senators Grassley, Thune, Schumer, Durbin, Leahy, Kolbuchar, Tillis, Capito, Paul and Leahy all spoke in regard to H.R. 113, the Covid/Omnibus appropriations bill. The Senate is expected to vote on this legislation today.
3:10 p.m. The Senate passed S.Res 625, encouraging Americans to buy American by unanimous consent. Senator Scott, FL, spoke in favor.
The Senate will convene at 12:00 noon and be in a period of morning business.
There are no votes scheduled at this time, but it is expected the Senate will consider the omnibus/Covid relief package during Monday’s session.
