6:20 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
6:05 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke about the death of George Floyd and the protest at Lafayette Park on June 1st.
5:25 p.m. Senator Booker spoke about racial bias and the associated cycle of violence.
5:23 p.m. ML McConnell announced at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, June 3rd, the Senate will proceed to a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #656 James H. Anderson to be a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense.
At 2:15 pm, the Senate will proceed to 2 votes: 1. (If cloture is invoked) Confirmation of Exec. Cal. #656 Anderson to be a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense 2. Motion to invoke cloture on Exec. Cal. #644 Tipton to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of TX
At 4:30 pm, if cloture is invoked, the Senate will proceed to a vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #644 Drew B. Tipton to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas.
5:22 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Brian Miller to be Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery by a tally of 51-40.
Senator Jones voted yes.
4:46 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Brian Miller to be Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery.
4:45 p.m. DL Schumer objected to ML McConnell’s unanimous consent request.
4:41 p.m. ML McConnell objected to DL Schumer’s unanimous consent request and asked consent to call up and pass S.Res. 601.
4:35 p.m. DL Schumer spoke about yesterday’s protests in D.C and asked u.c. to call up and pass S.Con.Res. _ , expressing the Sense of Congress that the constitutional rights of Americans to peaceably assemble, exercise freedom of speech, and petition the government for redress of grievances must be respected; that violence and looting are unlawful, unacceptable and contrary to the purpose of peaceful protests; and that Congress condemns the President of the United States for ordering Federal officers to use gas and rubber bullets against the Americans who were peaceably protesting in Lafayette Square in Washington, DC on the night of June 1, 2020, thereby violating the constitutional rights of those peaceful protesters.
4:22 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke about the death of George Floyd.
4:12 p.m. Senator Duckworth asked unanimous consent that the Senate pass S.1938. Senator Graham objected. Senator Duckworth spoke about the death of George Floyd.
3:52 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke about the death of George Floyd and the current unrest.
Senator Jones voted YES.
Senators NOT voting: Cramer, Hoeven, Markey, Rounds, Sanders, Schatz, Stabenow, Tester, and Whitehouse.
3:51 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Miller nomination by a vote of 51 to 40.
3:06 p.m. Roll call began on motion to invoke cloture on Brian D. Miller to be Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
3:07 p.m. By a tally of 75-15 the Senate confirmed the nomination of Victor Mercado to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
Senators voting NO: Blumenthal, Booker, Cantwell, Gillibrand, Harris, Klobuchar, Leahy, Merkley, Murray, Schumer, Smith, Udall, Van Hollen, Warren, and Wyden.
Senators NOT voting: Cramer, Heinrich, Hoeven, Markey, Rounds, Sanders, Schatz, Stabenow, Tester, and Whitehouse.
2:15 p.m. The Senate reconvened and began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Victor Mercado to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
12:25 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m.
12:24 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the Mercado nomination by a vote of 75-14.
Senators not voting: Cramer, Heinrich, Hoeven, Leahy, Markey, Rounds, Sanders, Schatz, Stabenow, Tester, and Whitehouse.
11:45 a.m. Roll call vote began on the motion to invoke cloture on Victor Mercado to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
11:25 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about the death of George Floyd and the hijacking of peaceful protests.
11:13 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the work of the Senate Judiciary committee and on the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation.
11:03 a.m. Senator Portman spoke about racial inequities and the deaths of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.
10:47 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about the death of George Floyd.
10:34 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the death of George Floyd and the current unrest as well as covid-19.
10:04 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke on the death of George Floyd and current unrest as well as covid-19. He filed cloture on exec. cal. #697 Michael Pack to be Chief Executive Officer of the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
10:03 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about covid-19.
The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and will resume consideration of the nomination of Victor Mercado to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
There are 4 votes expected today:
11:45 a.m.
1. Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Victor G. Mercado to be Assistant Secretary of Defense
2:15 p.m.
2. Confirmation of Mercado
3. Motion to invoke cloture on Brian D. Miller to be Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
4:30 p.m.
4. Confirmation of Miller (if cloture is invoked)
The Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. for weekly policy lunches.
Cloture was filed on the following last week:
1. Victor Mercado to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
2. Brian Miller to be Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery.
3. James Anderson to be a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense.
4. Drew Tipton to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
