5:05 p.m. the Senate adjourned.
5:02 p.m. Senator Baldwin wrapped up for the day. The nomination of Deanne Criswell to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was agreed to by unanimous consent.
4:30 p.m. Senator Carper commemorated earth day.
4:12 p.m. Senator Collins spoke on the Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act.
3:53 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on immigration.
3:40 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke on the Alaskan of he week, regarding the breakup of the ice ahead of spring and summer. He paid tribute to Beth Trowbridge.
3:15 p.m Senator Portman spoke on opiod prescriptions and drug abuse.
2:55 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about unemployment benefits and the pandemic.
2:35 p.m. Senator Cassidy spoke on recently capsized vessels.
2:25 p.m. Senator Kennedy spoke supporting the hate crimes legislation and suggested it does not go far enough. Senator Kennedy also spoke about the opioid crisis. Senator Kennedy asked unanimous consent to call up and pass, S.957, A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that certain medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs have physical locations for the disposal of controlled substances medications with a Kennedy amendment was passed by unanimous consent.
2:19 p.m. Senator Cantwell spoke supporting the hate crimes legislation.
2:18 p.m. ML Leader Schumer filed cloture on the motion to proceed to Cal. #34, S.914, Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021.
2:17 p.m. ML Schumer filed cloture on Executive Calendar #58 Jason Scott Miller to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget.
2:16 p.m. ML Schumer filed cloture on Executive Calendar #68 Colin Hackett Kahl to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
2:15 p.m. ML Schumer filed cloture on Executive Calendar #54 Janet Garvin McCabe to be Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
2:14 p.m. ML Schumer filed cloture on Executive Calendar #59 Deanne Bennett Criswell to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
2:13 p.m. The Senate passed S. 937, Covid-19 Hate Crimes, as amended by a vote of 94-1. Voting against: Senator Hawley.
Not voting: Senators Blackburn, Klobuchar, Lee, Paul & Smith.
1:45 p.m. The Senate began a vote on passage of S. 937,
COVID-19 Hate Crimes, as amended. (60 vote affirmative threshold)
1:43 p.m. Senators Hirono and Schumer spoke supporting the hate crimes legislation.
1:42 p.m. The Blackburn amendment was not agreed to, 46-51 with Republicans Blunt, Collins and Hawley joining all Democrats and Independents against. Senators Klobuchar, Lee and Smith did not vote.
1:11 p.m. Roll call vote began on the Blackburn amendment with a 60 vote threshold.
1:10 p.m. The Lee amendment was not agreed to on a party line tally of 49-48 with 2 Democrats: Klobuchar and Smith and Republican Lee absent. (60 vote threshold)
12:28 p.m. Roll call vote began on the Lee amendment with a 60 vote threshold.
12:26 p.m. The Cruz-Kennedy amendment was not agreed to on a party line tally of 49-48 with 2 Democrats: Klobuchar and Smith and Republican Lee absent. (60 vote threshold)
11:46 a.m. Roll call vote began on the Cruz-Kennedy amendment, with a 60 vote threshold.
11:27 a.m. Senator Collins, Cotton, Hirono and Cruz spoke on S. 937, Covid-19 hate crimes legislation.
11:16 a.m. Senator Kaine spoke supporting the House legislation on DC statehood.
11:13 a.m. Senator Moran spoke on the hate crimes legislation.
11:06 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on infrastructure.
11:00 a.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke on the hate crimes legislation.
10:48 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on climate change.
10:30 a.m. RL McConnell spoke on the Paris climate agreement and on election laws.
10:12 a.m. ML Schumer spoke supporting the Anti-Asian Hate Crime legislation, on DC statehood, on methane emissions and on Armenian genocide.
10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.
*****
The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m.
Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.937, hate crimes legislation.
On Wednesday evening, the cloture motions with respect to Hirono amendment #1445 and S.937 were withdrawn.
At 11:30 a.m., the Senate will vote in relation Cruz-Kennedy amendment #1456, Lee amendment #1425, and Blackburn amendment #1458. Those amendments are the only amendments in order. Following disposition of those amendments, by unanimous consent, Hirono amendment #1445, as amended if amended, will be agreed to. Then, the Senate will vote on passage of S.937, as amended. There will be four minutes of debate equally divided prior to each vote. Each vote on the amendments and on the bill is subject to a 60-affirmative vote threshold.
Thursday, April 22nd at 11:30 a.m. – 4 roll call votes expected (60-vote thresholds):
- 1. Cruz-Kennedy amendment #1456 (re: Prohibiting discrimination in higher education)
- 2. Lee amendment #1425 (re: Report on religious liberty during the pandemic)
- 3. Blackburn amendment #1458
- 4. Passage of S.937, Hate crimes legislation, as amended.