Thursday, April 29, 2021

5:11 p.m. The Senate adjourned.

4:48 p.m. Senator Kaine wrapped up for the day.

Passed in wrap-up:

Adopted S. Res 189 regarding the University of Kentucky’s women’s volleyball team.

Passed S. 321, awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the “Six Triple Eight”.

Adopted en bloc: S. Res 196, regarding a national day of awareness for missing and murdered native women and girls; S. Res 197 regarding silver star service banner day; S. Res 198 regarding teacher appreciation week; S Res 199 regarding attacks in Atlanta; and S Res 200 regarding Asian American and Pacific Islander hate crimes.

HR 2630 regarding the emergency scheduling of fentanyl analogues act. 

Confirmed the following nominations:

Bill Nelson to be Administrator of NASA.

Richard Sauber to be General Counsel for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Victoria Nuland to be Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. Gayle Manchin to be Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission

4:16 p.m. Senators Cornyn and Blackburn spoke on the address last night by President Biden.

3:48 p.m. Senators Murkowski, Sullivan, Blumenthal and Lee spoke on S. 593, the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act.

2:40 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke on President Biden’s address to congress.

2:35 p.m. Senator Duckworth paid tribute to her staffer Kaitlyn Fahey.

2:34 p.m. By a vote of 89-2, S. 914, as amended was passed. Voting no: Senators Cruz and Lee. Not voting: Cantwell, Cardin, Cramer, Moran, Paul, Rounds, Shelby, Tillis and Van Hollen.

1:35 p.m. The Senate began voting on the passage of S. 914-amend the Safe Drinking Water Act.

1:32 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke in support of the water infrastructure bill.

1:21 p.m. Senator Carper spoke on the water infrastructure bill.

1:15 p.m. Senator Capitol spoke on the water infrastructure bill.

1:13 p.m. The Senate agreed to H.R. 2630, an act to amend the temporary reauthorization and study of the emergency scheduling of fentanyl analogues act to extend it until October 2021 on fentanyl related substances, by voice vote.

1:07 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on Fentanyl.

1:06 p.m. Lee amendment #1472 was not agreed to, 41-54.

Republicans voting no: Blunt, Capito, Collins, Graham, and Tuberville.

Senators not voting: Cantwell, Cramer, Paul, Rounds, and Shelby.

12:27 p.m. The Senate began voting on Lee amendment #1472 to S.914, the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021. 60 vote threshold.

12:26 p.m. Senator Manchin spoke in opposition to Lee amendment #1472.

12:25 p.m. The Senate agreed to the Kennedy amendment #1469 by voice vote.

12:25 p.m. Senators Carper and Capito spoke in support of Kennedy amendment #1469.

12:24 p.m. Senator Kennedy spoke on his amendment #1469.

12:24 p.m. The Senate agreed to Shaheen amendment #1461 by voice vote.

12:23 p.m. Senator Capito spoke in support of amendment #1461.

12:23 p.m. Senator Carper spoke in support of amendment #1461.

12:22 p.m. Senator Collins spoke in support of amendment #1461.

12:21 p.m. Senator Shaheen spoke in support of her amendment, #1461.

12:20 p.m. The Rubio/Scott amendment #1471 was not agreed to by a vote of 14 to 81.

Senators voting yes: Burr, Cornyn, Crapo, Cruz, Kelly, Lee, Ossof, Risch, Romney, Rubio, Scott (FL), Sinema, Tillis, and Warnock.

Senators not voting: Cantwell, Cramer, Paul, Rounds, and Shelby.

11:37 a.m. The Senate began voting on the Rubio/Scott amendment #1471 to S. 914 the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act 2021.

11:36 a.m. Senator Capitol spoke against the Rubio/Scott admt. #1471.

11:31 a.m. Senator Rubio spoke on the water infrastucture bill and asked unanimous consent to make a modification to Rubio/Scott admt. #1471 regarding a small typo. Senator Carper objected.

11:19 a.m. Senator Carper spoke on the water infrastructure bill.

11:13 a.m. Senator Lee spoke on the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act.

11:00 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on the Green New Deal.

10:35 a.m. Senator Carper spoke on the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021.

10:25 a.m. RL McConnell spoke about President Biden’s address to congress.

S.198, Congratulating the University of Kentucky Women’s Volleyball Team for Winning the 2020 National Collegiate Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship, was passed by unanimous consent.

10:08 a.m. ML Schumer spoke about President Biden’s address to congress. He also filed cloture on:

Cynthia Minette Marten, CA, to be Deputy Secretary of State (Political Affairs).

Andrea Joan Palm, WI, to be Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and will resume consideration of S. 914, Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 with the following amendments in order:

  • Rubio/Scott #1471 (as modified)
  • Shaheen #1461
  • Kennedy #1469
  • Lee #1472

At 11:30 the Senate will vote on the amendments in the order listed with 60 affirmative votes required for the adoption of the Lee amendment and also for passage of the bill. At 1:45 p.m. the Senate will vote on passage of the bill.