Thursday, August 6, 2020

6:00 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, August 10. No legislation or votes are scheduled at this time.

Confirmed during wrap-up:

·       Executive Calendar #833 – Hester Maria Peirce, of Ohio, to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission for a term expiring June 5, 2025. (Reappointment)

Executive Calendar #834 – Caroline A. Crenshaw, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission for a term expiring June 5, 2024.

·       Executive Calendar #810 – Christopher Miller, of Virginia, to Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence

·       Executive Calendar #820 – Col. Jason G. Woodworth to be Brigadier General

·       Executive Calendar #821 – Lt. Gen. James H. Dickinson to be General

·       Executive Calendar. #822 – Lt. Gen. Glen D. VanHerck to be General

·       Executive Calendar #823 – Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark to be Lieutenant General

·       Executive Calendar #824 – Maj. Gen. Sam C. Barrett to be Lieutenant General

·       Executive Calendar #825 – Maj. Gen. Nina M. Armagno to be Major General

·       Executive Calendar #826 – Maj. Gen. William J. Liquori, Jr to be Major General

·       Executive Calendar #827 – Maj. Gen. Bradley C. Saltzman to be Major General

·       Executive Calendar #828 – Maj. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting to be Major General

·       Executive Calendar #829 – Maj. Gen. Nina M. Armagno to be Lieutenant General

·       Executive Calendar #830 – Maj. Gen. William J. Liquori, Jr to be Lieutenant General

·       Executive Calendar #831 – Maj. Gen. Bradley C. Saltzman to be Lieutenant General

·       Executive Calendar #832 – Maj. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting to be Lieutenant General

·       Executive Calendar #549 – Sung Y. Kim, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Indonesia

·       Executive Calendar #792 – Natalie E. Brown, of Nebraska, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Uganda

·       Executive Calendar #793 – Sandra E. Clark, of Maryland, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Burkina Faso

·       Executive Calendar #794 – Joseph Manso, of New York, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

·       Executive Calendar #795 – Henry T. Wooster, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

·       Executive Calendar #796 – Jason Myung-lk Chung, of Virginia, to be United States Director of the Asian Development Bank, with the rank of Ambassador

·       Executive Calendar #797 – Richard M. Mills, Jr., of Texas, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be the Deputy Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and the Deputy Representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations

·       Executive Calendar #798 – William Ellison Grayson, of California, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Estonia

·       Executive Calendar #802 – William W. Popp, of Missouri, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Guatemala

·       Executive Calendar #803 – J. Steven Dowd, of Florida, to be United States Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

·       Executive Calendar #804 – Ramsey Coats Day, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development

·       Executive Calendar #806 – Richard M. Mills, Jr., of Texas, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations, during his tenure of service as Deputy Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations

·       Executive Calendar #807 – Jenny A. McGee, of Texas, to be an Associate Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development

Passed during wrap up:

S.3455: to prohibit certain individuals from downloading or using TikTok on any device issued by the United States or a government corporation with a committee-reported substitute amendment.

S.4075: to amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to provide for the release of certain federal interests in connection with certain grants under that Act, and for other purposes.

S.3703: to amend the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act to improve the prevention of elder abuse and exploitation of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

S.2299  with Wicker substitute amendment: PIPES Act of 2019.

S.Res.676: Legal Counsel.

S.Res.677: designating August 16, as “National Airborne Day”.

S.Res.678: designating September 2020 as “National Child Awareness Month”.

S.Res.659: designating September 2020 as “School Bus Safety Month”.

S.J.Res.74 with Thune amendment: Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

S.Con.Res.37: honoring the life and work of Louis Lorenzo Redding, whose lifelong dedication to civil rights and service stand as an example of leadership for all people.

5:29 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about education during Covid-19 and also about funding negotiations.

5:11 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about Covid-19 funding negotiations.

5:00 p.m. Senator Hassan spoke about the Covid-19 funding negotiations.

4:45 p.m. Senator Coons spoke about the Covid-19 funding negotiations.

4:30 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke about the Senate leaving during negotiations.

4:12 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke about the Covid-19 funding negotiations.

4:00 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about the Alaskan of the Week.

3:36 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the latest relief package.

3:06 p.m. Senators Portman and Sullivan spoke about continued Covid-19 funding negotiations. Senator Portman asked u.c. to call up and pass S_ – Extending Unemployment at $600 for one week. Senator Wyden objected.

2:48 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about the murder of American citizen, Tahir Ahmed Naseem and on Blasphemy laws. Senator Lankford asked u.c. to call up and pass S.Res. 458, A resolution calling for the global repeal of blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws. Senator Menendez objected.

2:18 p.m. Senator Hirono spoke about essential workers like grocery store clerks and truck drivers.

2:11 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke supporting the S. 494, American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act. Senator Gillibrand asked u.c. to modify Senator Sullivan’s request and include S. 908, Fluke Fairness Act. Senator Tillis objected to Senator Gillibrand’s request. Senator Gillibrand objected to Senator Sullivan’s original request.

2:11 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of John Cronan to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York by a tally of 55-42.

Democrats voting AYE: Senators Jones, Manchin, Sinema and Tester.

Senators not voting: Alexander, Blackburn and Duckworth.

1:30 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of John Peter Cronan to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York.

1:20 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about multi-employer pension system.

12:56 p.m. Senator Loeffler spoke about the 50th anniversary of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. S. Res. 668, honoring the 50th anniversary of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center was agreed to by unanimous consent.

12:31 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke on negotiations on the next Covid-19 package.

12:24 p.m. Senators Hawley and Scott of FL spoke about TikTok security threats. Senator Hawley asked u.c. to call up and pass S. 3455, No TikTok on Government Devices Act, as amended. The measure passed.

12:23 p.m. The invoked cloture on the nomination of John Cronan to be a Judge for the Southern District of NY by a tally of 55-42.

Democrats voting AYE: Senators Jones, Manchin, Sinema and Tester.

11:30 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on cloture on the nomination of John Cronan to be a Judge for the Southern District of New York.

11:10 a.m. Senators Ernst and Grassley spoke honoring Sarah Root and in support of “Sarah’s Law”. Senator Ernst asked u.c. to call up and pass S. 285, Sarah’s Law. Senator Udall objected.

10:56 a.m. Senator Smith spoke on reforming the criminal justice system.

10:49 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the economy in Iowa.

10:28 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about ongoing Covid-19 funding negotiations.

10:18 a.m. DL Schumer spoke on negotiations on the next Covid-19 package.

9:34 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke on negotiations on the next Covid-19 package.

9:32 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the Meskwaki tribe in Iowa.

9:30 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. and resume consideration of the nomination of John Cronan to be a Judge for the Southern District of New York.

At 11:30 a.m., the Senate will vote on cloture on the Cronan nomination.

At 1:30 p.m., if cloture is invoked, the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Cronan nomination.