Blog

Thursday, December 6, 2018

6:14  The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 4:00 on Monday, December 10. They will resume consideration of the Justin Muzinich to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury with a cloture vote on the nomination to occur at 5:30 p.m. The following bills were passed and nominations confirmed during wrap up:

 H.J.Res.143: making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2019 (CR through December 21st).
 H.R.5238: to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1234 Saint Johns Place in Brooklyn, New York, as the “Major Robert Odell Owens Post Office”.
 H.R.1861: to award a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of Lawrence Eugene ‘‘Larry’’ Doby in recognition of his achievements and contributions to American major league athletics, civil rights, and the Armed Forces during World War II.
 H.R.1417: to amend the National Law Enforcement Museum Act to allow the Museum to acquire, receive, possess, collect, ship, transport, import, and display firearms, and for other purposes.
 H.R.3398: REAL ID Act Modification for Freely Associated States Act.
 H.R.6330: Small Business Runway Extension Act
 S.3561: National Guard and Reserve Entrepreneurship Support Act
 S.2679: Excess or Surplus Property re: veteran-owned small businesses
 H.R.4111: Spurring Business in Communities Act
 S.2597: to amend the Public Health Service act to reauthorize the program of payments to children’s hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs.
 S.1942: Savanna’s Act.
 S.2343: Precision Agriculture.
 S.3119, with Risch substitute amendment: Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act.
 S.2276, with Young substitute amendment: GAO-IG Act.
 H.R.2454, with Johnson substitute amendment: DHS Security Data Framework Act.
 H.R.5075: Ashanti Alert Act.
H.R.315: Improving Access to Maternity Care Act.
Executive Calendar #1200, Vice Adm. James J. Malloy, to be Vice Admiral

4:45 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about the Anchorage earthquake.

3:59 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke about the Florida Everglades.

3:35 p.m. Senator Boozman spoke about the global war on terror.

3:01 p.m. Senator Feinstein spoke about climate change.

2:56 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about climate change.

2:52 p.m. Senator Thune paid tribute to former president George H. W. Bush.

2:36 p.m. Senator Moran paid tribute to Herb Holtzhafel of the Farmers’ Rights Cooperative and paid tribute to Kansas University head football couch Bill Snyder.

2:19 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke about fentanyl from China.

2:18 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell filed cloture on the nomination of Justin George Muzinich to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.

2:17 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Kraninger nomination by a vote of 50 to 49. Senator Tillis did not vote.

1:34 p.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of the nomination of Kathleen Kraninger to be Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

1:27 p.m. Senator Casey spoke about Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

1:16 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about prescription drug costs.

1:02 p.m. Senator Daines spoke paid tribute to Hannah Nieskens and spoke about Temporary Assitance for Needy Families program.

12:51 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about climate change.

12:50 p.m. The Senate agreed to H.J. Res. 143 by voice vote.

12:49 p.m. The McNamee nomination was confirmed by a vote of 50 to 49. Senator Tillis did not vote.

12:00 p.m. The Senate is voting on Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1153 Bernard McNamee to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2020.

11:16 a.m. Senator Lankford spoke honoring President George H.W. Bush.

11:16 a.m. The Senate resumed executive session and consideration of the McNamee nomination.

11:09 a.m. The Senate proceeded to Legislative Session. Senator Cornyn asked u.c. To pass the following bills:

  • H.R. 4111, an act to amend the small business investment act of 1958, was passed by voice vote.
  • S. 2679, Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act, the bill as amended was passed by voice vote.
  • S. 3561, National Guard and Reserve Entrepreneurship Support Act entrepreneurs serving in the National Guard, the bill as amended was passed by voice vote.
  • H.R. 6330, Small Business Runway Extension Act, was passed by voice vote.
  • H.R. 3398, Real ID Act Modification for Freely Associated States Act, passed by u.c.
  • H.R. 1417, National Law Enforcement Museum Exhibits Act, passed by u.c.
  • H.R. 1861, awarding congressional gold medal to Larry Dolby, was passed by voice vote.
  • HR 5238, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1234 Saint Johns Place in Brooklyn, New York, as the “Major Robert Odell Owens Post Office”, passed by u.c

10:44 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the life of George H.W. Bush, on government funding, and on caravans of migrants.

10:33 a.m. Senator Smith spoke against the McNamee nomination and on climate change.

10:26 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the continuing resolution on federal spending, the McNamee nomination and climate change.

10:05 a.m. Senator Coons said tribute to Senator Corker.

9:52 a.m. Senator Alexander paid tribute to Senator Corker.

9:35 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell thanked the Senate community for its work on the ceremonies for the late President Bush. He spoke about the McNamee nomination. He paid tribute to retiring Senator Corker.

9:32 a.m. Senator Cassidy welcomed the visiting chaplain, Dr. Tommy Middleton of Baton Rouge.

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The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m.

Two confirmation votes are scheduled:

— Noon on Bernard McNamee’s nomination to the Federal Energy Regulatory Administration

— 1:45 p.m. on Kathy Kraninger’s nomination to be director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

A confirmation vote is also possible on the nomination of Jonathan A. Kobes to be a United Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit.