5:04 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, July 29. They will proceed to consideration of the veto messages to accompany S.J. Res. 36, 37, 38, and 39 with 4 votes to occur on passage of the joint resolutions at 5:30 p.m.

Confirmed/Passed during wrap-up:

• Joseph Cuffari to be Inspector General
• H.R. 3253-provide for certain extensions with respect to the Medicaid program with Blunt substitute.
• H.R. 1569-add Flagstaff and Yuma to the list of locations in which court can be held in Arizona
• H.R. 504-DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act
• S. 1275-FACE Act
• H.R. 2196-Reduce the credit hour requrement for the Edith Nourse Roges STEM scholarship program at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
• S.R. 286-Designating July 26 as US Intelligence Professionals Day

3:51 p.m. Senator Braun spoke about the federal debt.

3:22 p.m. Senator Lee spoke about the budget and spending.

3:18 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act.

2:18 p.m. Senator Thune spoke about nominations.

2:17 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of General Mark Milley to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by a vote of 89-1. Senator Merkely voted against the nomination. Senators not voting: Booker, Gillibrand, Harris, Isakson, Leahy, Klobuchar, Moran, Perdue, Sanders and Warren.

1:47 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of General Mark A. Milley, to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

1:27 p.m. Senator Bennett spoke on sequestration and the budget.

1:06 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about the opioid crisis and the STOP act.

12:54 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke about the budget agreement.

12:31 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke about the budget agreement.

12:18 p.m. Senator Markey spoke about the Robert Mueller testimony.

11:53 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke on the schedule before the August recess, including the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Ambassador to the UN, the budget agreement, and judicial nominations.

He also filed cloture on the following nominations:

1. Exec. Cal. #119, Michael T. Liburdi to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona.
2. Exec. Cal. #120, Peter D. Welte to be United States District Judge for the District of North Dakota.
3. Exec. Cal. #203, James Wesley Hendrix to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas.
4. Exec. Cal. #204, Sean D. Jordan to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas.
5. Exec. Cal. #205, Mark T. Pittman to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas.
6. Exec. Cal. #231, Jeffrey Vincent Brown to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas.
7. Exec. Cal. #232, Brantley Starr to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas.
8. Exec. Cal. #233, Stephanie L. Haines to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
9. Exec. Cal. #326, Ada E. Brown to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas.
10. Exec. Cal. #327, Steven D. Grimberg to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia.
11. Exec. Cal. #345, Jason K. Pulliam to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas.
12. Exec. Cal. #350, Martha Maria Pacold to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.
13. Exec. Cal. #352, Steven C. Seeger to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.
14. Exec. Cal. #364, William Shaw Stickman IV to be United STates District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
15. Exec. Cal. #48, Karin J. Immergut to be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon.
16. Exec. Cal. #55, John Milton Younge to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
17. Exec. Cal. #344, Mary S. McElroy to be United States District Judge for the District of Rhode Island.
18. Exec. Cal. #346, Stephanie A. Gallagher to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland.
19. Exec. Cal. #351, Mary M. Rowland to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.

 

11:33 a.m. Democratic Leader Schumer and Senator Blumenthal spoke on election interference and asked UC to take up and pass HR 2722 and  S.1247, both regarding election interference.  Majority Leader McConnell objected.

11:01 a.m. Senator Blunt spoke on space exploration.

10:45 a.m. Senator Murray spoke about health care.

10:21 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the Mueller hearings and election security. Then he spoke about deficit spending. He addressed Senator Whitehouse’s speeches on climate change.

10:04 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the administration’s budget agreement and America’s foreign adversaries. S.2258 had its second reading and was placed on the calendar.

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m.

At that time, following any leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 1:45 p.m.

At 1:45 p.m., the Senate will proceed to Executive Session for the consideration of Executive Calendar #375, General Mark A. Milley, to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and vote on confirmation of the nomination.