Thursday, March 9, 2017

5:45 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 2:00 p.m. on Monday March, 13. They will vote on nomination of Seema Verma to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid at 5:30 p.m.

During wrap up the Senate passed S. Res. 86 (Recognizing the contributions of Americorps).

5:39 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about the Alaskan of the week.

5:33 p.m. Senator Peters spoke about the Obamacare repeal.

5:00 p.m. Senator Carper spoke about the Obamacare repeal.

4:27 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke about the budget process and about the Obamacare repeal.

3:35 p.m. Senator Wyden and Senator Shaheen spoke about the House Republican health care proposal.

2:41 p.m. Senator Cantwell, Senator Casey, Senator Stabenow, and Senator Reed spoke on health care and the nomination of Seema Verma.

2:17 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke on the nomination of Seema Verma.

2:16 p.m. Senator Moran received unanimous consent for the vote on confirmation of Seema Verma to occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 13. It was announced that there would be no further votes this week.

2:15 p.m. By a vote of 54-44, cloture was invoked on the nomination of Seema Verma to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

Senators voting in favor: 50 Republicans, 3 Democrats (Donnelly, Heitkamp, Manchin), 1 Independent (King).

Senators voting against: 43 Democrats, 1 Independent (Sanders)

Senators not voting: 2 Republicans (Isakson and Rubio)

1:45 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Seema Verma to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

1:26 p.m. Senator Moran spoke about the Cuba trade act; and later about concerns surrounding ongoing wildfires.

1:05 p.m. Senator Gardner spoke in favor of the Gorsuch nomination.

12:53 p.m. Senator Markey spoke against the Verma nomination.

12:37 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about repealing Obamacare.

12:35 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke about a hostage in Iran, Robert Levinson.

12:35 p.m. The Senate turned to the nomination of Seema Verma to be the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

12:34 p.m. By a vote of 50-49, the Senate agreed to H.J.Res 57

Senators voting in favor: 50 Republicans

Senators voting against: 46 Democrats, 2 Independents (King and Sanders), 1 Republican (Portman).

Senators not voting: 1 Republican (Isakson)

12:01 p.m. The Senate began voting on H.J.Res 57

11:55 a.m. Senator Alexander spoke supporting H.J.Res 57

11:47 a.m. Senator Murray spoke against H.J.Res 57.

11:26 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the repeal and replacement of Obamacare.

11:13 a.m. Senator Bennett spoke against H.J. Res 57.

10:54 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the Republican health insurance proposal and Trump business in China.

10:18 a.m. Senator Blunt began a colloquoy with Senator Barrasso on  the health care system.

10:14 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the Gorsuch nomination and about the House proposal on the health insurance system.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened and Majority Leader McConnell spoke in favor of the nomination of Seema Verma. He spoke about the Gorsuch nomination to the Supreme Court.

*****

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. and will resume consideration of H.J. Res. 57, a measure to disapprove of a proposed regulation on accountability in education.

The Senate will vote at noon on passage of the resolution.

After the vote on H.J. Res. 57, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Seema Verma to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

At 1:45 p.m., the cloture vote is expected on the Verma nomination.