Thursday, May 12, 2022

5:21 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, May 16. They will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 7691-emergency Ukraine supplemental with a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to occur at 5:30.

The following nominations were confirmed en bloc:

704-John Edward Putnam to be General Counsel of the Dept. Of Transportation
720- Victoria Marie Baecher to be CFO, Dept. of Transportation
866-Derek Kan to be Governor of the USPS
867-Daniel Mark Tangherlini to be a Governor of USPS

4:42p.m. Senate Schumer filed cloture on the following:

  • Motion to proceed to H.R. 7691-Emergency assistance for Ukraine
  • Jennifer Louise Rochon to be US District Judge for Southern District of NY
  • Trina Thompson to be US District Judge for Northern District of CA
  • Sunshine Suzanne Sykes toe be US District Judge for Central District of CA

4:02 p.m. Senators Blumenthal, Graham, and Whitehouse spoke about a bipartisan initiative to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

3:48 p.m. Senator Graham spoke about Ukraine and about Putin.

3:42 p.m. Senator Hagerty spoke about Mexico.

3:30 p.m. Senator Schumer compounded the following UC request: the Senate proceed to and vote on S. 4190-Kennedy Ukraine oversight bill. Upon disposition of that bill the Senate proceed to H.R. 7691 (Ukraine aid bill) and vote on the Paul amend (60 vote threshold). Upon dispostion of the Paul amendment the Senate would then proceed to vote on final passage.

Senator Paul objected and countered with his own UC request that the Senate proceed to H.R. 7691 (Ukraine aid bill) and his amendment be considered and agreed to followed by a vote on the bill as amended. Senator Schumer objected.

2:51 p.m. Senator Cornyn paid tribute to members of Law Enforcement.

2:45 p.m. Senator Tuberville spoke about the Trade.

2:32 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke on the Edward Daniel Anderl Judicial Security bill. He then asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to proceed to consideration of S. 2340 (Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2021). Senator Paul asked Senator Menendez to modify his request to include the Paul substitute amendment. Senator Menendez objected to the modification request. Senator Paul objected to the original request.

2:31 p.m. By a vote of 80-19, the Senate confirmed Jerome Powell to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term of 4 years.

Voting No- Boozman, Braun, Cotton, Cruz, Hawley, Johnson, Lee, Markey, Menendez, Merkley, Ossoff, Paul, Rubio, Sanders, Scott (FL), Shelby, Sullivan, Warren, and Wicker

Senator Toomey did not vote.

1:43 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about Lisa Cook and the Federal Reserve

1:42 p.m. By a vote of 50-49, the Senate confirmed Susan Tsui Grundmann to be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority for a term of five years expiring July 1, 2025.

Senator Leahy did not vote
Senator Murkowski voted YEA

1:00 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Susan Grundmann to be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority.

1:00 p.m. By a vote of 51-50, with Vice President Harris breaking the tie, the #Senate agreed to the motion to discharge Mary Boyle to be Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission from the Commerce Committee

12:00 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to discharge from Commerce PN1542 Mary T. Boyle to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27, 2018.

11:35 a.m. Senator Paul spoke on masking for Senate pages and asked unanimous consent to call up and agree to S.Res. 631, Ending Covid mandates for Senate Pages. Senators Blunt and Klobuchar objected.

11:20 a.m. Senator Lee spoke on state antitrust reform and asked to call up and pass S. 1787 by unanimous consent. Senator Klobuchar objected.

11:16 a.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke supporting the Boyle nomination to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, from the Commerce Committee.

11:08 a.m. Senator Booker spoke about the importance of artists.

10:58 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke against the Mary Boyle nomination.

10:47 p.m. Senator Thune spoke about the Biden administration.

10:34 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about COVID and January 6th.

10:22 a.m. RL McConnell spoke about Ukraine, paid tribute to police officers, and the formula shortage.

10:08 a.m. ML Schumer spoke about abortion, Ukraine and nominations.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and following any Leader remarks, will resume consideration of the motion to discharge the nomination of Mary Boyle to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, from the Commerce Committee.

At approximately 12:00pm, the Senate will proceed to two roll call votes:
1. Motion to discharge the Boyle nomination.
2. Confirmation of the nomination of Susan Grundmann to be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority.

At approximately 1:45 p.m., the Senate is expected to proceed to a vote on confirmation of the nomination of Jerome Powell to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

It is also possible that the Senate will consider H.R.7691, emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine.