Thursday, September 23, 2021

9:47 p.m. The Senate adjourned.

9:42 p.m. ML Schumer wrapped up for the evening: The nomination of Jane Nishida was confirmed to be Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency by voice vote. Passed by UC: HR 5293; H Con Res 41 regarding the National Peace Memorial Service. Passed by voice vote: proclaiming this week as “Clean Energy Week”. Passed by UC en bloc: S Res 382-385; S Res 386 regarding the death of Robert Dove.

9:37 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on nominations, the debt limit and the continuing resolution and filed cloture on the motion to proceed to HR. 5305, the CR.

9:36 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Lewis nomination, 62-21.

Senators not voting: Blackburn, Burr, Cassidy, Daines, Feinstein, Inhofe, Johnson, Kaine, Kennedy, Moran, Risch, Rounds, Rubio, Sanders, Scott (FL), Tillis and Toomey.

9:14 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Jessica Lewis to be an Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs.

9:13 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Robinson nomination, 54-29.

Senators not voting: Blackburn, Burr, Cassidy, Daines, Feinstein, Inhofe, Johnson, Kaine, Kennedy, Moran, Risch, Rounds, Rubio, Sanders, Scott (FL), Tillis and Toomey.

8:58 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Todd Robinson to be an Assistant Secretary of State (International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs).

8:56 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the Phee nomination, 58-25.

Republicans voting in favor: Blunt, Capito, Collins, Cornyn, Crapo, Graham, Murkowski, Portman, Romney, Sullivan and Young.

Senators not voting: Blackburn, Burr, Cassidy, Daines, Feinstein, Inhofe, Johnson, Kaine, Kennedy, Moran, Risch, Rounds, Rubio, Sanders, Scott (FL), Tillis and Toomey.

8:37 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Mary Catherine Phee to be an Assistant Secretary of State (African Affairs).

8:35 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Medina nomination, 57-26.

GOP voting in favor: Blunt, Capito, Collins, Crapo, Graham, McConnell, Murkowski, Portman, Romney & Sullivan.

Not voting: Blackburn, Burr, Cassidy, Daines, Feinstein, Inhofe, Johnson, Kaine, Kennedy, Moran, Risch, Rounds, Rubio, Sanders, Scott (FL), Tillis and Toomey.

8:00 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Monica Medina to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs).

7:35 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke on state department nominations and Afghanistan.

7:33 p.m. Senator Murphy announced the UC agreement for four cloture votes on the Medina, Phee, Robinson and Lewis nominations at approximately 8:00 p.m. with the confirmation votes occurring at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader after consultation with the Republican Leader with an hour of debate prior to each vote.

7:27 p.m. Senator Markey spoke in favor of the Medina nomination.

7:08 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke on Nord Stream 2.

6:53 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke on Republican slow walking nominations.

6:42 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke on the evacuation of Afghanistan.

6:41 p.m. By a vote of 65-21, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Karen Donfried, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (European Affairs and Eurasian Affairs).

6:08 p.m. By a vote of 72-14, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Daniel Kritenbrink to be an Assistant Secretary of State (East Asian and Pacific Affairs)

5:25 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Daniel Kritenbrink to be an Assistant Secretary of State (East Asian and Pacific Affairs).

5:18 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke about a shooting in Tennessee and on Democrats spending.

5:02 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke on foreign policy nominations.

4:43 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the southern border.

4:26 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about Afghanistan.

4:11 p.m. Senator Lee spoke about Afghanistan.

4:01 p.m. Senator Shaheen spoke about the potential government shutdown and also spoke about the debt ceiling.

3:30 p.m. Senator Barrasso also spoke about Russia and the gas pipeline.

3:14 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke about Russia and the pipeline to the Ukraine.

3:03 p.m. By a vote of 77-18, cloture was invoked on the nomination of Daniel Kritenbrink to be an Assistant Secretary of State (East Asian and Pacific Affairs)

2:34 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Daniel Kritenbrink to be an Assistant Secretary of State (East Asian and Pacific Affairs)

2:33 p.m. By a vote of 85-11, the nomination of Sarah Bianchi, of Virginia, to be Deputy United States Trade Representative (Asia, Africa, Investment, Services, Textiles, and Industrial Competitiveness), with the rank of Ambassador was confirmed.

1:52 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #244, Sarah Bianchi, of Virginia, to be Deputy United States Trade Representative (Asia, Africa, Investment, Services, Textiles, and Industrial Competitiveness), with the rank of Ambassador.

1:29 p.m. Senator Sanders spoke on upcoming budgetary issues.

1:14 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the Russian investigation.

1:03 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke on nominations.

12:48 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke on the debt limit.

12:40 p.m. Senator Moran spoke on inflation and the economy.

12:32 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on North Korean sanctions.

12:02 p.m. Senator Hawley spoke about Afghanistan.

11:46 a.m. Senator Durbin paid tribute to Dr. Shirley Ryan.

11:40 a.m. Senator Murray spoke about the border closure with Canada.

11:40 a.m. By a vote of 85-13 , the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Sarah Bianchi to Deputy U.S. Trade Representative was agreed to.

13 Republicans voted no: Boozman, Braun, Cotton, Cruz, Hawley, Johnson, Lankford, McConnell, Paul, Rubio, Scott (FL), Shelby, and Tuberville.

Senators not voting: Feinstein and Rounds.

11:01 a.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Sarah Bianchi to Deputy U.S. Trade Representative.

11:01 a.m. The Pan nomination was confirmed, 68-30.

10:01 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Florence Y. Pan to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia.

9:39 a.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke about the debt limit and Afghanistan.

9:03 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke about the debt limit.

The Senate will convene at 9:00 a.m. and resume consideration of the nomination of Florence Pan to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia.

At approximately 10:00 a.m., the Senate will conduct two roll call votes:

  • Confirmation of the Pan nomination.
  • Cloture on the nomination of Sarah Bianchi to be Deputy United States Trade Representative.

Following the cloture vote on the Bianchi nomination there will be up to 2 hours of debate prior to roll call votes on confirmation of the nomination.

There will be roll call votes throughout Thursday’s session on cloture and confirmation of the nominations in the list below:

  1. Daniel Kritenbrink to be an Assistant Secretary of State (East Asian and Pacific Affairs)
  2. Karen Donfried to be an Assistant Secretary of State (European Affairs and Eurasian Affairs)
  3. Monica Medina to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs)
  4. Jessica Lewis to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Political-Military Affairs)