Tuesday, August 2, 2022

9:01 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will convene at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, August 3. The Senate will be in a period of Morning Business with debate only until 1:30 p.m. At 1:30 p.m., the Senate will begin consideration of Treaty Doc. 117-3, Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden for up to 3 hours of debate.

There will be up to 3 votes at approximately 4:30 p.m. in relation to Treaty Doc. 117-3, Finland and Sweden joining NATO:

  1. Sullivan amendment #5191, regarding spending benchmark (expected voice vote).
  2. Paul amendment #5192, regarding declaration of war.
  3. Adoption of the Resolution of Advice and Consent to Ratification, as amended, if amended.

8:40 p.m. Senator Portman spoke on the Inflation Reduction Act.

8:34 p.m. Senator Whitehouse began wrap-up:

  • H.R. 5376, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14, was placed on the calendar under the Rule 14 process.
  • Confirmed by voice vote en bloc:
    • Executive Calendar #1098 Annie Caputo to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the term of five years expiring June 30, 2026.
    • Executive Calendar #1099 Bradley R. Crowell to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the term of five years expiring June 30, 2027.
  • H.R. 5313, Reese’s Law, was passed by unanimous consent.
  • S. 734, Jenna Quinn Law, and the Hassan for Cornyn amendment, was passed by voice vote as amended.
  • S. Res. 738, National Anti-Counterfeiting and Consumer Education Awareness Month, was adopted by voice vote.
  • S. Res. 739, Printing SAC History, was adopted by unanimous consent.

8:21 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on the Supreme Court.

7:43 p.m. Senator Sanders spoke on the Inflation Reduction Act.

7:35 p.m. Senator Tester spoke on the Honoring Our PACT Act.

7:32 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke on the Honoring Our PACT Act and received unanimous consent for the Senate to hold up to three votes at approximately 4:30 p.m. in relation to Treaty Doc. 117-3 Finland and Sweden joining NATO:

  1. Sullivan amendment #5191 (expected voice vote).
  2. Paul amendment #5192.
  3. Adoption of the Resolution of Advice and Consent to Ratification, as amended, if amended.

7:00 p.m. The Senate is currently voting on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.3373 {legislative vehicle for the Honoring our PACT Act}. It was passed by a roll call vote of 86-11. Voting No: Senators Crapo, Lankford, Lee, Lummis, Paul, Risch, Romney, Shelby, Tillis, Toomey and Tuberville. Not voting: Cornyn, Leahy and Merkley.

6:52 p.m. Senators Moran and Tester spoke in favor of the bill.

6:51 p.m. The Blackburn amendment was not agreed to, 48-47. This was a party line vote. Senators not voting: Booker, Burr, Cornyn, Leahy and Merkley.

6:30 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.3373, the legislative vehicle for the PACT Act, with Blackburn amendment #5185 (60 vote affirmative threshold).

6:28 p.m. The Toomey amendment was not agreed to, 47-48. This was a party line vote with the exception of Senator Collins joining Democrats and Independents voting against. Senators not voting: Booker, Burr, Cornyn, Leahy and Merkley.

5:58 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.3373, the legislative vehicle for the PACT Act, with Toomey amendment #5186 (60 vote affirmative threshold).

5:56 p.m. The Paul amendment was not agreed to, 7-90. Voting in favor: Blackburn, Braun, Hagerty, Johnson, Lee, Marshall and Paul. Not voting: Burr, Cornyn and Leahy.

4:58 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.3373, the legislative vehicle for the PACT Act, with Paul amendment #5184 (60 vote affirmative threshold).

4:41 p.m. Senators Moran and Tester spoke on the Honoring Our PACT Act.

4:25 p.m. Senator Toomey spoke on the Honoring our PACT Act and offered amendment #5186.

4:10 p.m. Senator Paul spoke on the Honoring our PACT Act and offered amendment #5184.

4:05 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke on the Honoring our PACT Act.

4:00 p.m. Senator Gillibrand spoke on the Honoring our PACT Act.

4:00 p.m. The Senate began consideration of the Honoring our PACT Act.

3:48 p.m. Senator Carper spoke on climate change, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Honoring our PACT Act.

3:37 p.m. Senator Thune spoke on the Inflation Reduction Act.

3:34 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer announced an agreement on the Honoring our PACT act, with three amendment votes (from Senators Paul, Toomey and Blackburn) and passage beginning at 5:00 p.m. with each having 60 vote thresholds.

3:00 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Honoring Our PACT Act, January 6th and cryptocurrency.

2:59 p.m. By a vote of 59-37, the nomination of Elizabeth Wilson Hanes to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia was confirmed. Republicans in favor: Capito, Collins, Graham, Grassley, Kennedy, Murkowski, Portman, Romney, Rounds and Tillis. Senators not voting: Burr, Cornyn, Hawley and Leahy.

2:15 p.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of Elizabeth Wilson Hanes to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.

12:34 p.m. The Senate has recessed until 2:15 p.m.

12:24 p.m. ML Schumer spoke about the killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri the PACT act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

12:07 p.m. RL McConnell spoke about the flooding in Kentucky, spending and Speaker Pelosi trip to Taiwan.

12:00 p.m. The Senate convened.

The Senate stands adjourned until 12:00 noon on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and resume consideration of Executive Calendar #1068, Elizabeth Wilson Hanes, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, post-cloture.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings. At approximately 2:15 p.m., the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Hanes nomination. Additional roll call votes are possible during Tuesday’s session.