Tuesday, February 2, 2021

9:21 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.Con.Res.5, with 31 hours remaining.

9:20 p.m. ML Schumer began wrap up:

  • Adopted S.Res. 25 designating the week of January 24 through January 30, 2021 as “National School Choice Week”.
  • Adopted S.Res 23 honoring the life and legacy of Henry Louis Aaron.

Passed by unanimous consent S. Res. 25, National School Choice Week.

6:49 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke on China.

6:20 p.m. Senator Portman spoke on covid relief and on budget reconciliation.

5:59 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on Russia.

5:47 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about students returning to school.

5:35 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke on gun violence.

5:15 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the budget resolution.

4:53 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke supporting the budget resolution.

4:30 p.m. Senator Graham spoke on the budget resolution.

4:03 p.m. Senator Sanders spoke on the budget resolution.

3:58 p.m. By a party-line vote of 50 to 49, the Senate agreed to proceed to the budget reconciliation measure. Senator Toomey did not vote.

3:28 p.m. The Senate is voting on the motion to proceed to the reconciliation measure, S.Con.Res. 5.

3:26 p.m. By a vote of 56 to 43, the Mayorkas nomination was confirmed.

Senators voting against: 43 Republicans.

Senators voting in favor: 48 Democrats, 6 Republicans: Capito, Collins, Murkowski, Portman, Romney and Sullivan; 2 Independents: King and Sanders.

Senators not voting: 1 Republican: Toomey.

2:31 p.m. Senator Peters spoke supporting the Mayorkas nomination.

2:15 p.m. The Senate reconvened. Senator Carper spoke supporting the Mayorkas nomination.

The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m.

1:15 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg, of Indiana, to be Secretary of Transportation by a tally of 86-13.

Republican Senators voting no: Blackburn, Cassidy, Cotton, Cruz, Hagerty, Hawley, Lankford, Marshall, Rubio, Scott (FL), Scott (SC) Shelby, and Tuberville.

Not voting: Senator Toomey.

11:58 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #5, Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg, of Indiana, to be Secretary of Transportation.

11:43 a.m. Senator Cantwell spoke supporting the Buttigieg nomination.

11:35 a.m. Senator Blackburn spoke against the Mayorkas nomination.

11:32 a.m. Senator Peters spoke supporting the Buttigieg nomination.

11:24 a.m. Senator Kennedy spoke about immigration. He spoke about Baton Rouge meteorologist Pat Shingleton.

11:05 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about nominations. He spoke about the invasion of the Capitol. He spoke in favor of Merrick Garland’s nomination to be attorney general.

10:57 a.m. Minority Leader McConnell spoke against confirmation of Alejandro Mayorkas’s nomination to be secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He spoke about Burma.

10:44 a.m. Senator Schumer paid tribute to the late Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. He spoke about nominations and about a COVID relief package. He said the Senate will vote this afternoon on a motion to proceed to budget reconciliation.

The Senate will convene at 10:30 a.m.

At noon the Senate will vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #5, the nomination of Peter Buttigieg to be Secretary of Transportation.

Following that vote, the Senate will recess for caucus lunches until 2:15 p.m.

At 2:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas to be Secretary of Homeland Security.