Tuesday, January 23, 2024

6:15 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

5:25 p.m. Senator Welch spoke about high speed internet in rural communities.

5:10 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke on inflation.

4:50 p.m. Senator Kennedy spoke on the problem at the Southern border and sanctuary cities.

4:35 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke on National Gun Violence Survivor’s Week.

4:20 p.m. Senator Lee spoke on the lack of proficiency in mathematics in American schools.

4:00 p.m. Senator Hyde-Smith spoke on the Dobbs decision.

3:56 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on the following nominations:

  • Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on Kirk Edward Sherriff to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of California.
  • Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on Joshua Paul Kolar to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit.

3:56 p.m. By a vote of 96-1, the #Senate confirmed the nomination of Joel Szabat to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years. Senator Paul voted no. Senators Kelly, Scott (SC) and Tillis did not vote.

2:56 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Joel Szabat to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Director for a term of five years.

2:56 p.m. By a vote of 79-18, the Senate confirmed Anthony Coscia to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years. Senators voting No: Blackburn, Braun, Cassidy, Crapo, Daines, Hagerty, Hawley, Hoeven, Johnson, Lee, Marshall, Paul, Risch, Rubio, Schmitt, Scott (FL), Tuberville, and Vance. Senators Budd, Kelly, and Scott (SC) did not vote.

2:15 p.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of Anthony Coscia to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors.

1:18 p.m. The Senate stands in recess untill 2:15 p.m.

1:18 p.m. By a vote of 79-19, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Anthony Coscia to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years.

12:34 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Anthony Coscia to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years.

12:32 p.m. By unanimous consent, the cloture motion with regard to the Szabat nomination was withdrawn. The 6:00 p.m. vote is cancelled and the two votes at 2:15 p.m. will be:

  1. Confirmation of Anthony Coscia to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors.
  2. Confirmation of Joel Szabat to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors.

12:32 p.m. By a vote of 91-7, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Christopher Koos to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors. Senators not voting: Kelly and Scott (SC). Senators voting No: Braun, Hawley, Lee, Paul, Schmitt, Scott (FL), and Tuberville.

11:30 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Christopher Koos to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years.

11:23 a.m. Senator Schmitt spoke on the Continuing Resolution.

10:47 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on the Biden administration, inflation and the southern border.

10:33 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on gun violence and the southern border.

10:20 a.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke on the bipartisan national security supplemental, Palestine and anti-Semitism on college campuses.

10:11 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on the bipartisan national security supplemental and Ukraine.

10:10 a.m. H.R. 6914 received its second reading and was placed on the calendar under Rule XIV.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Christopher Koos to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years, post-cloture.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. – 2 votes:

  1. Confirmation of the nomination of Christopher Koos to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years.
  2. Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Anthony Rosario Coscia to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years.

Following the Coscia vote, the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus lunches.

At approximately 2:15 p.m. – 2 votes:

  1. Confirmation of the nomination of Anthony Rosario Coscia to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years (if cloture is invoked).
  2. Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Joel Matthew Szabat to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years.

At approximately 6:00 p.m. – 1 vote:

  1. Confirmation of the Szabat nomination (if cloture is invoked).