Tuesday, July 20, 2021

7:15 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

7:06 p.m. Senator Rubio spoke on Cuba policy.

7:03 p.m. Senator Gillibrand began wrap up:

  • passed by unanimous consent – S.Res. 291, Congratulating Oklahoma Sooners softball team fir winning the NCAA women’s college world series.
  • passed by unanimous consent – S.Res. 307 – Mississippi State baseball team for winning the NCAA Division 1 championship.
  • passed by unanimous consent – S.Res. 308, Commending and congratulating the Hutchinson Community Blue Dragons football team

6:31 p.m. Senator Gillibrand spoke on sexual assault in the military. Senator Gillibrand asked unanimous consent to call up and pass S. 1520. Senator Sullivan objected.

6:30 p.m. The Senate passed H.R. 1652 by a tally of 100-0.

5:16 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on adoption of the Toomey Amendment to H.R. 1652, the Crime Victims Fund Act.

5:12 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke against the Toomey amendment.

5:09 p.m. Senator Shaheen spoke supporting H.R. 1652.

5:04 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke against the Toomey amendment to H.R. 1652.

4:48 p.m. Senator Toomey spoke on his amendment to H.R. 1652.

4:39 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on government spending.

4:33 p.m. Senators Wicker and Hyde-Smith spoke supporting the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

4:25 p.m. Senator Murkowski spoke on Crime Victims Fund Act.

4:03 p.m. Senators Braun and Cornyn spoke on Medicaid funding. Senator Braun asked u.c. to consider his bill at the desk. Senator Wyden objected.

3:23 p.m. Senators Durbin and Graham spoke on the pending Victims of Crimes Act/H.R. 1652.

3:12 p.m. Senator Daines spoke on the nomination of Tracy Stone Manning to lead the Bureau of Land Management.

3:10 p.m. The Senate resumed consideration of H.R. 1652 and that the Senate vote on the Toomey amendment and passage of H.R. 1652 at approximately 5:15 p.m.

3:10 p.m. The Polite nomination was confirmed 56-44.
Senators voting in favor: all Democrats and Independents, and 6 Republicans: Cassidy, Collins, Graham, Kennedy, Murkowski and Tillis.

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from recess and began a roll call vote on confirmation of the Polite nomination.

1:12 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m.

1:12 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Abruzzo nomination on a party line tally of 51-50, with VP Harris casting the tie breaking vote.

12:38 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Jennifer Abruzzo to be General Counsel of the NLRB.

12:37 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Polite, Jr. nomination, 57-43.
Senators voting in favor: all Democrats and Independents, and 7 Republicans: Cassidy, Collins, Graham, Kennedy, Murkowski, Portman and Tillis.

11:55 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr. to be an Assistant Attorney General.

11:39 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke on congressional oversight, the Crime Victim Fund, and the filibuster.

11:24 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on infrastructure.

11:12 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on voting rights.

10:58 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on Merrick Garland, security supplemental appropriations, and the Polite nomination.

10:47 a.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke on the Abruzzo nomination and the Crime Victim Fund.

10:23 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on infrastructure. S.2382 was placed on the calendar under Rule 14.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and following Leader remarks, will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #195, Kenneth Polite to be an Assistant Attorney General.

At 11:30 a.m. – 2 roll call votes:

  1. Cloture on the Polite nomination.
  2. Cloture on the nomination of Jennifer Abruzzo to be General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board. If cloture is invoked on the Abruzzo nomination, the confirmation vote will occur at a time to be determined on Wednesday.

Following the Abruzzo cloture vote, the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

At approx. 2:30 p.m. – 1 roll call vote:

  1. Confirmation of the Polite nomination.

Expected later this afternoon – 2 roll call votes:

1. Toomey amendment #2121 (re: appropriations/point of order) (simple majority threshold)

2. Passage of H.R.1652, VOCA (60 vote threshold)

During Monday’s session, Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on the following:

1. Executive Calendar #142, Bonnie Jenkins to be Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.

2. Motion to proceed to H.R.3684, INVEST in America Act (vehicle for the bipartisan infrastructure framework).