Tuesday, July 24, 2018

The Senate adjourned at 8:20 p.m. to reconvene at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25. The Senate will resume consideration of H.R. 4167, the Minibus Appropriations bill and there will be two roll call votes at 2:30 p.m. on a Moran Amendment 3433 and a Udall Amendment 3413.

7:50 p. m. Senator Rounds conducted wrap up:

Confirmed in Exec Session:

Confirmed en bloc 467, Bruce Landsberg, SC and 858, Jennifer Homendy, VA, to be members of the  National Transportation Safety Board.

Passed in Legislative Session:

S. Res.  589, 590, 591

S. Res 578 –  Honoring DEA

S. Res 580 – Public awareness of trademarks

S. 2278 –  Improve Public Health Service Act  in rural areas (as amended)

7:18 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change.

7:17 p.m. Senator Coons and Flake spoke on S. Res 583, regarding Russian election interference.

7:08 p.m. Senate Flake ask unanimous consent to call up S. Res 583, regarding Russian election interference, Senator Perdue objected.

7:06 p.m. Senator Flake spoke on Russian election interference in the 2016 election.

Roll call vote on the Kennedy amendment #3430 – Seafood inspections passed by a vote of 87 to 11.

Roll call vote on Schatz amendment #3407 –  Volcano damage passes by a vote of 97 to 1. Senator Lee voted no.

6:01 p.m. Senator Murkowski offered an unanimous consent agreement outlining two votes at approximately 6:00 p.m.

  1. Schatz amendment #3407 –   Volcano damage to interior department property
  2. Kennedy Amendment #3430 –  Seafood inspection funds

5:13 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke on  health insurance.

5:02 p.m. Senator Kennedy spoke about flood insurance.

4:46 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the Kavanaugh nomination.

4:40 p.m. Senator Coons spoke about election security.

4:27 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about President’s meeting in Helsinki with Vladimir Putin and election security.

4:19 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke about President’s meeting in Helsinki with Vladimir Putin and election security.

4:08 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke about the President’s meeting in Helsinki with Vladimir Putin.

3:56 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the President’s meeting in Helsinki with Vladimir Putin.

3:26 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke supporting the Kavanaugh nomination.

3:25 p.m. The Senate adopted the Durbin amendment #3422 by a vote of 99-0. Senator McCain did not vote.

2:46 p.m. The Senate began voting on the Durbin amendment #3422.

2:45 p.m. The Senate adopted the Heller amendment #3405 by a vote of 98-1 to HR 6147, Minibus Appropriations. Senator Paul voted no and Senator McCain did not vote.

2:20 p.m. The Senate began voting on the Heller amendment #3405.

2:18 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke supporting the Durbin amendment #3422.

2:16 p.m. Senator Brown spoke supporting the Heller/Brown amendment #3405.

2:15 p.m. Senator Heller spoke supporting his amendment #3405.

12:35 p.m. The Senate stands in recess to accommodate the weekly caucus lunches.

12:33 p.m. Senator Collins spoke about the victims of the duck boat accident in Missouri and asked u.c. to call up amendments Heller #3405 and Durbin #3422.  At 2:20 p.m. the Senate will have two votes on the following amendments in relation to H.R.6147, Minibus Appropriations:

  1. Heller #3405 (re: tax prep assistance)
  2. Durbin #3422 (re: Amtrak on-time performance)

12:23 p.m. Senator McCaskill spoke about the 17 victims of the duck boat accident in Missouri.

12:14 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke about the 17 victims of the duck boat accident in Missouri.

11:59 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the Kavanaugh nomination and foreign investments.

11:48 a.m. Senator Coons spoke supporting supporting the Financial Services and General Government portion of H.R. 6147.

11:40 a.m. Senator Lankford spoke supporting the Financial Services and General Government portion of H.R. 6147.

11:30 a.m. Senator Merkley spoke supporting the Agriculture Appropriations portion of H.R. 6147.

11:24 a.m. Senator Hoeven spoke supporting H.R. 6147.

11:15 a.m. Senator Reed spoke supporting H.R. 6147.

10:51 a.m. Senator Collins spoke supporting the appropriations process and on H.R. 6147, Minibus Appropriations.

10:40 a.m. Senator Leahy spoke about H.R. 6147, Minibus Appropriations.

10:35 a.m. Senator Shelby spoke about H.R. 6147, Interior FSGG, THUD, Ag Appropriations for FY 2019 and on the appropriations process.

10:17 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about USCP officers Chestnut and Gibson, the Kavanaugh nomination, and on Iran.

10:09 a.m. ML McConnell spoke honoring U.S. Capitol Police officers Chestnut and Gibson, supporting H.R. 6147, the minibus appropriations bill and on the economy.

*****

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and resume consideration of H.R. 6147, (Interior, FSGG, THUD, Agriculture appropriation minibus II).

The Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

Roll Call votes in relation to amendments to the appropriations minibus are possible during Tuesday’s session.