Tuesday, June 15, 2021

5:43 p.m. The Senate adjourned.

5:42 p.m. Senator Wyden asked u.c. that when the Senate adjourns tonight it reconvene at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 16th. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to resume consideration of the nomination of Radhika Fox, of California, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Fox nomination. Following that vote, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Lydia Griggsby, of Maryland, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland.

If cloture is invoked on either of the nominations, at approximately 3:15 p.m., the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nominations.

5:31 p.m. Senator Lee spoke about trade with the United Kingdom and asked u.c. to call up and pass S.Res. 134, A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should work with the Government of the United Kingdom to conclude negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom. Senator Wyden objected.

5:19 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on biofuels.

5:05 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on the need for election integrity.

5:03 p.m. ML Schumer asked unanimous consent to call up and pass the following:

  • S.475 Juneteenth National Independence Day Act – passed by u.c.
  • S.Res 269 Designating June 19, 2021 as Juneteenth Independence Day, in recognition of June 19, 1865, the date on which news of the end of slavery reached the slaves in Southwestern states – adopted by u.c.

5:01 p.m. ML Schumer filed cloture on:

  • Executive Calendar #123 Tommy P. Beaudreau to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior.
  • Executive Calendar #157 John K. Tien to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.

4:52 p.m. Senator Fischer spoke about the For the People Act.

4:38 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke on the pandemic.

4:24 p.m. Senator Tester made a unanimous consent request for the Senate to confirm VA nominations en bloc. Senator Blackburn objected to the request. Senator Tester modified his uc request and asked for the confirmation of one VA nominations from the first request. Senator Blackburn objected.

4:06 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke about the Olympics and China as well as the For the People Act.

3:52 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke supporting the 156th Juneteenth anniversary and on immigration.

3:30 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke supporting the U.S. Coast Guard.

3:16 p.m. Senator Gillibrand spoke about sexual assault in the military.

2:46 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the reports of the Justice Department investigating members of Congress and their families and on immigration.

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from recess and Senator Cornyn spoke about border issues as well as on concerns regarding S. 1.

12:23 p.m. The Senate recessed until 2:15 p.m.

12:22 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer announced that due to Senators Booker and Peters having family illnesses the cloture vote on the Ahuja nomination is delayed; and moved the Senate to a period of morning business.

12:21 p.m. The Khan nomination was confirmed, 69-28.

Senators voting in favor: 46 Democrats, 21 Republicans: Blunt, Braun, Burr, Capito, Cassidy, Collins, Fischer, Graham, Grassley, Hawley, Hoeven, Hyde-Smith, Johnson, Marshall, Moran, Murkowski, Portman, Rounds, Thune, Wicker and Young; 2 Independents: King and Sanders.

Senators voting against: 28 Republicans.

Senators not voting: 2 Democrats: Booker and Peters; 1 Republican: Rubio.

11:32 a.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the Khan nomination.

11:00 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about capital gains tax.

10:50 a.m. RL McConnell spoke about the leak of information from IRS and Critical Race Theory.

10:13 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on voting laws, President Biden’s trip to Europe and the NATO summit, and Q-Anon conspiracy theories.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

*****

The Senate will convene at10:00 a.m.

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #119, Lina Khan to be a Federal Trade Commissioner.

11:30 a.m. 2 roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of the Khan nomination.
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #107, Kiran Ahuja to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management.

Following the cloture vote on the Ahuja nomination, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

2:30 p.m. 1 roll call vote: Confirmation of the Ahuja nomination.

Cloture has also been filed on the following nominations:

  1. Radhika Fox to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
  2. Lydia Griggsby to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland.