Tuesday, March 21, 2017

7:05 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 10:30 a.m.

7:02 p.m. By a voice vote the Senate passed of HR 1228,  to appoint new members to the compliance board. By a voice vote, the Senate  passed H.R. 244, to encourage incentives for the hiring of veterans.By a voice vote, the Senate passed S.Res. 1181, regarding the treatment of those adjudicated mentally ill.

7:01 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about the passage of H.J. Res. 69.

7 p.m. By a vote of 52 to 47, the Senate approved the resolution to disapprove of the Fish and Wildlife rule.

6:00 Senator Brown spoke on the pollution in Lake Eerie.

5:45 p.m. Senator Cornyn asked unanimous consent that at 6:00pm, there be 10minutes of debate, equally divided in the usual form, remaining on H. J. Res. 69, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the final rule of the Department of the Interior relating to “Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.  Following the use or yielding back of time (approx. 6:10pm) the Senate will vote on passage of the resolution.

5:35 p.m. Senator Kennedy also paid tribute to fallen police officers in Louisiana.

5:25 p.m. Senator Cassidy paid tribute to fallen police officer Sergeant Anderson.

5:18 p.m. Senator Udall spoke against H.J.Res. 69.

5:08 p.m. Senator Roberts spoke about the Gorsuch nomination.

4:50 p.m. Senator Booker defended the Fish and Wildlife rule.

4:41 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke about the Gorsuch nomination.

4:34 p.m. Senator Blumenthal defended a proposed Fish and Wildlife Service rule that will later be the subject of a Senate vote.

4:06 p.m. Senator Cornyn has an exchange on health care with Senator Nelson. Senator Cornyn spoke about the Gorsuch nomination.

3:45 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke about health insurance.

3:41 p.m. Senator Booz paid tribute to Arkansan Warren Blaylock.

3:24 p.m. Senator Cantwell spoke against the resolution.

3:17 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke on President Trump’s budget proposals.

2:55 p.m. Seantor Murkowski spoke in favor of the resolution.

2:43 p.m. Senator Heinrich spoke against the resolution.

2:17 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke in favor of the resolution.

2:15 p.m. Senate returned to session and proceeded to H.J.Res 69.

This joint resolution nullifies the rule finalized by the Department of the Interior on August 5, 2016, relating to non-subsistence takings of wildlife and public participation and closure procedures on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.

12:37 p.m. The Senate resumed legislative session and recessed for weekly party luncheons until 2:15 p.m.

12:36 p.m. The Senate confirmed, en bloc, the nominations of Charles Breyer and Danny Reeves to be Members of the U.S. Sentencing Commission by a vote of 98-0.

Senators Inhofe and Isakson did not vote.

12:01 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation, en bloc, of Charles Breyer and Danny Reeves to be Members of the U.S. Senatencing Commission.

11:22 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about the health care legislation.

11:13 a.m. Senator Ernst spoke about the Gorsuch nomination.

11:02 a.m. Senator Blunt spoke about the Gorsuch nomination.

10:49 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the Gorsuch nomination. He spoke about the pending health care legislation.

10:32 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the proposed overhaul of the health care system. He spoke about the Gorsuch nomination. He spoke  about the Reeves nomination. He spoke about an upcoming resolution to disapprove of a proposed fish and wildlife regulation that would affect Alaska.

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

At noon, the Senate will vote on confirmation, en bloc, of these nominations:

  • Charles R. Breyer, CA, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission.
  • Danny C. Reeves, KY, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission.

The Senate will recess for party luncheons from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m.