Tuesday, March 23, 2021

7:47 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 24th.

7:09 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke supporting the Walsh nomination and on the filibuster.

7:01 p.m. Senator King began wrap up:

  • The Senate will convene at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 24th and will resume consideration of the nomination of Rachel Levine, to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services and on the nomination of David Turk, to be Deputy Secretary of Energy en bloc. At 11:30 a.m. the Senate vote on cloture on 1) Rachel Levine to be Assistant Secretary of HHS 2) David Turk to be Deputy Secretary of Energy. Further, at 4:45 p.m., if cloture has been invoked on the nominations, the Senate vote on confirmation of the 1) Levine and 2) Turk nominations.
  • Adopted S.Res. 123, Designating March 2021 as National Women’s History Month
  • Adopted S.Res. 125, A resolution recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States.
  • Began the Rule XIV on S. 937.

6:27 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke on the need for a strong defense budget.

6:15 p.m. Senator Sanders asked unanimous consent to call up and pass H.R. 1868, an act to prevent across-the-board direct spending cuts. Senator Barrasso asked unanimous consent to amend Senator Sanders request with the Barrasso amendment. Senator Sanders objected to Senator Barrasso’s request. Senator Barrasso objected to the original request.

6:14 p.m. The Murthy nomination was confirmed 57-43.
All Democrats and Independents voted in favor and were joined by the following seven Republicans: Cassidy, Collins, Marshall, Murkowski, Portman, Romney & Sullivan.

5:29 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the Murthy nomination.

5:06 p.m. Senator Kennedy spoke on recent attacks on Asians and Asian Americans.

4:45 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke on illegal immigrants in prison receiving stimulus checks and asked UC to take up and pass S. 928, S. 929 and S. 930 related to that issue. Senator Wyden objected.

4:28 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the Covid-19 pandemic.

3:34 p.m. Senators Merkley, Klobuchar, Padilla, Van Hollen, Whitehouse and Durbin spoke on voting access.

3:33 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Murthy nomination, 57-43. All Democrats and Independents voted in favor and were joined by the following seven Republicans: Cassidy, Collins, Marshall, Murkowski, Portman, Romney & Sullivan.

3:01 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Vivek Murthy to be Surgeon General.

3:00 p.m. The Young nomination was confirmed, 63-37 with the following 13 Republicans joining all Democrats and 2 Independents in favor: Blunt, Burr, Cassidy, Collins, Cramer, Graham, Grassley, Hoeven, Hyde Smith, Kennedy, Murkowski, Shelby & Sullivan.

2:16 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the Young nomination.

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from the recess and Senator Peters spoke in favor of the nomination.

12:35 p.m. The Senate recessed until 2:15 p.m. to accommodate the weekly caucus luncheons.

12:30 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke on the Young nomination.

12:29 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Young nomination, 62-38. All Democrats and Independents were joined voting in favor by the following 12 Republicans: Blunt, Burr, Cassidy, Collins, Cramer, Graham, Hoeven, Hyde Smith, Kennedy, Murkowski, Shelby and Sullivan.

11:55 a.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the Young nomination.

11:51 a.m. Senator Peters spoke in favor of the Young nomination.

11:23 a.m. Senator Sasse spoke about the filibuster.

11:13 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on immigration.

10:49 a.m. Senators Thune and Tuberville spoke about the filibuster.

10:18 a.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke on election reform legislation and the filibuster.

10:08 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer had the second reading of H.J. Res 17, removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. He then spoke about the shooting in Colorado and gun violence in general. He then spoke about hate crimes against Asian Americans.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m.

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #32, Shalanda Young to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

11:45am – 1 roll call vote: cloture on the Young nomination.

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

2:15pm – 2 roll call votes expected:

1. Confirmation of the Young nomination.

2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #39, Vivek Murthy to be Surgeon General.

If cloture is invoked on the Murthy nomination, we expect the confirmation vote later this afternoon.

Cloture has also been filed on the following:

1. Executive Calendar #40, Rachel Levine to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services.

2. Executive Calendar #38, David Turk to be Deputy Secretary of Energy.

3. Executive Calendar #30 Adewale Adeyemo to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.

4. Motion to proceed to Calendar #11, H.R.1799, PPP Extension Act.