Tuesday, November 16, 2021

6:36 p.m. The Senate adjourned.

6:31 p.m. Senator Whitehouse wrapped up for the evening.

6:09 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on cases before the Supreme Court and dark money.

6:08 p.m. The Kanter nomination was confirmed, 68-29. GOP in favor: Barrasso, Blunt, Boozman, Braun, Collins, Cotton, Fischer, Graham, Grassley, Hagerty, Hawley, Hyde Smith, Lee, Lummis, Murkowski, Portman, Rounds, Thune, Tillis and Wicker. Not voting: Hassan, Inhofe and Shaheen.

5:22 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of Jonathan Kanter to be an Assistant Attorney General.

5:08 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke on the economy and immigration.

4:57 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the defense authorization.

4:30 p.m. Senator Lee spoke on the fight against a vaccine mandate.

4:10 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on inflation and why Republicans are opposing further spending bills.

3:55 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on new livestock mandatory reporting legislation.

3:15 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about Senator Leahy, immigration and on the passing of former Senator Cleland.

3:14 p.m. By a vote of 76-19, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Robert Bonnie to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation.

Not voting: Senators Hassan, Inhofe, Markey, Shaheen and Warren.

2:26 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote began on confirmation of the Bonnie nomination.

2:19 p.m. Senator Padilla spoke on the pandemic.

2:15 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke in support of the Bonnie nomination.

1:01 p.m. The confirmation vote on Executive Calendar #491, Jonathan Kanter, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General will occur at 5:15 p.m. today.

At 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, the Senate will have 2 votes:

  1. Cloture on Exec. Cal. #463, Brian Eddie Nelson, of California, to be Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes.
  2. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 4350, the National Defense Authorization Act.

1:00 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Bonnie nomination, 75-20.

20 senators voting no: Barrasso, Blackburn, Braun, Cassidy, Cotton, Cramer, Cruz, Hagerty, Hawley, Lankford, Lee, Lummis, Murkowski, Paul, Rubio, Sasse, Scott (FL), Scott (SC), Sullivan, and Tuberville.

12:19 p.m. The Senate began a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Exec. Cal. #345, Robert Farrell Bonnie, VA, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation.

12:18 p.m. By a vote of 53-42, the Senate confirmed Graham Scott Steele to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.

Republicans voting Aye: Collins, Crapo, Graham, Moran, Romney, Rounds, and Scott (SC).

Not voting: Hassan, Inhofe, Markey, Shaheen, and Warren.

11:28 a.m. The Senate began a vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #401 Graham Scott Steele to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.

11:23 a.m. Senator Brown spoke about family caregivers and supporting the Steele nomination.

11:18 a.m. Senator Capito spoke about National Family Caregiver month.

10:51 a.m. Senator Kaine spoke on the need to pass the Build Back Better bill and on aid given to local governments during the pandemic.

10:38 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on Democrats spending and on the Build Back Better cost.

10:26 a.m. RL McConnell spoke on energy and against the Build Back Better plan.

10:13 a.m. Senator Leahy spoke on his retirement.

10:02 a.m. ML Schumer spoke on Senator Leahy’s retirement, infrastructure, and the Build Back Better plan.

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. Following the Leaders’ remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #401, Graham Scott Steele, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, post-cloture.

At 11:30 a.m. – 2 votes:

  1. Confirmation of the Steele nomination
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #345, Robert Farrell Bonnie, VA, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation

Following the votes at 11:30 a.m., the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m. for weekly caucus lunches.

At 2:30 p.m. – 1 vote:

  1. Confirmation of the Bonnie nomination (if cloture is invoked)

On Thursday, November 4, cloture was filed on Executive Calendar #463, Brian Eddie Nelson, of California, to be Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes.

At a time to be determined, there will be a confirmation VOTE on Executive Calendar #491, Jonathan Kanter, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General.

On Monday, November 15, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to H.R. 4350, the National Defense Authorization bill.