Tuesday, October 20, 2020

7:49 p.m. The Senate recessed until 12:00 noon on Wednesday.

7:12 p.m. Senator Casey spoke on the Barrett nomination and the Affordable Care Act; and later on Russia.

6:36 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change.

6:15 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke on the Defense Authorization.

6:14 p.m. The Motion to table the Schumer appeal of the ruling of the Chair was agreed to 52-43 on a party line vote, with 4 Democrats: Harris, Shaheen, Sinema and Stabenow, and 1 Republican: Paul not voting.

5:44 p.m. DL Schumer offered a motion to adjourn, the chair ruled it was out of order. DL Schumer appealed the ruling of the chair. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to table the appeal of the ruling of the chair.

5:43 p.m. ML McConnell filed cloture on the Newman nomination.

5:42 p.m. The motion to proceed to Executive Session was agreed to on a party line vote of 52-43. Senators not voting: 4 Democrats: Harris, Jones, Shaheen and Sinema; 1 Republican: Paul.

5:25 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Executive Calendar #866 Michael Jay Newman to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio.

5:24 p.m. By a tall of 45-52, the Schumer motion to table the motion to proceed to S.4675, a bill to amend the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was not agreed to.

This was a party line vote.

Senators not voting: 2 Democrats: Harris and Sinema, 1 Republican: Paul.

4:48 p.m. Roll call vote began on the Schumer motion to table the motion to proceed to S. 4675.

4:42 p.m. Democratic Leader Schumer spoke on his amendment.

4:41 p.m. The McConnell amendment was not tabled 40-57.

Senators voting in favor: 38 Democrats, 2 Independents (King and Sanders).

Senators voting against: 52 Republicans and 5 Democrats: Senators Hassan, Jones, Peters, Shaheen and Warner.

Senators not voting: 2 Democrats: Harris and Sinema, 1 Republican: Paul.

4:04 p.m. ML McConnell withdrew the motion to proceed to S. 4765, the Protect Act. ML McConnell moved to table Rubio amend #2680. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to table McConnell amendment #2680 (PPP), in relation to the House message to accompany S.178 (vehicle for Coronavirus-related Proposals).

4:00 p.m. Senator Collins spoke supporting the continuation of PPP loans.

3:49 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke on climate change and the Barrett nomination.

3:47 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke against the Barrett nomination.

3:36 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke supporting additional PPP funding that is not including in the Republican bill.

3:27 p.m. Senator Rubio spoke on PPP loans.

3:05 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke on political obstruction by the Majority.

2:54 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on additional Coronavirus funding.

2:37 p.m. Senator Collins spoke supporting her amendment to renew PPP loans.

2:21 p.m. Senator Thune spoke supporting the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett and on Coronavirus funding.

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from recess.

12:52 p.m. The Senate recessed until 2:15 p.m.

12:37 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the pandemic.

12:21 p.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the virus and about relief legislation. He said Democrats will seek a vote today on an alternative to the Republican bill. He spoke about election procedures. He spoke about the Barrett nomination.

12:04 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about corona virus assistance. He said the Senate will vote today on the Paycheck Protection Program

12:02 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about wrestler Dan Gable’s Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Senate will convene at noon.

The pending business is the nomination of Michael Jay Newman, of Ohio, to be United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Ohio. Votes are expected but no vote has been scheduled.

Cloture was filed Monday on the motion to concur in House amendment to S. 178 (condemning violence against ethic Turkish Muslims), with McConnell Amdt. #2652. Pending to that amendment is McConnell Second-degree amendment #2680.