Wednesday, April 21, 2021

8:09 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 22. They will resume consideration of S. 937, Covid-19 hate crimes bill and there will be four votes at 11:30 on the following amendments and on final passage:

(60 affirmative votes required for all).

  • Cruz-Kennedy #1456
  • Lee #1425
  • Blackburn #1458
  • Final Passage S. 937 as amended

During wrap-up:

Agreed to, S.Res. 168-Congratulating the NW Missouri State University Bearcats men’s basketball team on winning the NCAA Division II championship

Agreed to, S. Res. 169-Honoring the life and legacy of William Robert Bobby “Slick” Leonard

Agreed to, S. Res 170-relating to the death of Walter Mondale

Agreed to, H. Con. Res. 30-providing for a joint session of congress  to receive a message from the President

Agreed to, S. Res. 143-honor and recognize the patriotism and service  to the US by Veteran service organizations during the Covid-19 pandemic.

7:07 p.m. Senator Moran spoke against increasing the size of the Supreme Court.

6:57 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about the infrastructure bill.

6:56 p.m. By a party-line vote of 50-50, with the Vice President voting affirmative, the Kahl nomination was discharged from the Armed Services Committee and placed on the Executive Calendar.

5:58 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to discharge the Kahl nomination.

5:49 p.m. Senator Hagerty spoke against the Kahl nomination.

5:18 p.m. Senator Ernst spoke against the Kahl nomination.

5:07 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about synthetic opioids.

4:57 p.m. Senator Manchin spoke about Fentanyl.

4:18 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about Oregonian Chris Meyer.

4:06 p.m. Senator Tuberville spoke against the Kahl nomination.

3:57 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke against the Kahl nomination.

3:36 p.m. Senator Sullivan and Senator Scott (FL) spoke about the cruise industry. Senator Sullivan asked UC that the Senate pass S. 1105. Senator Murray objected.

3:16 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke against the Kahl nomination.

3:10 p.m. Senator Schumer made a motion to discharge the Senate Armed Services Committee from consideration of the nomination of Colin Kahl to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

3:07 p.m. By a vote of 51-49 the nomination of Vanita Gupta to be Associate Attorney General was confirmed.

2:30 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the Gupta nomination.

2:28 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke in support of the Gupta nomination.

2:22 p.m. Senator Marshall spoke about the infrastructure bill.

2:17 p.m. Senator Boozman spoke about the infrastructure bill.

2:12 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about the infrastructure bill.

2:08 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about the infrastructure bill.

2:03 p.m. Senator Cramer spoke about the infrastructure bill.

1:58 p.m. Senator Lummis spoke about the infrastructure bill.

1:49 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke about the infrastructure bill.

1:42 p.m. Senator Ernst spoke about the infrastructure bill.

1:13 p.m. Senator Murkowski spoke in support of the Gupta nomination.

1:01 p.m. Senator Booker spoke in support of the Gupta nomination.

12:41 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke in support of the Gupta nomination.

12:22 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke against the Gupta nomination.

12:20 p.m. By a vote of 51-49, cloture was invoked on the nomination of Vanita Gupta to be Associate Attorney General.

11:35 a.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Vanita Gupta to be Associate Attorney General.

11:29 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about the voting rights bill.

11:15 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the Gupta nomination.

11:06 a.m. Senator McConnell spoke about the infrastructure bill and also about the Gupta nomination.

10:50 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the Chauvin verdict and also spoke about systemic bias in our society.

10:49 a.m. Passed by UC. Adm. John C. Aquilino to be Admiral.

10:30 a.m. The Senate convened.

The Senate will convene at 10:30am. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and resume consideration of the nomination of Vanita Gupta to be Associate Attorney General. At 11:30am, the cloture motion on the Gupta nomination will ripen and the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Gupta nomination.

If cloture is invoked, there will be up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate time followed by a roll call vote on confirmation of the Gupta nomination.

Upon disposition of the Gupta nomination, it is expected Senator Schumer will move to discharge the Senate Armed Services Committee from consideration of the nomination of Colin Kahl to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. There will then be up to 4 hours of debate followed by a roll call vote on the motion to discharge the Kahl nomination from the Armed Services Committee.