Wednesday, August 22, 2018

7:02 p.m. The Senate adjourned at 7:01 p.m. to reconvene at 9:30 a.m.  The next vote is scheduled to occur at 10:30 a.m. on cloture to the H.R 6157,  the legislative vehicle for Defense-Labor-HHS-Education appropriations minibus.

The following bills were passed by voice vote in wrap up:

S. 2946 –  amending title 18 with respect to Act of War and blocked assets

S. 266 – Congressional Gold Medal Award to Anwar Sadat

S. 1322 – U.S. Fisheries Commission (as amended)

S. 899 – Federal employees benefits and leave for veterans

S. 1142 – Hydroelectric Projects (as amended)

H.R. 2147 – Veterans Affairs outreach specialist

S.Res 615 – honoring life of Aretha Franklin

6:14 p.m. Senator Casey spoke on the Kavanaugh SCOTUS nomination.

5:50 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about climate change.

5:18 p.m. Senator McConnell filed cloture on folowing 17 nominations:

  • Cal # 994 Lynn Johnson, CO, Asst Secy, HHS
  • Cal #910 Richard Clarita, CT, Vice Chair, Federal Reserve Board
  • Cal #911 Richard Clarita, CT, Member, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve Board
  • Cal #783 Joseph Hunt, MD, Asst Atty General
  • Cal #720 Isabel Marie Keenan Patelunas, PA, Asst Secy, Intel and Analysis, Treasury
  • Cal #633 Terry Morer, AL, US District Judge, Souther District of AL
  • Cal #635 R. Stan Baker, GA, US District Judge, Southern District of GA
  • Cal #636 Charles Barnes Goodwin, OK, US District Judge, Western District of OK
  • Cal #674 Barry Ashe, LA, US District Judge, Eastern District of LA
  • Cal #676 James Sweeney, IN, US District Judge, Southern District of IN
  • Cal #692 Susan P. Baxter, PA, US District Judge. Western District of PA
  • Cal #693 Marilyn Horan, PA, US District Judge, Western District of PA
  • Cal #914 Allen Winsor, FL, US District Judge, Middle District of FL
  • Cal #779 Dominic Lanza, AZ, US District Judge
  • Cal #782 Charles Williams, IA, US District Judge
  • Cal #838 Robert Summerhays, LA, US District Judge, Western District, LA
  • Cal #893 Alan Albright, TX, US District Judge, Western District, TX

5:11 p.m. Senator Gardner spoke on DoD approps.

4:46 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the murder of Mollie Tibbett.

4:34 p.m. The Senate has returned from the recess; Senator Brown spoke about the necessity of the free press.

3:30 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 4:30 p.m. to allow for an all Senators briefing.

3:12 p.m. Senators Portman and Leahy spoke on the Kavanaugh nomination.

2:56 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke on health care.

2:38 p.m. Senator Tillis spoke again on Pastor Brunson being held in Turkey.

2:24 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on the appropriations process and later on health care; engaging in a colloquy with Senator Alexander on the cost of prescription drugs.

2:09 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke on the appropriations process.

2:05 p.m. Senator Daines spoke in support of the Defense appropriations bill.

1:56 p.m Senator Leahy spoke about Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort.

1:18 p.m Senator Heinrich spoke on the Kavanaugh nomination.

12:58 p.m. Senators Reed and Nelson spoke about the Military Lending Act.

12:45 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke on the first anniversary of hurricane Harvey.

12:34 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke in support of the Kavanaugh nomination.

12:28 p.m. Senator Donnelly spoke about children being exposed to lead.

12:05 p.m. Senator Burr spoke about the land and water conservation fund. Asked UC to call up a land and water conservation bill.  Senator Murkowski objected.

11:59 a.m. Senator Boozman paid tribute to purple heart recipients.

11:44 a.m. Senator Murphy attempted to to call up his amendment #3793 regarding Yemen.  Senator Shelby objected. Senator Murphy continued to discuss the situation in Yemen.

11:27 a.m. Senator Leahy spoke briefly on the appropriations process before discussing the Kavanaugh nomination.

11:18 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke briefly on the appropriations process before discussing an activation ceremony for a new Army Futures Command location in Austin.

11:01 a.m. The Senate resumed consideration of the appropriations bill. Senator Collins spoke about this year’s appropriations process.

10:50 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the Kavanaugh nomination. He spoke about the guilty plea of Michael Cohen and the conviction of Paul Manafort.

10:03 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the economy. He spoke about the pending appropriations bill.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and resume consideration of H.R. 6157, the legislative vehicle for Defense-Labor-HHS-Education appropriations minibus.

The Senate will recess from 3:30pm until 4:30pm to allow for a members-only briefing on election security.

Majority Leader McConnell filed cloture on the Shelby substitute and H.R. 6157 during Tuesday’s session.  By rule, the cloture vote with respect to the substitute will occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Thursday.