6:45 p.m. The Senate is adjourned until 10 a.m. Thursday. At 11 a.m., Senator Strange will be recognized to speak. At 11:30 a.m. the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination of Joseph Balash to be assistant secretary of the Interior.
6:44 p.m. Senator Grassley secured second readings for S. 2192 and S. 2199, on border security. The Senate also agreed that, at a time to be determined by leadership, the Senate will consider nomination of Susan Bodine to be assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, debate it for 30 minutes, and vote on confirmation.
6:11 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about FBI handling of its investigations of former Secretary of State Clinton and of Russian meddling in the 2016 elections.
6:01 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke about the tax bill.
5:52 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke about community health centers.
5:51 p.m. By a party-line vote of 47 to 51, the Booker motion to instruct failed. Not voting were Senators Alexander and Franken. Action on the budget/tax conference is complete.
5:16 p.m. Senator Booker introduced a motion to instruct conferees.
5:10 p.m. Senator Rubio introduced a motion to instruct conferees (child tax credit). There will be 2 votes beginning at approximately 5:20 p.m.:
- Rubio motion to instruct conferees (child tax credit)
- Booker motion to instruct conferees (individual mandate repeal)
5:10 p.m. The Senate has returned to session.
4:32 p.m. The Senate recessed until 5:10 p.m. to accommodate an all Senators briefing.
4:31 p.m. The Stabenow motion to instruct fails 44-54.
Senators voting in favor:42 Democrats, 2 Independents: King and Sanders.
Senators voting against: 51 Republicans, 3 Democrats: Donnelly, Heitkamp and Manchin.
Senators not voting: 1 Republican: Alexander, 1 Democrat: Franken.
4:05 p.m. Roll call vote began on the Stabenow motion.
4:03 p.m. Senators Stabenow and Cornyn spoke on the Stabenow motion to instruct.
4:02 p.m. The King motion to instruct fails 48-50. Senator Corker joined Democrats/Independents in favor, with Senators Alexander and Franken not voting.
3:38 p.m. Roll call vote began on the King motion.
3:36 p.m. Senators King and Cornyn spoke on the King motion to instruct.
3:35 p.m. The motion was agreed to on a party line vote of 51-47, with Senators Alexander and Franken not voting.
3:00 p.m. The Senate began the vote on a compound motion (go to conference and appoint conferees) on H.R. 1.
2:56 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke about tax reform.
2:47 p.m. Senator King spoke about tax reform.
2:36 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about DACA.
2:27 p.m. Senator Tillis spoke on tax reform.
2:10 p.m. Senator Hoeven spoke on tax reform.
2:02 p.m. Senator Capito spoke on tax reform.
1;45 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke on the tax bill and the defense authorization.
1:04 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about the tax bill.
12:57 p.m. Senator Barasso spoke about the tax bill.
12:54 p.m. Senator McConnell announced that there will be a vote at 3:00 p.m. on a compound motion (go to conference and appoint conferees) regarding H.R. 1. If agreed to, Senators King and Stabenow will be recognized to offer motions to instruct conferees and the Senate will proceed to vote on those motions. They will recess following the vote on the Stabenow motion until 5:10 p.m.
12:20 p.m. Senator Bennett spoke about the tax bill.
11:58 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about the tax bill.
11:41 a.m. Senator Whitehouse gave his weekly climate change speech.
11:34 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about untested rape kits.
11:16 a.m. Senator Coons spoke about Rich Hefra from Delaware.
10:39 a.m. Senator Kaine spoke about DACA.
10:05 a.m. Senator McConnell spoke about the tax bill and the CR.
10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.
The Senate will convene at 10 a.m.
Today, Majority Leader McConnell is expected to lay before the Senate the House message to accompany the 2018 reconciliation bill (H.R. 1), the Republican tax bill.
There will be up to ten hours of debate on the motion to go to conference. Roll call votes are expected on motions to instruct conferees and to go to conference wit the House.
At a time set by leadership, he Senate will begin one hour of debate on the nomination of Joseph Balash to be assistant secretary of the Interior.
NOTE: There will be an all-senators briefing at 4 p.m. in the Senate Visitors Center on current threats and the defense budget. The deputy defense secretary and vice chairman of the joint Chiefs of Staff will brief.