Wednesday, December 19, 2018

12:07 a.m. Senate adjourns.

12:06 a.m. UC that Senate adjourn until 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, following any leader remarks, be in a period of morning business.

11:58 p.m. Senator Boozman does wrap up part two.

Items passed by UC:

  • S.3611,the Faster access to federal student aid act
  • HR 5509, Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act (passed by voice vote)
  • HR 5787, Strengthening Coastal Communities Act
  • HR 767, regarding human trafficking in the health care system
  • HR 7327, establishing a security vulnerability disclosure policy
  • HR 4819, promoting conservation and biodiversity measures
  • S 1023, reauthorizing the tropical forest conservation act (passed by voice vote)
  • S 79, providing a pilot program to identify security vulnerabilities in the energy sector (passed by voice vote)
  • correction to china economic review commission

11:05 p.m. Senator Moran spoke on the CR, announces he voted no on the voice vote.

10:43 p.m. Senators Cantwell and Daines joined the discussion.

10:35 p.m. Senator Gardner responded to Senator Lee.

10:20 p.m. Senator Lee explained his objection.

10:16 p.m. Senator Murkowski asked UC to take up and pass the lands package bill; Senator Lee asked to modify the request to include the words “for Utah” in the antiquities act. Senator Murkowski objected to the modified request, and Senator Lee than objected to the underlying request.

10:01 p.m The Senate agreed to the motion to concur, passing the CR until February 8th by VOICE VOTE.

10:00 p.m. Motion to instruct agreed to 71-21.

Senators voting in favor 27 Republicans, 43 Democrats, 1 Independent: King

Senators voting against: 17 Republicans: Alexander, Collins, Cotton, Cruz, Daines, Enzi, Graham, Kennedy, Lankford, Lee, Moran, Paul, Rubio, Sasse, Toomey, Wicker and Young; 3 Democrats: Gillibrand, Schatz and Whitehouse; 1 Independent: Sanders.

Senators not voting: 7 Republicans: Burr, Corker, Crapo, Heller, Inhofe, Isakson and Tillis; 1 Democrat: McCaskill

9:30 p.m. Vote began on a motion to instruct the Sergeant at Arms to request the presence of absent Senators.

9:27 p.m. The Senate began a live quorum.

8:58 p.m. Senator Cornyn does some wrap-up..
Items passed by UC:
HR 6400, conducting a threat and operational analysis of ports of entry
HR 6893, regarding overtime pay for secret service
HR 1162, regarding pilot program to provide access to magnetic EKG guided residence therapy for veterans.
S. 2248, regarding burial benefits of veterans buried in tribal cemeteries
HR 6347 (Real Estate Appraisal Harmonization Act) and 6348 (Small Business ACE Act)(passed by voice vote en bloc)
S 3523, regarding military honor ceremonies for certain deceased veterans
HR 5923, regarding public lands in Wichita national forest
HR 3383, regarding a flood control plan in Wichita Valley Center flood control project
HR 1850, 5205, 5474, 6059, 6167, 6335, 6930, 7230, 7243 (all post office naming, passed by UC en bloc)
S Res 737, 75th anniversary of cadet nurse corp
S 3456, re-designating Hobe Sound refuge

8:30 p.m. Senators Shaheen and Graham engaged in a colloquy on Syria.

8:15 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke on the situation in Syria.

8:06 p.m. Senator Perdue spoke on the CR.

8:04 p.m. Senator Tester spoke about land and water conservation.

7:56 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about health care.

7:38 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke on health insurance and then paid tribute to Senators Hatch, Flake, Corker and Heller.

7:30 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke on federal grants and the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 943 was agreed to by voice vote. Senator Lankford then made a motion to agree to H.R. 4887 and Senator Brown objected.

7:21 p.m. Senator Risch spoke on Syria and asked unanimous consent that H.R. 1677 be agreed to. Senator Paul objected.

7:19 p.m. Senator Crapo spoke about Syria.

7:03 p.m. Senator Brown paid tribute to Congresswoman Stephanie Tub Jones and staffer Elizabeth Timms.

6:34 p.m. Senator Rubio spoke on US military involvement in Syria.

6:09 p.m. Senators Merkley and Nelson spoke on climate change.

5:59 p.m. ML McConnell has the following passed by UC: HR 4174, the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act. He then paid tribute to a departing staff member.

5:24 p.m. Senators Carper and Markey spoke on the UN framework convention on climate change.

5:19 p.m. Senator Wicker paid tribute to the East Mississippi Community College Lions.

5:06 p.m. Senator Markey spoke on S.2736.

5:00 p.m. The motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 2736 was agreed to by voice vote. Senator Gardner spoke in support of the bill.

4:59 p.m. S. 3247 was agreed to by voice vote.

4:57 p.m. Senator Hasan spoke on the Feldblum nomination to the EEOC.

4:42 p.m. Senator Murray spoke about Equal Employment Opportunity Commission nominations and asked unanimous consent to confirm PN 1-18 nominations en bloc. Senator Lee objected. Senator Lee then asked unanimous consent that the Senate confirm exec cal. nominations #379 and #381. Senator Murray objected.

4:14 p.m. Senatore Menendez and Whitehouse spoke about climate change.

4:10 p.m. Senator Gardener spoke about fallen law enforcement officers.

3:55 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke about Guatemala.

3:53 p.m. Senator Sasse spoke about high school students who participated in a constitution day contest.

3:38 p.m. Senator Reed paid tribute to retiring/leaving Senators.

3:30 p.m. Senator Burr and Senator Warner spoke in favor of nomination of William Evanina to be Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center.

3:28 p.m. Senator Warner thanked Senator Kyl for his work.

3:20 p.m. Senator Kyl spoke about his work on projects started by Senator McCain including  Arizona military installations and defense industries.

3:11 p.m. Senator Schumer paid tribute to Senator McCaskill.

3:03 p.m. Senator Booker spoke about the special counsel protection bill.

2:57 p.m. Senator Coons spoke about the special counsel protection bill.

2:52 p.m. Senator Flake asked UC that the Senate proceed to S. 2644-protect the Special Counsel. Senator McConnell objected.

2:43 p.m. Senator Casey spoke in support of Senator Manchin’s resolution regarding pre-existing conditions.

2:35 p.m. Senator Manchin asked UC that the Senate proceed to his resolution regarding health care and pre-existing conditions. Senator Barrasso objected.

2:15 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke about the budget.

1:59 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about immigration.

1:47 p.m. Senators Harris and Booker spoke on the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act. S. 3178, and substitute amendment, was passed by voice vote.

1:25 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on victim’s rights and child protection measures.

1:11 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on the criminal justice reform legislation.

12:55 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the criminal justice reform legislation.

12:51 p.m. Senator Shelby spoke honoring Senator Hatch.

12:39 p.m. Senators Baldwin and Duckworth spoke supporting H.R. 299, Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act.

12:25 p.m. Senator Blumenthal asked u.c. To call up and pass H.R. 299, Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act. Senator Lee objected. Senator Blumenthal spoke about the need for action for these veterans.

12:22 p.m. Senator Isakson spoke supporting the Veterans Affairs Administration.

12:21 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Maguire nomination by a voice vote.

11:59 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the history of the Whip position and on his time as Whip.

11:58 a.m. Cloture was invoked on the Maguire nomination, 95-1; with Senator Paul voting no.

Senators not voting: Blunt, Johnson,, Warner and Whitehouse.

11:21 a.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the Maguire nomination.

11:08 a.m. Senator Paul questioned drone killings, the Maguire nomination, the need of sharing intelligence with all Senators; and the need for checks and balances.

10:56 a.m. Senator Inhofe paid tribute to Senator Cornyn; responds to Democratic Leader Schumer remarks on the wall; and paid tribute to George H W Bush.

10:55 a.m. The Senate resumed consideration of the Maguire nomination.

10:36 a.m. DL Schumer spoke on government funding and immigration; trade with China; and a tribute to Senator Nelson.

10:33 a.m. ML McConnell lays beforeh the Senate HR 695, amending the Child Protection Act, and adds an amendment, #4163, the vehicle for a CR until February 8th, he then filled the tree.

10:04 a.m. ML McConnell announces he will later today introduce a CR later today through February 8th; and immigration.  He later turned to pay tribute to retiring Speaker Ryan; and Senator Cornyn on the ending of his whip duties.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and will resume consideration of the nomination of Joseph Maguire to be Director of the National Counterterrorism Center.

At 11:00 a.m., the Senate will vote on cloture for the Maguire nomination.

  • Additional roll call votes are possible during Wednesday’s session.