Wednesday, December 21, 2022

2:01 a.m. The Senate adjourned.

2:00 a.m. ML Schumer wrapped up for the evening.

11:47 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on the omnibus.

11:03 p.m. Senator Baldwin got unanimous consent to pass the following:S. 4814, the ORBITS Act of 2022

10:02 a.m. Senators Cantwell and Capito spoke on equal pay for female athletes.

9:24 p.m. Senator Carper paid tribute to two of his staff who are retiring.

8:56 p.m. By a vote of 68-26, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Agnes Schaefer to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army. Senators not voting: Barrasso, Blunt, Burr, Cramer, Cruz and Shelby.

8:10 p.m. The Senate returned from recess and began a roll call vote on confirmation of Agnes Schaefer to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army.

6:56 p.m. The Senate stands in recess subject to the call of the chair.

6:54 p.m. ML Schumer spoke on meeting with President Zelenskyy and on passage of the Omnibus. ML Schumer asked unanimous consent After the Senate reconvenes from the Joint Session the Senate vote on confirmation of Agnes Schaefer to be an Asst. Secretary of the Army.

6:35 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on President Zelenskyy’s upcoming address to Congress.

6:34 p.m. Senator Durbin got unanimous consent to pass the following:

  • S.Res. 472, A resolution reaffirming the partnership between the United States and the Dominican Republic and advancing opportunities to deepen diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation between the two nations
  • H.Con.Res. 82, Authorizing the printing of a revised and updated version of the House document entitled “Black Americans in Congress, 1870-1989”.
  • S.Res. 876, Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.

6:21 p.m. Senators Klobuchar and Moran spoke on the Afghan Adjustment Act.

6:07 p.m. Senator Brown spoke on American manufacturing and the economy.

5:53 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke on immigration. Senator Lankford asked unanimous consent to call up and pass S. 4036, Public Health and Border Security Act. Senator Peters objected. Senator Lankford asked unanimous consent to call up and pass S. 5350. Senator Peters objected.

5:40 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke on political speech online.

5:23 p.m. Senator Casey spoke on the Tree of Life synagogue attack and on domestic terrorism prevention.

5:08 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke on immigration.

4:50 p.m. Senators Scott (FL) and Ernst spoke on immigration. Senator Ernst asked unanimous consent to call up and pass S. 4294, BUILD IT Act. Senator Peters objected.

4:30 p.m. Senators Carper and spoke on the Water Resources and Development Act.

4:22 p.m. Senator Daines spoke on forest management.

4:13 p.m. Senator Moran spoke on the appropriations process.

4:10 p.m. Senator Blumenthal asked unanimous consent to pass the following en bloc:

  • Alexis Taylor, of Iowa, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs
  • L. Michelle Moore, of Georgia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley
  • Robert P. Klein, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority
  • William J. Renick, of Mississippi, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority
  • Adam Wade White, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority
  • Joe H. Ritch, of Alabama, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority
  • Beth Pritchard Geer, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority

4:02 p.m. Senator Blumenthal asked unanimous consent to call up and H.R. 680, For the relief of Arpita Kurdekar, Girish Kurdekar, and Vandana Kurdekar. The bill was passed by unanimous consent.

3:48 p.m. Senators Boozman and Cotton paid tribute to Detective Paul Newell who was killed in a car crash.

3:39 p.m. Senators Coons and Graham spoke on the Afghan Adjustment Act.

3:32 p.m. The Senate confirmed by voice vote Executive Calendar #1195 Richard L. Revesz to be Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget.

3:20 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on child exploitation and asked unanimous consent for the Senate to discharge from Committee and pass H. R. 7566 NTZ Act. Senator Durbin objected and asked unanimious consent that Senator Cornyn modify his request to include the Durbin substitute amendment. Senator Cornyn objected to the modification request.

3:08 p.m. Senator Duckworth spoke in support of the Gilbride nomination to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and asked unanimous consent for the Senate to discharge from Committee and confirm Executive Calendar #1203, Karla Ann Gilbride to be General Counsel of the Equal Opportunity Comission. Senator Braun objected.

2:45 p.m. Senator White house spoke about U.S. victim’s of state-sponsored terrorism funds.

2:29 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about Hannukah and also about anti-Semitism.

2:25 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about the Electoral Count Act.

2:04 p.m. Senator Collins spoke about the Electoral Count Act.

2:03 p.m. Senator Wyden asked unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to and pass H.R. 1154, an act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to asses the suitability and feasibility of designating certain land and the Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area. There was no objection

1:58 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about Dr. Brent Neiman to be Assistant Secretary to of the Treasury for International Finance and Development. He asked unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the nomination. Senator Toomey objected.

1:50 p.m. Senator Kennedy spoke about the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet.

1:36 p.m. Senator Booker then spoke about the disparity in sentencing between powder cocaine and crack cocaine. He asked unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to S. 1693-EQUAL Act. Senator Cotton objected and offered an amendment. Senator Booker objected.

1:28 p.m. Senator Booker then spoke about clearance rates in murder investigations. He asked unanimous consent to proceed to H.R. 5768-VICTIM Act. Senator Paul objected and offered an amendment to the bill. Senator Booker objected.

1:25 p.m. Senator Booker spoke about South Asian heart health. He asked unanimous consent to proceed to H.R 3771-South Asian Heart Health Awareness Research Act. Senator Paul objected.

1:21 p.m. The following were passed by unanimous consent:

  • S. 1541, as amended-amend the Communications Act
  • S. 3405, as amended-require the FCC to issue a rule
  • H.R. 897-take certain lands in CA into trust
  • S. 4439-take certain federal land

1:05 p.m. Senator Toomey spoke about the tariffs on steel and aluminum.

12:50 p.m. Senators Merkley, Murkowski and Murray spoke about the PUMP act. Senator Merkley asked Unanimous Consent that the Senate proceed to S. 1658 (Pump act). Senator Paul objected.

12:41 p.m. Senator Haggerty spoke on the southern border. He asked unanimous consent to proceed to S. 3959 (title 42 and drug trafficking). Senator Murray objected.

12:37 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke on elections.

12:28 p.m. Senator Warnock spoke on elections and asked unanimous consent that the Senate call up and agree to the motion to concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H. R. 5746. Senator Fisher objected.

12:28 p.m. By a vote of 93-2, the Senate confirmed Executive Calendar #1271 Lynne M. Tracy to be Ambassador to the Russian Federation. Senators voting no: Paul & Lee.

11:33 a.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of Lynne Tracy to be Ambassador to Russia.

11:30 a.m. Senator Menendez spoke in support of the Tracy nomination.

11:24 a.m. Senator Schumer briefly spoke on the HELP Committee.

11:23 a.m. Senator Padilla was re sworn-in as Senator to fill the unexpired term created by the resignation of former Senator Kamala Harris of California.

11:05 a.m. Senator Murray spoke on the HELP Committee.

11:00 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on rural broadband.

10:46 a.m. Senator Durbin paid tribute to Sheri Bustos.

10:45 a.m. The Senate passed S. 4240 Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act, as amended, by unanimous consent.

10:33 a.m. Senator McConnell spoke about the Zelensky visit, inflation, and also the omnibus.

10:15 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the Zelensky visit and also about the omnibus.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and following any leader remarks will begin consideration of the nomination of Lynne Tracy to be Ambassador to Russia, with a vote on confirmation of the nomination at 11:30 a.m.

Further votes are expected.