Wednesday, July 17, 2019

7:17 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10 a.m. Thursday.

7:03 p.m. Senator Sullivan saluted the Alaskan of the week.

6:38 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about immigration.

6:10 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about climate change.

6:08 p.m. During wrap-up, Senator McConnell secured consent for the Senate to convene at 10 a.m. Thursday, to resume consideration of the Corker nomination, t0 vote at 11:30 a.m. on the Corker and Blanchard nominations and to vote at 1:45 p.m. on the Tapia nomination.

The Senate agreed to passage of  S. 1321, to amend the U.S. code to prevent interference with voting; and S. 1833, relating to a bridge over the Wasbash River.

5:57 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about climate change.

5:53 p.m. Senator Schatz spoke about climate change.

5:46 p.m. Senator Udall spoke about climate change.

5:27 p.m. Senator King spoke about climate change.

5:15 p.m. Senator Shaheen spoke about climate change.

4:46 p.m. Senator Casey and later Senator Brown joined the colloquy about coal miners.

4:37 p.m. Senator Kaine spoke about health care for coal miners.

4:32 p.m. Senator Manchin spoke about health care for coal miners.

3:59 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke about the judiciary and the environment.

3:27 p.m. Senators Ernst, Hyde Smith, Cramer, Hoeven and Wicker spoke about the moon landing.

3:26 p.m Cloture was invoked on the Tapia nomination, 67-28.

Senators voting in favor: 52 Republicans, 15 Democrats: Cardin, Carper, Coons, Cortez Masto, Duckworth, Hassan, Jones, Leahy, Manchin, Menendez, Murphy, Rosen, Shaheen, Sinema, and Whitehouse;  1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 28 Democrats.

Senators not voting: 2 Democrats: Bennet and Harris; 2 Republicans: Isakson and Tillis; 1 Independent: Sanders.

2:55 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Donald R. Tapia to be Ambassador to Jamaica.

2:54 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the Blanchard nomination, 55-41.

Senators voting in favor: 52 Republicans, 3 Democrats: Jones, Murphy and Sinema.

Senators voting against: 41 Democrats, 1 Independent: King.

Senators not voting; 2 Democrats: Bennet and Harris, 1 Republican: Isakson; 1 Independent: Sanders.

2:33 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #175 Lynda Blanchard to be Ambassador of the U.S. to the Republic of Slovenia.

2:32 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Clifton Corker to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee by a vote of 55-41.
Senators voting in favor: 52 Republicans, 3 Democrats: Jones, Manchin and Sinema.
Senators voting against: 40 Democrats, 1 Independent: King.
Senators not voting:2 Democrats: Bennet and Harris, 1 Republican: Isakson; 1 Independent: Sanders.

2:01 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #54 Clifton L. Corker to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

1:54 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke against the Blanchard nomination.

1:52 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke supporting the Corker nomination.

1:22 p.m. Senator Durbin recognized the death of former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens and on the opioid crisis.

1:09 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the Apollo 11 moon landing.

12:57 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on health care.

12:52 p.m. Senator Scott of Florida spoke about debt.

12:37 p.m. Senator Gillibrand and Democratic Leader Schumer spoke on HR 1327.

12:36 p.m. Senators Gillibrand asked UC to take up and pass HR 1327 regarding 9/11 first responders.  Senator Paul objected.

12:35 p.m. The Senate agreed to the protocol amending the tax convention with Luxembourg, 93-3.  Senators Durbin, Lee and Paul voted against.  Senators Bennet, Harris, Isakson and Sanders did not vote.

12:15 p.m. Roll call vote began on the protocol amending tax convention with Luxembourg.

12:09 p.m. Senator Leahy thanked everyone for their kind words.

12:03 p.m. Majority Leader McConell, Democratic Leader Schumer and Senator Shelby paid tribute to Senator Leahy on the occasion of his 16,000th vote.

12:03 p.m.  The Senate agreed to the Protocol amending the tax convention with Japan, 95-2.  Senators Lee and Paul voted no.  Senators not voting: 2 Democrats: Bennet and Harris; 1 Republican: Isakson.

11:43 a.m. Roll call vote began on the Protocol amending tax convention with Japan.

11:42 a.m. The Senate ratified the Protocol Amending Tax Convention w/Swiss Confederation, 95-2; Senators Lee and Paul voted against. Senators not voting: 2 Democrats: Bennet and Harris; 1 Republican: Isakson.

10:59 a.m. Roll call vote began on the Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Swiss Confederation.

10:34 a.m. Democratic Leader Schumer paid tribute to John Paul Stevens, and later discussed legislation he hopes can be debated in the Senate.

10:21 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on the economy and trade.

10:03 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell recognized the death of John Paul Stevens.  He later spoke on the nomination for the Secretary of Defense and the pending tax treaties. H.R. 1327, Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act, had its second reading

10:02 a.m. President Pro Tempore Grassley spoke on counterfeiting.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

****

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and will resume consideration of Treaties Calendar #2, Treaty Doc. No. 112-1, Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Swiss Confederation.

At 11:00 am, the Senate will vote on the resolutions of ratification for the following treaties:

  1. Executive Calendar #2, Treaty Doc. No. 112-1, Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Swiss Confederation;
  2. Executive Calendar #3, Treaty Doc. 114-1, Protocol Amending the Tax Convention with Japan;
  3. Executive Calendar #4, Treaty Doc. 111-8, Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Luxembourg

Upon disposition of the treaties, the Senate will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #54, Clifton L. Corker, of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

At 2:00 pm, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the following nominations:

  1. Executive Calendar #54, Clifton L. Corker, of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee;
  2. Executive Calendar #175, Lynda Blanchard, of Alabama, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia; and
  3. Executive Calendar #183, Donald R. Tapia, to be Ambassador to Jamaica.

If cloture is invoked on the above items, the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nominations at a time to be determined during Thursday’s session.