Wednesday, July 19, 2023

7:55 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to resume consideration of the nomination of David Uhlmann, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.  At approximately 12:00 p.m. the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Uhlmann nomination.  Upon disposition of the nomination the Senate will resume Legislative Session to resume consideration of  S.2226, FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and vote on adoption of the Cruz-Manchin amendment #926 (Strategic Petroleum Reserve) at a 60 vote threshold.

7:54 p.m. Senator Hickenlooper began wrap up and adopted S.Res. 303, University of Alaska Fairbanks Rifle Team Champions and S.Res. 304, University of Oklahoma Women’s Softball Champions, en bloc by unanimous consent.

6:34 p.m. Senator Moran spoke on Iran.

5:52 p.m. Senator Bennet spoke on abortion and on military promotions.

5:41 p.m. Senators Marshall and Tuberville spoke on military promotions.

5:40 p.m. Senator Bennet asked unanimous consent that the Senate consider and confirm the nominations and promotions a number of Department of Defense nominations en bloc. Senator Tuberville objected.

5:39 p.m. By a vote of 39-60, the Senate did not adopt the Hawley-Vance amendment #838 to S.2226, FY2024 NDAA.

Republicans voting no: Senators Boozman, Capito, Collins, Cotton, Crapo, Ernst, Kennedy, Risch and Romney.

Not voting: Senator Barrasso.

5:04 p.m. The Senate began voting on Hawley-Vance amendment #838 to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to clarify the meaning of the term “aggregate value” for purposes of the Presidential drawdown authority. (This vote is subject to an affirmative 60-vote threshold)

5:00 p.m. Senator Schumer announced that the vote on the Manchin/Cruz amendment #926 will now occur tomorrow.

4:59 p.m. By vote of 16-83, the Paul amendment #222 (NATO and War Powers) in relation to S. 2226, FY2024 NDAA was not agreed to.

4:33 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on adoption of the Paul amendment #222 (NATO and War Powers) in relation to S.2226, FY2024 NDAA. (60-vote affirmative threshold)

4:27 p.m. By a vote of 65-28, the Senate adopted the Kaine amendment #429 (NATO) to S. 2226, the National Defense Authorization Act FY 2024.

4:04 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on Kaine amendment #429 to S. 2226, the National Defense Authorization Act FY 2024.

3:55 p.m. Senators Kaine, Wicker, and Paul spoke on Kaine amendment #429 (NATO) to the NDAA.

3:54 p.m. By a vote of 96-2, the Senate adopted Murray amendment #300 (beryllium testing) to S. 2226, the National Defense Authorization Act FY 2024. Senators voting No: Ernst and Tuberville. Senators not voting: Barrasso and Coons.

2:58 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on adoption of Murray amendment #300 to S. 2226, the National Defense Authorization Act FY 2024.

2:55 p.m. Senator Kaine spoke on the NDAA.

2:52 p.m. Senator Murray spoke on the NDAA.

2:42 p.m. Senator Reed spoke on the NDAA.

2:15 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke on the NDAA.

12:46 p.m. The Senate recessed until 2:15 p.m.

12:36 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on the Supreme Court ethics.

12:09 p.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke on Israel and ethics of the Judiciary branch.

11:59 a.m. The Senate returned from the recess.

10:02 a.m. The Senate stands in recess to the call of the chair.

9:54 a.m. The motion to proceed to S. 2226, the National Defense Authorization Act FY 2024 was agreed to by unanimous consent and Leader Schumer introduced substitute amendment #935 and amendment #936 to S. 2226. He then announced that the Senate would hold roll call vote at 3:00 p.m. on the following amendments to S. 2226, the NDAA FY 2024:

  • Murray Amendment #300
  • Kaine Amendment #429
  • Paul Amendment #222
  • Hawley/Vance Amendment #838
  • Cruz/ Manchin Amendment #926

Leader Schumer then spoke on the joint meeting of Congress with the prime minister of Israel and the NDAA.

9:45 a.m. The Senate convened.

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The Senate will convene at 9:45am. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2226, NDAA,  post-cloture. At 11:00am, His Excellency Isaac Herzog, President of Israel, will address a Joint Meeting of Congress in the Hall of the House of Representatives. Senators will meet in the Senate Chamber at 10:20am and will proceed as a body to the House Chamber at 10:30am.

The Senate will recess between 1:00pm and 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

Votes are expected today but none are currently scheduled.