Wednesday, June 22, 2022

8:15 p.m. The Senate has adjourned until 10:00 a.m. Thursday June 23rd 2022. Following morning business and Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to executive session to resume consideration on the motion to discharge from Judiciary Committee PN1477 Jessica G. L. Clarke to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York.

At 11:00 a.m. the Senate will proceed to two roll call votes:

1 .Motion to discharge from Judiciary Committee PN1477 Jessica G. L. Clarke to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York.
2. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.2938, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, with Senate amendment #5099.

8:09 p.m. Senator Peters spoke about gun legislation.

7:45 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about climate change. He then moved to consider the following without objection:

• By Voice Vote, Confirmed Vinay Vijay Singh, of Pennsylvania, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Passed: Executive Calendar #103, S. 671 with Hassan substitute amendment – FACT Act
• Passed: Calendar #385, S.3510 – Disaster Resiliency Planning Act
• Passed: H.R. 4346 with Hagerty-Warner substitute amendment – Supreme Court Security Funding Act of 2022
• Adopted S. Res. 689 – commemorating the passage of 1 year since the tragic building collapse in Surfside, Florida
• Adopted S. Res. 690 – Collector Car Appreciation Day

7:45 p.m. Leader Schumer moved to discharge from Judiciary Committee PN1477 Jessica G. L. Clarke to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. There will now be up to 4 hours of debate, followed by a vote on the motion to discharge the Clarke nomination from Judiciary.

7:45 p.m. By a vote of 50-47, The Senate agreed to the motion to discharge from Judiciary Committee PN1512 Hernan D. Vera to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California.

6:25 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to discharge from Judiciary Committee PN1512 Hernan D. Vera to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California.

6:19 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about nursing mothers and baby formula. He then asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to consider S. 1658– PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act. Senator Lummis objected.

5:48 p.m. Senator Lee spoke on the baby formula shortage. He then asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to pass Executive Calendar #372 S. 4261 FORMULA Act. Senator Cassidy objected. Senator Lee then offered a substitute amendment to S. 4261, Senator Cassidy objected. Senator Lee offered an additional modified substitute amendment to S. 4261, Senator Cassidy objected. Senate Lee asked unanimous consent for an additional modified substitute amendment to S. 4261, Senator Cassidy objected.

5:10 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about Title 9.

5:03 p.m. Senator Capito spoke about gas prices.

4:46 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about spending and inflation.

4:17 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on the gun safety bill and immigration.

3:59 p.m. Senators Sinema and Murray spoke on the gun safety bill.

3:57 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer moved to discharge the nomination of Hernan Vera to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California from the Judiciary Committee.

3:56 p.m. The Boyle nomination was confirmed on a party line tally of 50-48. Senators Cramer and Toomey were absent.

3:02 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the nomination of Mary T. Boyle to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

2:59 p.m. By a vote 50-48, the motion to discharge the nomination of Arianna J. Freeman to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, from the Judiciary Committee was agreed to. Not voting: Senators Cramer and Toomey

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from recess and began voting on the motion to discharge the nomination of Arianna J. Freeman to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, from the Judiciary Committee.

12:44 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m.

12:44 p.m. Senator Cantwell asked unanimous consent that at approximately 2:15 p.m. the Senate will proceed to two roll call votes on:

1. Motion to discharge the nomination of Arianna J. Freeman to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, from the Judiciary Committee.

2. Confirmation of the nomination of Mary T. Boyle to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

12:38 p.m. Senator Cantwell spoke on the Boyle nomination and on the CPSC.

12:23 p.m. Senator Thune spoke on gas prices and on the work of the pro-life movement.

11:56 a.m. Senator Murkowski spoke on the Trans-Alaska pipeline.

11:35 a.m. Senator Schatz spoke about Indian Boarding Schools.

11:23 a.m. Senator McConnell spoke about the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

11:09 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. He also spoke about the insulin prices and also about the Freeman nomination.

11:07 a.m. Senator Schumer made a motion to discharge nomination of Arianna Freeman to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, from the Judiciary Committee. There will be up to four hours of debate.

11:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

The Senate will convene at 11:00 a.m. and resume consideration of the House message with respect to S.2938, the vehicle for Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

We expect to recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings. 

Cloture has been filed on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.2938 with amendment #5099 (text of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act). Absent an agreement, this cloture vote would occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Thursday. 

During today’s session, we expect a motion to discharge the nomination of Arianna Freeman to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, from the Judiciary Committee. 

Votes on confirmation of the following nominations will occur at times to be determined:
1. Executive Calendar #716 Cathy Harris to be Chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board.
2. Executive Calendar #919 Mary Boyle to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Roll call votes are expected during today’s session.