Wednesday, June 26, 2019

The Senate adjourned at 7:14 p.m. and will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 27th. Following leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 1790, the National Defense Authorization Act.

At 12:00 p.m. there will be 2 votes:

  1. Motion to invoke cloture on amdt. #764
  2. Adoption of Romney amdt. #861

At 1:45 p.m. the cloture motion on S.1790 will be withdrawn and there will be 2 votes:

  1. Adoption of substitute amdt. #764
  2. Passage of S.1790 as amended, if amended

On Friday at a time TBD, the Senate will vote on adoption of Udall amdt. #883 to S.1790, 60 votes required. The Senate is expected to start this vote first thing in the morning and hold open through the afternoon.  

Today’s wrap-up:

  • S.Res.266, Congratulating the St. Louis Blues on winning the 2019 Stanley Cup Final was adopted by unanimous consent.
  • S.528, Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act, was adopted by voice vote.
  • H.R.866, Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act, was adopted by voice vote.

6:40 p.m. Senator Casey spoke about immigration.

6:38 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke about the NDAA and Toomey’s amdt.

6:24 p.m. Senator Toomey spoke about his amendment, “Blocking Deadly Fentanyl Import Act” and asked unanimous consent that the Senate set aside amdt. #862 and call up his amdt. #900. Senator Menendez objected.

6:11 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about NDAA.

5:42 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about immigration and Iran.

5:22 p.m. Senator Sullivan paid tribute to his Alaskan of the Week, Calvin Williams and his Coast Guard fellow.

4:35 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about NDAA.

4:21 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about drug pricing.

4:04 p.m. Senator Stabenow paid tribute to her outgoing staffer Bill Sweeney.

3:56 p.m. Senator Hirono spoke on Iran.

3:31 p.m. DL Schumer spoke on the defense authorization and the Udall amendment.

3:29 p.m. ML McConnell achieved UC that the cloture votes on the defense authorization come at a time to be determined.  There will be votes, including on the Udall amendment regarding authorization of military force, on Friday morning.

3:29 p.m. HR 3401 was agreed to 84-8.

Senators voting against: 6 Democrats: Hirono, Markey, Menendez,  Merkley, Van Hollen and Wyden; 2 Republicans: Lee and Paul.

Senators not voting: 6 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Gillibrand, Harris, Klobuchar and Warren.  1 Republican: Rounds.  1 Independent: Sanders.

3:09 p.m. Roll call vote began on passage of H.R.3401, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, as amended. (60 vote threshold)

3:08 p.m. The Shelby substitute was agreed to 84-8.

Senators voting against: 6 Democrats: Hirono, Markey, Menendez,  Merkley, Van Hollen and Wyden; 2 Republicans: Lee and Paul.

Senators not voting: 6 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Gillibrand, Harris, Klobuchar and Warren.  1 Republican: Rounds.  1 Independent: Sanders.

2:51 p.m. Roll call vote began on adoption of Shelby substitute amendment #901 to H.R.3401, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations. (60 vote threshold).

2:49 p.m. The Paul amendment was tabled, 77-15.

Senators voting against: 15 Republicans: Barrasso, Blackburn, Braun, Cruz, Enzi, Ernst, Grassley, Kennedy, Lankford, Lee, Paul, Perdue, Scott of South Carolina, Tillis and Toomey.

Senators not voting: 6 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Gillibrand, Harris, Klobuchar and Warren.  1 Republican: Rounds.  1 Independent: Sanders.

2:35 p.m. Roll call vote began on the motion to table the Paul amendment #902 in relation to H.R.3401, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations.

2:34 p.m. Senator Graham offered a motion to table the Paul amendment.

2:33 p.m. Senator Paul spoke on his amendment, #902.

2:32 p.m. Senator Shelby called up the substitute amendment #901.

2:31 p.m. Democratic Leader Schumer spoke on the supplemental.

2:30 p.m. HR 3401 was not agreed to, 37-55.

Senators voting in favor: 36 Democrats, 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 52 Republicans, 3 Democrats: Manchin, Markey and Merkley.

Senators not voting: 6 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Gillibrand, Harris, Klobuchar and Warren.  1 Republican: Rounds.  1 Independent: Sanders.

2:00 p.m. Roll call vote began on H.R.3401, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations. (60 vote threshold).

1:31 p.m. Senators Leahy, Paul and Shelby spoke about border security.

1:20 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about energy law.

1:04 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about the Affordable Care Act.

12:45 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about border security.

12:32 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke supporting the NDAA.

12:10 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke supporting the NDAA.

11:53 a.m. Senator Capito spoke supporting the NDAA and the Emergency Supplemental.

11:50 a.m. ML McConnell achieved UC to have 5 votes at 2:00 pm on the following:

  • Passage of H.R.3401, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations. (60 vote threshold)
  • Motion to table Paul amendment #902 in relation to H.R.3401, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations.
  • Adoption of Shelby substitute amendment #901 to H.R.3401, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations. (60 vote threshold)
  • Passage of H.R.3401, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, as amended, if amended. (60 vote threshold)
  • Motion to invoke cloture on substitute amendment #764, as modified, to S.1790, NDAA.

Please note, a sixth vote is possible on the motion to invoke cloture on the underlying S.1790, NDAA, if cloture is not adopted on substitute amendment #764, as modified.

11:27 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on border security, Iran, and the defense authorization.

11:05 a.m. Senator Lee spoke on foreign policy, the Constitutional requirement of Congress to declare war and the defense authorization.

10:45 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke on reauthorizing the 9/11 victims compensation fund and later on Iran, the defense authorization, and border security.

10:39 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on the defense authorization.

10:05 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke on border security and later on chemical weapon destruction in Kentucky.   He also spoke about rolling back government regulations.

10:03 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the value of internships in his office and later about blue bunny ice cream.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and resume consideration of S.1790, the Defense Authorization act.

12:00 p.m.: Up to two votes:

1. Motion to invoke cloture on Inhofe substitute amendment #764, as modified

If cloture is not invoked, then

2. Motion to invoke cloture on S.1790, NDAA.

This week, the Senate may also consider border supplemental appropriations.