Wednesday, March 14, 2018

7:11  p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 15, 2018. The next votes are expected on Monday at 5:30 p.m. on the nomination of Kevin McAleenan to be Commissioner of the US Protection Department.

Wrap Up:

ML McConnell filed cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 1865 – online sex trafficking prevention

Executive Session:

Confirmed by U.C.: privileged nomination of Jeffrey DeWit, AZ, to be CFO, NASA

Passed by U.C.: S. Res 436 – honoring the Girl Scouts of America

Passed by U.C.: Msg to accompany S. 188 – prohibited federal funds for officer and government employees portraits

Passed by U.C.: H.R. 2154,  Rename Red River Valley research center the Edward Schaefer Agricultural Research Center

7:05 p.m. By a vote of 75 to 19, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination on the nomination of Kevin McAleenan to be Commissioner of the US Protection Department.

6:45 p.m. By a vote of 67 to 31, the Senate passed the bill to relax certain financial regulations under the Dodd-Frank Act. Independent King and these Democrats voted YEA: Bennet, Carper, Coons, Donnelly, Hassan, Heitkamp, Jones, Kaine, Manchin, McCaskill, Nelson, Peters, Shaheen, Stabenow, Tester, Warner. All Republicans present voted YEA. NOT VOTING: Repubklican McCain and Democrat Heinrich.

6:20 p.m.  By a vote of 67 to 31, the Senate waived the point of order on the bill.

4:48 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 5:45 p.m. to accomodate an all Senators brifing on Yemen.

4:48 p.m. UC was acheived to have three roll call votes at 5:45 p.m.

1. Motion to waive budget act with respect to S. 2151.

2. Passage of S.2151

3. Cloture on nomination of Kevin McAleenan to be Commissioner of the US Protection Department.

4:48 p.m. By a tally of 67-31, cloture was invoked on the banking bill, S. 2151.

Senators voting in favor: 50 Republicans, 16 Democrats (Bennet, Carper, Coons, Donnelly, Hassan, Heitkamp, Jones, Kaine, Manchin, McCaskill, Nelson, Peters, Shaheen, Stabenow, Tester, and Warner); 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 30 Democrats, 1 Independent: Sanders.

Senators not voting: Heinrich and McCain.

4:17 p.m Roll call vote began on cloture on the bill, S. 2151.

4:16 p.m. The Crapo substitute amendment to S. 2151 was agreed to 67-31.

Senators voting in favor: 50 Republicans, 16 Democrats (Bennet, Carper, Coons, Donnelly, Hassan, Heitkamp, Jones, Kaine, Manchin, McCaskill, Nelson, Peters, Shaheen, Stabenow, Tester, and Warner); 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 30 Democrats, 1 Independent: Sanders.

Senators not voting: Heinrich and McCain.

3:51 p.m. Roll call vote began on the Crapo substitute amendment to S. 2155, the banking reform bill.

3:49 p.m. Senator Crapo spoke on the pending banking bill.

3:32 p.m. Senator Brown spoke on the pending banking bill.

2:59 p.m. Senators Durbin and Cornyn spoke on gun issues.

2:40 p.m Senator Toomey spoke on gun issues and the pending banking bill.

2:10 p.m. Senator Shelby spoke about the banking bill.

1:57 p.m. Senator Hoeven spoke about the banking bill.

1:47 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about the banking bill.

1:27 p.m. Senator Hassan spoke about climate change.

1:14 p.m. Senator Warren spoke about the banking bill.

1:12 p.m. Senator Daines spoke about the the banking bill.

1:03 p.m. Senator Sanders raised a point of order that S. 2155 violates the Budget Act. Senator Crapo made a motion to waive the Budget Act.

12:35 p.m. Senator Sanders spoke about Congressional approval ratings, gun legislation and the banking bill. Senator Sanders asked unanimous consent to offer two amendments. Senator Crapo objected.

12:26 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about government funding.

12:07 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke on discrimination by the Trump administration in health care policy.

11:58 a.m. Senator Shaheen spoke about women’s health in the Trump Administration.

11:53 a.m. Senator Murray spoke about refugee resettlement and women’s health.

11:30 a.m. Senator Leahy spoke about gun violence.

11:04 a.m. Senator Carper spoke on gun violence and the pending banking bill.

11:01 a.m. Senator Cantwell spoke on gun violence.

10:50 a.m. Senator Coons spoke on shooting victims in Delaware.

10:23 a.m. Senators Warren and Blumenthal spoke of shooting victims in their states.

10:22 a.m. Senator Klobuchar named youthful shooting victims in Minnesota.

10:19 a.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke about gun violence victims in Maryland.

10:17 a.m. Senator Sanders spoke about gun violence victims in Vermont.

10:15 a.m. Senator Cardin named shooting victims in Baltimore.

10:13 a.m. Senator Murray named shooting victims.

10:10 p.m. Senator Cortez-Masto spoke of the Las Vegas shooting victims.

10:05 a.m. Senator Murphy spoke in memory of the the Newtown, Connecticut shooting victims.

10:01 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke of the student demonstrations in memory of the victims of the Florida school shootings.

9:33 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the killing of a Kentucky police officer. He spoke about hearings on public works. He spoke about the pending bill to loosen the banking regulations under the Dodd-Frank Act. He spoke about the tax overhaul.

*****

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m.  Following leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Calendar S.2155, the bill to  relax the Dodd-Frank financial  regulations.

At 3:45 p.m., the Senate will vote on amendment #2151 , the  manager’s substitute. There will then be an immediate cloture vote on the underlying bill, S.2155, as amended. If cloture is invoked on the bill, the time will count as if cloture had been invoked at 12 a.m. today. A vote on passage could occur Thursday morning.

Additional roll call votes in relation to S.2155 are possible during Wednesday’s session.

At 4:30 p.m. today, the Senate is expected to recess for the all-senators briefing.

Reminder: cloture has been filed on Executive Calendar #598, the nomination of Kevin K. McAleenan of Hawaii to be Commissioner of U.S. Protection, Department of Homeland Security. The cloture vote on the McAleenan nomination will occur upon disposition of S.2155.