Wednesday, March 24, 2021

11:03 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m.

Senators Sullivan on Alaskan of the week; Senator Sasse spoke on the separation of powers in government.

8:32 p.m. Senator Casey spoke on gun violence.

8:20 p.m. Senators Klobuchar, Cortes-Masto, and Blumenthal spoke on gun violence.

6:56 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about gun violence.

6:41 p.m. Senator Bennet spoke about the shootings in Colorado.

6:40 p.m. The Senate agreed that after morning business on Thursday, post-cloture time on H.R. 1799 be deemed expired, the motion to proceed be agreed to, the amendments of Senators Kennedy and Rubio be in order, and Senator Paul be recognized to raise a budget point of order.

At 11 a.m., the Senate will vote on the amendments in the order listed and on passage — with 60 votes required for passage.

6 p.m. By a vote of 98 to 2, the Senate confirmed the nomination of David Turk to be deputy secretary of Energy. NAYs: Hawley, Paul.

5:33 p.m. By a vote of 52 to 48, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Rachel Levine to be assistant secretary of H.H.S. Republicans Collins and Murkowski voted YEA.

4:33 p.m. Senator Smith spoke about the recent shootings.

4:25 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke about immigration and also paid tribute to Judge Peter Hall.

4:07 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about prescription drug prices and also about the cattle industry.

3:45 p.m. Senator Lee spoke about human trafficking and immigration. He asked Unanimous consent that the Senate pass S. 88. Senator Durbin objected.

3:23 p.m. Senator Scott (FL) spoke about coronavirus bill. He asked unanimous consent that the Senate pass S. 948. Senator Wyden objected.

3:05 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke about immigration. He asked unanimous consent that the Senate pass S. 890. Senator Lujan objected.

2:27 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke about immigration and the border. She asked unanimous consent to pass S. 903-dna testing. Senator Padilla objected.

2:08 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about immigration.

1:52 p.m. Senator Ernst spoke about immigration.

1:27 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about the S.B.A.’s paycheck protection program and about the Equal Rights Amendment.

1:13 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about immigration.

12:48 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke about the border and immigration. He asked Unanimous Consent to proceed to S. Res. 132-sense of the Senate that the current influx of migrants at the border constitutes a crisis. Senator Padilla objected and explained why. He offered an amendment to the bill. Senator Inhofe objected.

12:53 p.m. Senator Padilla spoke about immigration.

12:47 p.m. By a vote of 98-2 cloture was invoked on the nomination of David Turk to be deputy secretary of Energy. Voting no: Senators Hawley and Paul.

12:21 p.m. The Senate is voting on whether to invoke cloture on the nomination of David Turk to be deputy secretary of Energy.

12:20 p.m. By a vote of 52 to 48, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Rachel Levine to be assistant secretary of H.H.S. Republicans Collins and Murkowski voted YEA.

11:17 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about Senate rules and about election law.

10:50 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke about gun violence and nominations.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:30 a.m.

At 11:30 a.m. the Senate will proceed to 2 votes on the following:

  • 1. Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #40 Rachel Leland Levine to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services.
  • 2. Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #38 David Turk to be Deputy Secretary of Energy.

Further, at 4:45 p.m., the Senate will proceed to 2 votes on the following:

  • 1. (If cloture is invoked) Confirmation of the Levine nomination
  • 2. (If cloture is invoked) Confirmation of the Turk nomination