Wednesday, May 13, 2020

6:42 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will next convene on Thursday, May 14. Following leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R. 6172, FISA Reauthorization.

12:00 noon – Roll call vote on the Paul amendment, if offered (rights of Americans). 60 votes required.

1:30 p.m. – Roll call vote on passage of H.R. 6172, as amended. 60 votes required.

During wrap-up:

  • H.R. 943, to authorize the Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to support Holocaust education programs, and for other purposes, was passed by voice vote.
  • S. Res. 573, honoring the life and achievement of Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach Donald Francis Shula and expressing condolences to his family on his passing, was adopted by unanimous consent.
  • S. Res. 574, designating the week of April 18, 2020, through April 26, 2020 as “National Park Week”, was adopted by unanimous consent.
  • S. Res. 577, designating the week of May 10 through May 16, 2020, as ‘‘National Police Week’’, was adopted by unanimous consent.

6:03 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about the covid-19 pandemic and China as well as National Police Week.

5:52 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about FISA Reauthorization.

5:43 p.m. Senator Gardner spoke about suicide and S.2661 and the Gardner substitute, was adopted by voice vote.

5:43 p.m. Senator Gardner spoke about suicide and S.2661, and the Gardner substitute, was adopted by voice vote.

5:42 p.m. The Senate adopted the Lee-Leahy amendment #1584 by a vote of 77 — 19.
Senators voting NO: Blunt, Boozman, Burr, Capito, Cornyn, Cotton, Fischer, Graham, Hyde Smith, Inhofe, Manchin-D, McConnell, Roberts, Romney, Rubio, Shelby, Thune, Warner-D & Young.

Senators NOT voting: Alexander, Murray, Sanders and Sasse.

4:20 p.m. Roll call began on the Lee-Leahy amendment #1584, Amicus Reform and Exculpatory Evidence, to H.R. 6172, FISA Reauthorization. 60 vote threshold.

4:15 p.m. Senator Lee introduced and spoke on his amendment #1584 to H.R. 6172.

4:03 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke about FISA Reauthorization.

3:40 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about FISA Reauthorization.

3:23 p.m. Senator Carper spoke about the covid-19 pandemic.

3:07 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about the covid-19 pandemic.

2:46 p.m. Senator Gardner spoke about National Police Week.

2:35 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about the covid-19 pandemic.

2:38 p.m. Senator Young spoke about the covid-19 pandemic.

2:22 p.m. Senator Capito spoke about the covid-19 pandemic.

2:14 p.m. Senator Hoeven spoke about the covid-19 pandemic.

2:05 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke about the covid-19 pandemic.

1:58 p.m. Senator Ernst spoke about the covid-19 pandemic.

1:26 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on National Foster Care Month.

1:03 p.m. Senator Cramer achieved unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the Lee-Leahy amendment at 4:15 p.m.

12:59 p.m. Senator Romney spoke about how Utahans are helping fight Covid-19.

12:58 p.m. The Daines-Wyden amendment was not agreed to 59–37 (60 vote threshold).

Senators in favor: 34 Democrats, 24 Republicans: Braun, Cassidy, Cramer, Crapo, Cruz, Daines, Enzi, Ernst, Gardner, Grassley, Hawley, Hoeven, Kennedy, Lee, Loeffler, McSally, Moran, Murkowski, Paul, Risch, Rounds, Scott of Florida, Scott of South Carolina and Sullivan; 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 27 Republicans, 10 Democrats: Carper, Casey, Feinstein, Hassan, Jones, Kaine, Manchin, Shaheen, Warner and Whitehouse.

Senators not voting: 2 Republicans: Alexander and Sasse; 1 Democrat: Murray; 1 Independent: Sanders.

12:15 p.m. Roll call vote began on the Daines-Wyden amendment.

12:14 p.m. Senator Daines spoke on amendment #1583.

11:54 a.m. Senator Wyden introduced his amendment #1583 and spoke on it.

11:45 a.m. Senator Daines spoke on FISA.

11:33 a.m. Senator Warner spoke about covid-19 and the economy.

11:24 a.m. Senator Scott of Florida objected.

11:06 a.m. Senator Kennedy spoke about pandemic relief proposals. He sought consent for the Senate to take steps to consider his relief bill, S-3608, and an amendment #1581.

10:59 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about proposed legislation to respond to the virus-related crises.

10:43 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about federal legislation to address the health and economic crises.

10:41 a.m. Senator Schumer rebutted Senator Braun’s argument.

10:34 a.m. Senator Braun objected.

10:20 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the coronavirus. He asked that the Senate consent to passage of S.Res. 572, a resolution calling for release of the quarantine guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control.

10:04 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the intelligence reauthorization.

10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about training in the Iowa prison system.

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m.

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of H.R. 6172, FISA reauthorization.

The only amendments in order are the following to be proposed by the following Senators or their designees:

·       McConnell or designee side-by-side amendment to the Daines-Wyden amendment

·       Daines-Wyden amendment (re: Sec. 215 Web Browser/Search History Data Collection Prohibition)

·       McConnell or designee side-by-side amendment to the Lee-Leahy amendment

·       Lee-Leahy amendment (re: Amicus Reform and Exculpatory Evidence)

·       McConnell or designee side-by-side amendment to the Paul amendment

·       Paul amendment (re: Rights of Americans)

All of the amendments are subject to 60-affirmative vote thresholds.

At approx. 12:00 noon – 2 roll call votes expected:

1.     McConnell or designee side-by-side amendment to the Daines-Wyden amendment  

2.     Daines-Wyden amendment (re: Sec. 215 Web Browser/Search History Data Collection Prohibition)

Expected at approx. 4:00pm – up to 2 roll call votes:

       1. If offered, McConnell or designee side-by-side amendment to the Lee-Leahy amendment

       2. Lee-Leahy amendment (re: Amicus Reform and Exculpatory Evidence)

Votes on the remaining amendments and on passage of the bill, as amended if amended, are expected during Thursday’s session.