Wednesday, May 17, 2017

5:56 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 10:00 a.m. Thursday.

5:54 p.m. Senator Moran wraps up the Senate for the evening.

Items passed by voice vote: S Res 170.  Items passed by UC: S. Res 171.

5:43 p.m. Senators Flake and Moran spoke about police week.

5:38 p.m. Senator Peters spoke in opposition to the Brand nomination.

5:29 p.m. Senator Rubio spoke about the crisis in Venezuela.

5:14 p.m. Senator Warren spoke in opposition to the Brand nomination; and later about student loans.

5:09 p.m. Senator Gardner spoke about police week.

5:04 p.m. Senator Isakson paid tribute to David Hankerson.

4:43 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke about appointing a special counsel to investigate Russian interference with the election.

4:32 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke about National Police Week.

4:20 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke about appointing a special counsel to investigate Russian interference with the election.

4:04 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about Police Week and the death of an Ohio police chief.

3:15 p.m. Senators Markey, Wyden, Hassan, Franken, Schatz and Blumenthal spoke about net neutrality.

3:03 p.m. Senator Schatz welcomed Senator Tillis back and spoke about net neutrality.

2:41 p.m. Senator Barasso spoke about health care.

2:03 p.m. Senators King and Blunt spoke on health care.

1:49 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke against the Brand nomination and the situation between the Trump administration and Russia.

1:36 p.m. Senator Thune about tax reform.

1:18 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the Brand nomination and health care.

1:11 p.m. Senator Young spoke about National Police Week.

12:49 p.m. Senator Donnelly spoke about National Police Week.

12:42 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about James Comey.

12:39 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the American Law Enforcement Heroes Act.

12:38 p.m. The motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Rachel Brand to be Assistant Attorney General was agreed to by a vote of 51-47. Not voting: Senator Hirono and Senator Tillis.

11:35 a.m. Senator Kennedy spoke about jobs and Medicaid.

11:01 a.m. Senators Murphy and Young spoke about famine in Yemen and Saudi Arabian actions blocking humanitarian assistance.

10:12 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about Medicaid.

9:42 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer expressed concern for the ailing Senator Tillis. He called for the release of any White House transcripts of last week’s meeting between President Trump and Russian officials, and of the President’s February discussion with then-FBI Director Comey of the Flynn investigation. He called for a special prosecutor to investigate the possibility of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

9:33 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about nominations and the Republican economic agenda.

***

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m.

At noon, the Senate will vote on cloture for Executive Calendar #35, the nomination of Rachel L. Brand, of Iowa, to be Associate Attorney General.