Wednesday, November 15/Thursday November 16, 2023

3:43 a.m. The Senate adjourned.

3:43 a.m. Senator Lee had S.3343, providing US citizens evacuating Israel shall not be required to reimburse the US was read for the first time.

3:32 p.m. Senator Lee spoke about military nominations and abortion.

2:26 a.m. Senator Sullivan spoke on military nominations.

1:29 a.m. Senators Young and Ernst spoke on military nominations.

1:10 a.m. Senator Young asked to take up and confirm the nomination of Thomas Dickinson to be Read Admiral by voice vote. Senator Lee objected.

12:39 a.m. Senator Young asked UC to take up and confirm the nomination of Kurtis Mole to be Rear Admiral. Senator Lee objected.

12:13 a.m. Senators Sullivan, Ernst, Graham and Young spoke on military nominations.

12:03 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer wrapped up for the evening. He filed cloture on the nomination of Jeffrey Bryan to be a District Judge for Minnesota; Margaret Garnett to be a District Judge for the southern district of New York; Jose Rodriguez to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor. He confirmed the nomination of confirmed the nomination of Roger Nyhus to be Ambassador to Barbados, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Vincent & The Grenadines by voice vote. The following were then passed by unanimous consent: S. 106, authorizing the Secretary of the Veterans Affairs to award grants to States to improve outreach to veterans; S. 1510, amending provisions relating to the Office of the Inspector General of the Government Accountability Office; S Res 468 through and including S Res 471.

11:55 p.m. Senator Ossoff spoke on the situation in Israel.

11:51 p.m. Senator Peters discussed the Armenian Protection Act, which was then passed by voice vote.

11:42 p.m. The Senate agreed to twelve motions to instruct conferees on the Defense Authorization by voice vote.

11:40 p.m. The compound motion was agreed to 90-8. Voting no: Booker, Markey, Merkley, Paul, Sanders, Warren, Welch & Wyden. Not voting: Cornyn and Scott (SC).

11:18 p.m. The Senate began voting on the compound motion to go to conference on the Defense Authorization.

11:17 p.m. By a vote of 87-11, the Senate passed H.R. 6363, the Continuing Resolution. Senators voting no: Bennett, Blackburn, Braun, Crapo, Lee, Paul, Risch, Schmitt, Scott (FL), Tuberville, & Vance. Senators Cornyn and Scott (SC).

10:59 p.m. The Senate is now voting on final passage of H.R. 6363, the Continuing Resolution with 60-votes affirmative threshold.

10:56 p.m. Senator Murray spoke on the Continuing Resolution and appropriations.

10:53 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on the Continuing Resolution and the NDAA.

10:53 p.m. The Senate did not agree to the Paul amendment 32-65. Republican senators voting against: Boozman, Capito, Collins, Graham, Hyde-Smith, McConnell, Moran, Murkowski, Romney, Rounds, Tillis, Vance, Wicker, and Young. Senators Cornyn, Risch and Scott of South Carolina were absent.

10:02 p.m. Senators Paul and Murray spoke on the Paul amendment.

9:59 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on the defeated CRA.He then locked in agreement to vote on the Paul amendment and passage of the CR, followed by a vote to go to conference on the Defense Authorization.

9:58 p.m. By a vote of 49-50, the Senate did not pass S.J.Res.43 Cassidy CRA regarding student loans. Senator Manchin voted in favor. Senator Scott (SC) did not vote.

2:26 p.m. The Senate began voting on SJ Res 43, Cassidy CRA regarding student loans.

2:13 p.m. Senator Sanders spoke against SJ Res 43.

2:05 p.m. Senator Cassidy spoke on SJ Res 43 the student loan CRA.

2:00 p.m. The Senate returned from the recess.

1:06 p.m. The Senate recessed until 2:00 p.m.

12:51 p.m. Senator Murkowski paid tribute to former Senator Stevens ahead of his 100th birthday.

12:22 p.m. Senator Kennedy spoke on education and school choice.

12:05 p.m. Senator Padilla spoke on judicial nominations.

11:42 a.m. Senator Fischer spoke on electric vehicles, gas taxes, the highway trust fund and road repair.

11:25 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the Supreme Court and their new ethics code.

10:56 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about inflation.

10:29 a.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke on S.J. Res. 43 (Student Debt CRA), the southern border and President Bidens meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

10:12 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke about President Bidens visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the CR, the S.J. Res. 43 (Student debt CRA) and Senator Tuberville’s Military Promotion holds.

10:00 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.6363, The Continuing Resolution.

10:00 a.m. the Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:00am. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

It is expected that Senator Cassidy will make a motion to proceed to S.J.Res.43, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to “Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program”. If made, the motion will be agreed to.

At approximately 2:30pm, the Senate is expected to proceed to a roll call vote on passage of S.J.Res.43.

Discussions continue on a path forward to consider H.R.6363, {Continuing Appropriations}. Additional roll call votes are possible during Wednesday’s session. A Whip Alert will be sent if votes are scheduled.