Wednesday, September 23, 2020

7:17 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 24. A confirmation vote on the Young nomination will occur at a time TBA.

6:44 p.m. Senator Bennet spoke about the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

6:43 p.m. The Senate reconvened.

6:40 p.m. The Senate recessed subject to the call of the chair.

6:39 p.m. The Senate began the Rule 14 process to place on the legislative calendar S. 4675, amend the Health Insurance Affordability and Accountability Act.

6:16 p.m. Senator Reed spoke about the Supreme Court vacancy and also about assistance for people hurt by Covid-19.

6:15 p.m. Senator Blumenthal asked unanimous consent that the Senate bring up and pass S. Con. Res. 36, to correct the enrollment of S. 2330, empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes.

5:53 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke about Covid and education.

5:50 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Jocelyn Samuels to be a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by a tally of 54-42.

5:16 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Jocelyn Samuels to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring July 1, 2021.

5:15 p.m. By a tally of 93-3, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Roderick C. Young to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Voting against: Senators Blumenthal, Hirono and Schumer

4:42 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Young nomination.

4:42 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of John Hinderaker to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Arizona by a tally of 70-27.

4:08 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the Hinderaker nomination.

4:01 p.m. Senator Murray spoke about the wildfires in Oregon and on judicial nominations.

3:45p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the SCOTUS vacancy.

3:22 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke honoring the life and legacy of Justice Ginsburg.

3:17 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about the economy and the pandemic.

3:07 p.m. Senator Rosen spoke honoring the life and legacy of Justice Ginsburg.

2:58 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about government funding and on pending airline industry layoffs.

2:30 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about coronavirus response.

2:10 p.m. Senator Whitehouse gave his weekly climate change speech.

2:04 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke about election security.

1:27 p.m. Senator Tillis spoke against violence against law enforcement.

1:17 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about housing disparity.

1:01 p.m. Senator Duckworth spoke about the life and legacy of Justice Ginsburg.

12:47 p.m. Senator Ernst spoke about responsible spending.

12:35 p.m. Senator Feinstein spoke about the life and legacy of Justice Ginsburg.

12:34 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of on John Charles Hinderaker to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Arizona by a tally of 71-26.

22 Republicans voted no: Senators Barrasso, Blackburn, Boozman, Braun, Cotton, Cruz, Daines, Enzi, Gardner, Hawley, Hoeven, Kennedy, Lankford, Lee, Moran, Rounds, Sasse, Scott (FL), Scott (SC), Sullivan, Thune and Young

4 Democrats voted no: Senators Blumenthal, Heinrich, Hirono and Schumer.

Not Voting – 3 Senators Capito, Harris and Johnson.

11:45 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of John Hinderaker to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Arizona.

11:27 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke supporting the bipartisan CR and on the Coronavirus.

11:00 a.m. Senators Hoeven, Thune, Roberts, Sasse and Boozman spoke about funding for farmers and ranchers in the CR.

10:47 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about reaction to a third SCOTUS nomination during the Trump Administration.

10:32 a.m. DL Schumer spoke about the importance of the SCOTUS nomination. DL Schumer asked the Chair a parliamentary inquiry, Is there a precedent for confirming a Supreme Court nominee between July and Election day in a Presidential year? The Chair responded, materials from the Office of the Secretary of the Senate do not show such a precedent. DL Schumer also spoke about the report from Senator Johnson.

10:10 a.m. ML McConnell spoke about Democrats obstructing Senate business and on government funding including the needs of farmers and ranchers. ML McConnell continued the Rule 14 process and placed on the Calendar:

  • S. 4653, a bill to protect the health care of hundreds of millions of people of the United States and prevent efforts of the Department of Justice to advocate courts to strike down the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
  • H.R. 8337, a bill making continuing appropriations for FY 2021, and for other purposes.

10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about city and state pension funds.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

*****

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. Following leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of John Hinderaker to be a United States District Judge for the District of Arizona.

There will be 1 vote at 11:45 a.m.

  1. Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of John Hinderaker to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Arizona.

There will be 3 votes at 4:00 p.m.

  1. Confirmation of the Hinderaker nomination
  2. Cloture on Roderick Young to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia
  3. Confirmation of Jocelyn Samuels to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

** The cloture motion on the Samuels nomination was withdrawn.