Thursday, September 26, 2019

4:45 p.m. The Senate concluded its business and adjourned. The next legislation session will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15.  The following pro forma sessions have been scheduled:

Friday, September 27th at 11:40am; Tuesday, October 1st at 12:00 Noon; Friday, October 4th at 4:30pm; Tuesday, October 8th at 12:00 Noon; and  Friday, October 11th at 2:15pm.

4:40 p.m. Wrap Up:

Legislative Business

Adopted S.Res.252: designating September 2019 as “National Democracy Month”.

Adopted S.Res.346: designating October 8, 2019, as “National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day”.

Adopted S.Res.347: designating October 2, 2019, as “Energy Efficiency Day”.

Adopted S.Res.348: proclaiming the week of September 23 through September 27, 2019, as “National Clean Energy Week”.

Adopted S.Res.349: supporting the designation of September 20, 2019, as “National Concussion Awareness Day”.

Adopted S.Res.350: designating September 2019 as “National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month”.

Adopted S.Res.351: designating the week of September 29 through October 5, 2019, as “National Community Policing Week”.

Adopted S.Res.352: recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States and the immense contributions of Latinos to the United States.

Adopted S.Res.353: recognizing September 24, 2019, as “National Voter Registration Day”.

Adopted S.Res.354: designating September 2019 as “National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month”.

Adopted S.Res.355: designating the week of September 22 through September 28, 2019, as “National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week”.

Passed by voice vote Calendar #180, S.737: Building Blocks of STEM Act, with Rosen-Crapo substitute amendment.

Began the Rule 14 process to place on the Legislative Calendar of Business S.2593, End Government Shutdowns (Portman).

Executive Business

Confirmed the following nominations:

ARMY

Executive Calendar #423, Ryan McCarthy, to be Secretary of Army

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Executive Calendar #446 – W. Stephen Muldrow, of Puerto Rico, to be United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico for the term of four year

Executive Calendar #447 – Michael D. Baughman, of Pennsylvania, to be United States Marshal for the Western District of Pennsylvania for the term of four years

Executive Calendar #448 – Kerry Lee Pettingill, of Oklahoma, to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma for the term of four years

Executive Calendar #449 – Fernando L. G. Sablan, of Guam, to be United States Marshal for the District of Guam and concurrently United States Marshal for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands for the term of four years

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Executive Calendar #398 – Lana J. Marks, of Florida, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of South Africa

Executive Calendar #442 – John Leslie Carwile, of Maryland, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Latvia

Executive Calendar #443 – Erin Elizabeth McKee, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador of the United States of America to the Solomon Islands and Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Vanuatu

Executive Calendar #444 – Anthony F. Godfrey, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Serbia

Executive Calendar #445 – Herro Mustafa, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Bulgaria

 

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION

Executive Calendar #455 – Adam Seth Boehler, of Louisiana, to be Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation

ARMY

Executive Calendar #424 – Brig. Gen. Douglas A. Sims, II to be Major General

Executive Calendar #425 – Col. Curtis A. Buzzard to be Brigadier General

AIR FORCE

Executive Calendar #426 – Col. Linell A. Letendre to be Brigadier General

 

ARMY

Executive Calendar #427 – Lt. Gen. James H. Dickinson to be Lieutenant General

Executive Calendar #428 – Maj. Gen. Ricky L. Waddell to be Lieutenant General

Executive Calendar #429 – Maj. Gen. Jason T. Evans to be Lieutenant General

Executive Calendar #430 – Maj. Gen. Raymond S. Dingle to be Lieutenant General

NAVY

Executive Calendar #431 – Rear Adm. Daryl L. Caudle to be Vice Admiral

 

AIR FORCE

Executive Calendar #432 – Maj. Gen. Glen D. VanHerck to be Lieutenant General

 

ARMY

Executive Calendar #433 – Brig. Gen. Arthur J. Logan to be Major General

 

AIR FORCE

Executive Calendar #434 – Lt. Gen. Anthony J. Cotton to be Lieutenant General

 

NAVY

Executive Calendar #435 – Vice Adm. Colin J. Kilrain to be Vice Admiral

 

AIR FORCE

Executive Calendar #436 – Brig. Gen. Timothy D. Haugh to be Lieutenant General

Executive Calendar #437 – Maj. Gen. Michael A. Minihan to be Lieutenant General

Executive Calendar #438 – Maj. Gen. Scott A. Kindsvater to be Lieutenant General

 

NAVY

Executive Calendar #439 – Vice Adm. David M. Kriete to be Vice Admiral

Executive Calendar #440 – Vice Adm. Stuart B. Munsch to be Vice Admiral

And all nominations on the Secretary’s Desk in the FOREIGN SERVICE, AIR FORCE, ARMY, MARINE CORPS, and NAVY.

4:02 p.m. Senator Jones spoke about the current state of democracy.

3:56 p.m. Senator Hawley spoke about life expectancy.

3:48 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke about The Future Act.

3:25 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about former Marines John Kelly, former Secretary Jim Mattis, and General Joe Dunford.

3:08 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about Americorps and on departing staffer Jenny Donahue.

3:04 Senator Braun asked u.c. to change his vote on roll call vote #311 (on passage of H.R. 4378) from yes to no.

2:42 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about government shutdowns.

2:23 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell filed cloture on the following nominations:

  • Barbara Barrett to be Secretary of the Air Force.
  • Frank Volk to be US District Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia.
  • Charles Eskridge to be US District Judge for the Southern District of Texas.
  • David Novak to be US District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.
  • Rachel Kovner to be US District Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
 2:23 p.m. The Scalia nomination was confirmed  on a party line vote of 53-44, with Senators Booker, Sanders and Warren not voting.
2:07 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the nomination of Eugene Scalia to be Secretary of Labor.
2:07 p.m. The Hyten nomination was confirmed 75-22.
Senators voting no: 21 Democrats: Baldwin, Blumenthal, Brown, Cantwell, Cardin, Casey, Duckworth, Gillibrand, Harris, Hirono, Klobuchar, Markey, Menendez, Merkley, Murray, Peters, Schumer, Stabenow, Udall, Van Hollen and Wyden; 1 Republican: Ernst.
Senators not voting: 2 Democrats: Booker and Warren; 1 Independent: Sanders.
1:33 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the Hyten nomination.
1:27 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke in favor of the Hyten nomination.
1:22 p.m. Senator Brown spoke against the Scalia nomination.
1:17 p.m. Senator Cruz paid tribute to Shea Woodward Hall, a retiring staff member.
1:16 p.m. The Senate passed HR 4378 82-15.
Senators voting against: 15 Republicans: Blackburn, Cruz, Daines, Ernst, Hawley, Inhofe, Lee, Paul, Perdue, Risch, Rounds, Sasse, Scott of FL,Scott of SC and Toomey.
 
Senators not voting: Booker, Sanders & Warren.

12:54 p.m. Roll call vote began on passage of HR 4378, the CR through November 21.

12:53 p.m. The Senate did NOT agree to the Paul amendment 24-73.

Senators voting in favor: 24 Republicans: Barrasso, Blackburn, Braun, Cornyn, Crapo, Cruz, Daines, Enzi, Ernst, Fischer, Grassley, Johnson, Kennedy, Lankford, Lee, Paul, Risch, Rubio, Sasse, Scott of South Carolina, Sullivan, Tillis, Toomey and Young.

Senators voting against: 43 Democrats, 29 Republicans, 1 Independent: King.

Senators not voting: 2 Democrats: Booker and Warren; 1 Independent: Sanders.

12:15 p.m. The Senate began voting on Paul amendment #942 to H.R. 4378.

12:08 p.m. Senator Paul called up his amendment #942 (rate reduction in operations) to H.R. 4378, continuing appropriations for FY 2020.

12:06 p.m. Senator Murray spoke against the Scalia nomination.

12:03 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke supporting the need for a permanent funding fix for HBCU’s.

11:59 a.m. Senator Menendez spoke supporting the FUTURE act.

11:54 a.m. Senator Murray spoke about funding for minority colleges and universities.

11:38 a.m. Senator Jones spoke about the FUTURE Act and asked unanimous consent to pass H.R. 2486, FUTURE Act. Senator Alexander objected and spoke about the bill.

11:17 a.m. Senator Rosen spoke about the shooting at the Route 91 Music Festival in Las Vegas.

11:07 a.m. Senator Cortez Masto spoke about the shooting at the Route 91 Music Festival in Las Vegas.

10:56 a.m. Senator Thune criticized Democratic positions on impeachment, prescription drug prices and other issues.

10:51 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about Hispanic Americans in Texas.

10:41 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the Ukraine matter. He spoke about appropriations. He spoke about the Scalia nomination.

10:23 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. He paid tribute to the retiring financial clerk of the Senate, Ileana Garcia.

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and proceed to the consideration of HR 4378, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Health Extenders Act of 2019.

12:15pm – 2 roll call votes:

  1. Paul amendment #942 (re: 2 percent across-the-board cut) to H.R.4378.
  2. Passage of H.R. 4378. (60 vote threshold)

1:30pm – 2 roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #415 Gen. John E. Hyten to be Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs.
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #450 Eugene Scalia, of Virginia, to be Secretary of Labor.