6:48 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 12:45 p.m. tomorrow.

6:47 p.m. UC that the Senate will convene at 12:45 p.m. tomorrow. Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will stand in recess and proceed as a body to the Hall of the House of Representatives under the provisions of S.Con.Res. 2, for the counting of the electoral ballots. Following dissolution of the Joint Session, the Senate will next convene for business on Monday at 2:00 p.m. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.Con.Res. 3, the Budget Resolution. At 5:30 p.m. on Monday, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote in relation to Senator Paul’s amendment #1 to S.Con.Res. 3.

6:46 p.m. Senator Sanders called up amendment #20 for Senator Hirono to S.Con.Res. 3.

6:45 p.m. Senator Sanders called up amendment #19 to S.Con.Res. 3.

6:44 p.m. Senator McConnell responded to Senator Schumer’s concerns and stated Senators Blunt and Schumer will remain on the Rules Committee until after January 20th.

6:44 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke about his concerns relating to committee organization relating to Armed Services and Intelligence Committees and and Russia interfering in the U.S. election.

6:43 p.m. Senator Schumer called up S.Res. 8, constituting the Minority party’s membership on certain committees for the 115th Congress or until their successors are chosen. The resolution was agreed to by voice.

6:42 p.m. Senator McConnell called up S.Res. 7, constituting the Majority party’s membership on certain committees for the 115th Congress or until their successors are chosen. The resolution was agreed to by voice.

6:40 p.m. Senator McConnell announced that at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 9th the Senate will vote in relation to Senator Paul amendment #1 to S.Con.Res. 3. Further, the Senate will vote in relation to Senator Sanders amendment #19 to S.Con.Res. 3 at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10th. Senator McConnell also announced he expects a side-by-side amendment to the Sanders amendment. Further votes on amendments are possible on both days.
6:26 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the Affordable Care Act.

6:25 p.m. Senators Cardin and Schumer gave tributes to Senator Van Hollen.

6:01 p.m. Senator Van Hollen gave his first remarks in the Senate on the Affordable Care Act.

5:32 p.m. Senator Lee spoke against the Bears Ears national monument designation.

5:04 p.m. Senator Fischer spoke about staffer Steven Still.

4:20 p.m. Senator Booker spoke against repealing the Affordable Care Act.

3:44 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change.

3:43 p.m. Senator Enzi called up amendment #1 to S. Con. Res. 3.

3:20 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke on Israel.

3:15 p.m. The motion to waive the budget act failed by a vote of 48-52.

2:45 p.m. Senator Enzi made a motion that the Kaine amend #8 violated the Budget Act. Senator Kaine made a motion to waive the Budget Act.

2:15 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about the Affordable Care Act.

2:04 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke about the Affordable Care Act and health care.

1:45 p.m. Senator Cassidy spoke about high deductibles associated with the Affordable Care Act.

1:24 p.m. Senator Carper responded to Senator Moran’s remarks on health care.

1:13 p.m. Senator Moran spoke about revising the Affordable Care Act.

12:12 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about the Affordable Care Act.

11:57 a.m. Senator Blunt spoke about the Affordable Care Act.

11:44 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the Affordable Care Act and President-elect Trump’s cabinet nominations.

11:35 a.m. Senator Murphy spoke about the Affordable Care Act.

11:02 a.m. Senator Kaine brought up his amendment to create a point of order that would slow efforts to repeal elements of the health care law.

10:40 a.m. Senator Cardin defended the health care law.

10:30 a.m. Senator Durbin defended the health care law.

10:20 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer defended the health care law and spoke against efforts to repeal it. He also spoke of his talks with Senator McConnell about consideration of President-elect Trump’s nominations.

10:02 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke against the Affordable Care Act and for the effort to attack it through the budget resolution.

* * * * *

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m.  After leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.Con.Res. 3, the FY 2017 Budget Resolution.

No votes on amendments to the budget have been scheduled so far. The 50 hours of budget debate will expire next week.