Wednesday, December 18, 2024

7:38 p.m. Senator Booker spoke on Adeel Mangi who was nominated to the Third Circuit.

7:31 p.m. Senator Cortez Masto achieved unanimous consent to pass the following by unanimous consent:

  • S. 2042 Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act
  • S. 1760 Apex Project, Nevada Land Transfer and Authorization Act Amendments Act
  • S. 2151 Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act of 2023
  • S. 5000 A bill to prohibit the use of amounts from the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund to implement a certain record of decision, and for other purposes

7:23 p.m. Senator Hirono achieved unanimous consent for the Senate to pass the following:

  • H.R. 6062 To restore the ability of the people of American Samoa to approve amendments to the territorial constitution based on majority rule in a democratic act of self-determination, as authorized pursuant to an Act of Congress delegating administration of Federal territorial law in the territory to the President, and to the Secretary of the Interior under Executive Order 10264, dated June 29, 1951, under which the Constitution of American Samoa was approved and may be amended without requirement for further congressional action, subject to the authority of Congress under the Territorial Clause in article IV, section 3, clause 2 of the United States Constitution.
  • S. 2615 Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023.

7:22 p.m. By a vote of 97-1, the Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.4367, Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024. Senator Lee voted no. Senators Stabenow and Vance did not vote.

6:39 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024.

6:28 p.m. Senator Carper spoke on WRDA.

6:15 p.m. Senator Capito spoke in support of House amendment to S.4367, Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024

5:58 p.m. Senator Manchin received consent to enter a colloquy with Senator Cruz and spoke against the Social Security Fairness Act.

5:36 p.m. Senator Manchin and Hoeven spoke about public lands.

5:11 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke on government efficiency.

5:13 p.m. Senator Welch spoke on the Nulhegan River and Paul Stream Wild Scenic River Study Act.

5:11 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke on the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Museum Artifacts Act.

5:09 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act.

5:02 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke on the Plum Island Preservation Study.

4:56 p.m. Senators Van Hollen and Wicker spoke about the Chesapeake National Recreation Area and the Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification Act.

4:54 p.m. Senator Wicker achieved unanimous consent for the Senate to pass the following:

  • S. 2620 – Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act
  • S. 4994 – Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification Act
  • S. 1088 – North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2023
  • S. 1059 – Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act
  • S. 432 – Nulhegan River and Paul Stream Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2023
  • S. 601 – Flood Insurance Affordability Act
  • S. 4129 – Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Museum Artifacts Act
  • S. 5136, as amended, – Plum Island Preservation Study

4:47 p.m. Senator Cortez Masto spoke on the AACE Act.

4:38 p.m. Senator Barrasso achieved unanimous consent for the Senate to pass the following en bloc:

  • S. 3123 – Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act
  • S. 5125 – Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act of 2024
  • S. 2018 – Connect Our Parks Act
  • H.R. 5443 – AACE Act
  • S. 961 – Salem Maritime National Historical Park Redesignation and Boundary Study Act
  • S. 4209 – Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access Act

He then asked unanimous consent for the Senate to pass S. 3415, the Power Plant Conveyance Act. Senator Smith objected.

4:30 p.m. Senator Smith spoke on federal wilderness lands in Minnesota and achieved unanimous consent for the Senate to pass S. 5595. She then asked unanimous consent for the Senate to confirm the nomination of Patrice H. Kunesh, of Minnesota, to be Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission for the term of three years. Senator Mullin objected.

4:01 p.m. Senators Fetterman, Brown, Klobuchar, and Durbin spoke about Senator Casey.

3:40 p.m. Senator Casey gave his farewell speech.

3:06 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke about Washington DC court vacancies. He asked unanimous consent to proceed to several judicial nominees for DC. Senator Marshall objected.

3:04 p.m. By a vote of 73-27, the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act was agreed to. Republicans voting yes: Senators Boozman, Braun, Capito, Cassidy, Collins, Cornyn, Cotton, Cramer, Fischer, Hagerty, Hawley, Hoeven, Kennedy, Lankfod, Moran, Mullin, Murkowski, Ricketts, Rubio, Schmitt, Scott (FL), Scott (SC), Sullivan and Daines. Dems and Independents voting no: Senators Caper and Manchin voted no.

2:07 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act.

1:43 p.m. Senators Tillis, Casey, Brown, and Schumer spoke on the Social Security Fairness Act.

1:34 p.m. Senator Stabenow paid tribute to a departing staffer.

1:29 p.m. Senator Lummis spoke on the Drought Preparedness Act.

1:28 p.m. Senator Cassidy spoke on the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2024.

1:25 p.m. Senator Hickenlooper spoke on Drought Preparedness Act and the Water Monitoring and Tracking Essential Resources (WATER) Data Improvement Act.

1:23 p.m. The Senate adopted/passed the following by unanimous consent:

  • H. Con. Res. 44 – Directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to Make a Correction in the Enrollment of H.R. 5009, NDAA.
  • S. 4579 – Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2024
  • S. 3373 (with Sub. amendment) – Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2024
  • H. 4385 – Drought Preparedness Act
  • H.R. 5770 – Water Monitoring and Tracking Essential Resources (WATER) Data Improvement Act

1:06 p.m. Senator Peters spoke on drones and asked unanimous consent for the Senate to pass S. 1631, Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act of 2023, as amended. Senator Paul objected.

1:03 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke on drones.

1:02 p.m. By a vote of 85-14, the #Senate concurred in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 5009, the National Defense Authorization Act. Senators voting no: Baldwin, Booker, Braun, Kim, Lee, Markey, Merkley, Paul, Sanders, Schiff, Stabenow, Warren, Welch, and Wyden. Senator Vance did not vote.

12:06 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.5009, the National Defense Authorization Act.

12:03 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the NDAA and thanked Senators Reed and Wicker for their work.

11:57 a.m. Senator Reed spoke about the NDAA.

11:49 a.m. Senator Wicker spoke about NDAA.

11:48 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about Senator Sinema and judicial nominations.

11:42 a.m. Senator Romney paid tribute to Senator Sinema.

11:38 a.m. Senator Collins paid tribute to Senator Sinema.

11:15 a.m. Senator Sinema gave her farewell address.

11:01 a.m. Senator Thune is speaking about his departing chief of staff Ryan Nelson.

10:47 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on judicial nominations.

10:30 a.m. Republican Leader McConnel spoke on the water resources bill.

10:13 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on the CR, the NDAA, drones, and social security. He also spoke about departing Senators Sinema and Casey.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and resume consideration of H.R.5009, FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act.

At approximately 11:45 a.m. the Senate will vote on passage of H.R. 5009, the NDAA.

Following the vote the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act.

At 2:00 p.m. the Senate will vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 82.

Time agreement: At a time to be determined the Chair will lay before the Senate the Message to accompany S.4367, WRDA. After up to one hour of debate, the Senate will vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.4367, with 60 affirmative votes required.

Cloture has been filed on the following nominations:

1. Benjamin Cheeks to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California.
2. Serena Murillo to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California.