Tuesday, February 14, 2017

4:04 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about mental illness and gun ownership.

3:34 p.m. Senator Markey spoke about mental illness and gun ownership.

2:40 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke about the need for an independent special counsel into the Michael Flynn controversy and the CRA relating to gun possession.

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from recess. Senator Cornyn spoke about legislative productivity, the Pruitt nomination, and the Mulvaney nomination.

12:36 p.m. The Senate recessed until 2:15 to accommodate the weekly caucus luncheons.

12:27 p.m. Senator Thune spoke on the pace of nominations thus far in the 115th Congress.

11:57 a.m. Senators Wyden and Murphy spoke against the resolution of disapproval.

11:41 a.m. Senators Grassley and Hatch spoke in favor of the resolution of disapproval (H.J. Res. 40, relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act.

11:31 a.m. The motion to proceed to H.J. Res. 40 was agreed to by voice vote.

11:30 a.m. The Senate approved the nomination of Linda McMahon by a vote of 81 to 19.

Senators voting in favor: 52 Republicans, 28 Dermocrats, 1 Independent (King).

Senators voting against: 19 Democrats (Baldwin, Booker, Brown, Durbin, Gillibrand, Harris, Heinrich, Markey, Merkley, Murray, Reed, Schatz, Schumer, Udall, Van Hollen, Warren, Whitehouse and Wyden.  1 Independent: Sanders.

10:51 a.m. Senator Risch spoke in favor of the McMahon nomination.

10:43 a.m. Senator Shaheen spoke in favor of the McMahon nomination.

10:28 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about firearm background checks.

10:20 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the Mulvaney nomination.

10:07 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about Russian hacking.

10:03 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the presidential cabinet nominations.

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m.

At that time, begin consideration of the nomination of Linda McMahon to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration, with a vote on that nomination expected at approximately 11:00 a.m.

The Senate is expected to recess for the weekly caucus luncheons from 12:30-2:15 p.m.

 

Further roll call votes (re: CRAs) are possible during Tuesday’s session.