Wednesday, May 3, 2017

6:50 p.m.    The Senate adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

6:36 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about climate change.

6:28 p.m. Senator Moran spoke about the loss of crops and livestock in Kansas.

6:18 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke about suicide prevention.

6:10 p.m. Senator McConnell filed cloture on the motion to concur with the House amendments to H.R. 244, the omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2017. He filled the amendment tree on the spending bill. He expressed hope for a vote on the omnibus on Thursday. He set a 5:30 p.m. Monday vote on the nomination of Heather Wilson to be secretary of the Air Force.

The Senate agreed, en bloc, to Senate Resolutions 151, 152 and 153. The Senate agreed to S. Res. 60, to designate May 15 as a day of awareness of missing and murdered Native American girls and women.

6:09 p.m.  By a vote of 50 to 49, the Senate passed H.J. Res. 66, to repeal an Obama-administration rule on state retirement savings. Republicans voting “Nay”: Corker and Young. Not voting: Durbin.

The Senate is currently considering H.J.Res 66, disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to savings arrangements established by States for non-governmental employees.  We expect a vote on the resolution at approximately 5:00 p.m.

We also anticipate the Senate may begin consideration of the consolidated appropriations act later today.

5:03 p.m. Senator Manchin and Senator Capito spoke on miners.

4:41 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke on retirement.

4:32 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke on retirement.

4:12 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke in favor of the omnibus appropriations bill.

3:55 p.m. Senators Warren and Murray spoke against HJ Res 66.

3:40 p.m. Senators Shaheen and Risch engaged in a colloquy on helping small businesses.

3:15 p.m. Senator Bennet spoke about the Trump Administration’s first 100 days, highlighting the President’s personal travel, tweets, golf games, and failed legislative promises.

2:58 p.m. Senator Hassan spoke against H.J.Res 66.

2:49 p.m. Senator Peters spoke against H.J.Res 66.

2:42 p.m. Senator Shaheen thanked Senator Manchin for his leadership and spoke against H.J.Res 66.

2:14 p.m. Senators Warner, Casey, McCaskill, Klobuchar and Donnelly, and Manchin spoke about the healthcare for miners.

2:06 p.m. Senator Duckworth spoke about retirement savings of seniors.

1:29 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about opioid addiction.

12:51 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke against H.J.Res 66.

12:22 p.m. Senator Kaine spoke about Law Day.

12:06 p.m. Senator King spoke about the Department of Labor.

11:11 a.m. The motion to proceed to H.J. Res 66 was agreed to 51-48.

Senators voting in favor: 51 Republicans

Senators voting against: 45 Democrats, 2 Independents (King and Sanders), 1 Republican: Young.

Senators not voting: Durbin

10:42 a.m. The vote began on the motion to proceed to H.J. Res. 66.

10:41 a.m. Senator Murray defended the state savings regulation that would be killed under H.J. Res. 66.

10:25 a.m. Senator Murphy spoke about state intervention and health care.

10:22 a.m. Senator Cassidy spoke about the passing of Rose Landry Long.

9:47 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about changes causing rising costs in the proposed health care legislation and against H.J.Res 66.

9:41 a.m. Senator Hatch spoke supporting H.J. Res 66, State Savings CRA Resolution of Disapproval

9:30 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about funding the government.

*****

The Senate meets at 9:30 a.m., between 10:30-11:00 a.m the Senate is expected to vote on motion to proceed on H.J. Res. 66, State Savings CRA Resolution of Disapproval.