Wednesday, May 20, 2020

7:11 p.m. The Senate adjourned.

7:05 p.m Senator Portman wrapped up for the evening. Passed in wrap-up: S. Res 590, S Res 591, S Res 571, S. 1380, SJ Res 72, S 3782, S 1130 (passed by voice vote), S. 2927 (passed by voice vote).

6:36 p.m. Senator Portman spoke on Covid-19 and our financial situation.

6:04 p.m. Senator Kennedy spoke on coronavirus funding for states and local governments; and asked UC to take up and pass S. 3608 on that topic. Senator Scott of Florida objected.

5:46 p.m. Senator Portman spoke on China and US research.

5:30 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on the borrower defense rule and later on immigrant essential workers.

5:14 p.m. Senator Blackburn paid tribute to gold star families.

5:13 p.m. The Heil nomination was confirmed by a vote of 75 to 17.

Senators voting NO: Blumenthal, Booker, Brown, Cantwell, Gillibrand, Harris, Hirono, Klobuchar, Menendez, Merkley, Murray, Schatz, Schumer, Stabenow, Van Hollen, Warren and Wyden.

Senators not voting: Alexander, Burr, Leahy, Markey, Murkowski, Rounds, Sanders, and Whitehouse.

4:43 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the Heil nomination.

4:42 p.m. Senator Lankford achieved UC that the Senate vote at noon on Thursday on confirmation of John Ratcliffe to be National Intelligence Director, and at 1:30 on cloture on the nomination of John Badalamenti to be a judge for the Middle District of Florida; if cloture is invoked, the confirmation vote would be scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Monday June 1.

4:27 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke in support of the Heil nomination, Memorial Day, Decoration Day, and essential workers.

4:11 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about helping small business during the pandemic.

3:55 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the peaceful transition of power for the presidency.

3:54 p.m. The Manasco nomination was confirmed 71 to 21.

Senators voting NO: Bennet, Blumenthal, Booker, Brown, Cantwell, Coons, Gillibrand, Harris, Heinrich, Hirono, Klobuchar, Menendez, Merkley, Murray, Schatz, Schumer, Stabenow, Udall, Van Hollen, Warren, and Wyden.

Senators not voting: Alexander, Burr, Leahy, Markey, Murkowski, Rounds, Sanders, and Whitehouse.

3:00 p.m. Roll call began on confirmation of the Manasco nomination.

2:54 p.m. Senator Warner spoke about the shooting of
Bijan Ghaisar.

2:09 p.m. Senators Ernst, Blunt, Capito, Hoeven, Collins, Young, and Roberts spoke about Memorial Day.

1:53 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the pandemic.

1:33 p.m. Senator Hawley spoke about China and the World Trade Organization.

1:31 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Heil nomination by a vote of 76 to 16. Senators voting NO: Blumenthal, Booker, Brown, Cantwell, Gillibrand, Harris, Hirono, Klobuchar, Menendez, Merkley, Murray, Schatz, Schumer, Stabenow, Van Hollen, and Wyden. Senators not voting: Alexander, Burr, Markey, Murkowski, Rounds, Sanders, Warren, and Whitehouse.

12:45 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of John Heil to be US District Judge for Northern, Eastern and Western Oklahoma.

12:36 p.m. Senator Loeffler spoke about the CARES Act and the pandemic.

12:13 p.m. Senators Menendez, Cassidy, and Collins spoke about the pandemic and the SMART Act.

11:56 a.m. Senator Sasse spoke about China and the pandemic.

11:45 a.m. Senator Kennedy spoke about China and the pandemic. He sought consent to passage of S. 945, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

11:42: a.m. By a vote of 72 to 20, the Senate invoked cloture on the Manasco nomination.

11:03 a.m. Roll call began on the motion to invoke cloture on Anna Manasco to be a judge for the Northern District of Alabama.

10:51 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about school reopenings.

10:36 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about coronavirus relief.

10:06 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about Dr. Monahan and coronavirus relief.

10:03 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about coronavirus relief. He spoke about Dr. Brian Monahan, the Senate’s attending physician.

10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley paid tribute to the college journalists of The Daily Iowan.

***

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. and will resume consideration of the nomination of Anna Manasco to be a judge for the Northern District of Alabama.

  • At 11 a.m., the Senate will vote on cloture for the Manasco nomination.
  • At 12:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on cloture for the nomination of John Heil to be a judge for the Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Oklahoma.
  • If cloture has been invoked on the Manasco nomination, the Senate will vote at 3 p.m. on confirmation of Manasco.
  • If cloture has been invoked on the Heil nomination, the Senate will vote at 4:30 p.m. on confirmation of Heil.
  • Upon disposition of the Heil nomination, a cloture vote will be in order for the nomination of John Leonard Badalamenti to be a judge for the Middle District of Florida.