Thursday, September 10, 2020

5:26 p.m. The Senate adjourned.

5:12 p.m. Senator Sanders spoke on pandemic related economic relief.

4:53 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell announced the Senate will adjourn until 3:00 p.m. on Monday September 14th following the remarks of Senator Sanders.dem

4:47 p.m. Majority Leader wrapped up for the evening.

Items passed by unanimous consent: 

  • S. Res 688, designating September 25th as National Lobster Day.
  • H.J Res 87 and 88, reappointing Michael Linton and Franklin Vanes as citizen regents of the board of regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

3:55 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on Covid-19 and for the 270th time, spoke on climate change. 

3:22 p.m. Senator Warner spoke on President Trump’s comments on the military. 

3:05 p.m. Senator Hirono spoke on covid-19 economic relief negotiations. 

2:45 p.m ML McConnell filed cloture on the following:

  • Mark Scarsi to be a District Judge for the Central District of California.
  • Stanley Blumenfeld to be a District Judge for the Central District of California.
  • John Holcomb to be a District Judge for the Central District of California.
  • Todd Robinson to be a District Judge for the Southern District of California.
  • David Dugan to be a District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois.
  • Stephen McGlynn to be a District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois.
  • Iain Johnston to be a District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.
  • Franklin Valderrama to be a District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.

2:11 p.m. Senator Portman spoke on covid-19 relief.

1:57 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke in support of the Jarbou nomination, and spoke on supporting members of the military and veterans. 

1:31 p.m. Senator Brown spoke on supporting members of the military and veterans.

1:22 p.m. Cloture was not invoked, 52-47.  Senator Paul joined all Democrats and Independents voting against, and Senator Harris was the lone absentee.

12:56 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.178, with a further amendment #2652, the GOP targeted relief package.

12:55 p..m. The Senate confirmed the Gujarati nomination, 99-0.

Senators not voting: 1 Democrat: Harris.

12:26 p.m. Roll call began on confirmation of Diane Gujarati to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York.

12:26 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Cullen nomination 79 to 19. 

Senators voting in favor: 53 Republicans, 25 Democrats, 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 18 Democrats: Bennet, Blumenthal, Booker, Cantwell, Gillibrand, Heinrich, Hirono, Klobuchar, Markey, Merkley, Murray, Schatz, Schumer, Smith, Stabenow, Udall and Wyden; 1 Independent: Sanders.

Senators not voting: 2 Democrats: Harris and Warren.

12:02 p.m. Roll call began on confirmation of Thomas Cullen to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of VA.

12:02 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Jarbou nomination 83 to 15. 

Senators voting in favor: 53 Republicans, 29 Democrats, 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 14 Democrats: Blumenthal, Booker, Brown, Cantwell, Gillibrand, Klobuchar, Markey, Menendez ,Merkley, Murray, Schatz, Schumer, Van Hollen and Wyden; 1 Independent: Sanders.

Senators not voting: 2 Democrats: Harris and Warren.

11:27 a.m. Roll call began on confirmation of Hala Jarbou to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of MI .

11:10 a.m. Senator Murkowski spoke about the relief package.

11:03 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the relief package. 

10:45 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the relief package. He spoke about the president’s reported criticism of the U.S. military.

10:35 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about the relief package.

10:05 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the September 11 attacks. He spoke about the coronavirus relief package.

10:03 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the coronavirus relief package.

***

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. and will vote on the following nominations at 11:30 a.m.:

1. Confirmation of Cal. #811 Hala Jarbou to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of MI

2. Confirmation of Cal. #646 Thomas Cullen to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of VA

3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #358 Diane Gujarati to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York.

4. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.178, with a further amendment #2652, the Targeted Relief Package.