Wednesday, December 2, 2020

7:17 p.m. The Senate adjourned at 7:17 p.m. and will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 3. They will resume consideration of the nomination of Christopher Waller to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. At 11:30, the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination. Following that vote the Senate will vote on the cloture motion on the nomination of Liam Hardy to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. If cloture is invoked on the nomination a vote on confirmation will occur at 1:45 p.m.

Passed during wrap-up:

  • S. 434-Report on the maintenance of Federal Land Holdings by the Secretary of the Interior.
  • H.R. 3349- Daughters of the Republic of TX establish the Republic of TX as work in DC.
  • H.R. 3465- Act to authorize the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation and establish a commemorative work in DC.
  • House Message to accompany S. 910-Sea Grant College program Act-Senate agreed to House amendment.
  • House Message to accompany S. 1069-National Oceanic Administration Digital Information Platform-Senate agreed to House amendment.
  • S. 496-preserve the National Fishing Heritage
  • Senate resolutions: 783, 784, 785, 786, and 787

6:31 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke about the NY Post being suppressed by Twitter and also spoke about NDAA.

6:18 p.m. Senator Lee paid tribute to Congressman Rob Bishop.

6:17 p.m. H.R. 1044-Fairness for High-skilled Immigrant Act passed by UC with an amendment from Senator Lee.

6:08 p.m. Senator Lee spoke about the ALS act.

5:50 p.m. Senator Brown paid tribute to Larry Willis and then also spoke about workers at risk of Covid.

5:27 p.m. Senator Braun spoke about the ALS act.

5:20 p.m. Senator Whitehouse gave his weekly climate change speech.

5:16 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke about the ALS act.

5:15 p.m. S. 578 passed by a vote of 96-1. Senator Lee voted no.

4:38 p.m. The Senate began voting on final pass of S. 578-ALS Disability.

4:37 p.m. The Grassley amendment was not agreed to by a vote of 48-49.

3:57 p.m. The Senate began voting on the Grassley amendment to S. 578-ALS Disability.

3:29 p.m. Senators Durbin, Collins Whitehouse and Blunt paid tribute to Senator Enzi.

3:15 p.m. Senator Barrasso paid tribute to Senator Enzi.

2:52 p.m. Senator Enzi gave his farewell speech.

2:50 p.m. By a vote of 51-45, the Waller nomination was confirmed.

2:03 p.m. Mark Kelly was sworn in.

1:50 p.m. By a vote of 50 to 45, cloture was invoked on the Waller nomination. Senator Paul voted “Nay.”

1:13 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Davis nomination by a vote of 51-44.

12:40 p.m. The Senate began voting on Davis cloture motion.

12:43 p.m. By a vote of 56 to 39, the Hauptman nomination was confirmed.

12:07 a.m. Confirmation vote began on Hauptman.

12:01 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke about coronavirus relief.

11:17 a.m. Senators Blunt, Romney, Cantwell, Wicker, Murray, Cornyn and Thune joined in the tributes to Senator Alexander.

11:10 a.m. Senator Durbin paid tribute to Senator Alexander.

11:03 a.m. Senator Collins paid tribute to Senator Alexander.

10:59 a.m. Senator Feinstein paid tribute to Senator Alexander.

10:52 a.m. Senator Blackburn paid tribute to Senator Alexander.

10:30 a.m. Senator Alexander began his farewell address.

10:29 a.m. The Senate consented to name conferees to a conference with the House over the House and Senate versions of the 2021 defense authorization.

10:25 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about Senator Alexander. He spoke about Senator-elect Kelly.

10:05 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about coronavirus relief legislation. He paid tribute to Senator Alexander.

10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about disaster-related agricultural regulations.

***

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

At 11:45 a.m. there will be three roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of Kyle Hauptman to be a member of the National Credit Union Administration Board.
  2. Cloture on Kathryn Davis to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
  3. Cloture on Christopher Waller to the Fed.

At 2 p.m., the swearing-in of Senator-elect Mark Kelly is expected.

At 2:05 p.m., if cloture has been invoked, the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Davis nomination.

More roll-call votes are possible on Wednesday.

If cloture is invoked on Waller, his confirmation vote will occur on Thursday.