Monday, May 24, 2021

7:40 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will next convene on Tuesday, May 25 at 10:00 a.m. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #117, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, post-cloture.

At 11:45am, all post-cloture time will be considered expired, and the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Brooks-LaSure nomination. Following disposition of the nomination, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #124, Kristen M. Clarke, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Attorney General.

Following a cloture vote on the Clarke nomination, the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m. for weekly policy lunches.

If cloture is invoked on the Clarke nomination, at 2:30pm, all post-cloture time will be considered expired, and the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination.

Discussions are ongoing with respect to consideration of additional amendments to Calendar #58, S.1260, the Endless Frontier Act. Additional roll call votes are possible during Tuesday’s session.

During wrap-up:

  • S.Res.230, Charter Schools Week, was adopted by unanimous consent.
  • S.Res.231, DIPG Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day, was adopted by unanimous consent.
  • Placed on the calendar under Rule 14 en bloc:
    • H.R.3237, Emergency Security Supplemental to Respond to January 6th Appropriations Act, 2021.
    • S.1775, Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2021, (Grassley).

7:12 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke in support of the Clarke nomination.

6:50 p.m. Senators Gillibrand, Ernst, and Reed spoke on military justice reform.

6:43 p.m. Senator Reed objected and spoke on the unanimous consent request. Senator Inhofe joined Senator Reed in a colloquy.

6:42 p.m. Senator Gillibrand asked unanimous consent that at a time to be determined, the Senate Armed Services Committee be discharged from further consideration of S.1520, a bill to reform the disposition of charges and convening of courts-martial for certain offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and increase the prevention of sexual assaults and other crimes in the military, proceed to its consideration with two hours of debate, and then vote.

6:40 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke on the need to change our military justice system.

6:36 p.m. Senator Ernst spoke on the need to change our military justice system.

6:31 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the need to change our military justice system.

6:30 p.m. Senator Gillibrand spoke on the need to change our military justice system.

6:25 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Brooks-LaSure nomination, 52-43.

Republicans voting yes: Blunt, Collins, and Murkowski.

Senators not voting: Cruz, Kennedy, Moran, Murray, and Young.

5:30 p.m.  The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Brooks-LaSure nomination.


5:23 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke in favor of the nominee.

5:10 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke on military appreciation month.

5:00p.m. Senator Tuberville paid tribute to his father an all of the other people in uniform that gave their lives.

4:50 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on our national defense.

4:40 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the importance of fostering and adopting children.

4:25 p.m. Leader Schumer offered thanks to the National Guard for protecting the Capitol these past several months.

4:00 p.m. Senator Hirono spoke in favor of the Clarke nomination.

3:19 p.m. Senator Durbin paid tribute to staffer Bill Houlihan.

3:12 p.m. RL McConnell spoke about the National Guard members that were stationed at the U.S. Capitol and spoke against the Clarke nomination.

The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration ofS.1260, United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021.

At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #117, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and vote on cloture on the nomination.

Cloture has also been filed on the nomination of Kristen Clarke to be an Assistant Attorney General.