9:16 p.m. The Senate adjourned. The Senate convenes at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 9th.   At approx. 12:30 p.m,, the Senate will vote on cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 610 (vehicle for debt ceiling track/Pay-Go/Medicare fix).  

9:07 p.m. Senator Schumer began wrap up:

• ML Schumer filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.1605, National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and filled the amendment tree
• Confirmed by voice vote: Jennifer Clyburn Reed to be Federal Co-chairperson of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission
• Passed by unanimous consent S. 2293, CREW Act, as amended
• Passed by unanimous consent S. 693, no CORRUPTION act
• Passed by unanimous consent S. 2796, Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act
• Passed by unanimous consent S.Res. 476, Designating December 18, 2021 as National Wreaths Across America Day
• Agreed to by unanimous consent: If cloture is invoked on the motion to concur on the House message to accompany S. 610, it be as if invoked at 1:00 a.m. December 9th

8:32 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke against Biden Administration policies targeting Alaskan indigenous people.

8:22 p.m. Senator Moran paid tribute to departing staffer Grace Miller.

8:21 p.m. By a vote of 52-48, the Senate adopted S.J.Res. 29. Senators Manchin and Tester joined all 50 Republicans and voted in favor.

7:49 p.m. The Senate began a vote on S.J.Res.29, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to “COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing; Emergency Temporary Standard”.

7:48 p.m. By a vote of 58-41, the Senate confirmed the Smith nomination.

7:04 p.m. The Senate began a vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #482 Michael D. Smith to be Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

6:51 p.m. Senator Murray spoke against the Braun resolution.

6:45 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke on the need for vaccines and against the Braun resolution.

6:01 p.m. Senators Hagerty, Lee, Fischer, Braun, Inhofe, and Lankford spoke on vaccine mandates.

5:56 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke on Medicare.

5:48 p.m. Senators Graham and Hagerty spoke on Medicare.

5:25 p.m. Senators Kennedy, Boozman, Hoeven, and Marshall spoke on Medicare. Senator Kennedy asked unanimous consent to call up and pass S. 3344. Senator Wyden objected.

5:12 p.m. Senator Gillibrand spoke on S. 1520, Military Justice Improvement and Prevention Act. Senator Gillibrand asked unanimous consent that a time to be determined the Senate debate and vote on S. 1520. Senator Graham objected.

5:01 p.m. Senator Capito spoke on the appropriations process.

4:30 p.m. Senator Johnson spoke on vaccine mandates.

4:21 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke in support of the nomination of Laurie E. Locascio, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and asked unanimous consent for the Senate to confirm the Locascio nomination. Senator Scott (FL) objected.

4:05 p.m. Senator Scott (FL) spoke about China and asked for unanimous consent that the Senate adopt S. Res 474 (regarding Peng Shuai). Senator Durbin asked Senator Scott (FL) to modify his request to first include a vote on the nomination of Nicholas Burns, of MA, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the People’s Republic of China. Senator Scott (FL) objected and Senator Durbin objected to the original request.

3:51 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about Build Back Better and for-profit colleges.

3:51 p.m. The vote at 5:15 p.m. has been moved to 6:45. There will now be two roll call votes at 6:45 p.m.

1. Confirmation of Michael Smith to be Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
2. Adoption of S.J. Res. 29, the Department of Labor Covid-19 Vaccination and Testing Rules Resolution of Disapproval.

3:52 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the Smith nomination, 60-39.

GOP voting Aye: Blunt, Boozman, Burr, Capito, Cassidy, Collins, Cornyn, Graham, Murkowski, Romney, Tillis, and Wicker.

Senator Sanders did not vote.

3:10 p.m. The Senate is voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Michael Smith to be Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

3:09 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Rachel Rollins by a vote of 50-50 with the Vice President voting in the affirmative.

2:22 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the Rollins nomination.

1:54 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke against the Rollins nomination and objected to Senator Kaine attempts to confirm other nominations by unanimous consent.

1:39 p.m. Senator Markey spoke about essential workers and vaccines.

1:10 Senator Cotton spoke about China.

1:00 p.m. Senator Merkley paid tribute to a departing staffer.

12:41 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the pandemic.

12:40 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Rachael Rollins by a vote of 50-50 with the Vice President voting in the affirmative.

11:37 a.m. The Senate is voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #585 Rachael S. Rollins to be United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts for the term of four years.

11:31 a.m. Senator Cassidy spoke on opioids.

11:25 a.m. Senator Braun moved to proceed to S.J.Res.29, providing for congressional disapproval regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates. There will be up to 10 hours of debate.

11:11 a.m. Senator Marshall paid tribute to Senator Dole.

10:59 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on inflation.

10:53 a.m. Senator Murray spoke on gun violence.

10:42 a.m. RL McConnell spoke on Democrats spending and the debt limit.

10:21 a.m. ML Schumer spoke on the NDAA, prescription drug costs, and on the pandemic.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

*****

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and following Leader remarks, will be in a period of morning business.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. – one roll call vote:

1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #585, Rachael Rollins to be United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.

At approximately 2:15 p.m. – two roll call votes:

1. Confirmation of the Rollins nomination.
2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #482, Michael Smith to be Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

At approximately 5:15 p.m. – one roll call vote:

1. Confirmation of the Smith nomination.

We also anticipate the Senate to consider S.J.Res.29, providing for congressional disapproval regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Additional roll call votes are expected during Wednesday’s session.

Cloture has been filed on the following:

1. Motion to concur in the House amendment to S.610, vehicle for debt ceiling track/Pay-Go/Medicare fix.

2. Executive Calendar #486 Lucy Koh to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit.

3. Executive Calendar #533 Jennifer Sung to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit.

4. Executive Calendar #576 Samantha Elliott to be United States District Judge for the District of New Hampshire.