Tuesday, December 20, 2022

12:11 a.m. The Senate adjourned.

12:07 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer wrapped up for the evening/morning.
The following was confirmed by voice vote: Exec cal 1235 Gene Rodriguez to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy.
At a time to be determined, the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination of Agnes Schaefer to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army.
At a time to be determined, the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination of Franklin Parker to be Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

10:24 p.m. Senator Heinrich began wrap up for the evening.

The following were passed or confirmed:
Confirmed the following nominations en bloc:
Kathy Im to be a member of the board of directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Alan Patricof to be a member and Director of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation
Cynthia Dyer to be Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking with the rank of Ambassador at large
Lucy Tamlyn to be Ambassador to the Congo
Rubydee Calvert to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Robert Primus to be a member of the Surface Transportation Board
Diane Kaplan to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

HR 7939 re  Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act of 2022 with Moran substitute
HR 3285 21st Century President Act
S.1294 Protecting American Intellectual Property Act of 2021 (voice vote)
S.3946 Abolish Human Trafficking Reauthorization
S.4859 Project Safe Neighborhoods Reauthorization Act of 2022
S.1324 Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act
H.R.5961 To make revisions in title 5, United States Code, as necessary to keep the title current, and to make technical amendments to improve the United States Code.
S. 5328 regarding the farm security and rural investment act
S. 5329 regarding the Bill Emerson good samaritan food donation act
S.3949 Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022}
S 4120 Childhood Cancer STAR Reauthorization Act
S 3519 Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail Designation Act
S. 1942, standardizing the designation of national heritage areas

9:52 p.m. Senator Tillis spoke on Native American history and asked to take up and pass HR 2758, the Lumbee Recognition Act. Senator Hyde Smith objected.

9:32 p.m. Senator King spoke on lobsters and right whales in Maine.

8:42 p.m. Senator Lee spoke on the omnibus.

8:32 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke on dreamers and Afghanistan refugees.

7:52 p.m. Senators Whitehouse, King, Hassan and Merkley joined Senator Klobuchar on campaign finance reform and election reform.

7:38 p.m. Senator Klobuchar thanked Senator Portman on his leadership on Ukraine and then turned to discuss election reform and campaign finance reform.

7:27 p.m. Senator Scott of Florida spoke about the omnibus and his disaster relief bill.

7:26 p.m. Senator Scott of Florida spoke on and asked UC to take up and pass a bill on Florida disaster funding. Senator Leahy objected.

7:04 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about Ukraine.

7:01 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer filled the tree on the omnibus.

7:00 p.m. The Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to the omnibus 70-25. GOP in favor: Blunt, Boozman, Capito, Collins, Cornyn, Cotton, Graham, Grassley, Hyde-Smith, McConnell, Moran, Murkowski, Portman, Romney, Rounds, Rubio, Shelby, Thune, Tuberville, Wicker & Young.
Senators not voting: Barrasso, Burr, Cruz, Hickelooper and Inhofe.

5:50 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer made a motion to proceed to S. 2617, the vehicle for the omnibus and the Senate began a vote on the motion to proceed.

5:43 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke on the omnibus.

5:30 p.m. Senator Paul spoke on the omnibus.

5:18 p.m. Senator Smith asked UC to confirm the nomination of Jessica Looman to be Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the Labor Department. Senator Braun objected.

4:59 p.m. Senator Duckworth asked to take up and pass S. 5276, to prohibit the limitation of access to assisted reproductive technology, and all medically necessary care surrounding such technology. Senator Hyde-Smith objected.

4:47 p.m. Senators Cornyn, Padilla and Tester spoke on a bill giving more flexibility with pandemic funding and passed S. 5323 by unanimous consent on that topic.

4:42 p.m. Senator Tuberville spoke on childrens painkiller shortages.

4:02 p.m. Senators Durbin, Blunt, Kelly, and Cortez Masto spoke on immigration.

4:00 p.m. Senator Cantwell asked unanimous consent to call up and pass, S.3773, A bill to authorize the leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. The bill was passed by unanimous consent.

3:38 p.m. Senators Sinema and Tillis spoke on immigration.

3:21 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke on Iran and asked unanimous consent to call up and pass S.Res. 183, A resolution condemning the Government of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights. Senator Menendez objected.

3:20 p.m. By a vote of 57-35, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Robert Shriver III to be Deputy Director of the OPM.

Republicans voting in favor: Senators Blunt, Capito, Collins, Kennedy, Murkowski, Portman, Tillis and Young.

Not voting: Senators Barrasso, Burr, Casey, Cruz, Hickenlooper, Inhofe, Moran and Sasse.

2:28 p.m. The Senate began a vote on confirmation of Robert Shriver III, to be Deputy Director of the OPM.

2:24 p.m. Senator Padilla spoke celebrating the passage of H.R. 785.

2:16 p.m. Senator Feinstein asked unanimous consent to call up and pass H.R. 785, For the relief of Maria Isabel Bueso Barrera, Alberto Bueso Mendoza, and Karla Maria Barrera De Bueso. The bill was passed by unanimous consent.

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from recess.

1:23 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m.

1:22 p.m. Senator Schatz asked unanimous consent to call up and pass S. 5087, A bill to amend the Not Invisible Act of 2019 to extend, and provide additional support for, the activities of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice Joint Commission on Reducing Violent Crime Against Indians, and for other purposes with the Schatz substitute amendment. The bill was passed, as amended, by unanimous consent.

1:21 p.m. Senator Schatz asked unanimous consent that at 2:15 p.m. the Senate consider the Shriver nomination. At 2:30 p.m. the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination of Robert Shriver III, to be Deputy Director of the OPM.

1:20 p.m. By a vote of 80-10 the Senate confirmed the nomination of Russell Rumbaugh to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

Voting against: Senators Braun, Daines, Hawley, Johnson, Kennedy, Lankford, Marshall, Rubio, Scott of FL and Scott of SC.

Not voting: Senators Barrasso, Burr, Cruz, Hickenlooper, Inhofe, Lummis, Moran, Sanders, Sasse and Wicker

12:33 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #972 R. Russell Rumbaugh to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

12:22 p.m. Senator Cardin paid tribute to Senator Leahy.

12:16 p.m. Senator Reed paid tribute to Senator Leahy.

12:10 p.m. Senator Collins paid tribute to Senator Leahy.

12:05 p.m. Senator Stabenow paid tribute to Senator Leahy.

12:01 p.m. Senator Shelby paid tribute to Senator Leahy.

11:55 a.m. Senator Sanders paid tribute to Senator Leahy.

11:49 a.m. ML Schumer paid tribute to Senator Leahy.

11:17 a.m. Senator Leahy delivered his farewell address.

11:10 a.m. Senator Hyde-Smith spoke on the passing of Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach.

11:00 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on the South Dakota State football team and on tax reform.

10:59 a.m. Senator Peters asked unanimous consent that the Senate vote at 12:15 p.m. on confirmation of R. Russell Rumbaugh to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy. At approximately 2:30 p.m. a procedural vote is expected on the motion to proceed to the message accompanying H.R.2617, the vehicle for Omnibus appropriations.

10:56 a.m. Senator Peters spoke on the Revez nomination and asked unanimous consent that the Senate consider and vote on the nomination of Richard Revesz to be Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of @USOPM. Sen. Capito objected.

10:55 a.m. Senator Peters asked unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate proceed to Executive Calendar #1194, Robert Harley Shriver III, of Virginia, to be Deputy Director of the OPM, that there be 10 minutes for debate equally divided for debate and the Senate vote on confirmation.

10:47 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on FTX.

10:36 a.m. RL McConnell spoke on the Omnibus legislation, on the appropriations process, on the Bluegrass Army Depot, and on Burma.

10:21 a.m. ML Schumer spoke on the Omnibus legislation and plans for its passage.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

*****

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m., following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of R. Russell Rumbaugh, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

At 11:15 a.m., Senator Leahy will deliver his farewell address.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

Roll call votes are possible during Tuesday’s session of the Senate but have not been scheduled.