6:34 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. Tuesday.

6:31 p.m. During wrap-up, the Senate agreed to vote on confirmation of the McNeel nomination at 11 a.m. Tuesday, to recess for party lunches from 12:30 until 2:15 p.m., and to vote on cloture at 2:15 p.m. for the nomination of Philip Calabrese to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

By voice vote, en bloc, the Senate passed the nominations of Mark Christie and Allison Clements to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

6:30 p.m. By a vote of 52 to 36, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Taylor McNeel to the U.S. District Court for the Southern Mississippi.

{16:18:29 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM VERMONT.
           

{16:18:38 NSP} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. LEAHY: MR. PRESIDENT, I SEE NOBODY IN 15 OR 20 FEET OF ME
           SO I WILL TAKE THE MASK OFF. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE
           DISTINGUISHED PRESIDING OFFICER RECOGNIZED WHO IT WAS EVEN WITH
           THE MASK. MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT CERTAIN
           ME. I WAS GOING THROUGH HISTORY AND LOOKING AT TRANSITIONS

{16:19:08} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           BETWEEN PRESIDENTS. AND I WAS STRUCK BY EVEN PRESIDENTS WHO DID
           NOT LIKE THEIR SUCCESSOR, HOW HARD THEY WORKED TO MAKE SURE
           THAT EVERYTHING WAS DONE PROPERLY FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY
           NO MATTER HOW THEY MIGHT FEEL ABOUT THEMSELVES PERSONALLY, THEY
           SET THE COUNTRY FIRST AND FOREMOST. I CONTRAST THAT WITH WHAT'S

{16:19:47} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           HAPPENING NOW. FORMER VICE PRESIDENT, FORMER U.S. SENATOR
           SERVED WITH HIM JOE BIDEN GOT THE MOST VOTES OF ANY DEMOCRATIC
           NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY. MILLIONS
           MORE THAN WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DID. HE HAS AN INSURMOUNTABLE
           LEAD IN CERTIFIED ELECTORAL VOTES. AND YET THE PRESIDENT FOR

{16:20:19} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           WEEKS REFUSED EVEN TO CARRY OUT THE LAW THAT WE ALL VOTED FOR,
           REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE TO PROVIDE FOR TRANSITION
           WHENEVER THERE IS A TRANSITION. THE LAW THAT WAS USED QUICKLY
           WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ELECTED EVEN THOUGH HILLARY CLINTON
           HAD MILLIONS MORE VOTES THAN HE DID. SHE CONCEDED THE ELECTION
           WITHIN A DAY AND THE TRANSITION BEGAN. THE IDEA THAT WHOEVER IS
           PRESIDENT MUST KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. CERTAINLY THE

{16:20:53} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           DISTINGUISHED PRESIDING OFFICER LIKE ALL OF US HAVE ACCESS TO
           AND GET INTELLIGENCE BRIEFINGS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE
           WORLD. DISCLOSES NOTHING TO SAY WE LIVE IN PERILOUS TIMES AND
           THE DECISIONS ANY PRESIDENT MUST MAKE, EVEN IF IT'S FIVE
           MINUTES AFTER THEY'RE INAUGURATED AS WAS THE POTENTIAL WHEN
           PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS INAUGURATED THE FIRST TIME. HE ACTUALLY HAD

{16:21:28} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           TALKING POINTS TO ALERT PEOPLE TO CLEAR THE MALLS IN CASE THERE
           WAS AN ATTACK. BUT INSTEAD TODAY IS ONLY THE FIRST DAY THAT
           PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN IS GETTING THE PRESIDENTIAL BRIEFING AND
           VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT KAMALA HARRIS. SHE, OF COURSE, HAS THE
           ADVANTAGE AS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE TO
           HAVE A LOT OF THAT MATERIAL ANYWAY. BUT NOW BOTH DO. BUT WE

{16:22:03} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           LOOK SO FOOLISH IN THE EYES OF THE REST OF THE WORLD. WE
           LECTURE DICTATORSHIPS WHEN THEY'VE RIGGED AN ELECTION AND -- WE
           LECTURE THEM FOR DOING THAT AND NOT LEAVING. WE LECTURE THOSE
           PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO GIVE UP THEIR OFFICE. AND NOW THEY SEE THE
           UNITED STATES LEADING DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, THE
           COUNTRY THAT ALWAYS ESPOUSES DEMOCRACY SAYING BUT WE'RE NOT

{16:22:38} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           GOING TO FOLLOW OUR CONSTITUTION. WE'RE NOT GOING TO FOLLOW OUR
           LAWS. WE WILL DO A LOT ON TWEETS FROM THE INCUMBENT BUT WE'RE
           NOT GOING TO FOLLOW OUR LAW. WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE DOES THAT
           GIVE?
           AND THEN WHEN THE PRESIDENT DOES EVEN WORSE BY SAYING WELL,
           I'VE GOTTEN THESE CALLS FROM ALL THESE WORLD LEADERS SAYING
           STICK IT OUT. OF COURSE WHEN ASKED WELL WHO WERE THEY, SUDDENLY
           YOU CAN'T SEEM TO REMEMBER WHO THEY CALLED IF THERE WERE ANY

{16:23:10} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           SUCH CALLS. ITS SUSPECT THERE WEREN'T. SO LET'S STOP THE
           CHARADE. LET'S MAKE IT MORE OF AN EFFORT TO HAVE A SMOOTH
           TRANSITION. THERE ARE ENOUGH THINGS, ENOUGH THINGS THAT FACE
           THIS COUNTRY. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR
           HISTORY THIS KIND OF FOOLISHNESS. I APPLAUD THOSE FEW MEMBERS
           OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO HAVE BEEN HONEST ENOUGH TO SAY IT'S

{16:23:43} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           OVER. WE KNOW IT'S OVER. WHEN YOU GO BACK IN HISTORY, WHEN
           RICHARD NIXON FACED IMPEACHMENT AND ULTIMATE CONVICTION HERE IN
           THE SENATE, IT WAS SOME OF THE MOST RESPECTED REPUBLICAN
           SENATORS WHO WENT DOWN TO SEE HIM QUIETLY. PEOPLE LIKE HUGH
           SCOTT, THE REPUBLICAN LEADER WHOM I GOT TO KNOW WELL. BARRY
           GOLDWATER, MR. CONSERVATIVE WHOM I GOT TO KNOW WELL. AND THEY

{16:24:18} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           WENT DOWN NOT WITH ANY HAPPINESS IN DOING THIS, AS ONE OF THEM
           TOLD ME SUBSEQUENTLY WAS ACTUALLY SORROW IN THEIR HEARTS TO
           TELL THE PRESIDENT HE HAD TO LEAVE, THE TIME HAD COME. AND THE
           PRESIDENT DID. AND THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CAME TOGETHER,
           HELPED INSTALL THE NEXT PRESIDENT GERRY FORD AND THE NEXT VICE
           PRESIDENT GERRY FORD, THE TWO OF THEM BECOMING THE FIRST
           PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT NEVER TO HAVE BEEN ELECTED. GERRY

{16:24:48} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           FORD AND NELSON ROCKEFELLER, FIRST PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
           NEVER TO BE ELECTED BUT TO BE APPOINTED. AND THAT'S ABOUT THE
           TIME I CAME TO THE SENATE. I REMEMBER HEARING REPUBLICANS AND
           DEMOCRATS ALIKE SAYING WE KNEW THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO KEEP GOING
           AND WE HAD TO SHOW CREDIBILITY TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. SO

{16:25:21} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           LONG AS WE PRETEND THAT WE HAVE A PRESIDENCY BY TWEET, WE DON'T
           SHOW THAT INTEGRITY TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. JUST AS I WAS
           HERE FOR THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, EVEN THOUGH I HAD
           HAD A DIFFERENT KIND -- VOTED FOR SECRETARY AND FORMER SENATOR
           HILLARY CLINTON, I WAS THERE AS WAS SECRETARY CLINTON AND HER
           HUSBAND, FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON. AND OUTGOING PRESIDENT OBAMA

{16:25:58} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           AND OUTGOING VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN. TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT WE
           HAVE CONTINUITY, EVEN THOUGH VASTLY DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
           THAT'S NOT THE IMAGE WE'RE SHOWING NOW. WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S
           HAPPENING WHETHER IT'S IRAN OR ECONOMICALLY WITH BREXIT AND THE
           UNITED KINGDOM, TO A COVID EPIDEMIC AROUND THE WORLD, WE, THE
           UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SHOULD SHOW UNITY, AT LEAST UNDER OUR

{16:26:34} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           CONSTITUTION. OF COURSE, REPUBLICANS SHOULD BE SUPPORTING
           REPUBLICANS. OF COURSE DEMOCRATS SHOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF
           DEMOCRATS. BUT THE ONE THING WE SHOULD ALL BE SUPPORTIVE OF IS
           OUR CONSTITUTION AND OUR LAWS. WE STAND DOWN THERE, THE
           PROUDEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE WAS STANDING DOWN HERE AND TAKING
           MY OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION AS UNITED STATES SENATOR
           JUST AS I DID WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE. I DID IT TO

{16:27:11} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE U.S. NOT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
           DEMOCRATIC PARTY, NOT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY,
           BUT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. LET'S GET
           ON WITH THE TRANSI TRANSITION. LET'S MAKE AMERICA STRONG AGAIN.
           AND LET'S DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO BE DONE TO FIGHT THIS COVID
           EPIDEMIC. IN THAT REGARD, WE HAVE TWO MATTERS THAT SHOULD BE

{16:27:44} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE MOST IMPORTANT MATTERS BEFORE US. ONE IS GETTING AN OMNIBUS
           THROUGH BECAUSE AFTER ALL, IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, FUNDING FOR
           THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RUNS OUT. AND WE DON'T WANT TO
           HAVE ONE OF THOSE FOOLISH SHUTDOWNS LIKE WE HAD BEFORE THAT
           COST THE TAXPAYERS BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. AND ENDED
           -- FOUR OF US, SENATOR SHELBY AND MYSELF AND THE COUNTERPARTS
           OF THE HOUSE MET JUST DOWN THE HALL IN MY OFFICE AND WORKED OUT

{16:28:16} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           A BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION AND PASSED THE SPENDING BILL SO WE
           COULD PUT THE GOVERNMENT BACK IN ORDER. IRONICALLY IT'S EXACTLY
           WHAT WE HAD OFFERED WEEKS BEFORE. FOR SOME REASON THE WHITE
           HOUSE DIDN'T WANT TO ACCEPT IT AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
           TAXPAYERS' MONEY WAS LOST. NOW WE HAVE A LIFE-OR DEATH ISSUE
           THAT GOES BEYOND EVEN THE SPENDING. THAT'S COVID. THE HOUSE OF

{16:28:54} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           REPRESENTATIVES BACK IN JUNE, I BELIEVE IT WAS, PASSED THE
           HEROES ACT TO HAVE MONEY, EQUIPMENT, AND SO FORTH FOR THOSE WHO
           ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE COVID EPIDEMIC. LIKE THE SMALL
           STORES AND INNS AND RESTAURANTS AND SO FORTH IN MY STATE TO SAY
           NOTHING ABOUT OUR HOSPITALS THAT ARE OVERWHELMED, WE HAD MONEY
           IN THERE. THE REPUBLICAN LEADER REFUSED TO EVEN BRING THE BILL

{16:29:27} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           UP FOR A VOTE. I KEPT SAYING WHY. THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN THE
           MAJORITY. BRING IT UP, HAVE FOUR OR FIVE AMENDMENTS ON THIS
           SIDE, FOUR OR FIVE REPUBLICAN AMENDMENTS, FOUR OR FIVE
           DEMOCRATIC AMENDMENTS. VOTE THEM UP OR DOWN. WHAT ARE WE AFRAID OF?
           WHY DO WE REFUSE TO VOTE?
           IF THE REPUBLICAN LEADER DOESN'T LIKE THE BILL, INSTEAD OF
           BLOCKING IT, NOT EVEN HAVING A VOTE ON IT, VOTE IT UP OR DOWN.
           REPUBLICANS ARE IN THE MAJORITY. THEY COULD VOTE DOWN ANY AID
           FOR STATES SUFFERING FROM COVID.

{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}

{ 2020/11/30 TIME: 16-30 , Mon. 116th SENATE, SECOND SESSION}

{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}

           BUT THEY'RE NERVOUS THAT WHICHEVER WAY THEY VOTE, IT MIGHT BE
           -- IT MIGHT BE UNCOMFORTABLE BACK HOME. IT MIGHT NOT BE
           POLITICALLY GOOD FOR THEM BACK HOME. BALDERDASH! THE FACT IS,
           WE'RE SENT HERE TO VOTE. I VOTED MORE THAN ANY SENATOR IN THE
           HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY, SAVE ONE. I'VE CAST WELL OVER 16,000

{16:30:37} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           VOTES. CAN PEOPLE GO BACK TO THOSE VOTES AND SAY, WHAT WERE YOU
           THINKING ON THIS VOTE IN 1978 OR 1986 OR 1995?
           AND I'D PROBABLY LOOK AT IT AND SAY, HMM ... IN RETROSPECT, I
           THINK I PROBABLY SCREWED UP. BUT I WAS WILLING TO VOTE. I WAS
           WILLING TO VOTE. WHEN I WAS THE KEY VOTE IN THE ARMED SERVICES
           COMMITTEE TO STOP THE WAR IN VIETNAM, I KNEW THAT OUR STATE'S

{16:31:16} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           LARGE 96 -- LARGEST NEWSPAPER WOULD ATTACK ME MERCILESSLY. AND
           THEY DID, FOR MONTHS AFTER THAT. TODAY THEY WOULD BE HARD TO
           FIND ANYBODY THAT WAS IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING THAT WAR IN
           VIETNAM. BUT WE HAD FIVE VOTES IN A ROW IN THE ARMED SERVICES
           COMMITTEE. EACH ONE FAILED BY ONE VOTE. AND I WAS THE NEWEST
           MEMBER ON THERE. OF COURSE I HAD CASCADED, BUT I WAS HERE TO
           VOTE. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO DO. I LOOK AT SOME OF MY FRIENDS ON
           THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WHO JOINED ME ON SOME VERY TOUGH VOTES. I

{16:31:49} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           DON'T WANT TO EMBARRASS THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM TEXAS, BUT HE
           IS ON THE FLOOR AND ON THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT WE STOOD
           UP AGAINST BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND SAID, NO, WE'RE
           STANDING UP FOR THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
           VOTES ON THIS SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT THEIR GOVERNMENT IS DOING.
           THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT TO GO BACK TO, BACK TO THE TIME WHEN WE
           COULD DO THAT. SO WHAT I WOULD URGE THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP,
           BRING UP A COVID BILL, A REAL COVID BILL. HAVE A FEW AMENDMENTS

{16:32:21} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           ON BOTH SIDES. VOTE THEM UP OR DOWN. THE IF YOU DON'T LIKE AN
           AMENDMENT SOMEBODY HAS, VOTE AGAINST IT. IF YOU LIKE IT, VOTE
           FOR T BUT LET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AT LEAST HAVE SOME HOPE THAT
           WE'RE DOING SOMETHING FOR THEM. TOO MANY BUSINESSES -- PLACES
           ARE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS. TOO MANY FAMILIES DON'T KNOW WHAT
           THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHEN THE SCHOOL IS CLOSED. TOO MANY SMALL
           HOSPITALS, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS, WONDER WHAT THEY'RE GOING
           TO DO AS THE COVID SWEEPS THROUGH. LET'S GIVE THEM SOME HOPE.

{16:33:01} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           LET'S SAY TO PEOPLE, NO, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE KICKED OUT OF
           YOUR HOME. NO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE LIVING IN YOUR CAR. WE
           WILL GIVE YOU MONEY TO GET THROUGH THIS, KNOWING THAT THE
           ECONOMY CAN BE MUCH STRONGER AFTERWARD IF YOU DO. IT CERTAINLY
           IS GOING TO BE MUCH STRONGER FOR OUR LABOR FORCE IF THEY'RE
           STILL IN THEIR HOMES WHEN THE JOBS OPEN BACK UP THAN IF THEY'RE

{16:33:33} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           HOMES. SO LET'S DO THAT. MR. PRESIDENT, LET'S BRING IT UP AND
           VOTE. SENATOR SHELBY AND I HAVE WORKED VERY, VERY HARD ON
           BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION FOR THE OMNIBUS. PROBABLY 95%, 98% HAVE
           AGREED ON T BRING THAT UP AND ON THE 2%, 3%, 4%, BRING IT UP,
           VOTE IT UP, VOTE IT DOWN. IF 42 DON'T LIKE IT, VOTE IT -- IF
           THEY DON'T LIKE IT, VOTE IT DOWN. BUT LET'S THE VAST BULK OF IT
           THROUGH, THAT BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE WORKED

{16:34:04} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           TOGETHER ON. MY STAFF HAS WORKED TOGETHER WITH REPUBLICAN
           STAFF. SO VOTE IT UP, VOTE IT DOWN. LET'S JUST VOTE ON IT. AND
           THEN LET'S LET PEOPLE LEAVE HERE INSTEAD OF PUTTING OUR STAFF,
           THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE HALLWAY, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ON
           THE FLOOR, LET THEM GO WHERE IT'S SAFE. I AM GLAD TO SEE THE

{16:34:40} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           DISTINGUISHED PRESIDING OFFICER. HE'S GOTTEN OVER HIS OWN BOUT
           WITH COVID. HE, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE HERE, HAS SUFFERED THAT, HE
           HAS BEEN IN MY PRAYERS WHEN THEY'VE BEEN SUFFERING IT. BUT
           THERE ARE MILLIONS OF OTHERS WHO ARE SUFFERING AND THE HIGHEST
           NUMBER WE'VE EVER HAD ARE DYING FROM IT. LET'S GET TOGETHER.
           LET'S DO WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT. LET'S DO WHAT WE'RE

{16:35:13} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           ELECTED FOR. LET'S NOT BE AFRAID TO VOTE. DON'T BE AFRAID TO
           VOTE. CERTAINLY I MAY HAVE THOUGHT LONG AND HARD IN SOME OF
           THOSE 16,000 VOTES I'VE CAST, BUT I WAS NEVER AFRAID TO VOTE,
           NEVER AFRAID TO VOTE. MR. PRESIDENT, I SEE MY COLLEAGUE AND
           FRIEND WAITING FOR A CHANCE TO SPEAK, SO I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR.

{16:35:39 NSP} (MR. CORNYN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. CORNYN: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

{16:35:42 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM TEXAS.
           

{16:35:45 NSP} (MR. CORNYN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. CORNYN: MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME SAY WHILE HE'S STILL HERE ON
           THE FLOOR, I AGREE WITH THE SENATOR FROMEMPT HAVE. IF YOU DON'T
           WANT TO -- I AGREE WITH THE SENATOR FROM VERMONT. IF YOU DON'T
           WANT TO VOTE, YOU PROBABLY OUGHT TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER LINE OF
           WORK. COMING TO CONGRESS IS A BAD PLACE TO COME IF YOU DON'T
           WANT TO ACTUALLY VOTE AND BE ON RECORD. WELL, MR. PRESIDENT, AS
           AMERICA WAITS FOR THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION TO BE
           CERTIFIED IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
           HAS BEGUN TO ANNOUNCE HIS PICKS FOR CABINET AND OTHER

4:59 a.m. Senator Blackburn spoke about the defense authorization.

4:36 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about prospective Biden nominees. He spoke about items on the lame duck agenda.

4:18 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke about presidential transition. He spoke about COVID relief and appropriations.

4:12 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke in favor of the McNeel nomination.

3:56 p.m. Senator Tester spoke about Agent Orange provisions in the defense bill.

3:44 p.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about corona virus relief and the expiring federal spending law. He spoke about the defense authorization bill and provisions to rename military facilities. He spoke about Senate confirmation of President-elect Biden’s prospective nominees.

3:39 p.m. Cloture was filed these nominations: Christopher Waller to the Fed; Liam Hardy to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Services..

3:20 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell welcomed Senator Grassley back to the Senate. He spoke about the legislative agenda for the lame duck session, a federal spending bill and a corona virus relief bill.

3:02 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about Iowa farm families and Thanksgiving.

***

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

There will be a cloture vote on the nomination of Taylor MCNeel to be US District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi at 5:30 p.m.

Senator McConnell has also filed cloture on the following nominations:

• J. Philip Calabrese to be US District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio
• Kyle Hauptman to be a Member of the National Credit Union Administration Board
• Kathryn Davis to be Judge of the US Court of Federal Claims