6:31 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 7:00 A.M. for a pro forma session on Friday, February 15, 2019.
6:08 Senator Carper spoke in tribute of the late John Dingell, D-MI.
5:04 p.m. ML McConnell conducted wrap up. The following bills were passed:
Adopted S.Res.71: honoring the memory of the victims of the senseless attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School 1 year ago.
Passed S.488: the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2019.
Agreed to S.Con.Res.4: enrollment correction (H.J.Res.31).
Adopted S.Res.75: honoring the life, achievements, and distinguished public service of John David Dingell, Jr., and expressing condolences to his family on his passing.
Adopted S.Res.76: designating March 1, 2019, as “National Speech and Debate Education Day”.
Adopted S.Res.77: designating the week of February 16 through 23, 2019 as “National FFA Week”, recognizing the important role of the National FFA Organization in developing young leaders, and celebrating 50 years of Female membership in the National FFA Organization.
Agreed to S.Con.Res.1, with Menendez-Risch amendments: calling for credible, transparent, and safe elections in Nigeria, and for other purposes.
Passed Calendar #26, S.483: to enact into law a bill by reference (H.R.1029 of the 115th Congress).
Completed the Rule 14 process to place the following items on the Legislative Calendar of Business:
1. S.483: to enact into law a bill by reference [115th Congress – H.R.1029, Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act of 2018] (Roberts)
2. S.J.Res.8: recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal (McConnell)
Executive Business
PN 175, the nomination of John Lowry III, of Illinois, to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training was referred jointly to the HELP and Veterans’ Affairs Committees.
4:32 p.m. Senators Menendez and Reed spoke about the Mueller investigation.
4:29 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke on the President Trump declaring a National Emergency.
4:28 p.m. ML McConnell filed cloture on Executive Calendar #12 John Ryder to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2021.
4:27 p.m. ML McConnell filed cloture on Executive Calendar #10, Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
4:26 p.m. ML McConnell filed cloture on Executive Calendar #6, Michael J. Desmond to be Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service and an Assistant General Counsel in the Department of the Treasury.
4:25 p.m. ML McConnell filed cloture on Executive Calendar #16, Eric D. Miller to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit.
4:24 p.m. ML McConnell filed cloture on the motion to proceed to S.311, Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
4:23 p.m. The Senate adopted the Conference Report to Accompany H.J.Res.1, Appropriations Package by a vote of 83-16.
3:58 p.m. The Senate began voting on Adoption of the Conference Report to Accompany H.J.Res.1, Appropriations Package.
3:30 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the conference report, HJ Res 31.
3:15 p.m. Senator Leahy, Democratic Leader Schumer and Senator Shelby spoke on the conference report and border security.
3:06 p..m. ML McConnell announced the vote will be soon, and that President Trump will sign it and at the same time declare a national emergency. He then called up the conference report and filed cloture on it, and that the vote will occur at 3:30 p.m. If cloture is invoked, the Senate would then vote on the conference report.
2:46 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on tariffs and imports, and later about tax extenders.
2:33 p.m. Senator Perdue spoke about border security.
1:59 p.m. Senator Tillis paid tribute to Representative Jones from North Carolina who passed away recently. He later spoke on border security and Valentines Day.
1:47 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke on gun violence and the Parkland shooting.
1:38 p.m. Senator Boozman spoke on the Veterans affairs department.
1:37 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of William Barr to be Attorney General by a vote of 54-45.
- Democrats voting Yes: Senators Jones, Manchin, & Sinema.
- Republican voting No: Senator Paul.
12:31 p.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of William Barr to be the Attorney General.
12:21 p.m. Senator Shaheen spoke on the spending bill.
12:14 p.m. Senator Smith spoke on the spending bill.
12:06 p.m. Senator Thune spoke about the spending bill and tax reform.
11:48 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the deal on border security.
11:46 a.m. S. 488 (anti-lynching bill) was passed by voice vote.
11:34 p.m. Senator Harris and Senator Booker spoke about anti-lynching legislation.
11:23 p.m. Senator Capito remembered the victims of the Parkland shooting and also spoke about the border spending agreement.
11:23 p.m. Senator McConnell announced that the vote on the Barr nomination will occur at 12:30 p.m.
10:59 a.m. Senator Whitehouse began a colloquy with Senators Schatz and Merkley about climate change.
10:48 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer said he expects that the Senate will vote this afternoon on the spending deal. He spoke against Senator McConnell’s plan for the Senate to vote on the “Green New Deal” measure.
10:45 a.m. Senator Scott of Florida joined in Senator Rubio’s commemoration and read the names of the shooting victims.
10:27 a.m. Senator Rubio spoke about the Florida school shooting that took place a year ago. The Senate consented to passage of his resolution in memory of the shooting victims.
10:04 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell took Rule XIV actions for S. 483 and S.J. Res. 8.
He spoke in favor of the spending deal. Without objection, the Senate agreed to let Senator McConnell — in consultation with Minority Leader Schumer — set a time for the cloture vote on the H.J. Res 1, the vehicle for the spending deal.
10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley, following the visiting chaplain’s prayer, prayed that the president would sign into law the agreement on spending and border control.
***
The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. Following any leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the Barr nomination.
By unanimous consent, the vote on the Barr nomination will occur at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader after consultation with the Democratic Leader.
