12:53 a.m. The Senate adjourned until 11:00 a.m.
12:51 a.m. ML McConnell asked u.c. to proceed to S.Con.Res. 31, concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the Rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Bob Dole, agreed to by u.c. ML McConnell asked u.c. that when the Senate adjourn today it meets at 11:00 a.m.
12:46 a.m. Senator Enzi asked that the Senate be in a period of morning business.
12:45 a.m. AGREED TO: 51-48 Motion to concur in H.R.1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, with a further amendment (Senate Passage of H.R.1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) Senator McCain did not vote.
12:35 a.m. Protesters chanting “kill the bill” were removed from the gallery. Vice President Pence requested the Sergeant at Arms restore order.
12:30 a.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to concur in H.R.1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, with a further amendment (Senate Passage of H.R.1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act)
12:29 a.m. The motion to waive was not agreed to by a vote of 51-48 (60-vote threshold). Senator McCain did not vote.
11:33 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke supporting the tax conference report.
11:26 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke against the tax conference report.
11:22 p.m. Senator Peters spoke about the deficit in relation to the tax conference report.
11:13 p.m. Senator Merkley likened the tax bill to a bank heist.
11:03 p.m. Senator Scott spoke supporting the tax conference report.
10:57 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke about Democrats dragging out debate on the conference report. Senator Brown objected to Senator Hatch inserting JCT materials into the record.
10:38 p.m. Senator Carper spoke against the tax conference report.
10:20 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke supporting the tax conference report and ANWR.
9:59 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke against the tax conference report.
9:41 p.m. Senator Perdue spoke supporting the tax conference report.
9:21 p.m. Senators Warren and Durbin spoke against the tax conference report.
9:15 p.m. Senator Young is is debating the conference report to accompany H.R. 1.
9:00 p.m. Senator Whitehouse is discussing the Enzi motion to waive. It is expected that the vote on the motion to waive will occur just prior to the vote on adoption of the conference report, which could occur around 11:00pm. The motion to waive is subject to a 60-vote threshold. If the motion is not agreed to, the Senate would then vote on adoption of the conference report without the offending provisions.
8:30 p.m. Conference report to accompany an act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018 [Republican tax bill] (H.R. 1)
The Senate is debating the conference report to accompany H.R. 1. Senator Sanders raised the following points of order against the conference report, which Senator Enzi then moved to waive:
- That Subsection 11000(a) violates section 313(b)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
- That Subparagraph (B) of Section 11032, starting on page 75, line 17 and all through page 76, line 9, violates section 313(b)(1)(D) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 And that the phrase “tuition-paying” as it appears on page 309, line 12, and page 309, lines 14 through 15, violates section 313(b)(1)(D) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
6:18 p.m. Senators Reed, Heller, Donnelly, Grassley, Udall, Tester, Schatz, Toomey, Brown, and Portman spoke about the tax bill.
6:04 p.m. Senator Murkowski spoke supporting the Conference Report and ANWR.
6:02 p.m. Senator Sanders raised points of order against the Conference report. Senator Enzi moved to waive all applicable sections of that Act and applicable budget resolutions for the purposes of the Conference Report and the waiver is debatable for 1 hour.
5:40 p.m. Senator Sanders and Wyden spoke against the tax bill.
5:19 p.m. Senators Thune and Daines spoke about tax reform.
4:50 p.m. Senators Cantwell and Markey spoke about the tax bill.
4:22 p.m. Senators Hatch and Isakson spoke about the tax bill.
4:00 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about the tax bill.
3:47 p.m. Senator Enzi spoke about the tax bill.
3:45 p.m. The Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 1 (tax bill) by a vote of 51 to 48. There are now 10 hours of debate.
3:07 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to proceed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 1, the tax bill.
2:48 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke on DACA.
2:33 p.m. Senator Inhofe paid tribute to Doug Coe.
2:15 p.m. Senators Kaine and Inhofe spoke about the tax bill.
2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from recess.
12:54 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m. to accommodate the weekly caucus luncheons.
12:51 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke on Puerto Rico.
12:50 p.m. The Newstead nomination was confirmed 88-11.
Senators voting against: 9 Democrats: Franken, Gillibrand, Harris, Heinrich, Markey, Merkley, Schatz, Warren and Wyden; 1 Republican:Paul; 1 Independent: Sanders.
Senators not voting: McCain
12:08 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the nomination of Jennifer Newstead to be Legal Advisor to the Department of State.
11:58 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about pending legislation that needs to be completed by the end of the year and the Mueller investigation.
11:50 a.m. Senator Boozman spoke about the commissioning of the new U.S.S. Little Rock.
11:38 a.m. Senator Murphy spoke about the meaning of Christmas related to the Senate and helping the uninsured and undocumented.
11:14 a.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke against the tax bill and about the train derailment in Washington.
11:03 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke for the tax bill.
10:38 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about immigration.
10:20 a.m. The Senate entered a period of Morning Business. Senator Cornyn spoke in support of legislation to support the military. He spoke in favor of the tax bill.
10:04 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell moved to proceed to S.1519, the defense authorization for fiscal year 2018.
Senator McConnell said the Senate will vote tonight on the tax bill. He spoke in favor of the tax bill.
* * * * *
The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m., and following any leader remarks will be in a period of morning business until 12:00 p.m.
At 12:00 p.m, consider the nomination of Jennifer Newstead to be Legal Adviser of the Department of State for ten minutes followed by a vote on the nomination.
Following the vote on the Newstead nomination, the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m.
