5:23 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene tomorrow, Friday May 26th at 8:45 a.m. for a Pro Forma Session. The next roll call vote will occur, Monday, June 5th at 5:30 p.m.
There will be three pro forma sessions during the Memorial day recess: Friday, May 26th at 8:45 a.m.; Tuesday May 30th at 7:00 a.m. and Friday, June 2nd at 9:00 a.m.
The senate will reconvene for legislative business on Monday, June 5th at 3:00 p.m. and begin consideration of S. Res 176, Jerusalem.
The following bills passed by unanimous consent in wrap up: S. Res 181, 182, 183; S 917 – Service Banners; H.R. 657 – title 5, prohibited personnel practices.
5:02 p.m. Senator Bennet spoke on Medicare.
4:30 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke about Memorial Day.
4:09 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke about the status of the Paris Climate Agreement.
4:03 p.m. Senator Enzi spoke about the retirement of staffer, Ron Hindell.
3:48 p.m. Senator Hassan spoke about the opioid crisis.
3:35 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about the Alaskan of the week.
3:35 p.m. ML McConnell asked u.c. that following the disposition of the Elwood nomination, the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 1094, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act. The committee reported substitute be adopted and that there then be three hours of debate equally divided and following the use or yielding back of time the Senate proceed to a vote on passage.
3:34 p.m. ML McConnell asked u.c. that the Senate proceed to immediate consideration of calendar #57, S.585, a bill to provide greater whistle-blower protections for Federal employees, and that the committee reported amendments be agreed to and the bill passed.
3:33 p.m. ML McConnell asked u.c. that the committee on Veterans’ Affairs be discharged from consideration of S. 114, a bill to amend Title 38 of U.S. Code, and so forth and the bill passed.
3:32 p.m. ML McConnell asked u.c. that the committee on Veterans’ Affairs be discharged from consideration of S. 12, to amend Title 38 of U.S. Code to improve the accountability of employees of the Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration and the Moran amendment be agreed to and the bill passed.
3:31 p.m. ML McConnell asked u.c. that the Senate proceed to executive session for the en bloc consideration of nominations: Executive Calendar #60, 62, 64 (David Norquist, Kari Bingen, and Rob Story Karem) and the Senate confirmed the nominations en bloc.
3:30 p.m. ML McConnell asked u.c. that following Leader Remarks on Monday, June 5th the Senate proceed to calendar #107, S. Res. 176 with the time until 5:30 p.m. equally divided; further at 5:30 p.m. the Senate vote on the resolution with no amendments. McConnell asked u.c. that the Senate proceed to executive session for consideration of Exec. Calendar #66-93 and all nominations placed on the Secretary’s desk in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy; that the nominations be confirmed.
3:08 p.m. Senator Van Hollen paid tribute to retiring staffer Bill Dauster on his retirement. He later discussed health care and the CBO score released yesterday.
2:58 p.m. Senator Warren spoke on health care.
2:50 p.m. Senator Whitehouse followed Senator Franken to discuss opioid abuse.
2:39 p.m. Senator Franken spoke briefly about climate change before turning to discuss health care and opioid abuse.
2:17 p.m. Senator Murkowski spoke about the Arctic Council meeting.
2:06 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the foster care system.
2:05 p.m. The Senate confirmed Amul Thapar to be U.S. Circuit Judge by a vote of 52-44.
1:27 p.m. Senator Sasse asked that all time be yielded back and the Senate began voting on Thapar nomination to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the 6th circuit.
1:17 p.m. Senator Heller spoke about Yucca Mountain. Senator Heller asked u.c. That cloture on the Elwood nomination to be General Counsel of the CIA be vitiated. The vote on confirmation of Courtney Elwood will occur Tuesday, June 6th at 2:15 p.m.
12:59 p.m. Senators Manchin and Capito spoke abut the opioid crisis.
12:46 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about balancing the budget.
12:30 p.m. Senators Duckworth and Reed spoke about the opioid abuse epidemic.
12:19 p.m. Senator Moran spoke about healthcare.
11:59 a.m. Senator Murray spoke about healthcare.
11:43 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about healthcare.
11:36 a.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke about the opioid abuse epidemic.
11:15 a.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke in memory of fallen members of the military. He spoke about the Russia investigation.
10:58 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the health care law. 10:45 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the health care law. He paid tribute to departing staffer Bill Dauster. He spoke about fallen military personnel.
10:32 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the health care law and in support of the Thapar nomination. He spoke about a pending Veterans Administration bill. He spoke about the 225th anniversary of Kentucky statehood, June 1.
***
The Senate will convene at 10:30 a.m. and will resume debate on the nomination of Amul R. Thapar of Kentucky to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
At 1:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Thapar nomination.
