6:10 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene on Friday, Nov. 18 at 9:30 a.m. for a pro forma session. Pro forma sessions will also be held on the followind days: Tuesday Nov. 22 at 11:00 a.m. and Friday, Nov. 25 at 11:00 a.m. The Senate will then convene at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 28 for morning business only. A vote on S. 2873 (Echo Act) will occur at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29. The following bills were passed by voice vote during wrap up.
- Concurred with S. 2754: to designate the Federal Building and United States Courthouse located at 300 Fannin Street in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the “Tom Stagg United States Court House”
- H.R. 5873: to designate the Federal Building and United States courthouse located at 511 East San Antonio Avenue in El Paso, Texas as the “R.E. Thomason Federal Building and United States Courthouse.”
- S. 3395: a bill to require limitations on prescribed burns.
- H.R.3471: to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the provision of automobiles and adaptive equipment by the Department of Veterans Affairs, with Moran-Tester amendment.
- H.R. 4902: to amend title 5, United States Code to expand law enforcement availability pay to employee of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations.
- S.434: Security Clearance Accountability, Reform, and Enhancement Act of 2015.
- S.Res.604: expressing support for the designation of November 2016, as “National Bladder Health Month”.
- S.Res.617: designating November 27, 2016, as “Drive Safer Sunday”.
- S.Res.618: commending and congratulating the Chicago Cubs on their 2016 World Series Victory.
- S.Res.619: recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebrating the heritages and cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of Native Americans to the United States.
5:50 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about opioid abuse.
5:33 p.m. Senator Carper spoke about employees of the Department of Homeland Security.
5:12 p.m. Senator Murkowski spoke about the National Law Enforcement memorial fund.
3:45 p.m. Senators Franken and Merkley spoke on the Trump administration and Steve Bannon.
3:31 p.m. Senator Hoeven paid tribute to his outgoing deputy chief of staff Stephanie Schisler.
2:26 p.m. Senators Whitehouse and Warren spoke about the role of lobbyists in government and about President-elect Trump.
2:18 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke about appropriations.
2:02 p.m. Senator McCain spoke about defense appropriations.
1:27 p.m. Senator Coats spoke for the 54th and one of the last times on the “waste of the week.”
1:00 p.m. Senator Tillis spoke on flooding in North Carolina.
12:47 p.m. Senator Peters spoke on the democratic process and the incoming Trump administration.
12:45 p.m. Cloture was not invoked 51-47.
Senators in favor: 49 Republicans and 2 Democrats: Heitkamp and Manchin.
Senators against: 41 Democrats, 4 Republicans: Ayotte, Burr, Collins and Paul; and 2 Independents: King and Sanders.
Senators not voting: Boxer and Sessions
12:04 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 3110, the energy and conservation bill.
11:55 p.m. Senator Schumer and Senator Cantwell spoke against the energy bill because of off shore drilling.
11:52 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke against off shore drilling near states with military training facilities and against the energy bill.
11:35 p.m. Senator Murkowski and Senator Sullivan spoke about Alaska, nature, and oil and gas development.
11:29 a.m. Senator Shelby paid tribute to Marine Johnny Michael Span.
11:19 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the energy bill.
11:07 a.m. Senator Menendez spoke on the energy bill.
10:53 a.m. Senator Markey spoke on the energy bill and the opioid epidemic.
10:49 a.m. Senator Daines spoke on cyber criminals.
10:40 a.m. Senator Enzi spoke on government spending.
10:29 a.m. Senator Cassidy spoke about the energy bill.
10:12 a.m. Senators Coons and Wyden joined in a colloquy on privacy legislation.
10:01 a.m. Senator McCain saluted Russians whom he portrayed as symbols of resistance to wrongdoing by the Putin government. He spoke in favor of human rights legislation.
9:38 a.m. The Senate resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to the energy bill.
9:34 a.m. Minority Leader Reid spoke about reports that the incidence of hate crimes has increased since the election.
9:32 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about business before the lame-duck session of Congress. Besides the energy bill, the Senate will take up bills to extend U.S. sanctions against Iraq and to finance the operation of the federal government, he said. Senator McConnell said he expects the Iran sanctions to pass by a large bipartisan vote.
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The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m.
After remarks by the leaders, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 3110, the energy and conservation bill.
At noon, the Senate will vote on cloture for the motion to proceed to S. 3110.
