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8:12 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 20. When they reconvene they will resume consideration of the of the nomination of Benjamin Cheeks to be US District Judge for the Southern District of California.

They passed/agreed to the following during wrap-up:

• S. 5062-Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act
• S. 4640-Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking Act
• H.R. 7365-VETS Safe Travel Act
• H.R. 9592-Federal Register Modernization Act of 2024
• H.R. 9487-House Office of Legislative Counsel Modernization Act
• S. Res. 937-authorize testimony and representation

The following military nominations were confirmed en bloc:

• Cal. # 859-Maj. Gen. Gregory Brady to by Lt. General
• Cal. #860-Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis to be Lt. General
• Cal. #861-Capt. Walter Allman, Capt. Wesley Bringham, Capt. Richard Burgess, Capt. Daryle Cardone, Capt. Cameron Chen, Capt. Matthew Duffy, Capt. John Friedman, Capt. William Gantt, Jr., Capt. Michael Jarrett, Capt. David Loo, Capt Gary Montalvo, Jr., Capt. Davidtavis Pollard, Capt. Matthew Pottenburgh, Capt. William Reed, Capt. Karrey Sanders, Capt. Charles Sargeant, Capt. John Stafford, Capt. Thomas Zerr all to be Rear Admiral (lower half)
• Cal. #862-Capt. Andrew Biehn, Capt. Daniel Lannamann, and Capt. Brian Meltcalf to be Rear Admiral (lower half)
• Cal. #863-Col. Timothy Brady, Col. Dustin Byrum, Col. Henry Dolberry, Col. Lauren Edwards, COl. Christopher Haar, Col. Sean Hoewing, Col. Ryan Hoyle, Col. David Hyman, Col. Robert Meade, Col. Joel F. Schmidt, Col. Jeremy Winters all to be Brigadier General
• Cal. #864-Rear. Adm. (lh) John Dougherty, IV, Rear Adm. (lh) Johnathan Rucker, and Rear Adm. (lh) Douglas WIlliams all to be Rear Admiral
• Cal. #865-Rear Adm. (lh) Thomas Henderschedt to be Rear Admiral
• Cal. #866-Rear Adm. (lh) Christopher Alexander, Rear Adm. (lh) Bradley Andros, Rear Adm. (lh) Sean Baily, Rear Adm. (lh) Brian Bennett, Rear Adm. (lh) Adan Cruz, Rear Adm. (lh) Christopher Kijek, Rear Adm. (lh) Max McCoy, Jr., Rear Adm. (lh) Thomas Moninger, Rear Adm. (lh) Martin Muckian, Rear Adm. (lh) Gregory Newkirk, Rear Adm. (lh) Mark Schafer, Rear Adm. (lh) Nicholas Tilbrook, Rear Adm. (lh) Robert Wirth, Rear Adm. (lh) Michael Wosje all to be Rear Admiral
• Cal. #867- Maj. Gen. Luke C. G. Cropsey to be Lt. General
• Cal. #868-Maj. Gen. Mark B. Pye to be Lt. General
• Cal. #869-Col. Matthew Brown to be Brigadier General
• Cal. #871-Col. Tonri Brown to be Brigadier General
• Cal. #873-Lt. Gen. Curtis Buzzard to be Lt. General
• Cal. #874-Maj. Gen. Brett Sylvia to be Lt. General
• And all nominations on the Secretary’s desk

7:25 p.m. The Senate passed the following bills (as amended if amended) en bloc:

• S. 623-A bill to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to exclude certain payments to aged, blind, or disabled Alaska Natives or descendants of Alaska Natives from being used to determine eligibility for certain programs, and for other purposes.
• S. 4451-RESERVE Federal Land Act
• S. 4974-A bill to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to reauthorize the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System, and for other purposes.
• S. 2020-Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act of 2023
• S. 3617-Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2024
• S. 4851-Scarper Ridge Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Act of 2024
• S. 3790-Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2024
• S. 2786-Farmers’ Market Expansion Act of 2023

7:23 p.m. By a vote of 73-23 the motion to proceed to H.R. 82 was agreed to. Senators Capito, Manchin, Rubio and Vance did not vote.

6:25 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to proceed to H.R.82, the Social Security Fairness Act.

6:15 p.m. Senator Lee spoke about Social Security.

6:13 p.m. Senator Schiff was officially sworn in.

5:38 p.m. Senator Padilla asked unanimous consent for the Senate to pass H.R. 5509. Senator Barrasso objected. Senator Padilla then achieved unanimous consent for the Senate to adopt S. Res. 936, Congratulating the Los Angeles Galaxy for Winning the 2024 Major League Soccer Cup.

5:27 p.m. Senator Wyden achieved unanimous consent for the Senate to pass:

• S. 2160 Urban Canal Modernization Act
• H.R. 7938 Klamath Basin Water Agreement Support Act of 2024

5:19 p.m. Senator Rosen spoke about public lands. She then asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to pass S. 3593, Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act. Senator Barrasso objected to her request.

5:01 p.m. Senator Warner spoke about foreign affairs.

4:24 p.m. Senator Welch spoke about disaster assistance.

4:04 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke about government funding.

3:47 p.m. Senator Sheheen spoke on government funding.

3:15 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke in support of the Explore act.

3:13 p.m. Senator Manchin spoke about public land. He then asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to pass H.R. 6492, EXPLORE Act. There was no objection.

2:51 p.m. Senator Markey spoke on the Children’s and Teens’ Online Privacy Act.

2:43 p.m. Senator Rosen spoke on the United States Postal Service and asked unanimous consent for the Senate to confirm the following postal service nominations: PN 2289, Exec. Cal. #836, Exec. Cal. #837, Exec. Cal. #840. Senator Paul objected.

2:32 p.m. Senator Cassidy spoke on inflation.

2:20 p.m. Senator Moran paid tribute to Senator Tester and Veterans Affairs Staff. He later spoke on National Aviation History Month.

2:15 p.m. Senator Murphy received passage of the following bills en bloc by unanimous consent

• H.R. 1555 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2300 Sylvan Avenue in Modesto, California, as the “Corporal Michael D. Anderson Jr. Post Office Building”.
• S. 4404 – A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 840 Front Street in Casselton, North Dakota, as the “Commander Delbert Austin Olson Post Office”.
• S. 4634 – A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 154 First Avenue East in Jerome, Idaho, as the “Representative Maxine Bell Post Office”.
• S. 4803 – A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 31143 State Highway 65 in Pengilly, Minnesota, as the “First Lieutenant Richard Arne Koski Post Office”.
• H.R. 1823 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 207 East Fort Dade Avenue in Brooksville, Florida, as the “Specialist Justin Dean Coleman Memorial Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 3354 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 North Hatcher Avenue in Purcellville, Virginia, as the “Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 6810 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 518 North Ridgewood Drive in Sebring, Florida, as the “U.S. Army Air Corps Major Thomas B. McGuire Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 6983 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15 South Valdosta Road in Lakeland, Georgia, as the “Nell Patten Roquemore Post Office”.
• H.R. 7180 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 80 1st Street in Kingsland, Arkansas, as the “Kingsland ‘Johnny Cash’ Post Office”.
• H.R. 7385 –  To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 29 Franklin Street in Petersburg, Virginia, as the “John Mercer Langston Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 7417 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 135 West Spring Street in Titusville, Pennsylvania, as the “Edwin L. Drake Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 7606 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1087 Route 47 South in Rio Grande, New Jersey, as the “Carlton H. Hand Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 7607 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19, Northeast Corner of US Route 9 South and Main Street in the Township of Middle, County of Cape May, New Jersey, as the “George Henry White Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 7893 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 306 Pickens Street in Marion, Alabama, as the “Albert Turner, Sr. Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 5867 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 109 Live Oaks Boulevard in Casselberry, Florida, as the “Colonel Joseph William Kittinger II Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 6162 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 379 North Oates Street in Dothan, Alabama, as the “LaBruce ‘Bruce’ Tidwell Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 6188 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 420 Highway 17 North in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, as the “Nancy Yount Childs Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 6633 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9355 113th Street in Seminole, Florida, as the “Army SSG Ryan Christian Knauss Memorial Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 6750 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 501 Mercer Street Southwest in Wilson, North Carolina, as the “Milton F. Fitch, Sr. Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 8057 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9317 Bolsa Avenue in Westminster, California, as the “Little Saigon Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Post Office”.

He then received unanimous consent to pass the following legislation en bloc:

• H.R. 6116 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14280 South Military Trail in Delray Beach, Florida, as the “Benjamin Berell Ferencz Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 7158 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 East Battles Road in Santa Maria, California, as the “Larry Lavagnino Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 7507 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 203 East 6th Street in Lexington, Nebraska, as the ‘William E. and Elise L. Barrett Post Office Building’
• H.R. 7508 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1285 Emancipation Highway in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as the “Gladys P. Todd Post Office”.
• H.R. 8641 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 Main Street in Brawley, California, as the “Walter Francis Ulloa Memorial Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 8868 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 609 Portsmouth Avenue in Greenland, New Hampshire, as the “Chief Michael Maloney Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 8909 –  To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 82-6110 Mamalahoa Highway in Captain Cook, Hawaii, as the “Army 1st Lt. John Kuulei Kauhaihao Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 8919 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 151 Highway 74 South in Peachtree City, Georgia, as the “SFC Shawn McCloskey Post Office”.
• H.R. 8976 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20 West White Street in Millstadt, Illinois, as the “Corporal Matthew A. Wyatt Post Office”.
• H.R. 9285 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3913 Leland Avenue Northwest in Comstock Park, Michigan, as the “Captain Miguel Justin Nava Post Office”.
• H.R. 9322 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 675 Wolf Ledges Parkway in Akron, Ohio, as the “Judge James R. Williams Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 9421 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 108 North Main Street in Bucoda, Washington, as the “Mayor Rob Gordon Post Office”.
• H.R. 9544 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 340 South Loudon Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, as the “United States Representative Elijah E. Cummings Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 9549 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 125 South 1st Avenue in Hillsboro, Oregon, as the “Elizabeth Furse Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 9580 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2777 Brentwood Road in Raleigh, North Carolina, as the “Millie Dunn Veasey Post Office”.
• H.R. 9600 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 119 Main Street in Plains, Georgia, as the “Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Post Office”.
• H.R. 9775 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 119 North Anderson Street in Elwood, Indiana, as the “Officer Noah Jacob Shahnavaz Post Office Building”.
• H.R. 10065 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 802 North Tancahua Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, as the “Captain Robert E. ‘Bob’ Batterson Post Office”.
• H.R. 6244 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1535 East Los Ebanos Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas, as the “1st Lieutenant Andres Zermeno Post Office Building”.

1:58 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke on President Elect Trump and intimidation.

1:51 p.m. Senator Murkowksi spoke on the pending Social Security bill, H.R. 82.

1:00 p.m. Senator Lee received unanimous consent to pass the following legislation

• H.R. 8666, To amend title 28, United States Code, to authorize holding court for the Central Division of Utah in Moab and Monticello.
• S. 4511, Guarding Readiness Resources Act, with Lee Substitute Amendment.

12:39 p.m. Senator Daines spoke in support of S. 4444, Crow Revenue Act. He then asked for unanimous consent to Pass S. 4444, with the Daines substitute amendment. Senator Schatz objected.

12:20 p.m. Senator Tuberville spoke about farming and inflation.

12:11 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the Pentagon.

11:40 a.m. Senator Gillibrand spoke on the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter and achieved unanimous consent for passage of the following:

• S. 4607 America’s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act
• S. 2742 Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act

11:32 a.m. Senator Hawley spoke on Churchill’s 1946 Iron Curtain speech in Missouri.

11:07 a.m. Senator Cotton spoke on President Biden’s pardons and asked unanimous consent for the Senate to adopt S. Res. 935. Senator Durbin objected.

11:02 a.m. Senator Thune paid tribute to Republican Leader McConnell.

10:46 a.m. Republican Leader McConnell paid tribute to his Chief of Staff.

10:23 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke about government funding. He also thanked departing Sergeant of Arms General Karen Gibson for her service to the Senate.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene today at 10 a.m. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.82, the Social Security Fairness Act, post-cloture.

Roll call votes are expected during Thursday’s session.

***

As a reminder, cloture was filed on the following nominations, which have ripened:
• Benjamin J. Cheeks to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California.
• Serena Raquel Murillo to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California.