7:15 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene for pro forma sessions at 12:15 on Tuesday, March 18 and 12:00 on Thursday, March 20. They will reconvene on Monday, March 24 at 3:00 and will resume consideration of the nomination of John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy. At 5:30 they will vote on confirmation of the Phelan nomination followed by a vote on confirmation of the nomination of Christopher Landau to be Deputy Secretary of the State Department.
Cloture was filed on the following nominations:
- Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
- Jayanta Bhattacharya to be Director of NIH
- Martin Makary to be Commissioner of the Food and Drug Department of Health and Human Services
- James Bishop to be Deputy Director of OMB
- Aaron Reitz to be Assistant Attorney General
The following resolutions were agreed to en bloc:
- S. Res. 129-National Board Certified Teachers
- S. Res. 130-Dr. Mary Edwards Walker
- S. Res. 131-National CACFP Week
- H. Con. Res.17-Use of Emancipation Hall
6:56 p.m. By a vote of 63-32, the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #41, Christopher Landau to be Deputy Secretary of the State Department was agreed to. Not voting: Booker, Cassidy, Durbin, Hickenlooper and Sanders. Dems voting aye: Bennet, Coons, Cortez-Masto, Fetterman, Hassan, Kaine, King, Klobuchar, Rosen, Shaheen and Warner.
6:41 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #41, Christopher Landau to be Deputy Secretary of the State Department.
6:40 p.m. By a vote of 64-33 the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #36, John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy was agreed to. Not voting: Senators Cassidy, Durbin and Sanders. Dems voting aye: Coons, Cortez-Masto, Fetterman, Gallego, Hassan, Kaine, Kelly, King, Reed, Rosen Shaheen and Warner.
6:27 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #36, John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy.
6:26 p.m. S.1077, Collins and Van Hollen DC Fix, was passed by voice vote.
6:19 p.m. By a vote of 54-46, H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act was passed.
6:04 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the passage of H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act.
6:02 p.m. By a vote of 27-73, the Senate did not agree to the Paul amendment #1266.
5:52 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the Paul amendment #1266, on USAID reduction.
5:50 p.m. By a vote of 48-52, the Senate did not agree to the Van Hollen amendment #1972. Republican senator Murkowski voted aye.
5:40 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the Van Hollen amendment #1972, DOGE.
5:35 p.m. By a vote of 47-53, the Senate did not agree to the Duckworth Amendment #1274, party line.
5:24 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the Duckworth Amendment #1274, the Protect Veterans Jobs Act.
5:21 p.m. By a vote of 47-53, the Senate did not agree to the Merkley Amendment #1273, party line.
5:09 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the Merkley Amendment #1273.
5:08 p.m. By a vote of 62-38, the Senate agreed to invoke cloture on H.R. 1968.
- Democratic Senators voting aye: Cortez-Masto, Durbin, Fetterman, Gillibrand, Hassan, King, Peters, Schatz, Schumer, and Shaheen
- Republican Senators voting no: Paul
4:27 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on H.R.1968.
4:15 p.m. Majority Leader Thune withdrew the cloture motion on the motion to proceed to H.R.1968 and then received unanimous consent for the Senate to proceed to the following nine votes:
- Motion to invoke cloture on H.R.1968, Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act FY2025.
- Adoption of Merkley amendment #1273, H.R.1968, Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act. (IRS) (60 votes needed)
- Adoption of Duckworth amendment #1274, H.R.1968, Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act. (veteran jobs) (60 votes needed)
- Adoption of Van Hollen amendment #1272, H.R.1968, Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act. (DOGE) (60 votes needed)
- Adoption of Paul amendment #1266, H.R.1968, Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act. (USAID reduction)
- Passage of Cal. #26, H.R.1968, Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act FY2025, as amended, if amended.
- Passage of S.1077, Collins and Van Hollen DC Fix.
- Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #36, John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy.
- Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #41, Christopher Landau to be Deputy Secretary of the State Department.
3:44 p.m. Senators Wyden and Sanders spoke on health care. Senator Wyden then asked unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to S.891, the Bipartisan Healthcare Act; Senator Scott objected.
3:11 p.m. Senator Paul spoke on government funding.
2:57 p.m. By a vote of 84-16, the Senate passed S.331, the HALT Fentanyl Act.
-Senators voting no: Alsobrooks, Blunt Rochester, Booker, Duckworth, Hirono, Markey, Merkley, Murphy, Padilla, Sanders, Schiff, Van Hollen, Warnock, Warren, Welch, Wyden.
2:20 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of S. 331, the HALT Fentanyl Act.
2:19 p.m. By a vote of 59-40, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Stephen Feinberg to be Deputy Secretary of Defense. Democrats voting in favor: Senators Fetterman, Kaine, Reed, Shaheen, Slotkin, and Warner.
1:23 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the the confirmation of the Feinberg nomination.
1:18 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke on the continuing resolution.
1:03 p.m. Senator Murray spoke on the continuing resolution.
12:55 p.m. Senator Collins spoke on the continuing resolution.
12:36 p.m. Senator Murkowski paid tribute to former senator Al Simpson. She then spoke on the Iditarod and the continuing resolution.
12:21 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke on government shutdown reform.
12:02 p.m. Senators Barrasso, Lummis, and Durbin paid tribute to former Wyoming Senator Al Simpson, who passed away this morning.
11:47 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the HALT Fentanyl Act.
11:45 a.m. By a vote of 56-39, the Senate agreed to the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Stephen Feinberg to be Deputy Secretary of Defense. Democrat senators voting in favor: Fetterman, Kaine, Reed, Shaheen, Slotkin, and Warner. Senators not voting: Booker, Duckworth, Hawley, Justice, and Lummis.
10:14 a.m. Majority Leader Thune spoke on appropriations.
10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the FBI.
10:00 a.m. The Senate has convened.
There are four votes scheduled today:
10:45 a.m. – Motion to invoke cloture on the Feinberg nomination.
1:15 p.m. – Confirmation of the Feinberg nomination (if cloture is invoked)
– Passage of S.331, the HALT Fentanyl Bill
– Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 1968, Continuing Resolution
Additional votes are possible today.
