3:40 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 9:00 a.m., Friday, February 14 for a pro forma session. The Senate will then adjourn until 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 18, 2025. On Tuesday, Senator Wicker will deliver Washington’s Farewell Address. Following his remarks will be Leader remarks. After Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce, post cloture.
At approximately 5:30, the Senate will have two votes:
-Motion to proceed to Executive Session for the consideration of Kash Patel to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
-Confirmation on Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce.
-Further votes are possible.
In wrap up:
–S.146, a bill to require covered platforms to remove nonconsensual depictions and for other purposes, passed by unanimous consent.
-S.Res.79, a resolution honoring the memories of the victims of the senseless attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018, agreed to by unanimous consent.
-S.Res.80, a resolution expressing gratitude to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the Architect of the Capitol, the Sergeant at Arms, the Secretary of the Senate, law enforcement officers, emergency personnel, and volunteers for their support in making the Presidential Inauguration a success, agreed by unanimous consent.
3:16 p.m. Senator Murkowski spoke about Mount Denali and then spoke federal funding for tribal communities.
3:07 p.m. By a vote of 51-43 the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
- Democrat Senators Kelly and Rosen voted in favor.
- Senators Boozman, Gallego, Johnson, Marshall, Paul and Peters did not vote.
2:11 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
2:09 p.m. By a vote of 52-45, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce. Party line vote with senators Boozman, Duckworth, and Gallego not voting.
1:31 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce.
1:27 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke on the Lutnick nomination. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce.
1:10 p.m. Senator Ernst spoke in support of the nomination of Kelly Loeffler to Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
1:04 p.m. Senator Markey spoke against the nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
12:39 p.m. Senator Moran spoke about Food For Peace.
12:25 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the nomination of Kash Patel to be Director of the FBI and the recent confirmation of Pam Bondi to be Attorney General.
12:09 p.m. Senator Hyde-Smith paid tribute to Paul Gallo, a Mississippian who recently passed.
12:00 p.m. By a vote of 72 to 28, the Senate voted to confirm Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture. Democratic Senators voting in favor: Baldwin, Bennet, Booker, Cortez-Masto, Durbin, Fetterman, Gallego, Hassan, Henrich, Hickenlooper, Klobuchar, Ossoff, Peters, Rosen, Schiff, Shaheen, Slotkin, Warnock, and Welch.
11:32 a.m. The Senate began the rollcall vote on the confirmation of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture.
11:30 a.m. By a vote of 52 to 48, the Senate voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Senator McConnell voted no.
10:38 a.m. The Senate began the rollcall vote on confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.
10:35 a.m. Democratic Leader Schumer spoke against the Kennedy nomination.
10:28 a.m. Senator Crapo spoke in favor of the Kennedy nomination. Senator Wyden responded in opposition.
10:18 a.m. Senator Wyden spoke against the Kennedy nomination.
10:05 a.m. Majority Leader Thune spoke about farming in South Dakota and in favor of the nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture. He also spoke on estate taxes.
9:57 a.m. Senator Boozman spoke in support of the nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture.
9:42 a.m. Democratic Leader Schumer spoke against the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. He then discussed inflation.
9:30 a.m. The Senate has convened.
The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. and following any leader remarks will resume consideration of the nomination of Robert Kennedy to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.
At 10:30 a.m. the Senate will proceed to two votes:
1. Confirmation of the Kennedy nomination.
2. Confirmation of the nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture.
At 1:45 p.m. the Senate will proceed to two votes:
1. Cloture on the nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce
2. Cloture on the nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
If cloture is invoked on either nomination, the confirmation vote would occur no earlier than Tuesday, February 18th.
