Thursday, December 13, 2018

6:59 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 3:00 p.m. on Monday, December 17th. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the House Message on S.756, the legislative vehicle for Criminal Justice Reform. At 5:30 p.m. on Monday the Senate will vote on the Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany S.756, with further amendment, legislative vehicle for Criminal Justice Reform.

6:50 p.m. ML McConnell began wrap up and the Senate passed the following:
  • Passed S.2827, with Barrasso substitute amendment: Udall Foundation Act.
  • Passed S.645, Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act.
  • Passed H.R.4431, Correcting Miscalculations in Veterans’ Pensions Act.
  • Passed H.R.6160, Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act.
  • Passed H.R.1318, Preventing Maternal Deaths Act.
  • Passed S.2322, with Johnson amendment, Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions Act.
  • Passed by voice vote S.2863, National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act.
  • Passed S.3461, AMBER Alert Nationwide Act.
  • Adopted S.Res.717, Rebecca Teresa Weichhand.
  • Adopted S.Res.731, Human Rights Day.
  • Passed H.R.6227, with Thune substitute amendment, National Quantum Initiative Act.

5:31 p.m. Senator Young spoke honoring Fred Fasenfill.

5:27 p.m. Senator Lankford asked u.c. to consider:

  • H.R. 2606, Stigler Act Amendments, Lankford amendment agreed to by U.C. The bill, as amended, is agreed to by U.C.
  • S. 2599, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act. Committee-reported amendments agreed to by U.C. The bill, as amended, is agreed to by Voice Vote.
  • H.R. 4032, Gila River Indian Community Federal Rights-of-Way, Easements and Boundary Clarification Act, agreed to by Voice Vote.
  • S. Res. 707, 40th Anniversary of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, agreed to by Voice Vote.

5:05 p.m. Senator Cassidy paid tribute to WWII veterans.

4:45 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about opioid epidemic and also paid tribute to Senator Corker.

4:24 p.m. Senator Casey spoke about the anniversary of the Sandy Hook mass shooting.

4:18 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke honoring Rex Buffington.

3:53 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke supporting the Farm Bill Conference Report.

3:34 p.m. Senators Roberts and Stabenow spoke supporting the Farm Bill Conference Report

3:30 p.m. ML McConnell filed cloture and filled the amendment tree on the motion to concur in the House amendment to  S. 756, Save Our Seas Act and concur in with a further amend. #4108 legislative vehicle for Criminal Justice Reform bill.

3:25 p.m. The Senate adopted by a voice vote, S.J.Res. 69, Supporting a diplomatic solution in Yemen and condemning the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

3:22 p.m. The Senate proceeded to S.J.Res. 69, Supporting a diplomatic solution in Yemen and condemning the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Senator Corker spoke supporting the resolution.

3:21 p.m. By a vote of 56-41, the Senate adopted S.J. Res. 54, Yemen War Powers Resolution, as amended.

  • Republican Senators voting yes: Collins, Daines, Flake, Lee, Moran, Paul, and Young.
  • Senators not voting: Graham, Heller, and Tillis.

3:04 p.m. The Senate began voting on passage of S.J.Res. 54, Yemen War Powers Resolution, as amended.

2:59 p.m. The Senate did not agree to the Cotton amendment #4098 by a vote of 45-54.

2:43 p.m. The Senate began voting on the Cotton amend #4098.

2:42 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke against the Cotton amend #4098.

2:41 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke on his amendment #4097. The Senate rejected Cotton #4097 by a voice vote.

2:40 p.m. The Senate adopted Cornyn #4090 and Cornyn #4095 amends en bloc.

2:37 p.m. The Senate adopted the Cornyn amend #4096 as modified by a vote 0f 99-0. Senator Tillis did not vote.

2:19 p.m. The Senate began voting on the Cornyn amendment #4096, as modified.

2:18 p.m. The Senate adopted the Young amendment #4080 by a vote of 58-41.

  • 9 Republican Senators Alexander, Cassidy, Collins, Corker, Lee, Moran, Murkowski, Paul, and Young joined all Democrats voting yes.
  • Senator Tillis did not vote.

1:49 p.m. The Senate has begun voting on the Young amendment #4080.

1:47 p.m. Senator Young spoke for his amendment.

1:45 p.m. Senator Corker said the first votes will be 15 minutes. Subsequent votes will be five minutes.

1:42 p.m. Senator Sanders spoke about the Yemen bill.

1:26 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke about the Yemen resolution.

1:17 p.m. Senator Moran paid tribute to his departing military fellow, Army Capt. Mark Bedren.

1:10 p.m. Senator Durbin Paid tribute to Senator McCaskill.

1:01 p.m. Senator Nelson paid tribute to Senator McCaskill.

12:56 p.m. Senator Tester paid tribute to Senator McCaskill.

12:51 p.m. Senator Collins paid tribute to Senator McCaskill.

12:49 p.m. Senator Feinstein paid tribute to Senator McCaskill.

12:42 p.m. Senator Blunt paid tribute to Senator McCaskill.

12:29 p.m. Senator McCaskill gave her farewell speech.

12:28 p.m. Senator Corker introduced Cornyn amdt. #4096 as modified.

12:11 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the opioid epidemic and paid tribute to Senator Flake.

12:01 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veteran’s Act and the resolution.

11:53 a.m. Senator Lankford spoke on the resolution.

11:35 a.m. Senator Collins paid tribute to Senator Flake.

11:25 a.m. Senators Kyl and Coons paid tribute to Senator Flake.

11:03 a.m. Senator Flake delivered his farewell address.

10:58 a.m. Senator Leahy spoke on S.J.Res. 54.

10:54 a.m. The Senate passed by Unanimous Consent: S 3749, A Bill to amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to reform the procedures for the initiation, review, and resolution of claiming that offices of the Legislative Branch have violated the protections of their employees including protections against sexual harassment and for other purposes. Senators Blunt and Klobuchar spoke supporting the legislation.

10:42 a.m. Senator Rubio spoke about Senator Heller and on S.J.Res. 54, Yemen War Powers Resolution.

10:30 a.m. Senators, Cornyn, Isakson, Thune, and Cortez Masto paid tribute to Senator Heller.

10:06 a.m. Senator Heller gave his farewell speech.

9:52 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the possibility of a government shutdown over the disputed resolution to continue federal appropriations — including the proposed spending for a border wall. He spoke about China’s trade practices.

He paid tribute to Senator Heitkamp.

9:33 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell secured second reading under Rule XIV for S. 3747, a measure addressing prisoner recidivism. He spoke about items remaining on the Senate agenda for this Congress, including today’s disposition of the Yemen War Powers resolution. He spoke about recent Senate action, including passage of the new bill to prevent sexual harassment on Capitol Hill.

He paid tribute to Senator Flake.

*****

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. and will resume consideration of S.J. Res. 54, the Yemen War Powers Resolution.

At 1:45 p.m. there will be up to 8 votes on S.J. Res. 54:

  1. Young amdt. #4080 (mid-air refueling)
  2. Cornyn amdt. #4096 (rule of construction re: Israel and regional allies)
  3. Cornyn amdt. #4090 (risk assessment report)
  4. Cornyn amdt. #4095 (risk assessment report re: terrorist attacks )
  5. Cotton amdt. #4097 (provision of material and advice )
  6. Cotton Amdt. #4098 ( operations against Houthi attacks)
  7. Sanders amdt. #4105 (no authorization of military force against Iran)
  8. Passage of S.J. Res. 54