Thursday, March 18, 2021

3:35 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will return on Monday, March 22nd at 3:00 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. on Monday, the Senate will proceed to a vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #17 Martin Joseph Walsh to be Secretary of Labor.

3:14 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about unaccompanied minors at the Southern border.

3:05 p.m. ML Schumer began wrap up:

  • Confirmed by voice vote: Executive Calendar #28 William Joseph Burns, of Maryland, to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
  • Confirmed by voice vote: Executive Calendar #36 Brian P. McKeon to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources
  • Filed cloture on the nomination of Shalanda D. Young to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget
  • Filed cloture on the nomination of Vivek Murthy to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service, subject to qualifications therefor as provided by law & regulations, & to be Surgeon General of the Public Health Service for a term of 4 years
  • Filed cloture on nomination of Rachel Leland Levine to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services
  • Filed cloture on nomination of David Turk to be Deputy Secretary of Energy
  • Filed cloture on the nomination of Adewale O. Adeyemo to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury
  • Filed cloture on the motion to proceed to Cal. #11, H.R.1799, PPP Extension

2:29 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the IC assessment on foreign threats in the 2020 federal election.

2:16 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke on S.1, the election security bill.

2:11 p.m. Senator Manchin paid tribute to his brother in law Robert Thompson who passed away recently.

2:10 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Walsh nomination, 68-30.

1:30 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the Walsh nomination.

1:15 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke on possible illegal immigrants receiving stimulus checks and asked to take up and pass S. 842. Senator Durbin objected.

1:05 p.m. Senator Murray spoke in favor of the Walsh nomination.

12:44 p.m. Senators Wyden and Brown spoke on protecting PPP from predatory loans. Senator Wyden asked unanimous consent to call up and pass S. 823 – protection of recovery rebates. Senator Toomey objected.

12:42 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Xavier Becerra to be Secretary of Health and Human Services by a vote of 50-49.

Senator Collins voted yes and Senator Hirono did not vote

12:00 p.m. The Senate is voting on confirmation of Executive Calendar #37 Xavier Becerra to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.

11:47 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on the filibuster and on immigration.

11:14 a.m. Senators Barrasso and Inhofe spoke against the Becerra nomination.

11:02 a.m. Senators Wyden and Stabenow spoke supporting the Becerra nomination.

10:45 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on the filibuster.

10:30 a.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke about immigration and election integrity and then paid tribute to Jennifer Hemingway.

10:14 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer had the second reading of H.R. 1799, and then proceeded to discuss cabinet nominations and the economy.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m.

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #37, Xavier Becerra to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.

12:00 noon: VOTE on confirmation of Executive Calendar #37, Xavier Becerra to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.

1:30pm: VOTE on cloture on Executive Calendar #17, Martin Walsh to be Secretary of Labor.