Thursday, October 31, 2019

 

The Senate adjourned at 5:48 p.m.  and will convene for a pro forma session only at 1 p.m. Monday, November 4. The Senate will next meet in legislative session at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5., and will resume consideration of the nomination of David Tapp to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

The Senate will recess for caucus lunches from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., when the pending cloture motions on Tapp and other will ripen.

5:17 p.m. Senator Murkowski paid tribute to the late Senator Hagan.

5:11 p.m. During wrap-up, Senator McConnell secured consent for confirmation, en bloc, of Executive Calendar #468 through #477, all nominations to the armed forces.

By consent, the Senate passed S. Res. 399, 400 and 401.

By voice votes, the Senate passed S.Res. 402, honoring Toni Morrison, and S. Res. 403, on National Farm to School month.

By consent, the Senate passed H.R. 2423, to direct the Treasury to mint coins to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the ratification  the Nineteenth Amendment (women’s suffrage).

By consent, the Senate passed S. Res. 345, on National Cybersecurity Awareness month.

4:35 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about government funding.

4:26 p.m. Senator Rosen spoke against the Van Dyke nomination.

4:15 p.m. Senator Cortez Masto spoke against the Van Dyke nomination.

3:55 p.m. Senator Stabenow paid tribute former Senator Kay Hagan.

3:34 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke on defense appropriations.

2:45 p.m. Senator Scott (FL) spoke about health care and pre-existing conditions.

2:40 p.m. Senator Cardin paid tribute to former Senator Kay Hagan.

2:39 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke about special operations forces. S. Res. 394-honoring the members military and intelligence community that carried out the mission that killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was passed by unanimous consent.

2:32 p.m. Senator McConnell filed cloture on the following nominations:

  • David Austin Tapp to be a Judge for the US. Court of Federal Claims
  • Danielle Hunsaker to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit
  • William Joseph Nardini to be US Circuit Judge for the Second District
  • Lee Phillip Rudofsky to be US District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas
  • Jennifer Philpott Wilson to be US District Judge for the Middle District of PA

2:30 p.m. Cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to HR 2740, 51-41.

Democrats voting in favor: Jones and Peters.

Republicans voting against: McConnell (changed his vote to enter a motion to reconsider) and Paul.

Senators not voting: 5 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Harris, Klobuchar and Warren; 2 Republicans: Isakson and Moran; 1 Independent: Sanders.

1:43 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2740, minibus appropriations I (defense/laborH/foreign ops/energy and water).

1:35 p.m. Senator Shelby spoke in favor of HR 2740.

1:27 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke in opposition to HR 2740.

1:15 p.m. Senator Perdue spoke in favor of HR 2740.

1:02 p.m Senator Lee spoke on immigration.

1:01 p.m. The Senate resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.2740, minibus appropriations I (defense/laborH/foreign ops/energy and water)

1:00 p.m. H.R.3055. was agreed to 84-9.

Senators voting against: 9 Republicans: Blackburn, Braun, Cruz, Johnson, Lee, Paul, Sasse, Scott of Florida and Toomey. 

Senators not voting: 5 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Harris, Klobuchar and Warren; 1 Republican: Isakson; 1 Independent: Sanders

12:33 p.m. Roll call vote began on passage of H.R.3055.

12:31 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke in favor of H.R.3055.

12:30 p.m. The Jones amendment #1141, as modified (Rostenkowski Test) was adopted 82-11.

Senators voting against: 11 Republicans: Blackburn, Braun, Cruz, Lankford, Lee, Paul, Perdue, Romney, Sasse, Scott of Florida and Toomey.

Senators not voting: 5 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Harris, Klobuchar and Warren; 1 Republican: Isakson; 1 Independent: Sanders

12:11 p.m. Roll call  vote began on the Jones-McSally amendment amendment #1141, as modified (Rostenkowski Test).

12:09 p.m. Senators Jones and McSally spoke in favor of their amendment.

12:08 p.m. The Lee amendment was not agreed to 29-64.

Senators voting in favor: 29 Republicans: Barrasso, Braun, Cassidy, Cornyn, Crapo, Cruz, Enzi, Ernst, Fischer, Grassley, Hawley, Inhofe, Johnson, Kennedy, Lankford, Lee, Moran, Paul, Risch, Romney, Rounds, Rubio, Sasse, Scott of Florida, Sullivan, Tillis, Thune, Toomey and Wicker.

Senators voting against: 40 Democrats, 23 Republicans, 1 Independent: King.

Senators not voting: 5 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Harris, Klobuchar and Warren; 1 Republican: Isakson; 1 Independent: Sanders

11:31 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on adoption of Lee Amendment #1209 (LWCF).

11:23 a.m. Senator Lee spoke supporting his amendment.

11:20 a.m. Senator Reed spoke supporting the Jones amendment #1141.

11:16 a.m. Senator Udall paid tribute to former Senator Kay Hagan and spoke opposing the Lee amendment #1209.

11:08 a.m. Senator Shaheen paid tribute to former Senator Kay Hagan.

10:55 a.m. Senator Tester paid tribute to former Senator Kay Hagan, spoke on the cost of prescription drugs and on the Washington Nationals World Series win.

10:45 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about appropriations, the impeachment inquiry, and pensions.

10:41 a.m. Senator McSally spoke about transit appropriations.

10:35 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about defense appropriations.

10:09 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about The Nationals, appropriations, impeachment, Turkey, as protests in the Middle East.

S.2755 was placed on the legislative calendar under the Rule 14 process.

The 45 amendments of the manager’s package to H.R. 3055 were adopted en bloc by unanimous consent.

10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the prices of prescription drugs.

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

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.3055, minibus appropriations II (cjs/thud/interior/ag).

11:30 a.m. – 3 roll call votes:

1. Adoption of Lee Amendment #1209 (LWCF)

2. Adoption of Jones amendment #1141, as modified (Rostenkowski Test)

3. Passage of H.R.3055, as amended, minibus II (cjs/thud/interior/ag, 60-vote threshold)

1:45 p.m. – 1 roll call vote:

  1. Cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2740, minibus appropriations I (defense/laborH/foreign ops/energy and water)