Tuesday, March 14, 2017

7:09 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

6:28 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke briefly about health care and about repealing the Obama Clean Power Plan.

6:19 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke about the Republican health care replacement plan.

6:17 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke about Congress passing S.J.Res. 23.

6:15 p.m. The Senate passed H.J.Res. 42, by a vote of 51 -48 (party line vote with Senator Isakson not voting).

5:49 p.m. The Senate began voting on passage of H.J.Res. 42, the resolution to disapprove of the proposed Labor Department rule on drug testing.

5:48 p.m. ML McConnell asked u.c. that following Leader remarks on Wednesday, the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of executive calendar 23, Daniel Coats, to be the Director of National Intelligence. The time until 10:00 a.m. be divided in the usual form and at 10:00 a.m. the Senate vote on a motion to invoke cloture on the nomination.

5:17 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke against H.J.Res. 42 and about his concerns with the Republican health care legislation.

5:11 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke in favor of H.J.Res. 42.

4:58 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about health care and about climate change.

4:46 p.m. Senator Cornyn secured agreement for a 5:45 p.m. vote on H.J.Res.42, the resolution to disapprove of the proposed Labor Department rule on drug testing.

4:14 p.m. Senator Schatz spoke about Medicaid cuts in the Republican health care legislation.

3:58 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

3:27 p.m. Senators Van Hollen and Stabenow spoke about the CBO scoring of the House Republican health care legislation.

3:02 p.m. Senator Grassley entered into a colloquy with Senators Lee and Sasse about executive overreach and separation of powers.

2:12 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the risks associated with the replacement of the Affordable Care Act.

2:08 p.m. The Senate resumed consideration of H.J.Res. 42, a measure to disapprove of a proposed Labor Department rule on drug testing for unemployment insurance applicants.

2:00 p.m. The Senate convened and Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the House Republican health care plan and the confirmation of Seema Verna as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

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The Senate will convene at 2:00 p.m. and will resume consideration of H.J. Res. 42, a measure to disapprove of a proposed Labor Department rule on drug testing for unemployment insurance applicants. A vote is possible on passage of the resolution but has not been scheduled.

Senator McConnell has filed cloture on the nominations of Dan Coats, to be Director of National Intelligence, and Herbert McMaster Jr., to be a Lieutenant General. The cloture motion on the Coats nomination will ripen one hour after the Senate convenes on Wednesday, March 15.