Tuesday, March 7, 2017

6:16 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, when it will resume consideration of H.J. Res. 58, a resolution to disapprove of a federal rule on teacher preparation.

6:14 p.m. By voice votes, the Senate passed S.Res.68 (to raise awareness of modern slavery) and S.Res. 82 (to offer congratulations for the 75th anniversary of the applied physics laboratory at Johns Hopkins University.

6:03 p.m. Senator Lee spoke about political debate at Middlebury College.

5:48 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about the health care law and about the Consumer Protection Bureau.

5:34 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about climate change.

4:51 p.m. Senator Casey spoke about the House Republican health care proposal.

4:48 p.m. Senator Murray spoke about student debt.

4:32 p.m. Senator Sasse spoke in support of the resolution.

4:28 p.m. ML McConnell proceeds to the nomination of Seema Verda to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid; and files cloture on the nomination. He then returned to legislative session and called up H.J.Res 58.

4:27 p.m. H.J.Res 44 Agreed to 51-48. 100% party line with Senator Isakson not voting.

3:59 p.m. Roll call vote began on H.J.Res 44.

3:44 p.m. Senators Murkowski and Cantwell gave their wrap up speeches on each side of the joint resolution.

3:43 p.m. Senator Murkowski locked in the following UC: , at 4:00pm the Senate will proceed the following:
1. Adoption of H.J.Res.44, the BLM Rule CRA.
2. Motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider nomination of Seema Verma to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Voice vote expected)
3. Motion to proceed to H.J.Res.58, the Teacher Prep CRA. (Voice vote expected)

3:27 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about health care.
.com
3:01 p.m. Senator Schatz spoke about health care.

2:45 p.m. Senator Thune spoke about H.J.Res 44.

2:30 p.m. Senator Stabenow  spoke about H.J.Res 44.

2:15 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke  about H.J.Res 44.

12:35 p.m. The Senate recessed to accommodate party luncheons.

12:30 p.m. Senator Daines spoke about H.J.Res 44.

12:25 p.m. Senator Hoeven spoke about the Bureau of Land Management.

12:04 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about health insurance and the nominee for Deputy Attorney General.

12:00 p.m. Senator Murray spoke about health insurance.

11:36 a.m. Senator Gardner spoke in favor of the pending resolution.

11:06 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about S. 512, a bill he has introduced to modernize the regulation of nuclear energy.

10:46 a.m. Senator Cantwell spoke against the resolution.

10:28 a.m. The Senate resumed debate of H.J.Res 44, the measure to disapprove of a proposed rule on federal lands, Senator Murkowski spoke in favor of the resolution.

10:18 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer renewsed his call for a special prosecutor to investigate Russian involvement in the 2017 presidential elections. He spoke about the health care law.

10:03 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the Affordable Care Act.  He spoke about the resolutions disapproving of federal regulations proposed by the Obama administration.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. Following any Leader remarks, resume consideration of H.J.Res 44, disapproving the BLM Rule Establishing Procedures to Prepare, Revise, or Amend Land Use Plans, with 8 hours of debate remaining, equally divided. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will vote on passage of the joint resolution.

It is expected the Senate will recess to accomodate the party luncheons from 12:30-2:15 p.m.