7:52 p.m. The Senate has adjourned until Thursday, September 13 for a pro forma session only with no business expected to be conducted.
Following the pro forma session, the Senate will next convene on Monday, September 17th at 2:00 p.m. and will proceed to the consideration of H.R.6, with debate time on H.R.6 (Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act) and S.2554 (Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act) running concurrently will resume consideration of H.R. 6 and S. 2554 concurrently with 3 votes at 5:30 p.m.:
- Lee amendment #4011 to 2554
- Passage of 2554, as amended, if amended
- Passage of R.6, as amended with Alexander amendment #4013
During wrap-up:
- 1050 with Duckworth substitute amendment, To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the Chinese-American Veterans of World War II, was passed by unanimous consent.
- 3029 with Alexander amendment, PREEMIE Act, adopted by unanimous consent.
- Res.576, Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day, adopted by unanimous consent.
- Res.525, National Democracy Month, adopted by voice vote.
- Res.627, National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month, adopted by unanimous consent.
- Res.628, Legal Counsel, adopted by unanimous consent.
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7:43 p.m. Senator Flake began wrap up. Confirmed by voice vote Cal. #933 – Cherith Norman Chalet to be Representative to the United Nations for U.N. Management and Reform, with the rank of Ambassador. Cal. #934 – Cherith Norman Chalet to be an Alternate Representative of the United States to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the UN, during her tenure of service as Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations for U.N. Management and Reform.
7:35 p.m. Senator Flake spoke about AG Sessions.
7:13 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke about the minibus and the opioid bill.
7:12 p.m. The Senate adopted the conference report to accompany H.R. 5895 by a vote of 92 to 5. Senators voting no: Flake, Gillibrand, Markey, Paul, and Warren. Senators Burr, Isakson, and Nelson did not vote.
6:56 p.m. The Senate is now voting on adoption of the conference report to accompany H.R. 5895.
6:52 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke about the minibus.
6:50 p.m. Senator Shelby spoke about the minibus.
6:48 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Charles P. Rettig, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service by a vote of 64-33. Fifteen Democrats voted yes: Senators Bennet, Brown, Cardin, Casey, Cortez Masto, Donnelly, Hassan, Heitkamp, Jones, Leahy, Manchin, McCaskill, Murphy, Schatz, and Shaheen.
6:31 p.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of the Rettig nomination.
6:30 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Rettig nomination by a vote of 63 to 34.
Senators Isakson, Nelson and Toomey did not vote.
6:00 p.m. The Senate began voting on the Motion to Invoke Cloture on the nomination of Charles Rettig to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
5:46 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke against the Rettig nomination.
5:36 p.m. Senator Bennett spoke about the shrinking economy.
5:35 p.m. Senator Wyden asked u.c. to speak for up to 15 minutes after Senator Bennett.
5:25 p.m. Senator Smith spoke about climate change.
5:17 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about onshore wind energy.
5:01 p.m. Senator Portman spoke on the opioid bill.
4:49 p.m. ML McConnell received unanimous consent to withdraw the cloture motion regarding the conference report to accompany HR 5895 and the Senate will then vote on passage of the conference report to accompany H.R. 5895 after disposition of the Rettig nomination.
3 votes at beginning at 5:30 p.m.
- Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #1013, Charles P. Rettig, of California, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue for the term expiring November 12, 2022.
- Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1013, Charles P. Rettig, of California, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue for the term expiring November 12, 2022.
- Adoption of the Conference Report to accompany H.R.5895, Minibus Appropriations (Energy and Water, Leg. Branch, Mil. Con. VA).
4:45 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke about Bosnia and Herzegovina.
4:27 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke against the Rettig nomination.
4:21 p.m. Senator Boozman spoke about the minibus.
4:12 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke about 9/11 and the Kavanaugh nomination.
3:54 P.M. Senator Cornyn spoke on the opioid bill.
3:42 p.m. Senator Casey spoke on freedom of the press.
3:27 p.m. Senators Daines and Murphy spoke on the conference report.
3:17 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on nominations and specifically the Kavanugh nomination.
3:04 p.m. ML McConnell spoke on the Kavanaugh nomination, the Rettig nomination, the opioid bill, and the economy. He then filed cloture on the conference report to accompany HR 5895.
3:00 p.m. The Senate convened.
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The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m. and will resume consideration of the nomination of Charles Rettig to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue, with a cloture vote on the nomination at 5:30 p.m.
The Senate may also consider S 2554 and HR 6 this week.
Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6)/Consent Agreement
At a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, in consultation with the Democratic Leader, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of H.R. 6, at which point Senator Alexander, or his designee, will be recognized in order to offer a substitute amendment (#4013). There will then be up to one hour for debate, followed by adoption of the substitute amendment and a roll call vote on passage of H.R. 6.
Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act (S. 2554)/Consent Agreement
At a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, in consultation with the Democratic Leader, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of S. 2554, at which point Senator Lee, or his designee, will be recognized to offer an amendment to limit application of the gag clause to self-insured group health plans (#4011). There will then be up to one hour for debate, followed by a roll call vote on Lee amendment #4011. Following disposition of the Lee amendment, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on passage of S. 2554.