Wednesday, September 29, 2021

8:11 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 30. They will proceed to consideration of H.R. 5305 (Continuing Resolution). There will be 5 votes at 10:30 a.m. on the following amendments to the resolution followed by a vote on final passage:

  • Cotton amend #3833-Afghan refugees
  • Marshall amend #3831-Vaccine Mandate (60 vote threshold)
  • Braun amend #3832-No Budget, No Pay (60 vote threshold)
  • Leahy amend # 3830-Subsitute

The Senate will then proceed to Executive Session to resume consideration of Rohit Chopra to be Director of the CFPB.

6:20 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about taxes.

6:09 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on plastic pollution.

6:09 p.m. The Anderson nomination was confirmed, 53-44.

Senators Collins, Graham, and Murkowski voted Yes.

Senators Cotton, Crapo, and Moran did not vote.

5:01 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the nomination of Robert Anderson to be Solicitor of the Department of the Interior.

4:53 p.m. Senator Cortez Masto paid tribute to a domestic violence counselor from Nevada who is retiring and reproductive rights.

4:25 p.m. Senators Rick Scott, Johnson and Lee spoke on Covid 19, vaccines and mandates. Senator Scott asked UC to take up and pass S. 2895 on this topic. Senator Cantwell objected.

3:59 p.m. Senator Wyden asked UC to take up and confirm the nomination of Jonathan Davidson to be Deputy Under Secretary of Treasury. Senator Cruz objected and asked to take up his bill (S. 2894) regarding the Nord Stream pipeline. Senator Wyden objected.

3:57 p.m. Senator Wyden locked in a UC agreement to vote on confirmation of the Anderson nomination at 4:45 and at a time to be determined on the Meyer nomination at a time to be determined on Thursday, September 30th.

3:56 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Meyer nomination, 52-46 with Republicans Capito and Portman joining all Democrats and Independents in favor. Senators Crapo and Moran did not vote.

3:11 p.m. The Senate began voting on cloture on the nomination of Eugene Meyer to be General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security.

3:10 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Anderson nomination, 52-46 with Republican Collins and Murkowski joining all Democrats and Independents in favor. Senator Crapo and Moran did not vote.

2:31 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Robert Anderson to be Solicitor of the Department of the Interior.

2:29 p.m. Senator Peters spoke in favor of the Meyer nomination.

2:25 p.m. Senator Barasso spoke against the Anderson nomination.

2:20 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke in support of vaccine mandate.

2:11 p.m. Senator Lee spoke against a vaccine mandate.

1:57 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the Texas abortion ban.

1:45 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the Supreme Court and also about abortion.

1:28 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke on mental health as it relates to social media platforms.

1:17 p.m. Senator Cassidy spoke on inflation.

1:05 p.m. Senator Lummis spoke on digital currency.

11:45 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on Afghanistan.

11:33 a.m. Senator Hirono spoke on the Syed nomination.

11:25 a.m. Senator Cardin asked unanimous consent to call up the Syed nomination, Senator Paul objected.

11:23 a.m. Senator Padilla spoke on the Dilawar Syed nomination.

11:14 a.m. Senator Cardin spoke on nominations.

11:13 a.m. By a vote of 70-27, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Jessica Lewis to be an Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs.

Not voting: Senators Blunt, Crapo, and Moran.

10:30 a.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the Lewis nomination.

10:07 a.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke on Democrats budget priorities and Afghanistan.

9:50 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on government funding and the debt limit.

9:30 a.m. The Senate convened.

*****

The Senate meets at 9:30 a.m. Following Leader remarks the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Jessica Lewis to be an Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs.

At 10:30 a.m. the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Lewis nomination.

Upon disposition of the Lewis nomination the Senate will resume consideration of the Anderson nomination.

At 2:30 p.m. the Senate will have 2 cloture votes on:

  1. Robert Anderson to be Solicitor of the Department of the Interior.
  2. Eugene Meyer to be General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security.

If cloture is invoked on either nomination, the confirmation votes will occur later in the day.