6:40 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 9. They will resume consideration of the House Message to accompany H.R. 2028 (CR).

6:37 p.m. Senator Rounds spoke about NDAA and national security.

6:15 p.m. Senator Carper spoke about John Glenn and FEMA.

6:09 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about John Glenn.

5:36 p.m. Senator Graham and Senator McCain spoke about JASTA.

5:23 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about John Glenn and also about retired miners health care.

5:01 p.m. Senators Cantwell and Murkowski spoke about the energy modernization act.

4:50 p.m. Senator Donnelly paid tribute to Senator Coats.

4:41 p.m. Senator Coats spoke on the Indiana Centennial.

4:26 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke about miners and dreamers.

4:15 p.m. Senator Manchin spoke about retired miners health care.

3:57 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about improving the EB-5 Visa Program.

3:51 p.m. Senators Nelson and Leahy spoke about the passing of former Senator John Glenn.

3:44 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke about improving the EB-5 Visa Program.

3:32 p.m. Senator Collins spoke about elder financial exploitation.

3:21 p.m. Senator paid tribute to retiring Senators Coats and Mikulski.

3:06 p.m. ML McConnell filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2028 (continuing resolution) and filled the tree. He also filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 612 (WRDA) and filled the tree.

2:57 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke on forestry.

2:53 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke on forestry.

2:11 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the recently passed Defense Authorization; and later paid tribute to Senators Ayotte, Coats, Vitter and Kirk.

2:10 p.m. Senator Cardin paid tribute to Democratic Leader Reid.

1:55 p.m. Senator Hirono spoke on health care.

1:44 p.m. Senator Heinrich thanked Senator Durbin and spoke about “Dreamers”; children of non documented immigrants.

1:29 p.m. Senator Toomey spoke on the economy and Dodd-Frank.

1:18 p.m. Senator Leahy paid tribute to Senator Reid.

1:03 p.m. Senator Flake achieved UC that put the Senate in morning business until 2:30 p.m., and proceeded to discuss recent drought’s in Arizona and the west. As well as the increase in “drive-by lawsuits”.

1:02 p.m. The Conference report was adopted 92-7.  

Senators voting against: 4 Democrats: Gillibrand, Markey, Merkley, Wyden; 2 Republicans: Lee and Paul; 1 Independents: Sanders;

Senators not voting: Cotton 

12:30 p.m. The Senate began voting on the Conference Report to accompany S. 2943-NDAA. 

12:02 p.m. Senator McCain spoke in favor of NDAA.

11:44 a.m Senator Reed spoke about departing Senators.

11:35 a.m. Senator Kirk gave his farewell speech.

11:26 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about auditing the Defense Department.

11:00 a.m. Senators Heller and Durbin paid tribute to Senator Reid.

9:41 a.m. Senator Reid bade farewell to the Senate.

9:32 a.m. Senator McConnell took steps under Rule XIV to move to the floor S. 351, a bill concerning best practices in the Veterans Administration. Senator McConnell paid tribute to Senator Reid.

***

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. and following leader remarks will resume consideration of the conference report to accompany the Defense Authorization, post cloture, with all post cloture time expiring at 12:30 p.m.; thus we expect a vote on adoption of the conference report at approximately 12:30 p.m.