6:07 p.m. Senate stands adjourned until Monday June 27 at 3:00 p.m.
6:06 p.m. ML McConnell UC that when the Senate adjourns, it do so until Monday, June 27 at 3:00 p.m. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:00 p.m. Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the Rossiter nomination to be US District Judge for the district of Nebraska; with a vote on the nomination expected at 5:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m. ML McConnell wraps up for the evening. UC that at 5:00 p.m. Monday June 27, consider the nomination of Robert F Rossiter, to be US District Judge for the district of Nebraska until 5:30 p.m, at which time vote on confirmation of the nomination. Further UC that at a time to be determined on July 6, the Senate proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Brian Martinotti, to be US District Judge for the district of New Jersey for thirty minutes, and then proceed to vote on the nomination.
Items passed by UC:
Legislative Business
Passed Calendar #472, H.R.3114 – an act to provide funds to the Army Corps of Engineers to hire veterans.
Passed Calendar #506, S.795 with committee-reported substitute amendment – to enhance whistleblower protection for contractor and grantee employees.
Agreed to S.Con.Res.39 with Nelson amendment to the preamble – honoring the members of the United States Air Force who were casualties of June 25, 1996, terrorist bombing of the United States Sector Khobar Towers military housing complex on Dhahran Air Base.
Adopted S.Res.512 – designating June 2016 as “National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month” and June 27, 2016, as “National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day.”
Completed the Rule 14 process to place on the Legislative Calendar of Business H.R.5447, Small Business Health Care Relief.
Completed the Rule 14 process to place on the Legislative Calendar of Business H.R.5456, Family First Prevention Services.
Executive Business
The Senate confirmed by voice vote:
Julie Helene Becker, to be Associate Judge of the Superior Court
Steven Nathan Berk, to be Associate Judge of the Superior Court
Elizabeth Carroll Wingo, to be Associate Judge of the Superior Court
R. David Harden, to be an Assistant Administrator US AID
5:48 p.m. Senator Murkowski paid tribute to Frederick Charles Becker.
5:19 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke on economic issues.
4:28 p.m. Senator Sessions spoke on todays Supreme Court decision of US vs Texas.
4:09 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about a transportation grant for Columbus.
3:40 p.m. Senator Brown listed items of good news for Ohio. He also spoke about voting rights.
2:50 p.m. Democratic Leader Reid and Senator Mikulski spoke on the Collins amendment and gun control.
2:45 p.m. The chair lays before the Senate the Conference report to accompany HR 2577, the Transportation/Housing and URban Development Appropriations bill, and Majority Leader McConnell files cloture on the conference report.
2:44 p.m. Motion to table agreed to 67-31.
Senators in favor of tabling the amendment: 24 Republicans, 42 Democrats. 1 Independent (King).
Senators opposed to tabling the amendment: 30 Republicans (Alexander, Blunt, Burr, Capito, Cassidy, Coats, Cochran, Corker, Ernst, Graham, Grassley, Hatch, Heller, Inhofe, Isakson, Johnson, Lankford, Lee, McCain, McConnell, Murkowski, Perdue, Portman, Rounds, Rubio, Scott, Tillis, Toomey, Vitter and Wicker); 1 Democrat: Manchin.
Senators not voting: 1 Democrat (Feinstein) and 1 Independent (Sanders).
2:25 p.m. Roll call vote began on a motion to table the Johnson amendment #4859.
2:24 p.m. Senators Johnson, Mikulski and Heitkamp spoke in relation to the Johnson amendment.
2:23 p.m. Motion to table the motion to commit (the Collins amdt) not agreed to 46-52.
Senators in favor: 46 Republicans.
Senators against: 43 Democrats, 8 Republicans (Alexander, Ayotte, Coats, Collins, Flake, Graham, Kirk and Toomey). 1 Independent (King).
Senators not voting: 1 Democrat (Feinstein) and 1 Independent (Sanders).
2:02 p.m Roll call vote began on the motion to table.
2:00 p.m. Senator McConnell made a motion to table the motion to commit (which contains Collins amendment).
1:59 p.m. Senator Collins spoke on her amendment.
1:58 p.m. Senator Mikulski yielded the floor to Senator Collins.
1:57 p.m. Senator Heitkamp spoke on Collins amendment.
1:55 p.m. Senator Heinrich spoke on Collins amendment.
1:54 p.m. Senator King spoke on Collins amendment.
1:51 p.m. Senator Flake spoke on Collins amendment.
1:51 p.m. Senator Heitkamp yielded the floor to Senator Flake.
1:48 p.m. Senator Mikulski spoke on Collins amendment #4858.
1:46 p.m. Senator Kaine spoke on Collins amendment #4858.
1:40 p.m. Senator Collins spoke in her amendment #4858.
1:34 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke on Collins amendment #4858.
1:13 p.m. ML McConnell withdrew his motion to recommit H.R. 2578 and moved to commit the bill to the judiciary committee with instructions to report back with amendment #4858 (Collins on guns). He then offered, for Senator Johnson, amendment #4859 (on due process/guns) (to amendment #4858) and McConnell amendment #4860 (date change) (to amendment #4859).
1:13 p.m. Senator Carper spoke on guns legislation.
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12:07 p.m. The Senate stands in recess subject to the Call of the Chair.
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11:58 a.m. Senator Hirono spoke on gender discrimination.
11:45 a.m. Senator Merkley spoke on the We The People Act.
11:34 a.m. Senator Udall spoke on the We The People Act.
11:21 a.m. Senator Tillis spoke about the House sit-in.
11:05 a.m. Senator Carper spoke on the appropriations bill, H.R. 2578 and Isis.
10:53 a.m. Senator King spoke on guns.
10:41 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on the Dream Act and the Supreme Court vote.
10:23 a.m. Senator Manchin continued to speak on opioid drug addiction.
10:08 a.m. Senator Durbin joined in a colloquy on addiction.
10:02 a.m. Senator Manchin spoke about opioid drug addiction.
9:42 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell acted under Rule XIV to put on the calendar H.R. 5457 (group health plans) and H.R. 5456 (Social Security). He also spoke about the pending legislation to pay for the campaign against the Zika virus.
9:32 a.m. Minority Leader Reid spoke about legislation to combat the Zika virus.
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The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. By consent, the Senate will resume consideration of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill at 10:30 a.m.
A motion has been filed to reconsider the vote by which the Senate failed on Wednesday to invoke cloture for the McCain “lone wolf” amendment.
As of 9 a.m., no votes have been scheduled for Thursday.