Schedule for Pro Forma Sessions and Tuesday, December 29, 2020
The Senate stands adjourned to convene for pro forma sessions with no business conducted on the following dates and times:
Thursday, December 24th at 10:00am
Monday, December 28th at 10:00am.
When the Senate adjourns on Monday, it will next convene at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, December 29th.
On Tuesday, December 29th, following Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. Roll call votes are possible on Tuesday.
Senator McConnell’s remarks on the schedule:
FOR THE INFORMATION OF ALL SENATORS, HERE IS
WHERE WE ARE ON THE STATUS OF THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL.
THE SENATE HAS PASSED ITS ANNUAL BILL TO SUPPORT OUR SERVICE
MEMBERS AND OUR NATIONAL SECURITY EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST 59
YEARS. AS I INDICATED WHEN I FILED CLOTURE ON THE NDAA
CONFERENCE REPORT AFTER THANKSGIVING, MY INTENTION WAS AND IS
TO ENSURE THE SENATE CONTINUES FULFILLING OUR OBLIGATION TO THE
MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES. I HOPE THE PRESIDENT WILL
NOT VETO THIS BILL, WHICH REDOUBLES OUR COMMITMENT TO
MODERNIZATION, ADVANCES CUTTING-EDGE CAPABILITIES, AND EQUIPS
OUR MILITARY WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO COMPETE
WITH OUR GREAT POWER ADVERSARIES ON LAND, ON SEA, IN THE AIR,
AND IN CYBERSPACE. THESE ARE THE STEPS WE NEED TO TAKE TO
CONTINUE TO COMPETE WITH RUSSIA AND CHINA. IN THE EVENT THAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES ELECT TO VETO THIS BIPARTISAN BILL, IT
APPEARS THE HOUSE MAY CHOOSE TO RETURN AFTER THE HOLIDAYS TO
SET UP A VOTE TO CONSIDER THE VETO. THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER AND I
HAVE AGREED TO A UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST AS FOLLOWS -- THE
SENATE WILL MEET FOR PRO FORMA SESSIONS ONLY UNTIL DECEMBER 29,
WHEN WE WILL RETURN TO SESSION. IN THE EVENT THAT THE PRESIDENT
HAS VETOED THE BILL AND THE HOUSE HAS VOTED TO OVERRIDE THE
VETO, THE SENATE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROCESS THE VETO
OVERRIDE AT THAT TIME.