The Floor
FLOOR UPDATES

The Hart nomination was confirmed by a vote of 97-0. The Senate then confirmed the Dinh-Zarr nomination by voice vote. Senator McConnell filed cloture on the committee-reported substitute amendment to S.178 and on the underlying bill. The filing deadline for all first-degree amendments to the...

Senator McConnell asked the following unanimous consent request with respect to S.178, justice for the victims of trafficking: "I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate resumes consideration of S.178 that it be in order for Senator Leahy, or his designee, to offer an amendment to strike the...

At 1:30pm tomorrow, Thursday, March 12, the Senate will turn to Executive Session to consider the following nominations: Executive Calendar #20, Christopher A. Hart, of Colorado, to be Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (roll call vote). Executive Calendar #16, Tho Dinh-Zarr, of...

The Senate is in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

The Senate will recess from 4-5pm to allow for a Republican conference meeting.

Amendments pending to S.178: Portman amendment #270 (identification and assessment of child victims of sex trafficking) Portman amendment #271 (definition of "homeless person") Vitter second degree amendment #284 (citizenship) to Portman #271

Senator Vitter proposed (a second degree) amendment #284 (citizenship) to Portman #271. Amendments pending to S.178: Portman amendment #270 (identification and assessment of child victims of sex trafficking) Portman amendment #271 (definition of "homeless person") Vitter second degree amendment...

Senator Toomey asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to call up Toomey amendment #285 (school employee background checks). Senator Brown objected.

The Senate has resumed consideration of S.178, a bill to provide justice for the victims of trafficking. Currently 2 Portman amendments are pending to the bill. Discussions on a path forward are ongoing; however, no votes are scheduled at this time.

Senator Kirk asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to call up Kirk amendment #273 (advertising). Senator Leahy objected to setting aside the pending amendment on behalf of several senators.

Senator Vitter asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to call up Vitter amendment #284 (severability clause). Senator Leahy objected to the request.

The Senate has reconvened and is considering S.178, Justice for the Victims of Trafficking Act. Senator Portman has called up amendment #270 (identification and assessment of child victims of sex trafficking) and #271 (definition of "homeless person").

By unanimous consent, the Senate has reached an agreement that following morning business tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of S.178, a bill to provide justice for the victims of trafficking.

The cloture motion on the motion to proceed to S.625, Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, was withdrawn. At 5:30pm tonight, there will be a series of votes on confirmation of the Marti, Lee, Hall and Tonsager nominations. We expect one roll call vote followed by 3 voice votes. We are working...

Senator McConnell intends to vitiate cloture on the motion to proceed to S.625, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act. Therefore, there will not be a cloture vote Tuesday morning. Monday's 5:30 vote on the Marti nomination will be the first vote on the week, but no votes are expected on Tuesday...

At 5:00pm on Monday, March 9th, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the Marti, Lee, Hall, and Tonsager nominations. There will be 30 minutes for debate equally divided prior to votes on confirmation of the nominations. We expect a roll call vote on the Marti nomination and voice...

Senator McConnell moved to proceed to S.625,  Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, and filed cloture on the motion. The cloture vote on the motion to proceed will occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Tuesday, March 10. S.625 is a bill to provide for congressional review and oversight of...

S.1, (Keystone), upon reconsideration, failed to pass the Senate over the veto of the President by a vote of 62-37. The Senate is in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no further roll call votes this week. We expect the next...

At 2:20pm today, there will be a roll call vote to override the Keystone veto. Senator McConnell asked that members vote from their seats. Senator Reid will be unable to vote from his seat because of a scheduling conflict. At 2:20pm, the vote will be on the question: Shall the bill, S. 1 (a bill to...

The Senate vitiated the cloture vote on the veto message on S.1, Keystone XL. The time until 2:20pm will be equally divided in the usual form. At 2:20pm today, the Senate will vote on the veto message to accompany S.1, a bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. This will be the last roll call vote...