Senate Daily Digest — Wednesday, 4/26/2023

Senate convened at 10 a.m., adjourned at 7:31 p.m.

Wednesday, 4/26/2023 — Activity – On the Floor – Votes: 3 – Passed: 7

[Daily Digest]
[Pages D374-D375]


                                          Wednesday, April 26, 2023

[[Page D374]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S1353-S1402

Measures Introduced: Thirty-nine bills and five resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1289-1327, and S. Res. 174-178. 
                                                         Pages S1381-83

Measures Passed:
  Justice for Jana Elementary Act: Committee on Environment and Public 
Works was discharged from further consideration of S. 418, to provide 
financial assistance to schools impacted by radioactive contaminants, 
and the bill was then passed.
  Pages S1360-62
  Udall Foundation Reauthorization Act: Senate passed S. 1311, to 
reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund. 
                                                         Pages S1362-63
  Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards: By 50 yeas to 49 nays (Vote 
No 98), Senate passed S.J. Res. 11, providing for congressional 
disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule 
submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Control 
of Air Pollution From New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle 
Standards”, after agreeing to the motion to proceed. 
                                                  Pages S1360, S1363-65
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  Committee on Environment and Public Works was discharged from further 
consideration of the joint resolution.
Page S1360
  Mutual Defense Treaty 70th Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Res. 175, 
recognizing the importance of the 70th anniversary of the signing of 
the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of 
Korea on October 1, 1953.
  Pages S1370-77
  Month of the Military Child: Senate agreed to S. Res. 176, supporting 
the designation of April 2023 as the “Month of the Military Child”. 
                                                             Page S1377
  Authorizing Testimony and Representation: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
177, to authorize testimony and representation in United States v. 
Powell.
  Page S1377
  Authorizing Testimony and Representation: Senate agreed to S. Res. 
178, to authorize testimony and representation in United States v. 
Kelly.
  Page S1377

Measures Considered:
VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act: By 57 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. 
97), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, not having 
voted in the affirmative, Senate rejected the motion to close further 
debate on the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 326, to direct 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a study and clinical 
trials on the effects of cannabis on certain health outcomes of 
veterans with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. 
                                                             Page S1360
  Senator Schumer entered a motion to reconsider the vote by which 
cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to consideration of 
the bill.
Page S1360

Equal Rights Amendment--Agreement: Senate continued consideration of 
the motion to proceed to consideration of S.J. Res 4, removing the 
deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. 
                                                         Pages S1365-69
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of the joint 
resolution at approximately 12 noon, on Thursday, April 27, 2023; and 
that the motions to invoke cloture filed on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, 
ripen at 12:30 p.m., on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
Page S1402

Escort Committee--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached 
providing that the President of the Senate be authorized to appoint a 
committee on the part of the Senate to join with a like committee on 
the part of the House of Representatives to escort His Excellency Yoon 
Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of Korea, into the House Chamber 
for the joint meeting on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
  Page S1377

Farbiarz Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Michael Farbiarz, of New Jersey, to be United States 
District Judge for the District of New Jersey.
  Page S1369

[[Page D375]]


  A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, 
in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur upon disposition of the 
nomination of Anthony Devos Johnstone, of Montana, to be United States 
Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit.
Page S1369
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.
Page S1369

Kirsch Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Robert Kirsch, of New Jersey, to be United States 
District Judge for the District of New Jersey.
  Page S1369
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, 
in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur upon disposition of the 
nomination of Michael Farbiarz, of New Jersey, to be United States 
District Judge for the District of New Jersey.
Page S1369
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S1369
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.
Page S1369

Merchant Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Orelia Eleta Merchant, of New York, to be United States 
District Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
  Page S1370
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, 
in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur upon disposition of the 
nomination of Robert Kirsch, of New Jersey, to be United States 
District Judge for the District of New Jersey.
Page S1370
  Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the 
following action:
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session. 
                                                             Page S1370
  Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to 
consider the nomination.
Page S1370

Nomination Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination:
  By 74 yeas to 25 nays (Vote No. EX. 96), Joshua David Jacobs, of 
Washington, to be Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
Pages S1353-59

Messages from the House:
  Page S1380

Measures Referred:
  Page S1380

Executive Communications:
  Pages S1380-81

Executive Reports of Committees:
  Page S1381

Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages S1383-85

Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
  Pages S1385-92

Additional Statements:
  Pages S1379-80

Amendments Submitted:
  Pages S1392-S1401

Authorities for Committees to Meet:
  Pages S1401-02

Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--98) 
                                              Pages S1359, S1360, S1365

Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:31 p.m., 
until 12 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2023. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page 
S1402.)