Senate Record — Tuesday, 10/31/2023

34 pages: S5235-5268

Senate Congressional Record (PDF) + Senate Daily Press Log

10:00 a.m. - The Senate convened. Prayer.

10:10 a.m. - S.3168, a bill making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Israel for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes, was placed on the Legislative Calendar under Rule 14.

10:11 a.m. - Majority Leader Schumer spoke on the emergency supplemental appropriations, AI, the Lew nomination, and the Minibus.

10:23 a.m. - Republican Leader McConnell spoke on foreign anti-Semitism, defense spending, border security, and domestic anti-Semitism.

10:43 a.m. - Senator Thune spoke on Iran and anti-Semitism.

10:53 a.m. - Senator Durbin spoke on the Supreme Court.

11:06 a.m. - Senator Tuberville spoke about Israel.

11:19 a.m. - Senator Cardin spoke in support of the nomination of Jacob Lew to be Ambassador of Israel.

11:26 a.m. - Senator Cardin announced that the Senate will vote on three out of the four following amendment votes in relation to H.R. 4366, following the 2:30 vote on confirmation of the Lew nomination - Hawley #1200 - Cruz #1296 - Blackburn #1349 - Budd #1243

11:26 a.m. - The Senate is now voting on confirmation of Matthew James Maddox to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland.

12:49 p.m. - By a vote of 55-42, the Senate confirmed Matthew James Maddox to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland. Senators Collins, Graham, Kennedy and Murkowski voted YES. Senators Lee, Scott (SC) and Tillis did not vote.

12:50 p.m. - The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Jacob Lew to be Ambassador of Israel.

1:53 p.m. - By a vote of 53-44, the Senate invoked cloture on Jacob Lew to be Ambassador of Israel. Republicans voting in favor: Graham and Paul. Senators Lee, Scott of South Carolina and Tillis did not vote.

1:54 p.m. - The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m. -

2:15 p.m. - The Senate reconvened. Senator Cotton spoke against the Lew nomination.

2:23 p.m. - Senator Risch spoke against the Lew nomination.

2:27 p.m. - Senator Cardin spoke in favor of the Lew nomination.

2:32 p.m. - The Senate began voting on confirmation of the Lew nomination.

3:17 p.m. - By a vote 53-43, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Jacob J. Lew to be Ambassador to the State of Israel. Senators Graham and Paul Voted YEA. Senators Lee, Marshall, and Scott (SC) did not vote.

3:18 p.m. - Senator Schumer spoke about Jacob Lew’s confirmation.

3:20 p.m. - Senator Hawley spoke in support of his amendment #1200

3:22 p.m. - Senator Murray spoke against the Hawley amendment #1200

3:23 p.m. - the Senate is now voting on adoption of the Hawley amendment #1200 to H.R. 4366, appropriations minibus

4:11 p.m. - By a vote of 61-36, the Senate adopted the Hawley amendment #1200 to H.R. 4366, appropriations minibus. Democrats/Independent Senators voting in support- Baldwin, Brown, Casey, Cortez-Masto, Fetterman, Hassan, Hickenlooper, Klobuchar, Lujan, Manchin, Menendez, Peters, Rosen, Sinema and Tester. Senators Lee, Scott, and Tillis did not vote.

4:12 p.m. - Senator Cruz spoke in support of his amendment #1296 to H.R. 4366, appropriations minibus

4:17 p.m. - Senator Schatz spoke against the Cruz amendment.

4:20 p.m. - The Senate began a roll call vote on adoption of the Cruz amendment #1296 to H.R. 4366, the appropriations minibus.

4:58 p.m. - By a vote of 47-49, the Senate did not agree to the Cruz amendment #1296 to H.R. 4366, the appropriations minibus. Senator Manchin voted in favor. Senators not voting: Lee, Ossoff, Scott (SC), and Tillis.

4:59 p.m. - The Senate adopted the Blackburn amendment #1349 to H.R.4366, the appropriations minibus, by voice vote.

5:00 p.m. - Senator Budd called up his amendment #1243 and spoke on it.

5:02 p.m. - Senator Durbin spoke against the Budd amendment #1243.

5:02 p.m. - The Senate began a roll call vote on adoption of the Budd amendment #1243 to H.R. 4366, the appropriations minibus.

6:41 p.m. - The Senate did not agree to the Budd amendment on a party line tally of 45-50. Not voting: Lee, Scott of South Carolina, Tillis, Vance and Warner.

6:42 p.m. - Senator Ernst spoke on her amendment regarding veterans, the amendment was agreed to by voice vote.

6:49 p.m. - Senator Warren paid tribute to her departing Chief of Staff.

6:58 p.m. - Senators King and Collins spoke on the shooting in Maine last week.

7:18 p.m. - Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on the followng nominations: Admiral Lisa Franchetti to be Vice Chair of Naval Operations; General David Allvin to be Chief of Staff of the Air Force; Christopher Mahoney to be Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.

7:24 p.m. - Majority Leader Schumer wrapped up for the evening. The following were achieved in wrap up: S Res 442, regarding “Country Music Month”; S Res 443, regarding “National Farm to School Month”; S. 447, regarding a demonstration program for remediation of orbital debris; S 1648, regarding electromagnetic spectrum.

7:28 p.m. - The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m., Wednesday, 11/1/2023.