Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, March 18, 2021

Mr. Ben Ray Lujan, from the State of New Mexico, called the Senate to order at 10 a.m., the Chaplain offered a prayer, and Mr. Lujan led the Senate in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

The Journal

Pursuant to the order of yesterday, the Journal of the proceedings of the Senate was deemed approved to date.

Certain Procedures Dispensed With

Pursuant to the order of yesterday, the morning hour being deemed expired, and the times for the recognition of the two leaders being reserved.

Transaction of Morning Business

The following transactions of morning business occurred on today .

Legislative Business (Thursday, March 18)

H.R. 1799 (Rep. Bourdeaux): A bill to amend the Small Business Act and the CARES Act to extend the covered period for the paycheck protection program, and for other purposes.

-- Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 11.

-- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate.

-- Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate.

Executive Business (Thursday, March 18)

PN78-2: Xavier Becerra, of California, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 49. Record Vote Number: 125

PN78-13: Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Secretary of Homeland Security

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory quorum required under Rule XXII waived.

PN78-23: Martin Joseph Walsh, of Massachusetts, to be Secretary of Labor

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Cloture invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 68 - 30. Record Vote Number: 126

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 3/22/2021.

PN79-1: Adewale O. Adeyemo, of California, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory quorum required under Rule XXII waived.

PN79-11: Vivek Hallegere Murthy, of Florida, to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service, subject to qualifications therefor as provided by law and regulations, and to be Surgeon General of the Public Health Service for a term of four years

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory quorum required under Rule XXII waived.

PN82: William Joseph Burns, of Maryland, to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN118: David Turk, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of Energy

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory quorum required under Rule XXII waived.

PN119: Brian P. McKeon, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.

PN121: Rachel Leland Levine, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services

-- Motion to proceed to executive session to consideration of nomination agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

-- Cloture motion presented in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, mandatory quorum required under Rule XXII waived.

Adjournment

Under the authority of the order of today, at 3:35 p.m, the Presiding Officer (Ms. Cortez Masto in the chair) declared the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 3 p.m. on Monday, March 22, 2021.