April 7, 2025

Routine Proceedings, pages S2449-S2460 Measures Introduced

Seven bills and four resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 1312-1318, and S. Res. 158-161.

Measures Passed

Honoring former Senator John Bennett Johnston, Jr.: Senate agreed to S. Res. 159, honoring the life of the Honorable John Bennett Johnston, Jr., former Senator for the State of Louisiana.

National Safe Digging Month

Senate agreed to S. Res. 160, supporting the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month.

Appointments

Commission on Reform and Modernization of the Department of State: The Chair, on behalf of the Democratic Leader, pursuant to Public Law 117-263, announced the appointment of the following individuals to serve as members of the Commission on Reform and Modernization of the Department of State: Senator Coons and Michael C. Casey of the District of Columbia.

Message from the President

Senate received the following message from the President of the United States: Transmitting, pursuant to law, a notice of certain actions taken to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States' economy and national security posed by the underlying conditions of our trade with foreign nations, including a lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships, disparate tariff rates and non-tariff barriers, and foreign economic policies that suppress domestic wages and consumption, as indicated by large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits; which was referred to the Committee on Finance. (PM-20)

Colby Nomination: Agreement

Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Elbridge Colby, of the District of Columbia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the following action

By 53 yeas to 39 nays (Vote No. 192), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding Rule XXII, all post-cloture time with respect to the nomination be deemed expired at 11:30 a.m., on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, and Senate continue consideration of the nomination and vote on confirmation of the nomination; that the motions to invoke cloture filed on Saturday, April 5, 2025, ripen following confirmation of the nomination of Elbridge Colby; that following the vote on confirmation of the nomination of Elbridge Colby, Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of George Glass, of Oregon, to be Ambassador to Japan; that if cloture is invoked on the nomination of George Glass, at 2:15 p.m., Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination of George Glass, and that following disposition of the nomination of George Glass, Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Mike Huckabee, of Arkansas, to be Ambassador to the State of Israel.

Nomination Received

Senate received the following nomination: Scott Bessent, of South Carolina, to be United States Governor of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; United States Governor of the Inter-American Development Bank for a term of five years; United States Governor of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for a term of five years; and United States Governor of the International Monetary Fund for a term of five years.

Record Votes

One record vote was taken today. (Total--192)

Adjournment

Senate convened at 3 p.m. and adjourned, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late John Bennett Johnston, Jr., former Senator for the State of Louisiana, in accordance with S. Res. 159, at 7:03 p.m., until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on pages S2459-60.)