April 8, 2025

Routine Proceedings, pages S2461-S2481 Measures Introduced

Forty-two bills and one resolution were introduced, as follows: S. 1319-1360, and S. Res. 162.

Measures Reported

S. 216, to amend the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Foundation, to amend the Marine Debris Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (S. Rept. No. 119-12)

Measures Passed

PRO Veterans Act: Committee on Veterans' Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 423, to protect regular order for budgeting for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:

Lummis (for Moran) Amendment No. 2222, in the nature of a substitute.

Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act

Committee on Armed Services was discharged from further consideration of S. 160, to amend the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996 to reauthorize the sale by the Department of Defense of aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression purposes, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:

Lummis (for Sheehy) Amendment No. 2223, to modify the period for exercise of authority for the sale by the Department of Defense of aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression purposes.

Energy Conservation Program

Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-Fired Instantaneous Water Heaters--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that following disposition of the nomination of Paul Atkins, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange, Senator Cruz be recognized to make a motion to proceed to consideration of H.J. Res. 20, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to ``Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-fired Instantaneous Water Heaters''. Message from the President: Senate received the following message from the President of the United States: Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report of the continuation of the national emergency that was originally declared in Executive Order 13536 of April 12, 2010, with respect to Somalia; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM-21)

Meador Nomination: Cloture

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Mark Meador, of Virginia, to be a Federal Trade Commissioner for the term of seven years from September 26, 2024.

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 on Thursday, April 10, 2025.

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.

Huckabee Nomination: Agreement

Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Mike Huckabee, of Arkansas, to be Ambassador to the State of Israel.

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

By 53 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. EX. 196), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that if cloture is invoked on the nominations of Mike Huckabee, of Arkansas, to be Ambassador to the State of Israel, Peter Hoekstra, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to Canada, Ronald Johnson, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the United Mexican States, and Kevin Cabrera, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, the post-cloture time be expired and Senate vote on confirmation of the nominations, as well as the vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Paul Atkins, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission, at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Democratic Leader no earlier that Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

Hoekstra Nomination

Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Peter Hoekstra, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to Canada.

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

By 60 yeas to 37 nays (Vote No. EX. 197), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

Johnson Nomination

Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Ronald Johnson, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the United Mexican States.

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

By 52 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. EX. 198), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

Cabrera Nomination: Agreement

Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Kevin Cabrera, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Panama.

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

By 51 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. EX. 199), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at approximately 11:30 a.m., on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, Senate execute the order of Tuesday, April 8, 2025, with respect to the nominations of Paul Atkins, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Mike Huckabee, of Arkansas, to be Ambassador to the State of Israel; and vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Paul Atkins, and if cloture is invoked, Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination of Mike Huckabee; that at 2 p.m., Senate vote on confirmation of the nominations of Peter Hoekstra, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to Canada, Ronald Johnson, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the United Mexican States, and Kevin Cabrera, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, in the order listed; and that at 7 p.m., Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination of Paul Atkins.

Nominations Confirmed

Senate confirmed the following nominations: By 54 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. EX. 193), Elbridge Colby, of the District of Columbia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

By 66 yeas to 32 nays (Vote No. EX. 195), George Glass, of Oregon, to be Ambassador to Japan.

S2467-68, S2481 During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the following action

By 67 yeas to 32 nays (Vote No. EX. 194), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

Record Votes

Seven record votes were taken today. (Total--199)

Adjournment

Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:26 p.m., until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S2481.)