July 17, 2025

Routine Proceedings, pages S4433-S4491 Measures Introduced

Forty-two bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2316-2357, and S. Res. 325-326.

Measures Reported

H.R. 3944, making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 119-43) S. 2354, making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. (S. Rept. No. 119-44) S. 2342, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Intelligence Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System.

Measures Passed

National Anti-Counterfeiting and Consumer Education and Awareness Month: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 314, recognizing the importance of trademarks in the economy and the role of trademarks in protecting consumer safety, by designating the month of July as ``National Anti- Counterfeiting and Consumer Education and Awareness Month'', and the resolution was then agreed to.

Measures Considered

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 3944, making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.

A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill, 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 Terrance Cole, of Virginia, to be Administrator of Drug Enforcement.

Prior to the consideration of this measure, Senate took the following action

Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session to consider the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill.

Signing Authority: Agreement

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that Senators Thune and Lankford be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions from July 17, 2025, through July 21, 2025.

Wildfire Emergency Act: Referral Agreement

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of S. 350, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to select and implement landscape-scale forest restoration projects, to assist communities in increasing their resilience to wildfire, and be referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

Divine Nomination: Agreement

Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Joshua M. Divine, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri.

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

By 52 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. EX. 412), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding rule XXII, if cloture is invoked on the nominations of Joshua M. Divine, Cristian M. Stevens, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri, Aaron Lukas, of Arkansas, to be Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Bradley Hansell, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, Arielle Roth, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, and John Hurley, of California, to be Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes, all post-cloture time be expired, and Senate vote on confirmation of the nominations at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, in consultation with the Democratic Leader, no earlier than Monday, July 21, 2025.

Stevens Nomination

Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Cristian M. Stevens, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.

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

By 49 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. EX. 413), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

Lukas Nomination

Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Aaron Lukas, of Arkansas, to be Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence.

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

By 49 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. EX. 414), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

Hansell Nomination

Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Bradley Hansell, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security.

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

By 57 yeas to 31 nays (Vote No. EX. 415), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

Roth Nomination

Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Arielle Roth, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.

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

By 50 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. EX. 416), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

Hurley Nomination

Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of John Hurley, of California, to be Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes.

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

By 46 yeas to 36 nays (Vote No. EX. 417), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

Cole Nomination: Cloture

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Terrance Cole, of Virginia, to be Administrator of Drug Enforcement.

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, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of Thursday, July 17, 2025, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, July 21, 2025.

Prior to the consideration of this nomination, Senate took the following action

Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Legislative Session.

Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination.

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding rule XXII, the motion to invoke cloture with respect to the nomination ripen at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, July 21, 2025.

Nominations Confirmed

Senate confirmed the following nominations: 27 Air Force nominations in the rank of general. 1 Space Force nomination in the rank of general.

Nominations Received

Senate received the following nominations: 1 Marine Corps nomination in the rank of general. 1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.

Nominations Withdrawn

Senate received notification of withdrawal of the following nominations: David Rader, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, which was sent to the Senate on February 11, 2025. Karen Evans, of West Virginia, to be Under Secretary for Management, Department of Homeland Security, which was sent to the Senate on March 24, 2025. Ryan Cote, of Michigan, to be an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Information and Technology), which was sent to the Senate on June 30, 2025.

Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:

Record Votes

Six record votes were taken today. (Total--417)

Adjournment

Senate convened at 11 a.m. and adjourned at 6:18 p.m., until 3 p.m. on Monday, July 21, 2025. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S4490.)