October 22, 2025

(Legislative Day of Tuesday, October 21, 2025) (Senate continued in session from Tuesday, October 21, 2025) Routine Proceedings, pages S7587-S7704 Measures Introduced

Seven bills and one resolution were introduced, as follows: S. 3027-3033, and S. Res. 462.

Measures Reported

S. 1318, to direct the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a program to identify American-Jewish servicemembers buried in United States military cemeteries overseas under markers that incorrectly represent their religion and heritage. (S. Rept. No. 119- 89) S. 778, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. S. 2392, to increase, effective as of December 1, 2025, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans.

Measures Considered

Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act: Senate continued consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 5371, making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026.

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

By 54 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. EX. 581), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate rejected the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill.

Senator Thune entered a motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill.

Global Tariffs: Agreement

A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding Rule XXII, at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, following consultation with the Democratic Leader, no later than Friday, October 31, 2025, it be in order to discharge the Committee on Finance of S.J. Res. 88, terminating the national emergency declared to impose global tariffs, and Senate proceed to its consideration; that there be up to 6 hours for debate only on the joint resolution with the time equally divided between the Leaders or their designees; and that following the use or yielding back of that time, Senate vote on passage of the joint resolution.

Shutdown Fairness Act: Agreement

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding Rule XXII, the motion to invoke cloture with respect to the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3012, to appropriate funds for pay and allowances of excepted Federal employees for periods of work performed during a lapse in appropriations, ripen at 12:15 p.m., on Thursday, October 23, 2025; that following disposition of that vote, Senate execute the order of Wednesday, October 22, 2025, with respect to the nomination of Stephen Chad Meredith, of Kentucky, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and that the motions to invoke cloture with respect to the nomination of Rebecca L. Taibleson, of Wisconsin, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit ripen following disposition of the nomination of Stephen Chad Meredith.

Lewis and Meredith Nominations: Agreement

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding Rule XXII, if cloture is invoked on the nomination of Bill Lewis, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama, and Stephen Chad Meredith, of Kentucky, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky, 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 Thursday, October 23, 2025.

=========================== NOTE =========================== On October 22, 2025, the Daily Digest folios appear as pages D1060 through D1064. The online Record has been corrected so that the folios read as pages D1066 through D1070. ========================= END NOTE ========================= Lewis Nomination: Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Bill Lewis, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama.

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

By 60 yeas to 39 nays (Vote No. EX. 582), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

Meredith Nomination

Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Stephen Chad Meredith, of Kentucky, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

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

By 52 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. EX. 583), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

Nomination Confirmed

Senate confirmed the following nomination: By 52 yeas to 45 nays (Vote No. EX. 584), William W. Mercer, of Montana, to be United States District Judge for the District of Montana.

Nomination Withdrawn

Senate received notification of withdrawal of the following nomination: Paul Ingrassia, of New York, to be Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel, for the term of five years, which was sent to the Senate on June 16, 2025.

Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:

Record Votes

Four record votes were taken today. (Total--584)

Adjournment

Senate convened at 10 a.m., on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, and adjourned at 7:02 p.m., on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, to then reconvene at 7:03 p.m., on the same day, and adjourned at 7:05 p.m., until 10 a.m., on Thursday, October 23, 2025. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on pages S7703-04.)