August 7, 2026

Routine Proceedings, pages S4531-S4615 Measures Introduced

Twenty-five bills and eleven resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 5359-5383, S.J. Res. 212, S. Res. 842-849, and S. Con. Res. 38-39.

Measures Reported

S. 4189, to reduce the price of insulin and provide for patient protections with respect to the cost of insulin, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Measures Passed

Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act: By 86 yeas to 11 nays (Vote No. 224), Senate passed H.R. 5334, to impose sanctions and other measures with respect to the Russian Federation, as championed by the late Senator Lindsey O. Graham, by the order of the Senate of Thursday, August 6, 2026, 60 Senators having voted in the affirmative, and after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto:

Adopted

Graham/Blumenthal Amendment No. 6711, to impose sanctions and other measures with respect to the Russian Federation.

Graham/Blumenthal Amendment No. 6712, to amend the title.

Rejected

By 32 yeas to 64 nays (Vote No. 223), Paul Amendment No. 6715 (to Amendment No. 6711), to strike the provision relating to duties on countries that purchase Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas or facilitate sanctions evasion.

Stop Secret Spending Act

Senate passed H.R. 2069, to amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to ensure that other transaction agreements are reported to USAspending.gov.

Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act

Committee on Finance was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5366, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to codify and extend the rules for personal casualty losses arising from major disasters and the rules for the exclusion from gross income of compensation for losses or damages resulting from certain wildfires, and the bill was then passed.

Federal Building Threat Notification Act

Senate passed S. 2542, to direct the Director of the Federal Protective Service to establish guidance relating to emergency protocols for buildings, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program Expansion Act

Senate passed S. 3897, to revise administrative procedures relating to public safety officers' death benefits, after withdrawing the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:

Moreno (for Gillibrand) Amendment No. 6764, in the nature of a substitute.

Diversity Jurisdiction Inflation Adjustment Act

Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. 4850, to amend title 28, United States Code, to adjust thresholds relating to jurisdiction for inflation, and the bill was then passed.

Common Cents Act

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 1525, to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting the penny, to require cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:

Moreno (for Lummis/Gillibrand) Amendment No. 6766, in the nature of a substitute.

Intellectual Property Rights in Trade

Committee on Finance was discharged from further consideration of S. 2677, to expand the sharing of information with respect to suspected violations of intellectual property rights in trade, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:

Moreno (for Grassley) Amendment No. 6767, in the nature of a substitute.

National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Extension Act

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2196, to provide for an extension of the legislative authority of the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and the bill was then passed.

Land in Paducah, Kentucky

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1276, to remove restrictions from a parcel of land in Paducah, Kentucky, and the bill was then passed.

Chicago Cubs Baseball Teams 150th Anniversary

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 815, commending the Chicago Cubs baseball teams as it celebrates its 150th anniversary on August 29, 2026, and the resolution was then agreed to, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto:

Moreno (for Durbin) Amendment No. 6765, in the nature of a substitute.

National Lighthouse Day

Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 820, designating August 7, 2026, as ``National Lighthouse Day'', and the resolution was then agreed to.

National Community Health Center Week

Senate agreed to S. Res. 843, expressing support for the designation of the first week of August 2026, as ``National Community Health Center Week'', encouraging all people of the United States to participate by visiting their local community health center, and celebrating the important partnership between community health centers and the communities they serve.

Wildland Firefighting Efforts

Senate agreed to S. Res. 844, honoring the lives and service of Emily Barker, Nicholas Hutcherson, Sydney Watson, Nathan Matthews, Nicholas Dale, and all those who serve on the front lines of wildland firefighting efforts in the United States.

National Child Awareness Month

Senate agreed to S. Res. 845, designating September 2026 as ``National Child Awareness Month'' to promote awareness of charities that benefit children as well as youth- serving organizations throughout the United States and recognizing the efforts made by those charities and organizations on behalf of children and youth as critical contributions to the future of the United States.

Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day

Senate agreed to S. Res. 846, designating August 21, 2026, as ``Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day''.

Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act

By 90 yeas to 6 nays, 1 Senator responding present (Vote No. 228), Senate passed H.R. 6500, making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2027, by the order of the Senate of Saturday, August 8, 2026, 60 Senators having voted in the affirmative, and after taking action on the following amendments and motions proposed thereto:

Adopted

Thune (for Collins) Amendment No. 6732, in the nature of a substitute.

Collins Amendment No. 6750, to amend the title.

Rejected

Budd Amendment No. 6747 (to Amendment No. 6732), to strike section 2019. (By 61 yeas to 32 nays (Vote No. 227), Senate tabled the amendment.)

Withdrawn

Thune Amendment No. 6736 (to Amendment No. 6732), to change the enactment date.

Thune Amendment No. 6737 (to Amendment No. 6736), of a perfecting nature.

Thune Amendment No. 6738 (to the language proposed to be stricken by Amendment No. 6732), to change the enactment date.

Thune Amendment No. 6739 (to Amendment No. 6738), of a perfecting nature.

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

By 91 yeas to 6 nays, one Senator responding present (Vote No. EX. 226), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on Thune (for Collins) Amendment No. 6732 (listed above).

Thune motion to commit the bill to the Committee on Appropriations, with instructions, Thune Amendment No. 6740, to change the enactment date, fell when cloture was invoked on Thune (for Collins) Amendment No. 6732.

Thune Amendment No. 6741 (the instructions (Amendment No. 6740) of the motion to commit), of a perfecting nature, fell when Thune motion to commit the bill to the Committee on Appropriations, with instructions, Thune Amendment No. 6740 (listed above), fell.

Thune Amendment No. 6742 (to Amendment No. 6741), of a perfecting nature, fell when Thune Amendment No. 6741 (the instructions (Amendment No. 6740) of the motion to commit) (listed above), fell.

Measures Considered

Help America Vote Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration of motion to proceed to consideration of S. 5271, to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require voters to provide photo identification.

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

By 52 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 231), 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.

Digital Asset Market Clarity Act: Cloture

Senate began consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 3633, to provide for a system of regulation of the offer and sale of digital commodities by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, to amend the Federal Reserve Act to prohibit the Federal reserve banks from offering certain products or services directly to an individual, to prohibit the use of central bank digital currency for monetary policy.

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, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of Saturday, August 8, 2026, a vote on cloture will occur at 2:15 p.m., on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Prior to the consideration of this nomination, 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.

Protect College Sports Act: Agreement

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding Rule XXII, Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture with respect to the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 4668, to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, in consultations with the Democratic Leader, no earlier than September 15, 2026, and no later than September 23, 2026.

Hostilities With Iran: Agreement

A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that, notwithstanding Rule XXII, at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, in concurrence with the Democratic Leader, no later than Friday, October 2, 2026, H. Con. Res. 89, directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, be discharged from the Committee on Foreign Relations and Senate proceed to its consideration; provided further, that there be 6 hours for debate only, with the time equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees, on the concurrent resolution, and that following the use or yielding back of time, Senate vote on adoption of the concurrent resolution.

Signing Authority: Agreement

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that all members of the Republican conference be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions from August 7, 2026, through September 14, 2026.

Authorizing Leadership to Make Appointments: Agreement

A unanimous- consent agreement was reached providing that, notwithstanding the upcoming adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President Pro Tempore, and the Majority and Minority Leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate.

Byrne Nomination: Cloture

Senate began consideration of the nomination of Matthew R. Byrne, of Ohio, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio.

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 Saturday, August 8, 2026, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, September 14, 2026.

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.

Nominations Confirmed

Senate confirmed the following nominations: By 51 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. EX. 225), Senate confirmed the following nominations en bloc: Charlton Allen, of North Carolina, to be General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority for a term of five years. John Breslow, of Arizona, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus. Christopher Michael De Bono, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years. Edward Eppler, of Connecticut, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Transportation. Michael Kavoukjian, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway. Sriprakash Kothari, of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Glen Smith, of Iowa, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development. Frank Garcia, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation for a term expiring September 22, 2031. Michael Vance, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Intelligence and Research). Sharon E. Goodie, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years. Michael McDonald, of the District of Columbia, to be Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities for a term of four years. William Hague, of Washington, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior. Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife. Karen Sessions, of Texas, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27, 2025. Todd Steggerda, of Virginia, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, with the rank of Ambassador. Bradford Pentony Wilson, of New Jersey, to be Archivist of the United States. Adam Cassady, of Virginia, to be Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy. Kaveh Farzad, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (International Affairs). Preston Wells Griffith III, of Virginia, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Vienna Office of the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador. Preston Wells Griffith III, of Virginia, to be Representative of the United States of America to the International Atomic Energy Agency, with the rank of Ambassador. Kenneth Sorenson, of Hawaii, to be United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii for the term of four years. Johnson TeeHee II, of Oklahoma, to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma for the term of four years. James Arnott, of Missouri, to be United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri for the term of four years. Jack Chambers, of West Virginia, to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of West Virginia for the term of four years. William Trachman, of Colorado, to be Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania. Fleet White, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Political-Military Affairs). Erin Browne, of New York, to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury. Brian Cavanaugh, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary for Management, Department of Homeland Security. Thomas B. Chapman, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board for a term expiring December 31, 2028. Jason Holt, of Oklahoma, to be United States Marshal for the Northern District of Oklahoma for the term of four years. James Macy, of Wisconsin, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring August 27, 2030. David M. Prouty, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring August 27, 2031. Timothy VerHey, of Michigan, to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan for the term of four years. Eric Wendt, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Albania. James Woodruff, of Florida, to be Chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Michael Christopher DiLorenzo, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, Craig S. Iscoe, retired. Craig Edward Leen, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years. Christine Michelle Macey, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years. John Barlow Timmer, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years. Roger Mason, of Virginia, to be Director of the National Reconnaissance Office. Christopher Phelan, of Minnesota, to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. Rudolph Bauer, of South Carolina, to be Ambassador to Belize. Sean Costello, of Alabama, to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama for the term of four years. Erich Hernandez-Baquero, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force. Don Richard Berthiaume, Jr., of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of Justice. David Brat, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Commonwealth of Australia. Hal Duncan, of Texas, to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. George McMaster, of South Carolina, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Juan Segura, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Western Hemisphere Affairs). Juan Segura, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Foundation for a term expiring September 20, 2026. Juan Segura, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Foundation for a term expiring September 20, 2032. Francis Brooke, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. Cameron Hamilton, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security. Brendan Hanrahan, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (European and Eurasian Affairs). Karen Jean Hedlund, of New York, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board for a term expiring December 31, 2030. Brett Matsumoto, of Maryland, to be Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, for a term of four years. Barbera Thornhill, of North Carolina, to be Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, with the rank of Ambassador at Large. David Cummins, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration for a term of five years. John Crews, of Virginia, to be a Member of the National Credit Union Administration Board for a term expiring August 2, 2031. Charles Baldis, of Virginia, to be Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel, for the term of five years. Jules Hurst III, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). Christopher Anderson, of Wisconsin, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia. Donald Blome, of Illinois, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs). Katherine Bowles, of Alabama, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Legislative Affairs). Stanley Brown, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Joseph Burkhalter, of Georgia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova. Mark Cruz, of Oregon, to be Director of the Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, for the term of four years. John Hurley, of California, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, with the rank of Ambassador. Brien Lorenze, of Virginia, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27, 2024. Christopher Nassar, of Oklahoma, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma for the term of four years. Daniel Perez, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil. Laurence Socha, of Illinois, to be Ambassador to the Republic of The Gambia. James Andrew Crowell IV, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of fifteen years. Stuart Gordon Nash, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of fifteen years.

Routine lists in the Army, and Coast Guard.

By 50 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. EX. 230), Todd Blanche, of Florida, to be Attorney General.

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

By 50 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. 229), Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the nomination.

Nominations Received

Senate received the following nominations: Dennis Kirk, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of the Interior. Leslie Becera, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation. Justin Bytheway, of Utah, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Tonga. Marc Dillard, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Madagascar, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Union of the Comoros. Michael Doyle, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission for a term expiring April 27, 2031. William Flens, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Chad. Natasha Franceschi, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Nicaragua. Steven Gillen, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic. Charles Goodman III, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Togolese Republic. Keith Heffern, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Gabonese Republic. Mary Lazare, of Florida, to be Assistant Secretary for Aging, Department of Health and Human Services. Jessica Long, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Peter Lord, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Benin. John McIntyre, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi. Julia Nesheiwat, of Florida, to be Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic. Nutan Patel, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Cabo Verde. Michael Rigas, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States for the remainder of the term expiring January 20, 2027. Michael Rigas, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States for a term expiring January 20, 2031. Danielle Thumann Severs, of North Carolina, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for a term of five years from July 1, 2024. Robert Stebbins, of New York, to be Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation. Loren E. Sweatt, of Virginia, to be a Member of the National Mediation Board for a term expiring July 1, 2029. Routine lists in the Air Force, and Navy.

Record Votes

Nine record votes were taken today. (Total--231)

Motion to Adjourn

By voice vote, Senate agreed to the motion to adjourn.

Adjournment

Senate convened at 10 a.m., on Friday, August 7, 2026, and adjourned at 4:56 a.m., on Saturday, August 8, 2026, until 10 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S4606.)