The U.S. Senate At Work

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With Democrats now having a majority in the U.S. Senate, I’ve been wondering what the senators are doing. They spend time at committee meetings and in their offices, of course, but, according to the Senate’s official site, this is everything they’ve accomplished in the Senate chamber since the attack on the Capitol on January 6:

Friday, Jan. 8: The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore declared the Senate adjourned . . . until 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 12, 2021.

Tuesday, Jan. 12: The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore declared the Senate adjourned . . . until 10 a.m. on Friday, January 15, 2021.

Friday, Jan. 15: The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore declared the Senate adjourned . . . until 12 noon on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

Tuesday: Jan. 19: A resolution honoring the memory of Officer Brian Sicknick of the United States Capitol Police for his selfless acts of heroism on the grounds of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Wednesday, Jan. 20:  A resolution to elect Patrick J. Leahy, a Senator from the State of Vermont, to be President pro tempore of the Senate . . . 

Also: Avril Haines confirmed by the Senate to be Director of National Intelligence by Yea-Nay Vote. 84 – 10.

Thursday, Jan. 21:  A bill to provide for an exception to a limitation against appointment of persons as Secretary of Defense within seven years of relief from active duty as a regular commissioned officer of the Armed Forces . . .  passed by Yea-Nay Vote. 69 – 27.
 
Friday, Jan. 22: Lloyd Austin confirmed to be Secretary of Defense by Yea-Nay Vote. 93 – 2 
 
Monday, Jan. 25: Janet Yellen confirmed to be Secretary of the Treasury by Yea-Nay Vote. 84 – 15.
 
Tuesday: Jan. 26: A resolution to provide for procedures concerning the article of impeachment against Donald Trump agreed to by Yea-Nay Vote. 83 – 17.
 
Also: Antony Blinken confirmed to be Secretary of State by Yea-Nay Vote. 78 – 22. 
 
Wednesday, Jan. 27: An objection was raised to voting on Alejandro Mayorkas to be Secretary of Homeland Security.
 
Thursday, Jan. 28: The debate and vote on Alejandro Mayorkas to be Secretary of Homeland Security was delayed.
 
 Also:  The Senate adjourned until 3 p.m. on Monday, February 1, 2021.
 
Monday, Feb. 1: The vote on Alejandro Mayorkas to be Secretary of Homeland Security was delayed again due to “inclement weather”.
 
To summarize, over the course of 17 weekdays, the Senate accomplished 8 things:
 
  • Four votes to confirm nominees to the president’s cabinet
  • One vote to approve an exception to a law regarding the Secretary of Defense.
  • Three resolutions.