US Senate struggles to wrap up work before August recess

WASHINGTON —  The U.S. Senate continued work Friday night without an indication as to when senators would vote on several key legislative priorities. 

In a rare Friday session that stretched from morning until night, senators had yet to trudge through a slew of measures and adjourn for the coveted August recess. The chamber is not expected to return until after Labor Day.

Earlier Friday, the Senate passed, 86-11, a major effort first proposed by the late GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina that would impose sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with the country’s oligarchs and military leaders. 

A bipartisan education bill — championed by GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado — served as the vehicle for the Russia sanctions package. 

Collins’ and Bennet’s bill would ensure that “early childhood educators can claim the same federal tax credit for out-of-pocket classroom supply purchases that is currently available to K-12 teachers,” per a press release. 

Averting a shutdown 

The Senate also was expected Friday to possibly vote on final passage of a bipartisan measure that would keep the federal government funded through Dec. 11. The House has passed a different version so the two would have to be reconciled.

Earlier in the day, senators had advanced the legislation, known as a continuing resolution, toward a final vote on a strongly bipartisan vote of 91-6. 

Still on tap was a possible vote to adopt a proposed blueprint that would unlock the complex budget reconciliation process and allow Republicans to move ahead on their third party-line bill.

Attorney general vote 

The upper chamber also was expected before recess to confirm acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to be the next U.S. attorney general. 

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana marked the determinative vote amid GOP opposition from Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska over Blanche’s bid, as well as the absence of Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who’s recovering from a health issue. 

The Senate did confirm a slew of nominees earlier Friday, including Cameron Hamilton to serve as the next administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 51-47.  

College sports

The Senate also was expected to possibly take a procedural vote before leaving town on a sweeping bipartisan bill that would set national standards for college athletes’ compensation.

GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington state — the top members of the Senate Commerce panel, which has jurisdiction over the matter — introduced the bill, with GOP Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri and Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware as original co-sponsors. 

The bill underwent several changes after it was passed by the Commerce panel in June, and was able to ultimately garner the support of the formidable Big Ten and Southeastern conferences. 

But the Congressional Black Caucus opposed the legislation in a statement earlier this week, noting that “at the very moment that Black political representation is under attack across the country, we will not be complicit in efforts to further exclude the interests of Black people by advancing legislation that will determine the economic future of Black athletes, their families, and their communities without their meaningful participation and engagement.” 

President Donald Trump, who’s thrown his support behind the measure, urged the Senate earlier Friday evening to stay in town until the bill passes.

“Stop grandstanding, and try getting this done,” he wrote in a social media post.