ms. smith: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from minnesota. ms. smith: i ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule 22, the senate consider the following nominations en bloc. calendar numbers 1137, 1138, and 1108. that the senate vote on the nominations en bloc without intervening action or debate, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, that the president be immediately notified of the senate's action. the presiding officer: is there

objection? without objection. the question occurs on the nominations en bloc. all in favor say aye. all opposed say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the nominations are confirmed en bloc. ms. smith: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to legislative session and be in aered pooh of morning business, with -- in a beard of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. smith: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the appointments at the desk appear separately in the record as if made by the chair. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. smith: mr. president, i have eight requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they have the approval of the majority and minority leaders. the presiding officer: duly noted. ms. smith: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 465, senate file 4057. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 465,

s. 4057, a bill to dedevelop a comprehensive strategic plan for federal electric vehicle fleet battery management and for other purposes. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the senate will proceed. ms. smith: i further ask that the committee reported substitute amendment be agreed to. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. smith: i ask unanimous consent that the bill be amended be considered read a third time. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. smith: i know of no further debate on the bill as amended. the presiding officer: is there further debate? if not, the question is passage of the bill as amended. all those in favor say aye. all opposed say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the bill aamended is passed. ms. smith: finally, i ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

the presiding officer: without objection. ms. smith: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 346, senate file 533. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 346, s. 533, a bill to require a guidance clarity statement on certain agency guidance, and for other purposes. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the senate will proceed. ms. smith: i ask unanimous consent that the committee reported substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill as amended be considered read a third time and passed and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: would you go. ms. smith: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the judiciary committee be discharged from further consideration of s. 4235, and the senate proceed to its immediate consideration. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. 4235, a bill to

amend the controlled substances act to fix a technical error in the definitions. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the committee is discharged. and the senate will proceed to the measure. it ms. smith: i ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time, and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. smith: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of h.r. 7500, which was received from the house and is at the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: h.r. 7500, an act to authorize major medical facility projects for the department of veterans affairs for fiscal year 2022 and for other purposes.

ms. smith: i ask for a third reading. the presiding officer: is there objection to preed proceeding to the measure. without objection, the senate will proceed. ms. smith: i ask for a third reading and i no no further debate on the bill. the presiding officer: without objection, the bill will be considered read a third time. is there further debate? if not, all in favor say aye. all opposed say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the bill is passed. ms. smith: finally, i ask unanimous consent that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. smith: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the consideration of s. res. 764, submitted earlier today. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: senate resolution 764, designating september 2022 as national spinal cord injury awareness months. the presiding officer: is there

objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the senate will proceed. ms. smith: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. smith: i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today it adjourn until 10:00 a.m. on thursday, september 15, and that following the prayer and plenl the morning -- and pledge the morning hour be deemed ek period, the journal of proceedings approved to date, the time for the two leaders reserved for their use later in the day and morning business be closed. thatten upon the conclusion of morning business, the senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the merriam nomination postcloture. further, that all postcloture time on the merriam nomination be considered expired at 11:30 a.m. and following disposition of the merriam nomination the senate proceed to the consideration of the pekoske

nomination. further, that the senate vote on confirmation of the pekoske nomination at 1:45 p.m. with all other provisions remaining in effect. finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during thursday's session the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the president be immediately notified of the senate's action. the presiding officer: without objection. so ordered. ms. smith: if there is no further business to come before the senate i ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order. the presiding officer: the the presiding officer: the

and thinking he heard it from the predatory banking practices including student loan services. among the topics discussed were by now, pay later products and the perceived benefits of earned wage access.