Blog

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

6:21 p.m.  The Senate adjourned and will convene tomorrow, June 6th for a pro forma session only, with no business expected to be conducted.

The Senate will next convene on Monday, June 10th at 3:00 p.m. and at 5:30 p.m. 4 roll call votes are expected:

  1. Confirmation on the nomination of Ryan T. Holte to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
  2. Confirmation on the nomination of Rossie David Alston to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.
  3. Confirmation on the nomination of Richard A. Hertling to be a Judge for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  4. Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Sarah Daggett Morrison to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio.

During wrap-up:

  1. Confirmed exec. cal. 252 – Lt. Gen. David H. Berger to be General.
  2. R. 6 – American Dream and Promise Act, had its first reading (Rule 14 process)
  3. Con. Res. 15 – expressing support for the designation of October 28, 2019, as “Honoring the Nation’s First Responders Day.”, was passed by unanimous consent.
  4. 1289 – Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act, was passed by unanimous consent.
  5. 1749 –  Protecting Affordable Mortgages for Veterans Act, was passed by voice vote.
  6. Res. 174 – National Fishing and Boating Week, was passed by unanimous consent.
  7. Res. 221 – Recognizing the 30thanniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre and condemning the intensifying repression and human rights violations by the Chinese Communist Party and the use of surveillance by Chinese authorities, was passed by unanimous consent.
  8. Passed by voice vote en bloc:
    • Res. 237 – Supporting the mission and goals of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 2019
    • Res. 238 – Designating the week of June 3 through June 9, 2019, as “Hemp History Week”
    • Res. 239 – Designating June 2019 as “Great Outdoors Month”

 

The Senate reached an agreement that is in order that Senator Paul, or his designee, to be recognized at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Democratic Leader, but no later than June 14th, to make a motion to discharge such resolution. Further, that there be up to an hour of debate on each motion equally divided between the proponents and the opponents with 7 minutes reserved for both the Chairman and Ranking Member respectively, prior to each vote; and that following the use or yielding back of that time the Senate vote in relation to the motion to discharge. Further, that if either motion to discharge is agreed to, the Joint Resolution be eligible for the expedited procedures under the Arms Export Control Act. We expect consideration of these on Thursday.

  • S. J. Res. 20, A joint resolution relating to the disapproval of the proposed sale to the Government of Bahrain of certain defense articles and services.
  • S. J. Res. 26, A joint resolution relating to the disapproval of the proposed sale to the Government of Qatar of certain defense articles and services.

The Majority Leader also filed cloture on the following nominations that would ripen on Monday:

  1. exec. # 41 Sarah Dagget Morrison to be the U.S. District Judge for Southern Ohio
  2. exec. #42 Pamela A. Barker to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio
  3. exec. #43 Corey Landon Maze to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama
  4. exec. #44 Rodney Smith to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida
  5. exec. # 46 Thomas Barber to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida
  6. exec. #49 Jean-Paul Boulee to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia
  7. exec. #193 David Stilwell to be an Assistant Secretary of State
  8. exec. #217 Edward F. Crawford to be Ambassador to Ireland

****

6:12 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell paid tribute to the Spring Semester Senate pages.

5:28 p.m. Senator Lee spoke about

5:20 p.m. Senator Cortez Masto spoke about healthcare.

5:14 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about healthcare.

4:56 p.m. Senator Baldwin spoke about healthcare and asked unanimous consent for passage of S. 1556. Senator Thune objected.

4:25 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about his trip to Ukraine.

4:11 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about D-Day.

3:51 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke about D-Day and also spoke about Cuba.

3:40 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke about D-Day.

3:30 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell filed cloture on the following nominations:

  1. exec. # 41 Sarah Dagget Morrison to be the U.S. District Judge for Southern Ohio
  2. exec. #42 Pamela A. Barker to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio
  3. exec. #43 Corey Landon Maze to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama
  4. exec. #44 Rodney Smith to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida
  5. exec. # 46 Thomas Barber to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida
  6. exec. #49 Jean-Paul Boulee to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia
  7. exec. #193 David Stilwell to be an Assistant Secretary of State
  8. exec. #217 Edward F. Crawford to be Ambassador to Ireland

3:31 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Hertling nomination by a vote of 66 to 23.

2:59 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #56 Richard Hertling to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years.

2:58 p.m. By a tally of 74-19 the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Rossie Alston, Jr. to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.

2:41 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the nomination of Rossie Alston, Jr. to a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.

2:40 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Ryan Holte to be a Judge for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims by a vote of 60-33. Senators Brown, Carper, Durbin, Jones, King and Manchin joined Republicans and voted yes.

Senators Alexander, Booker, Gillibrand, Markey, Moran, Sanders and Warren did not vote.

2:18 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Ryan Holte to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims.

2:17 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Combs nomination by a vote of 57 to 36.

1:45 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Cal.#198 Susan Combs to be an Asst. Sec. of the Interior.

1:38 p.m. Senator Brown spoke on gun violence.

1:25 p.m. Senator Thune spoke on trade and agriculture.

1:00 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about bipartisan immigration and election interference legislation.

12:41 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on tariffs.

12:40 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the Combs nomination, 56-37.

Senators in favor: 51 Republicans, 5 Democrats: Cantwell, Jones, Manchin, Murphy and Sinema; 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 37 Democrats.

Senators not voting: 3 Republicans: Alexander, Cassidy and Moran; 3 Democrats: Duckworth, Gillibrand and Warren; 1 Independent: Sanders.

12:15 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Susan Combs to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

12:15 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Tarbert nomination, 85-9.

Senators voting against: 9 Democrats: Blumenthal, Booker, Harris, Hirono, Klobuchar, Markey, Merkley, Schatz and Schumer.

Senators not voting: 2 Republicans: Alexander and Moran; 3 Democrats: Duckworth, Gillibrand and Warren; 1 Independent: Sanders.

11:55 a.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the nomination of Heath Tarbert to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

11:54 a.m. The Senate confirmed the Tarbert nomination, 84-9.

Senators voting against: 9 Democrats: Blumenthal, Booker, Harris, Hirono, Klobuchar, Markey, Merkley, Schatz & Schumer.

Senators not voting: 3 Republicans: Alexander, Cruz and Moran; 3 Democrats: Duckworth, Gillibrand and Warren; 1 Independent: Sanders.

11:34 a.m. A roll call vote began on confirmation of the nomination of Heath Tarbert to be Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

11:34 a.m. The Senate confirmed the Schenker nomination, 83-11.

Senators voting against: 11 Democrats: Baldwin, Booker, Brown, Harris, Hirono, Kaine, Klobuchar, Markey, Smith, Stabenow and Udall.

Senators not voting: 2 Republicans: Alexander and Moran; 3 Democrats: Duckworth, Gillibrand and Warren; 1 Independent: Sanders.

11:03 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the confirmation of David Schenker to be an Assistant Secretary of State for near Eastern Affairs

10:57 a.m. Senator Blackburn spoke about activism on college campuses.

10:56 a.m. The Senate resumed Executive Session and the consideration of the Schenker nomination.

10:40 a.m. DL Schumer spoke on border security, on President Trump’s use of executive authority and on climate change.

10:19 a.m. Senator Murphy spoke on gun violence.

9:32 a.m. ML McConnell discussed nominations and border security.

9:30 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m.

At approximately 11:00 a.m. – 4 roll call votes expected:

1) Confirmation of David Schenker to be an Assistant Secretary of State for near Eastern Affairs

2) Confirmation of  Heath Tarbert to be Chairman of the CFTC

3) Confirmation of Heath Tarbert to be a Commissioner of the CFTC

4) Cloture on Susan Combs to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior

 

At 1:45 p.m. – 4 roll call votes expected:

1) Confirmation of Susan Combs to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior

2) Cloture on Ryan Holte to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims

3) Cloture on Rossie Alston to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia

4) Cloture on  Richard Hertling to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims

We expect these to be the last votes of the week in order to allow Senators to travel to Normandy for D-Day observances on Thursday.