Monday, February 26, 2018

6:41 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27th. Following leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration Executive Calendar #623, Elizabeth Branch, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit, post-cloture. The Senate will recess from 12:30 pm until 2:15 pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings

6:39 p.m. Senator Boozman asked u.c. to consider H.Con.Res 103, Authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall for a ceremony as part of the commemoration of the days of remembrance of victims of the Holocaust and H.Con.Res. 107, Authorizing Reverend Billy Graham to lie in honor in the rotunda of Capitol. Both were adopted by u.c.

6:32 p.m. Senator Boozman spoke about tax cuts.

6:09 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about the two Ohio police officer killed in the line of duty last week.

6:05 p.m. Senator Hoeven spoke about the USA women’s hockey team.

6:05 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Elizabeth Branch by a vote of 72 to 22. Senators Corker, Heller, Jones, McCain, Rounds, and Sullivan did not vote.

5:26 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Elizabeth Branch to be US Circuit Judge for the 11th Circuit.

5:12 p.m. Senator Isakson spoke about the school shooting in Parkland, FL and supporting the Branch nomination.

5:00 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke about the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

4:44 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke about the high school shootings in Florida.

4:17 p.m. Senator Casey paid tribute to former Philadelphia Councilwoman Marion Benton Tasko.

4:10 p.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about gun violence.

3:02 p.m. Senator Peters was recognized to read Washington’s farewell address.

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The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m.

At that time Senator Peters will be recognized to read Washington’s farewell address.

Following the address and any leader time, the Senate will resume debate on the nomination of Elizabeth Branch to be US Circuit Judge for the 11th Circuit.

At 5:30 p.m. the Senate will vote on cloture on the Branch nomination.

Before the recess, Majority Leader McConnell filed cloture on the Branch, Vought, Quattlebaum, Scholer, Self, and Doughty nominations.  The cloture petitions on each nomination will ripen one at a time, after disposition of the previous nomination, with each nomination subject to up to thirty hours of post-cloture debate.