7:30 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. Thursday, whereupon it will resume post-cloture debate on the Vitter nomination.
7:29 p.m. By a party-line vote of 52 to 44, the Senate invoked cloture on the Rosen nomination. NOT VOTING: Booker, Cruz, Hirono, Warren.
7:13 p.m. The cloture vote began on the nomination of Jeffrey A. Rosen of Virginia to be deputy attorney general.
7:12 p.m. By a vote of 90-5 the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Brian Bulatao. Senators Booker, Cruz, Hirono, Klobuchar, and Warren did not vote.
6:56 p.m. The cloture vote began on cloture for the nomination of Brian Bulatao to be an under secretary of State.
6:55 p.m. By a vote of 51 to 45 the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Wendy Vitter to be a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana. YEAS: All Republicans. NAYS: 42 Democrats, both independents and Republican Collins. NOT VOTING: Republican Cruz; Democrats Booker, Hirono and Warren.
6:35 p.m. The cloture vote began on the Vitter nomination.
6:34 p.m. By a vote of 52 to 45 the Senate confirmed Kenneth Lee’s nomination to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. Party line vote. Senators Booker, Cruz, and Hirono did not vote.
5:45 p.m. The confirmation vote began on the Lee nomination.
5:40 p.m. H.R. 986, Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act and H.R. 2157, Supplemental Appropriations for FY 19 were read for the second time under Rule XIV.
5:16 p.m. Senator Cardin and Portman spoke about pensions and health care.
5:02 p.m. Senator Moran spoke about police week, on racial justice and equal opportunity and on flooding challenges for farmers and ranchers.
5:01 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke on the cost of prescription drugs.
4:50 p.m. Senator Kaine spoke about the cost of prescription drugs.
4:42 p.m. Senator Smith spoke about the cost of prescription drugs.
4:27 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke about Iran and the cost of prescription drugs.
4:25 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke about Iran and the Middle East.
4:10 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke about the cost of prescription drugs.
4:02 p.m. Senator Manchin spoke about the Our Workers Act.
3:26 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke about mental health services for law enforcement officers.
3:12 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke about Iran.
3:02 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about health care.
2:55 p.m. Senator Gardner spoke about the Highlands Ranch school shooting and National Police Week.
1:37 p.m. Senators Sullivan, Tillis, Cramer, Ernst, Inhofe, Barrasso, Scott (FL), Cotton, Daines, and Lankford spoke about military appreciation.
12:31 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about possible bipartisanship legislation in the Senate and also spoke about police week.
12:30 p.m. Senator Cornyn announced that the confirmation vote on the Lee nomination occur at 5:30 p.m. If the nomination is confirmed then there will be 3 additional votes:
- Cloture on the nomination of Wendy Vitter to be a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
- Cloture on the nomination of Brian Bulatao to be an Under Secretary of State (Management)
- Cloture on the nomination of Jeffrey A. Rosen of Virginia to be deputy attorney general.
If cloture is invoked on the nominations the confirmation votes on Vitter and Bulatao will occur at noon tomorrow and the confirmation vote on Rosen will occur at 1:45 p.m. tomorrow.
12:15 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about prescription drug costs.
11:38 a.m. Senator Smith spoke about mental health and depression.
11:18 a.m. Senator Murray spoke about the recent law passed in Alabama regarding abortion before moving to speak against the Vitter nomination.
11:03 a.m. Senator Thune thanked and congratulated Senator Hawley, and then turned to discuss national military appreciation month and military readiness in general.
10:58 a.m. Senator Blunt thanked Senator Hawley for his maiden speech.
10:47 a.m. Senator Hawley, in his maiden speech, spoke about the rural economy, middle-class values and renewal of the heartland.
10:31 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer paid tribute to police officers. He spoke about the Rosen nomination, health care legislation, Iran policy, and public housing.
10:06 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the management of the Defense Department’s budget.
*****
The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. and will resume post-cloture debate on the nomination of Kenneth Lee to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit.
At about 5:30 p.m., two votes are expected:
- Confirmation of the Lee nomination;
- Cloture on the nomination of Wendy Vitter to be a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
NOTE: Cloture petitions for these nominations have ripened:
- Brian Bulatao to be an Under Secretary of State (Management);
- Jeffrey A. Rosen of Virginia to be deputy attorney general.
