The Senate adjourned at 6:17 p.m. and will reconvene at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, March 4. They will resume consideration of the nomination of Allison Rushing to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit. A vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination will occur at 5:30 p.m.
During wrap up:
Read for the first time:
- S. 617-Tax Extender and Disaster Relief Act
- H.R. 8-Bipartisan Background checks act
Passed by voice vote:
Concurred in the House amendment to S.483, PRIA
S.Res.43, honoring the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Lindsborg, Kansas.
S.Res.86, providing for members on the part of the Senate of the Joint Committee on Printing and the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library.
S.Res.87, authorizing the printing of a collection of the rules of the committees of the Senate.
S.Res.88, designating March 1, 2019, as “Read Across America Day”.
S.Res.89, expressing the condolences of the Senate and honoring the memory of the victims of the mass shooting in Aurora, Illinois on February 15, 2019.
S.Res.90, designating February 28 2019, as “Rare Disease Day”.
S. Con. Res.6, authorizing the printing of a commemorative document in memory of the late President of the United States George Herbert Walker Bush.
S.Con.Res.7, authorizing the printing of the 26th edition of the pocket version of the Constitution of the United States.
Nominations confirmed by voice vote:
Exec. Cal. #81 – Lt. Gen. Michael X. Garrett to be General
Exec. Cal. #82 – Col. Timothy J. Donnellan to be Brigadier General
Exec. Cal. #83 – Col. Stephen J. Mallette to be Brigadier General
Exec. Cal. #84 – The following to be Rear Admiral (Lower Half):
Capt. Scott M. Brown
Capt. Casey J. Moton
Capt. Stephen R. Tedford
Capt. Eric H. Verhage
Exec. Cal. #85 – The following to be Rear Admiral (Lower Half):
Capt. Jeffrey T. Anderson
Capt. Stephen D. Barnett
Capt. Michael W. Baze
Capt. Richard T. Brophy, Jr.
Capt. Anthony C. Carullo
Capt. Robert B. Chadwick, II
Capt. Jeffrey J. Czerewko
Capt. Michael P. Donnelly
Capt. Christopher M. Engdahl
Capt. Robert M. Gaucher
Capt. Daniel P. Martin
Capt. John V. Menoni
Capt. Curt A. Renshaw
Capt. Scott F. Robertson
Capt. Milton J. Sands, III
Capt. Paul C. Spedero, Jr.
Capt. Christopher J. Sweeney
Capt. Jeromy B. Williams
Exec. Cal. #86 – Lt. Gen. VeraLinn Jamieson to be Lieutenant General
5:48 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about the Alaskan of the week.
4:52 p.m. Senator Peters spoke about the Wheeler nomination.
3:47 p.m. Senator Stabenow and Senator Hirono spoke about women’s medical health.
3:01 p.m. Senator Coons spoke about climate change.
2:58 p.m. Senator Isakson spoke about disaster relief.
2:56 p.m. Senator Schumer paid tribute to Senate staffer Bruce King.
2:40 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about Otto Warmbier and also spoke about China and education.
2:15 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke about the Budget.
2:00 p.m. ML McConnell filed cloture on Executive Calendar #15 Allison Rushing to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; on Executive Calendar #17 Chad Readler to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit; Executive Calendar #18 Eric Murphy to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit; and on Executive Calendar #11 John Fleming to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.
1:46 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke about the border security emergency declaration.
1:45 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Ryder nomination by voice vote.
1:35 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke on the Ryder nomination to be a member of the board of directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
1:08 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on tax extenders.
1:07 p.m. By a vote of 52-47 the Senate confirmed Andrew Wheeler to be administrator of the EPA. Senator Collins joined Democrats and voted no. Senator Sinema did not vote.
12:29 p.m. Senator Carper spoke against the Wheeler nomination.
12:15 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on socialism.
11:25 p.m. Senators Whitehouse, Heinrich, Markey, Merkley, Schatz, and Carper spoke about climate change.
11:15 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about a climate change resolution and also spoke against the Wheeler nomination.
10:58 a.m. Senator Collins spoke in favor of the resolution disapproving of the emergency declaration.
10:47 a.m. Senator Udall spoke in favor of the measure to oppose President Trump’s emergency declaration.
10:37 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about the economy.
10:27 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the North Korea summit.
10:05 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the president’s summit conference with North Korea’s leader. He spoke about executive nominations. He spoke about Democratic policy issues.
10:03 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about Senate procedure for considering executive nominations.
* * * * *
The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. and will resume post-cloture debate on the nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
A confirmation vote on the Wheeler nomination will occur at 12:30 p.m.
Following that vote the Senate will begin debate on the nomination of John L. Ryder to be a member of the board of directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority. A confirmation vote on that nomination will occur at 1:45 p.m.
