4:33 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 30th. Following Leader remarks on Monday, the Senate will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #179, Trevor N. McFadden, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia. At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on confirmation of the McFadden nomination, and upon its disposition will immediately vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #368, Amy Barrett, of Indiana, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit.
The Senate also reached an agreement that the Senate will proceed to the consideration of Calendar #247, John H. Gibson, to be Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Department Defense. There will be 60 minutes of debate followed by a vote on confirmation of the nomination. The Senate is expected to consider the Gibson nomination sometime next week.
4:28 p.m. ML McConnell moved to consider Exec Cal #386, Gregory Ibach, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, the nomination was confirmed by voice vote. ML McConnell moved to consider Exec Cal #413, Daniel J. Kritenbrink, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the nomination was confirmed by voice vote. ML McConnell asked u.c. to concur in the House amend to S. 782, Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology to Eradicate Cyber Threats to Our Children Act; Agreed to S.Con.Res.28, providing for a correction in the enrollment of S.782; and Adopted S.Res.297, supporting Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of after school programs held on October 26, 2017.
4:12 p.m. Senator Cortez Masto spoke about CHIP.
2:59 p.m. Senator Franken spoke about the terrorist attack in Somalia.
2:20 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about Burma.
2:11 p.m. Senator Hoeven spoke about taxes.
1:59 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke on a recent shooting in Edgewood Maryland.
1:54 p.m. ML McConnell discussed judicial nominations.
1:47 p.m. ML McConnnell filed cloture on the following nominations:
1. Amy Barrett, of Indiana, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit.
2. Joan Larsen, of Michigan, to be U. S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit.
3. Allison Eid, of Colorado, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit.
4. Stephanos Bibas, of Pennsylvania, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit.
1:46 p.m. ML McConnell acheived UC to have the confirmation vote on the McFadden nomination at 5:30 p.m. on Monday October 30th.
1:30 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke on tax reform.
1:25 p.m .Senator Heller spoke on judicial vacancies.
1:24 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the McFadden nomination by a vote of 85 to 12.
Senators voting in favor: 52 Republicans, 32 Democrats, 1 Independent: King.
Senators voting against: 11 Democrats: Booker, Brown, Cantwell, Gillibrand, Harris, Markey, Merkley, Murray, Peters, Warren and Wyden. 1 Independent: Sanders.
Senators not voting: 3 Democrats: Heinrich, Menendez, and Whitehouse.
12:36 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Trevor N. McFadden to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia.
12:35 p.m. The Palk nomination was confirmed by a vote of 79 to 16.
Senators voting in favor: 51 Republicans, 27 Democrats, 1 Independent: King.
Senators voting against: 15 Democrats: Blumenthal, Cortez Masto,Duckworth,Feinstein, Gillibrand, Harris,Hirono, Markey, Merkley, Murphy, Schatz, Stabenow, Van Hollen, Warren and
Wyden. 1 Independent: Sanders.
Senators not voting: 4 Democrats: Booker, Heinrich, Menendez and Whitehouse; 1 Republican: Graham.
12:03 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the nomination of Scott L. Palk to be US District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma.
12:01 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke in support of the Palk nomination.
11:55 a.m. Senator Inhofe spoke in support of the Palk nomination.
11:37 a.m. Senator Enzi spoke about nominations.
11:29 a.m. Senator Bennett spoke about wild fires and the forest service.
11:19 a.m. Senator Franken spoke about health insurance.
10:55 a.m. Senator Rubio spoke about tax reform.
10:43 a.m. Senator Merkley spoke about climate change.
10:35 a.m. Senator Capito spoke about tax reform.
10:20 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the CBO scoring of the Murray-Alexander health care bill, tax reform, and eliminating the 401(k) deduction.
10:03 a.m. Majority Leader McConnel spoke about dilatory tactics used by Democrats against the nomination process as well as on the need to address the opiod crisis.
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The Senate will convene at 10:00 am. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to resume consideration of Executive Calendar #117, Scott L. Palk, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma, post cloture.
At 12:00 pm, the Senate will proceed to 2 roll call votes on the following:
- Confirmation of the Palk nomination.
- Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #179, Trevor N. McFadden, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia.
