4:27 p.m. Senator Wicker paid tribute to Senator Cochran.
4:06 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about Attorney General Sessions.
3:35 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke about confirmation of judges.
2:54 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about Russian interference in our election system and the need for President Trump to completely sever ties with the Trump Organization.
2:48 p.m. Senator Johnson spoke in favor of the joint resolution.
2:46 p.m. The motion to proceed to H.J. Res 37 was agreed to 51-46.
Senators voting in favor: 51 Republicans.
Senators voting against: 44 Democrats, 2 Independents.
Senators not voting: Isakson, Leahy and Schatz.
2:12 p.m. Roll call vote began on the motion to proceed to H.J. Res 37, the blacklisting rule CRA.
2:10 p.m. The Perry nomination was confirmed 62-37.
Senators voting in favor: 51 Republicans, 10 Democrats (Carper, Cortez Masto, Donnelly, Heitkamp, Manchin, McCaskill, Stabenow, Tester, Udall and Warner) 1 Independent (King).
Senators voting against: 36 Democrats, 1 Independent (Sanders).
Senators not voting: Isakson.
1:46 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of Rick Perry to be Secretary of Energy.
1:45 p.m. Senator Cantwell spoke against the Perry nomination.
1:44 p.m. Senator Murkowski spoke in favor of the Perry nomination.
1:38 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke about Attorney General Sessions.
1:30 p.m. UC from Senator Cornyn that the confirmation vote on the Perry nomination will occur at 1:45 p.m., followed by a vote on the motion to proceed to H.J Res 37, the blacklisting rule CRA.
1:25 p.m. Senator Flake paid tribute to Sherriff Ralph Ogden.
1:09 p.m. Senator Nelson paid tribute Doug Coe and the National Prayer Breakfasts.
1:04 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke about Texas Independence Day.
1:00 p.m. Senator Perdue defended Attorney General Sessions.
12:55 p.m. Senator Hirono spoke about clean energy research and renewable fuels and against Perry nomination.
12:11 p.m. Senator Cantwell continued her objections to the Perry nomination.
12:05 p.m. Senator Murray spoke against the Perry nomination.
11:59 a.m. Senator Cantwell spoke against the Perry nomination.
11:48 a.m. Senator Blunt spoke about the challenges associated with infrastructure reform.
11:29 a.m. Senator Cornyn observed Texas Independence Day, and the demand from the U.S. for illegal drugs.
11:11 a.m. Senator Murkowski spoke in favor of the Perry nomination.
11:04 a.m. Senator Leahy spoke about the Trump administration, Attorney General Sessions and Russia.
11:03 a.m. Cloture was invoked on the Perry nomination 62-37.
Senators voting in favor: 51 Republicans, 10 Democrats, (Cardin, Cortez Masto, Donnelly,Heitkamp, Manchin, McCaskill, Stabenow, Udall, Tester and Warner) 1 Independent (King).
Senators voting against: 36 Democrats, 1 Independent (Sanders).
Senators not voting: Isakson.
10:36 a.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Rick Perry to be Secretary of Energy.
10:34 a.m. The Carson nomination was confirmed by a vote of 58-41.
Senators in favor: 51 Republicans, 6 Democrats (Brown, Donnelly, Heitkamp, Manchin,Tester and Warner) 1 Independent (King).
Senators voting against: 40 Democrats, 1 Independent (Sanders).
Senators not voting: Isakson.
10:00 a.m. The confirmation vote began on the Carson nomination.
9:45 a.m. Senator Crapo spoke for the Carson nomination.
9:43 a.m. The Senate resumed consideration of the Carson nomination.
9:42 a.m. Senator Cochran spoke in thanks for the recognition of his service.
9:33 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell saluted Senator Cochran for attaining the 10th-longest tenure in Senate history. He spoke about changes in the Obama administration’s health care law. He spoke about pending presidential nominations.
***
The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to resume consideration of the nomination of Ben Carson to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the confirmation of the Carson nomination at approximately 10:00 am.
Following disposition of the Carson nomination, vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Rick Perry to be Secretary of Energy.
If cloture is invoked on the Perry nomination, time will be counted as if invoked at 7:00 am on Thursday, March 2nd; thus the time would run out at 1:00 p.m. Friday March 3.
