7:52 p.m. Majority Leader Thune wrapped up for the evening.
He filed cloture on the following:
Pam Bondi to be Attorney General.
Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Passed by UC: S Res 48, regarding Ohio State football; S Res 49 Designating National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week; S Res 51 designating National School Counseling Week.
UC that when the Senate adjourn it do so until 3:00 p.m. on Monday and be in a period of morning business.
At 5:30 p.m. the Majority Leader will be recognized. We expect the Senate will proceed to three votes:
1. A procedural vote in relation to the nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
2. Confirmation of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy.
3. Cloture on the nomination of Pam Bondi to be Attorney General.
7:51 p.m. By a vote of 83-13, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Doug Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Senators voting against: Alsobrooks, Coons, Hirono, Markey, Merkley, Murphy, Padilla, Schatz, Schumer, Smith, Van Hollen, Warren, and Wyden. Not voting: Booker, Fetterman, Lankford and Ossoff.
7:08 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Douglas Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
7:07 p.m. By a vote of 62-35, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy. Democratic and independent senators voting in favor: Bennet, Gallego, Hassan, Heinrich, Hickenlooper, King, Lujan, Shaheen, and Warner. Senators not voting: Booker, Fetterman, and Ossoff.
6:52 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy.
6:50 p.m. By a vote of 79-18 the nomination of Doug Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior was confirmed. Voting no: Blunt Rochester, Coons, Duckworth, Hirono, Kim, Markey, Merkley, Murphy, Murray, Padilla, Peters, Reed, Sanders, Schiff, Schumer, Van Hollen, Warren, and Wyden. Not voting: Booker, Fetterman, and Ossoff.
6:15 p.m. The Senate began voting on the Burgum nomination.
5:48 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke about the funding freeze.
5:45 p.m. Senator Barrasso got unanimous consent for the following votes to occur at 6:15 p.m.
- Confirmation of Doug Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior
- Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy.
- Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Doug Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs
5:32 p.m. Senator Hoeven spoke about the Bergum nomination.
5:10 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about the federal funding freeze.
4:02 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the lack of a financial management system in the Department of Defense.
3:20 p.m. Senators Murray, Markey, and Coons spoke on the OMB funding freeze.
3:10 p.m. Senator Justice made his maiden speech and introduced himself. He then spoke in favor of Doug Burgum, nominated to be Secretary of the Interior.
2:11 p.m. Senator Schatz spoke on the OMB funding freeze.
1:43 p.m. Senator Tuberville spoke in support of the nominations of Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Kash Patel, and Tulsi Gabbard.
12:41 p.m. Senator Barrasso paid tribute to the Wichita flight and helicopter crash victims. He then discussed American energy and the economy, and he spoke in favor of the nominations of Chris Wright to be the Secretary of Energy and Doug Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior.
12:26 p.m. Democratic Leader Schumer paid tribute to the Wichita flight and helicopter crash victims and discussed President Trump’s press conference today. He then spoke against the nomination of Russell Vought to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the SALT tax cap, and the nomination of Kash Patel to be the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations. He also paid tribute to Senate Archivist, Karen Paul.
12:12 p.m. Majority Leader Thune paid tribute to the Wichita flight and helicopter crash victims. He then spoke in favor of the nomination of Doug Burgum. Additionally, he paid tribute to all Capitol staff and specifically, Karen Paul.
12:03 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke in favor of the nomination of Doug Burgum.
12:00 p.m. The Senate convened and will resume executive session to consider the nomination of Doug Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior, post cloture.
The Senate will convene at 12:00 p.m. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Doug Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior, post cloture. Absent a time agreement/if all time is used, the confirmation vote on the Burgum nomination would occur at approximately 11:00 p.m.
Cloture has also been filed on the following nominations:
1. Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy.
2. Doug Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
