Thursday, September 15, 2022

3:57 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 19. They will resume consideration of the nomination Cal. #1067-Florence Pan to be US Circuit Judge for DC. At 5:30 there will be a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Pan nomination.

During wrap up:

  • Cloture filed on Treaty Doc. 117-1-Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol on substance that deplete the ozone layer.

The following nominations were confirmed en bloc:

  • 1066-Geoffrey Pyatt to be Asst. Secretary of State (Energy Resources)
  • 1141-Nathaniel Fick to be Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy
  • 1142-Rolfe Michael Schiffer to be Assistant Administrator of the USAID
  • 1143-Patrick Leahy to be a Representative of the US to the 77th Session of the UN
  • 1144-James Risch to be a Representative of the US to the 77th Session of the UN
  • All nominations on the Secretary’s desk

The following resolutions were agreed to by voice vote:

  • S. Res. 755-Recognizing 9/11/22 as a national day of service and remembrance
  • S. Res. 767-Designating the week beginning 9/11/22 as national direct support professionals recognition week
  • S. Res. 768-supporting the goals of National Forensic Science week.

3:44 p.m. Senator Sasse spoke about inflation.

3:38 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about Middle East Peace.

3:19 p.m. By a vote of 77-18, the Senate confirmed Executive Calendar #1096 David P. Pekoske to be Administrator of the @TSA for a term of 5 years. Senators voting No: Blackburn, Boozman, Braun, Cotton, Daines, Hagerty, Hawley, Hoeven, Hyde-Smith, Inhofe, Johnson, Lankford, Lee, Marshall, Paul, Rubio, Scott (SC), and Tuberville. Senators not voting: Cramer, Cruz, Ernst, Moran, and Scott (FL).

1:36 p.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of the nomination of David Pekoske to be Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.

1:30 p.m. Senator Hoeven spoke about democrat spending.

1:24 p.m. Senator Cantwell spoke about TSA.

12:33 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the NDAA.

12:28 p.m. Senator Padilla paid tribute to a departing member of his staff, Vanessa Valdivia.

12:28 p.m. By a vote of 53-44, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Sarah A. L. Merriam to be United States Circuit Judge for the 2nd Circuit.

Republicans voting Yes: Senators Collins, Graham & Murkowski

Not voting: Senators Cramer, Cruz, and Moran.

11:33 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the Merriam nomination.

11:25 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on e-cigarettes and the failure of the FDA to take action.

11:00 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the threatened railroad strike.

10:50 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on the Inflation Reduction Act.

10:25 a.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke on inflation.

10:05 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on the threatened railroad strike as well as marriage equality and judicial nominees.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

*****

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and following any Leader remarks will resume consideration of the nomination of Sarah Merriam to be a Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit.

At 11:30 a.m. the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Merriam nomination.

At 1:45 p.m. the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination of David Pekoske to be Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.