6:00 p.m.. The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. At that time, the Senate will resume the Mehalchick nomination.

5:55 p.m. Leader Schumer moved to executive session to call up calendar number 375, Erika L. McEntarfer, of the District of Columbia, to be a Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor for a term of four years. He then filed a cloture motion on the nomination.

5:30 p.m. Senator Marshall also spoke on border security and Secretary Mayorkas.

5:15 p.m. Senator Blackburn also spoke on border security and Secretary Mayorkas.

5:10 p.m. Senator Lee also spoke on border security and Secretary Mayorkas.

4:53 p.m. Senators Marshall, Schmitt, and Scott (FL) spoke on border security and Secretary Mayorkas.

4:32 p.m. Senator Stabenow congratulated the University of Michigan football team for winning the CFP National Championship.

4:19 p.m. Senator Ricketts spoke on Secretary of Defense Austin.

4:01 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke about Jeffrey Epstein and children migrants.

3:51 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer asked for unanimous consent to withdraw the following cloture motions:

• Jose Javier Rodriguez, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor
• Joseph Goffman, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

He then asked for the cloture motions for following nominations to ripen at a time to be determined with consultation of the Republican Leader during Wednesdays Session:

• S. Kato Crews, of Colorado, to be United States District Judge for the District of Colorado
• Karoline Mehalchick, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

3:22 p.m. Senators Duckworth and Durbin paid tribute on the passing of Ed Smith, who was a Labor Union Leader in Illinois.

2:23 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the business the Senate needs to complete in the coming weeks and months.

2:15 p.m. Senator Tillis paid tribute to Sergeant Dale Nix who was killed in the line of duty recently and killing of police in general.

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from the recess.

12:53 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m. to accommodate the weekly caucus luncheons.

12:52 p.m. By a vote of 83-14, the Senate confirmed the nomination of John Kazen to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas.

Voting against: Senators Braun, Britt, Hawley, Hoeven, Marshall, Mullin, Paul, Schmitt, Scott of FL, Scott of SC, Sullivan, Thune, Tuberville, and Vance.

Not voting: Senators Cantwell, Cassidy, and Warner.

11:53 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of John A. Kazen to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas.

11:41 a.m. Senator Tuberville also congratulated the Harding University football team and then spoke on American energy.

11:35 a.m. Senators Boozman and Cotton congratulated the Harding University football team for winning the 2023 Division II NCAA National Championship.

11:15 a.m. Senator Menendez spoke on his indictments.

10:55 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on the southern border and immigragration policy.

10:37 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on climate change, the war in Ukraine and political prisoners.

10:25 a.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke about the war in Israel and American energy policies.

10:14 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on government funding and the national security supplemental.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of John A. Kazen, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas, post-cloture.

At approx. 11:45am the post-cloture time will be deemed expired and the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Kazen nomination. Upon disposition of the Kazen nomination, the Senate will recess from 12:30-2:15pm to allow for weekly caucus meetings.