2:51 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Jayanta Bhattacharya to be Director of the National Institute of Health.

2:50 p.m. By a vote of 74-25, the Senate confirmed Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

2:15 p.m. The Senate is in session and is now voting on confirmation of the nomination of Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

12:27 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m.

12:57 p.m. By a vote of 73-25, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

• Democrats/Independents voting in favor: Baldwin, Bennet, Cantwell, Coons, Cortez Masto, Duckworth, Durbin, Fetterman, Gallego, Hassan, Heinrich, Hickenlooper, King, Kelly, Klobouchar, Lujan, Rosen, Shaheen, Slotkin, Warner, and Warnock.
• Senators Hoven and Padilla did not vote.

12:00 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

11:42 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on intelligence.

11:00 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on the Department of Education.

10:43 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on the Democratic party.

10:34 a.m. Democratic Leader Schumer spoke on communications between national security officials. He then spoke on Social Security.

10:15 a.m. Majority Leader Thune spoke on the Trump administration. He then filed cloture on the nomination of Paul Lawrence to be Deputy Secretary of Veteran Affairs.

10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the Soviet Union.

10:00 a.m. The Senate has convened.

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and following any Leader remarks will resume consideration of the nomination of Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

At approximately 12:00 noon the Senate will vote on cloture on the Kratsios nomination.

Following the Kratsios vote, the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

At approximately 2:15 p.m., if cloture is invoked, the Senate will proceed to two votes:

1. Confirmation of the Kratsios nomination.
2. Cloture on the nomination of Jayanta Bhattacharya to be Director of the National Institute of Health.

Additional votes are expected during today’s session.

Cloture has been filed on the following nominations:
1. Martin Makary to be Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
2. James Bishop to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
3. Aaron Reitz to be Assistant Attorney General.
4. Michael Faulkender to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.