Tuesday, November 7, 2017

6:01 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about climate change.

6:00 p.m. By a vote of 51-47 the Senate invoked cloture on Executive Calendar #384, Peter B. Robb, of Vermont, to be General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board for a term of four years. Party line vote, Senators Menendez and Paul did not vote.

5:34 p.m. The Senate began voting on motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #384, Peter B. Robb, of Vermont, to be General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board for a term of four years.

5:33 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Steven Engel to be an Assistant AG by a vote of 51-47.

  • Senator McCain voted no, Senator Manchin voted yes. Senators Menendez and Paul did not vote.

5:00 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of Executive Calendar #107, Steven Andrew Engel, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Attorney General.

4:49 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke about the Robb nomination.

4:37 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke about gun violence.

4:26 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about climate change.

4:12 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke about Dreamers.

3:20 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke about tax reform and gun legislation.

3:09 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about tax reform.

2:46 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke about tax reform.

2:37 p.m. Senator Thune spoke about tax reform.

2:25 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the Engel nomination.

2:15 p.m. Senator McCain spoke about ISIS.

12:52 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the Engel nomination by a vote of 51 to 47. Senators Menendez and Paul did not vote. Senator McCain voted NO. Senator Manchin voted YES.

12:36 p.m. The Senate began voting on cloture on the nomination of Steven Engel to be Assistant Attorney General.

12:34 p.m. The Senate confirmed John Gibson 91-7 to be Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Defense Department. Senators Menendez and Paul did not vote. 6 Democrats and 1 Independent voted no: Senators Booker, Gillibrand, Harris, Markey, Merkley, Sanders (I), and Warren.

12:01 p.m. Roll call vote began on the nomination of John Gibson to be Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Defense Department.

11:52 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the shooting in Texas.

11:34 a.m. Senator Murphy spoke on gun control.

10:23 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about taxes.

10:03 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about nominations and taxes.

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The Senate will convene at 10 a.m.

At 11 a.m., the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of John H. Gibson to be Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense.

At noon, the Senate will conduct two roll call votes.

1. Confirmation of the Gibson nomination.

2. Cloture on the nomination of Steven Engel to be Assistant Attorney General.

The Senate will recess following the votes until 2:15 p.m. for the weekly caucus luncheons.

If cloture is invoked on Engel, post-cloture time will count as if cloture had been invoked at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.

Cloture petitions have ripened for these nominations:

— Peter B. Robb to be General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board;

— William L. Wehrum to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;

— Derek Kan to be Under Secretary of Transportation.

The Senate is expected to consider those nominations in the order listed.