6:42 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will convene Thursday, April 4th at 11:00 a.m. and will resume consideration of the Calabria nomination.
There will be 2 votes beginning at 11:45 a.m.:
- Confirmation of the nomination of Roy Kalman Altman to be U.S. District Judge of the Southern District of Florida.
- Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Mark Anthony Calabria to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
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6:22 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about the Calabria nomination.
6:07 p.m. Senator Hoeven spoke on the confirmation process.
6:06 p.m. ML McConnell received unanimous consent to have the confirmation vote on the Altman nomination occur at 11:45 a.m. tomorrow, April 4.
5:50 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about his Enhancement of Savings Act of 2019.
5:49 p.m. On a vote of 48-51, the Senate has over-ruled the ruling of the chair that post cloture time on district judge is 30 hours.
Senators in favor: 44 Democrats, 2 Republicans (Collins and Lee), 2 Independents (King and Sanders).
Senators voting against: 51 Republicans.
Senators not voting: 1 Democrat: Harris.
5:17 p.m. Roll call vote began on whether the ruling of the chair should stand that post cloture time on district judges should remain at 30 hours.
5:17 p.m. ML McConnell made a point of order asking that post cloture time be limited to two hours. The Chair ruled the point of order is not sustained.
5:16 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the the Altman nomination by a vote of 66 to 33. Senators Cardin, Cortez Masto, Duckworth, Durbin, Feintein, Hassan, Jones, Kaine, Manchin, Rosen, Shaheen, Sinema, Tester, and Warner voted YES. Senator Harris did not vote.
4:40 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Roy Kalman Altman to be US District Judge for the Southern District of Florida.
4:39 p.m. The nomination of Jeffrey Kessler to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce was confirmed by voice vote.
4:22 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke about health care.
4:00 p.m. Senator Manchin spoke about the rule change.
3:47 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke on the rule change.
3:46 p.m. On a vote of 48-51, the Senate has over-ruled the ruling of the chair that post cloture time on certain nominees is 30 hours.
Senators in favor: 44 Democrats, 2 Republicans (Collins and Lee), 2 Independents (King and Sanders).
Senators voting against: 51 Republicans.
Senators not voting: 1 Democrat: Harris.
The Senate is now in post cloture debate on the Kessler nomination for up to two hours.
3:13 p.m. Roll call vote began on whether the ruling of the chair should stand that post cloture time on sub-level cabinet appointments should remain at 30 hours.
3:12 p.m. ML McConnell made a point of order asking that post cloture time be limited to two hours. The Chair ruled it is not.
2:55 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the cloture rules change.
2:33 p.m. Democratic Leader Schumer spoke against the cloture rules change.
2:32 p.m. By a vote of 95-3 the Senate invoked cloture on the Kessler nomination. Senators Gillibrand, Sanders, and Warren voted no.
2:01 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Jeffrey Kessler to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
1:59 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke on the nomination process.
1:53 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke on the nomination process.
1:34 p.m. Senator Bennett spoke on the nomination process.
1:23 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the nomination process.
1:06 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about the cloture rules change.
12:53 p.m. Senator Thune spoke about the prospective post-cloture rules change.
12:33 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell took steps under Rule XIV to place on the Senate calendar H.R. 7, amending the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Senator McConnell praised the NATO secretary-general’s speech to the joint session of Congress today.
He spoke about the Republican plan to reduce the post-cloture debate time for most nominations.
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The Senate will convene at 12:30 p.m.
At 2 p.m., the Senate is expected to vote on cloture for the nomination of Jeffrey Kessler to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
No further votes have been scheduled, but more roll call votes are possible today.
Upon the disposition of the Kessler nomination, there will be a cloture vote for the nomination Roy Kalman Altman to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.