6:35 p.m. The Senate adjourns until 11:00 a.m. Thursday January 4th.

In wrap-up, the Senate passes S. 925 by UC; and H.R. 4667 has its first reading.

6:29 p.m. ML McConnell calls up and files cloture on the following nominations:
William Campbell to be US District Judge for the Middle district of Tennessee.
Thomas Parker to be US District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.
Michael Brown to be US District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia.
Walter Counts to be US District Judge for the Western District of Texas.

6:28 p.m. ML McConnell announces no further votes this week.

6:09 p.m. The nomination of John Rood to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy was confirmed 81-7.

Senators voting against: 6 Democrats: Booker, Gillibrand, Harris, Markey, Warren and Wyden; 1 Independent: Sanders.

Senators not voting: Alexander, Burr, Hatch, Heller, McCain, Merkley, Moran, Murkowski, Perdue, Risch, Rubio and Scott.

5:28 p.m. Roll call vote began on the nomination of John Rood to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

5:22 p.m. Senator Gardner spoke about the Dec. 31st shooting in Colorado.

5:04 p.m. Senator Warren spoke about the Rood nomination.

4:40 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke about climate change.

4:17 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about climate change.

3:56 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about DACA.

2:07 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the tax overhaul.

1:22 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke about the oil rig blow-out in the Gulf of Mexico.

12:50 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke about net neutrality.

12:38 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about the move from 52-48 to 51-49 in the Senate; and the agenda of the coming year.

12:22 p.m. Democratic Leader Schumer welcomed Senators Jones and Smith; and then discussed the agenda for the coming year, and the nature of our foreign policy and President Trump. Achieves UC that the resignation letter for Senator Franken be printed in the record.

12:16 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell welcomed Senators Jones and Smith, and then discussed the agenda for the coming year, the situation in Iran, and the announcement by Senator Hatch of his retirement at the end of the year.
S. 2274 has its second reading.

12:03 p.m. Vice President Pence administered the oath of office to Senators Jones and Smith.

• The Senate convened at 12:00 p.m. to begin the second session of the 115th Congress.

• Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business until 5:00 p.m.

• At 5:00 p.m., the Senate will consideration of the nomination of John Rood to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

• At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on confirmation of the Rood nomination.