6:19 p.m. The Senate adjourned untiol 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
6:17 p.m. Senator McConnell secured consent for passage of these measures:
— S.Res. 180, supporting Public Service Recognition Week.
— S.Res. 181, designating the week of April 8 as National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week.
6:01 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
5:50 p.m. Senator Fischer spoke in memory of the late Blake Kelly, an Army National Guard specialist from Nebraska.
5:31 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about the economy.
5:18 p.m. Senator Carper spoke in memory of the late SSgt. Christopher Slutton, U.S.M.C., a New York City firefighter and former Delawarean.
5:11 p.m. Senator Portman paid tribute to the late Senate Lugar. He also spoke in memory of the late Joe Head of Cincinatti.
5:02 p.m. Senator Isakson paid tribute to the late Betty Jo Williamson, a Georgia legislator, and the late Senator Lugar.
4:50 p.m. Senator Blunt spoke on disaster relief.
4:40 p.m. Democratic Leader Schumer spoke on Attorney General Barr’s testimony today.
4:38 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Wolson nomination 64-35.
Senators in favor: 52 Republicans, 11 Democrats: Carper, Casey, Coons, Jones, Leahy, Manchin, Murphy, Rosen, Shaheen, Sinema, Tester; 1 Independent: King.
4:16 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Joshua Wolson to be a judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This will likely be the last vote of the day.
4:16 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the nomination of Raul Arias-Marxuach to be a judge for the District of PR, 95-5.
Voting no: 4 Democrats: Gillibrand, Hirono, Markey and Warren; 1 Independent: Sanders.
4:00 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the Arias-Marxuach nomination.
3:59 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Ruiz nomination, 89-10.
Voting no: 9 Democrats: Cardin, Gillibrand, Hirono, Klobuchar, Markey, Peters, Schumer, Van Hollen & Warren; 1 Independent: Sanders. Not voting: 1 Republican: Young.
Next: Cloture vote on Raul Arias-Marxuach to be a judge for the Dist of PR.
3:41 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the Ruiz nomination.
3:40 p.m. The Brasher nomination was confirmed on a party line vote of 52-47, with Senator Young absent.
By consent, Thursday’s schedule of votes is as follows:
At 10:30 a.m., the Senate will vote on confirmation of these nominations:
o Rodolfo Ruiz to be a US District Judge for the Southern District of Florida
o Raul Arias-Marxuach to be a US District Judge for the District of Puerto Rico
o Joshua Wolson to be a US District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
At 1:45 p.m., the Senate will vote on whether to override the president’s veto of S.J.Res.7, a measure directing the removal of U.S. troops from Yemen. A two-thirds majority is required to override the veto.
3:00 p.m. The Senate is voting on confirmation of Andrew Brasher to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of AL.
2:45 p.m. Senator Grassley asked u.c that upon disposition of the Wolson nomination the Senate resume consideration of the veto message to accompany S.J.Res. 7, the Yemen resolution and that the Senate vote on the veto override at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday.
07 p.m. Senators Capito, Ernst, Portman, Gardner and Grassley spoke about the economy and opportunity zones.
At 3:00 pm, the Senate will proceed to 4 votes:
- Confirmation of Cal. #29 Andrew Brasher to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of AL
- Motion to invoke cloture on Cal. #33 Rodolfo Ruiz II to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of FL
- Motion to invoke cloture on Cal. #34 Raul Arias-Marxuach to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Puerto Rico
- Motion to invoke cloture on Cal. #36 Joshua Wolson to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
1:52 p.m. Senators Braun and Tim Scott spoke about the economy.
1:31 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke briefly on national small business week, before turning to discuss taxes.
1:19 p.m. Senator Brown spoke on his outgoing staffer Mark Powden and later on the nomination of Stephen Moore to the federal reserve.
1:06 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on health care.
12:51 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about sexual harassment and abuse, particularly in schools.
12:50 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Brasher nomination, 52-47, with Senator Young absent.
12:19 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Andrew Brasher to be US District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama.
12:20 p.m. The Barker nomination was confirmed on a party line vote of 51-47, with Senators Inhofe and Young absent.
11:45 a.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the Barker nomination.
11:21 a.m. Senator Smith spoke about Stephen Moore.
11:07 a.m. Senator Lankford spoke about religion and on inmates access to cell phones.
10:46 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the Barr hearing, on infrastructure and on climate change.
10:43 a.m. Senator Rick Scott spoke supporting the Ruiz nomination.
10:35 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about the economy.
10:10 a.m. The Senate resumed consideration of the Barker nomination.
10:03 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about nominations. He spoke about legislative priorities in the Senate and House.
***
The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m.
Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Campbell Barker to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas.
At 11:45 a.m. – 2 roll call votes:
1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #26, J. Campbell Barker, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas
2) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #29, Andrew Lynn Brasher, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama
Additional roll call votes are expected during Wednesday’s session.
As a reminder, ML McConnell has filed cloture on the following nominations:
- Andrew Brasher to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama
- Rodolfo Ruiz to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida
- Raul Arias-Marxuach to be United States District Judge for the District of Puerto Rico
- Joshua Wolson to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
If cloture is invoked on any of the nominations, there would be up to 2 hours of debate prior to a vote on confirmation. Then there would be a cloture vote on the next nomination.