Wednesday, November 18, 2020

6:33 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene for pro forma sessions only on the following dates and times:

  • Friday 11/20 8:15 a.m.
  • Tuesday 11/24 12:15 p.m.
  • Friday 11/27 3:15 p.m.

The Senate will reconvene for regular session at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 30. There will be a cloture vote on the nomination of Taylor McNeel to be US District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi at 5:30 p.m.

Senator McConnell filed cloture on the following nominations:

  • J. Philip Calabrese to be US District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio
  • Kyle Hauptman to be a Member of the National Credit Union Administration Board
  • Kathryn Davis to be Judge of the US Court of Federal Claims

During wrap up:

Legislative Business

Passed Calendar #418, S.512, Seniors Fraud Prevention Act of 2019

Passed Calendar #580, S.2904, IOGAN Act

 Passed the following Postal naming bills:

Calendar #441, S.2847

Calendar #443, S.3257

Calendar #445, H.R.1833

Calendar #446, H.R.3207

Calendar #447, H.R.3317

Calendar #448, H.R.3329

Calendar #449, H.R.4794

Calendar #450, H.R.4981

Calendar #451, H.R.5037

Calendar #494, S.3461

Calendar #495, S.3462

Calendar #496, S.3839

Calendar #497, S.4126

Calendar #532, H.R.4734

Calendar #534, H.R.5384

 Adopted S.Res.779, Native American Heritage Month

Confirmed the following nominations:

Executive Calendar #369, Michelle A Schultz, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board

Executive Calendar #856, Robert E. Primus, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board

COAST GUARD

Executive Calendar #908, the following to be Rear Admiral:

Brendan C. McPherson

Douglas M. Schofield

Andrew M. Sugimoto

Richard V. Timme

Todd C. Wiemers

And all nominations on the Secretary’s Desk in the Coast Guard.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Executive Calendar #801, Lisa S. Kenna, of Vermont, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Peru.

Executive Calendar #877, Thomas Laszlo Vajda, of Arizona, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Union of Burma.

Executive Calendar #879, Melanie Harris Higgins, of Georgia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Burundi.

Executive Calendar #880, Jeanne Marie Maloney, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Executive Calendar #882, James Broward Story, of South Carolina, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Executive Calendar #884, Michael A. McCarthy, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Liberia.

5:35 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about a covid relief bill and also spoke about the NDAA.

5:25 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke about the Miss USA who is from Mississippi.

5:18 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about Magnitsky statute.

5:17 p.m. By a vote of 49-41, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Kathryn Mizelle to be U.S. District Judge to the middle district of FL.

4:30 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke about the pilgrims.

4:09 p.m. Senator Shaheen spoke about Corona virus relief.

3:44 p.m. Senator McSally gave her farewell speech.

3:43 p.m. By a vote of 49 to 43, cloture was invoked on the nomination of Kathryn Kimball Mizelle to by U.S. District Judge for the middle district of FL.

2:58 p.m. By a vote of 49 to 43, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Stephen Vaden to the U.S. Court of International Trade.

1:49 p.m. Senators Wicker, Tillis, Ernst, Blunt and Young spoke in appreciation of veterans.

1:08 p.m. Senator Fischer spoke about a Nebraskan lumber company and the Higgins boat.

12:53 p.m. Senators Capito, Rounds and Hoeven spoke about military families.

12:32 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about the Judy Shelton nomination.

12:05 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about the honorary promotion of an WWII Oregon constituent to corporal.

11:56 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about politics and also spoke about Corona virus.

11:55 a.m. Cloture was invoked on the Vaden nomination by a vote of 49-44.

10:42 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about corona virus relief. He spoke about Senator Grassley. He spoke about judicial nominations.

10:31 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about Senator Grassley. He spoke about the presidential election results. He spoke about corona virus relief legislation.

10:09 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about Senator Grassley. He spoke about corona virus relief legislation.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. 

At 11:00 a.m., there will be a cloture vote on the nomination of Stephen Vaden to be a judge for the US Court of International Trade.

There are two additional nominations that Majority Leader McConnell filed cloture on, and are expected to be debated and voted on this week:

1. Kathryn Mizelle to be a district judge for middle Florida.

2. Taylor McNeel to be a district judge for southern Mississippi.