7:11 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will convene at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 17. Following leader remarks the EPW Committee will be discharge from further consideration of S.J. Res. 53, the Affordable Clean Energy CRA. If the motion to proceed is made and agreed to, the time until noon will be equally divided.
2 roll call votes scheduled:
12:00 Noon:
Passage of S.J. Res. 53, the Affordable Clean Energy CRA.
1:45 p.m.:
Passage of S.J. Res. 54, re: the National Emergency Declaration of objections of the President notwithstanding.
During wrap-up:
- Began the Rule XIV process to place on the Legislative Calendar of Business:
- J. Res. 58, Expressing support for freedom of Conscience.
- J. Res. 77, Opposing the decision to end certain United States efforts to prevent Turkish military operations against Syrian Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria.
- Res. 358 – Designating the week beginning October 20, 2019, as National Character Counts Week, was adopted by unanimous consent.
- Res. 356 – Designating September 4, 2019, as National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day, was adopted by unanimous consent.
- Res. 324 – Designating September 29, 2019 as National Urban Wildlife Refuge Day, was adopted by unanimous consent.
- Res. 359 – Authorizing the use of the atrium in the Philip A. Hart Senate Office Building for the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day a semiannual event for the Drug Enforcement Administration
****
7:03 p.m. Senator Markey spoke about the House impeachment inquiry.
6:44 p.m. Senator Capito spoke about coal, pension, and the Volk nomination.
6:43 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Kovner nomination 88-3.
Senators voting against: Gillibrand, Heinrich and Markey.
Senators not voting: 5 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Harris, Klobuchar and Warren; 2 Republicans: Alexander and Isakson; 1 Independent: Sanders.
6:16 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the nomination of Rachel Kovner to be a District Judge for the Eastern District of the New York.
6:15 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of David Novak by a vote of 89-3.
Senators voting against: 3 Democrats: Gillibrand, Markey and Wyden.
Not voting: 5 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Harris, Klobuchar and Warren; 2 Republicans: Alexander and Isakson; 1 Independent: Sanders.
5:57 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the nomination of David Novak to be District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.
5:57 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Eskridge nomination, 61-31.
Democrats voting YES: Cardin, Carper, Coons, Feinstein, Kaine, Murphy, Shaheen, Warner and Whitehouse.
Not voting: 5 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Harris, Klobuchar and Warren; 2 Republicans: Alexander and Isakson; 1 Independent: Sanders.
5:38 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the nomination of Charles Eskridge to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas.
5:37 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Frank Volk to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia by a tally of 92-0.
Not voting: 5 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Harris, Klobuchar and Warren; 2 Republicans: Alexander and Isakson; 1 Independent: Sanders.
5:18 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on Confirmation of Frank Volk to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia.
5:17 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Barbara Barrett to be Secretary of the Air Force by a vote of 85-7.
Senators voting against: Blumenthal, Duckworth, Gillibrand, Markey, Merkley, Smith and Wyden.
Not voting: 5 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Harris, Klobuchar and Warren; 2 Republicans: Alexander and Isakson; 1 Independent: Sanders.
4:43 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Barbara Barrett to be secretary of the Air Force.
4:34 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke supporting the nomination of Barbara Barrett.
4:28 p.m. Senator Carper spoke supporting S.J.Res. 53.
4:18 p.m. Senator Cotton spoke supporting the protesters in Hong Kong.
3:51 p.m. Senators Cardin, Van Hollen, and Whitehouse spoke about S.J.Res. 53.
3:40 p.m. Senator Sasse spoke supporting the USMCA and on religious intolerance.
3:28 p.m. Senator Fischer spoke supporting the USMCA.
3:10 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about the Kurds in Turkey.
2:41 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke on President Trump, foreign policy and the impeachment inquiry.
2:37 p.m. Senator Manchin spoke in favor of the Volk nomination.
2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from recess. Senator Scott of Florida gave his maiden speech.
1:00 p.m. The Senate recessed until 2:15 to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.
12:51 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about pensions and asked unanimous consent to adopt S.2254, Butch Lewis Act 2019. Senator Grassley objected.
12:50 p.m. Cloture was invoked on Rachel P. Rovner to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York by a vote of 85 to 3.
Senators Gillibrand, Heinrich and Wyden voted against.
Senators not voting: Alexander, Bennet, Booker, Harris, Hirono, Inhofe, Isakson, Johnson, Klobuchar, Sanders, Stabenow and Warren.
12:25 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Rachel P. Rovner to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
12:24 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Novak nomination by a vote of 86 to 4. Senators Gillibrand, Heinrich, Markey, and Wyden voted NO. Senators Alexander, Bennet, Booker, Harris, Hirono, Isakson, Johnson, Klobuchar, Sanders, and Warren did not vote.
12:03 p.m. The Senate is now voting on David John Novak to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.
12:02 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Eskridge nomination by a vote of 61 to 29. Senators Cardin, Carper, Feinstein, Shaheen, Sinema, Warner, and Whitehouse voted YES. Senators Alexander, Bennet, Booker, Harris, Hirono, Isakson, Johnson, Klobuchar, Sanders, and Warren did not vote.
11:43 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #363 Charles R. Eskridge III to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas.
11:41 a.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Frank Volk to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia by a tally of 90-0.
11:08 a.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Frank Volk to be District Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia.
10:47 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about immigration and asked unanimous consent to adopt S. 2603. Senator Kennedy objected.
10:39 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about the Barrett nomination and the situation in Syria.
10:21 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the impeachment inquiry. He spoke about the situation in Syria. He spoke about appropriations. He spoke about troubled pension plans.
10:07 a.m. On the occasion of the Stanley Cup’s exhibition in the Capitol, Senator Blunt paid tribute to St. Louis sports teams, including hockey’s championship-winning Blues and baseball’s Cardinals.
9:48 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about impeachment.
9:38 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about nominations an about the House impeachment inquiry.
9:32 a.m. Senator Toomey paid tribute to Americans of the Sikh religion and to the visiting chaplain, Gianni Sukhvinder.
*****
The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. and will resume consideration of Barbara Barrett’s nomination to be secretary of the Air Force, post-cloture.
At 11 a.m., the Senate will begin these nomination votes:
- Motion to invoke cloture on Frank Volk, to be District Judge Southern District of West Virginia
- Motion to invoke cloture on Charles Eskridge, to be District Judge of Southern District of Texas
- Motion to invoke cloture on David Novak, to be District Judge of Eastern District of Virginia
- Motion to invoke cloture on Rachel Kovner, to be District Judge of Eastern District of New York
The Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. for the weekly caucus meetings.
At 4:15 p.m., the Senate will begin these confirmation votes:
Barrett, to be Secretary of the Air Force
- Frank Volk, to be District Judge Southern District of West Virginia
- Charles Eskridge, to be District Judge of Southern District of Texas
- David Novak, to be District Judge of Eastern District of Virginia
- Rachel Kovner, to be District Judge of Eastern District of New York