The Standing Committee of Correspondents will meet on Monday, Nov. 19 at 10:00 AM in HC-8. The meeting is open to all credentialed members of the House-Senate daily press galleries.

3:00 p.m. The Senate convened for a pro forma session with Senator Murkowski presiding. The Senate meets next in a pro forma session on Tuesday, November 20th at 10:00 a.m.

*****

The Senate will convene for a pro forma session at 3:00 p.m. as well as the other following dates and times:

• Tuesday, November 20th at 10:00 a.m.
• Friday, November 23rd at 12:00 p.m.

Return for business on Monday, November 26, 2018

 The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m. and resume consideration of the nomination of Stephen Vaden to be General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture.

• At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Vaden nomination.

Majority Leader McConnell also filed cloture on the following nominations:

• Karen Kelley to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce
• Thomas Farr to be a US District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina
• Jonathan Kobes to be US Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit
• Kathleen Kraninger to be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

The cloture motions will be processed one at a time, after disposition of the previous nomination. Each is subject to up to thirty hours of post-cloture debate.

5:32 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 16, 2018 for a pro forma session. The next roll call vote is expected at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, November 26 on the cloture motion of Stephen Alexander Vaden to be the General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture.

Passed the following post office naming bills, en bloc:

1. Calendar #588 S. 3209 –A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 413 Washington Avenue in Belleville, New Jersey, as the “Private Henry Svehla Post Office Building”.
2. Calendar #589 S. 3237 — A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 120 12th Street Lobby in Columbus, Georgia, as the “Richard W. Williams Chapter of the Triple Nickles (555th P.I.A.) Post Office”.
3. Calendar #590 S. 3414 — A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20 Ferry Road in Saunderstown, Rhode Island, as the “Captain Matthew J. August Post Office”.
4. Calendar #591 S. 3442 — A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 105 Duff Street in Macon, Missouri, as the “Arla W. Harrell Post Office”.
5. Calendar #592 H.R. 606—  To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1025 Nevin Avenue in Richmond, California, as the “Harold D. McCraw, Sr., Post Office Building”.
6. Calendar #593 H.R. 1209 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 901 N. Francisco Avenue, Mission, Texas, as the “Mission Veterans Post Office Building”.
7. Calendar #594 HR 2979 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 390 West 5th Street in San Bernardino, California, as the “Jack H. Brown Post Office Building”
8. Calendar #595 HR 3230 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 915 Center Avenue in Payette, Idaho, as the “Harmon Killebrew Post Office Building”.
9. Calendar #596 H.R. 4407 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3s101 Rockwell Street in Warrenville, Illinois, as the “Corporal Jeffery Allen Williams Post Office Building”.
10. Calendar #597 H.R. 4890 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9801 Apollo Drive in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, as the “Wayne K. Curry Post Office Building”.
11. Calendar #598 H.R. 4913 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 816 East Salisbury Parkway in Salisbury, Maryland, as the “Sgt. Maj. Wardell B. Turner Post Office Building”.
12. Calendar #599 H.R. 4946 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1075 North Tustin Street in Orange, California, as the “Specialist Trevor A. Win’E Post Office”.
13. Calendar #600 H.R. 4960 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 511 East Walnut Street in Columbia, Missouri, as the “Spc. Sterling William Wyatt Post Office Building”.
14. Calendar #601 H.R. 5349 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1325 Autumn Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, as the “Judge Russell B. Sugarmon Post Office Building”.
15. Calendar #602 H.R. 5504 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4801 West Van Giesen Street in West Richland, Washington, as the “Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman Post Office Building”.
16. Calendar #603 H.R. 5737 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 108 West D Street in Alpha, Illinois, as the “Captain Joshua E. Steele Post Office”.
17. Calendar #604 H.R. 5784 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2650 North Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, shall be known and designated as the “Vel R. Phillips Post Office Building”.
18. Calendar #605 H.R. 5868 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 530 Claremont Avenue in Ashland, Ohio, as the “Bill Harris Post Office”.
19. Calendar #606 H.R 5935 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1355 North Meridian Road in Harristown, Illinois, as the “Logan S. Palmer Post Office”.
20. Calendar #607 H.R. 6116 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 362 North Ross Street in Beaverton, Michigan, as the “Colonel Alfred Asch Post Office”

Passed Calendar #631, S.3554: to extend the effective date for the sunset for collateral requirements for Small Business Administration disaster loans.

Passed S.3321 with Coons substitute and title amendments: Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act.

Concurred in the House amendment to S.2152: Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.

Adopted S.Res.692: recognizing November 24, 2018 as “Small Business Saturday” and celebrating the vital role of small businesses, along with the efforts of the Small Business Administration, to help people in the United States start, build, and grow businesses.

4:30 p.m. Senator McConnell filed cloture on the following nominations

• Stephen Alexander Vaden to be the General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture
• Karen Kelley to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce
• Thomas Farr to be US District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina
• Jonathan Kobes to be US Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit.
• Kathleen Kraninger to be Director for the CFPB.

4:03 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about nominations.

3:30 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke about immigration.

3:05 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke on the national debt.

2:49 p.m. Senator Casey spoke about the shooting in Pittsburgh.

2:43 p.m. Senator Cortez Masto paid tribute to Emily Faye Reece.

2:42 p.m. The Bowman nomination was confirmed by a vote of 64 to 34. Dems voting YES: Bennet, Carper, Coons, Donnelly, Hassan, Heitkamp, Jones, Kaine, Manchin, McCaskill, Peters, Shaheen, Tester, and Warner. Paul voted NO. Senators Murphy and Nelson did not vote.

1:45 p.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of the Bowman nomination.

1:29 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the migrant caravan.

1:15 p.m. The Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of Michelle Bowman to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

1:10 p.m. The motion to table was agreed to by a vote of 77-21. Not voting: Senators Coons and Nelson. Voting no: Senators Baldwin, Booker, Cantwell, Casey, Durbin, Feinstein, Gillibrand, Harris, Hirono, Leahy, Lee, Markey, Merkley, Moran, Murray, Paul, Peters, Sanders, Van Hollen, Warren and Wyden.

12:25 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to table the motion to discharge S. J. Res 65.

12:15 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke against the Bahrain Arms sales resolution.

11:49 a.m. Senator Paul spoke about US involvement in Yemen and the Bahrain Arms Sales resolution.

11:33 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the Senate’s accomplishments during the 115th Congress.

11:18 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about criminal justice reform.

11:10 a.m. Senator Cardin spoke about AG Sessions and Special Counsel Mueller.

11:04 a.m. Senator Paul offered his motion to discharge S.J.Res. 65, the Bahrain Arms Sales Resolution Disapproval.

10:57 a.m. ML McConnell spoke supporting the Bowman nomination, on the Coast Guard Reauthorization, and on other legislative accomplishments.

10:56 a.m. The Majority Leader called up S.Con.Res. 51, correcting enrollment of S. 140, the concurrent resolution was agreed to.

10:54 a.m. ML McConnell asked u.c. Adoption of the motion to concur on the House amend to S. 140 w/amend 4054 (Coast Guard Reauthorization), as modified, be further modified (correcting a technical error omitting charts and tables from the bill).

10:24 a.m. Senator Kyl spoke about defense funding and on the consensus reached by the National Defense Strategy Commission.

10:12 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about need to protect the special counsel and on voter protection.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened for the day.

*****

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. At 11:00 a.m. Senator Paul will be recognized to offer a motion to discharge  S.J. Res. 65, the Bahrain Arms Sales Resolution of Disapproval, followed by a 12:15 p.m. vote on the motion to discharge. The Senate will then resume consideration of the nomination of Michelle Bowman to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System with a vote on confirmation at 1:45 p.m.

7:23 p.m.  The Senate has adjourned until 10 a.m. Thursday, November 15^th. At 11:00 a.m. Senator Paul will be recognized to offer a motion to discharge  S.J. Res. 65, the Bahrain Arms Sales Resolution of Disapproval, followed by a 12:15 p.m. vote on the motion to discharge. The Senate will then resume consideration of the nomination of Michelle Bowman to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System with a vote on confirmation at 1:45 p.m.

****

6:52 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about bipartisan accomplishments and the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill.

6:05 p.m. Senator Alexander spoke about the Tennessee Valley Authority and asked unanimous consent to confirm the nomination of John L. Ryder to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the TVA. Senator Schumer objected and then spoke about bipartisanship. Alexander also spoke about the Foothills Parkway, clean air, and the opioid legislation.

5:43 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about climate change.

5:02 p.m. Senator Thune spoke about the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill.

4:38 p.m. Senators Reed and Whitehouse spoke on the 100 birthday of Senator Claiborne Pell.

4:27 p.m. Senator Booker spoke supporting the special counsel protection legislation, S. 2644.

4:20 p.m. Senator Coons spoke supporting the special counsel protection legislation, S. 2644.

4:13 p.m. Senator Flake asked u.c. to call up S. 2644, a bill to ensure independent investigations and judicial review of removal of a special counsel. ML McConnell objected.

4:03 p.m. Senator Toomey spoke about the Tree of Life synagogue shooting.

3:54 p.m. Senator Cantwell spoke on the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill.

3:44 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about hurricane recovery.

3:20 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Bowman nomination 63-36.

Senators voting in favor: 50 Republicans, 13 Democrats: Bennet, Carper, Coons, Donnelly, Hassan, Heitkamp, Jones, Kaine, Manchin, Peters, Shaheen, Tester and Warner.

Senators voting against: 33 Democrats, 2 Independents: King and Sanders, 1 Republican: Paul.

Senators not voting: 1 Democrat: Nelson.

2:48 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Michelle Bowman to be a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

2:47 p.m. The Coast Guard bill,S 140 was passed, 94-6.

Senators voting against: 5 Democrats: Cardin, Feinstein, Gillibrand, Harris and Schumer; 1 Independent: Sanders.

2:20 p.m. Roll call vote began in relation to passage of the Coast Guard bill S. 140.

2:19 p.m. Senator Nelson joined Senator Wicker on the Coast Guard bill.

2:13 p.m. Senator Wicker resumed his discussion of the Coast Guard bill.

2:07 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the coast guard bill, the Bowman nomination, and the leadership elections.

2:01 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke on the pending Coast Guard bill.

2:00 p.m. The Senate convened.

***

• The Senate will convene at 2:00 p.m. and resume consideration of the motion to concur in the House amendment to <ahref=”https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2018/10/11/senate-section/article/S6826-3″>S. 140; the legislative vehicle for the Coast Guard Reauthorization, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute (#4054, as modified), post-cloture.

•Following Leader remarks,  at approximately 2:15 p.m., the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 140, with an amendment #4054 (passage of the Coast Guard reauthorization).

• Following disposition of S. 140, the Senate will immediately proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Michelle Bowman to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

6:34 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14th. Following leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.140, Coast Guard reauthorization, with amendment #4054, as modified, post-cloture, and vote on the motion to concur. At approximately 2:15 p.m. the Senate will have 2 roll call votes.

1. Motion to concur in the House amendment to S.140, with amendment #4054, as modified (Coast Guard reauthorization)
2. Cloture vote on the Bowman nomination

6:07 p.m. Senator Daines spoke on National Veterans and Families Month.

6:07 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the House Message to accompany S. 140, Coast Guard Reauthorization by a vote of 93 to 5.  Senators Cardin, Feinstein, Gillibrand, Harris and Sanders voted no. Senators Isakson and McCaskill did not vote.

5:31 p.m. The Senate began voting on the House message to accompany S. 140, Coast Guard Reauthorization.

5:28 p.m.  Senator Moran asked u.c.: at a date and time to be determined, but no later than November 16th, Senator Paul will be recognized to make a motion to discharge S.J.Res.65, a resolution of disapproval on arms sales to Bahrain. There will be up to one hour of debate on the motion, equally divided. Following the use of yielding back of debate time, the Senate will vote in relation to the motion to discharge S.J.Res.65.

4:50 p.m. Senator Moran spoke on the Bowman nomination.

4:46 p.m. Senator Carper spoke supporting the Coast Guard Reauthorization legislation.

3:18 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the midterm elections and on Acting Attorney General Whitaker.

3:03 p.m. ML McConnell spoke supporting Coast Guard Reauthorization.

3:00 p.m. The Senate convened.

• The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m. and resume consideration of the House message to accompany S. 140; the legislative vehicle for the Coast Guard Reauthorization.

• At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will conduct a cloture vote on the House message to accompany S. 140.

• If cloture is invoked, all post-cloture time will expire at 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, at which point the Senate will vote on the motion to concur (passage of the Coast Guard Reauthorization).

• Following disposition of the Coast Guard bill, the Senate will proceed to a cloture vote on the nomination of Michelle Bowman to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

The Senate convened for a pro forma session at 9:02 a.m. Senator Flake presided and no business was conducted.

The Senate convened for a pro forma session at 4:00 p.m.  No business was conducted. Majority Leader McConnell presided.

The Senate convened for a pro forma session at 2:45 p.m. Senator Boozman presided and no business was conducted.

The Senate met at 1:00 p.m. in a pro forma session. Senator Hoeven presided and no business was conducted.

The Senate met this evening at 5:00 p.m., for a pro forma session only with Senator Collins presiding.