Wednesday, June 19, 2019

6:45 p.m. The Senate adjourned.

6:04 p.m. Senators Menendez, Cardin and Murphy spoke on arm sales to Saudi Arabia.

6:02 p.m. Senator Inhofe wrapped up for the evening. Passed by UC: S Res 253 regarding Juneteenth.  UC that Senate adjourn following remarks until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday following remarks of Democratic Senators.

5:18 p.m. Senators Inhofe and Reed spoke on the defense authorization.

5:15 p.m Senators Menendez and Inhofe spoke on SJ Res 36, regarding arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

5:13 p.m ML McConnell called up SJ Res 27-48 en bloc. They all deal with arm sales.

There will be 3 roll call votes at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday:

  1. SJ Res 36 
  2. SJ Res 38 
  3. the rest of the list en bloc.

5:12 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the motion to proceed to the defense authorization, 88-11.

Voting no: Carper, Gillibrand, Harris, Klobuchar, Markey, Merkley, Sanders, Udall, Warren, Whitehouse and Wyden. Not voting: Booker.

4:54 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 1790, the defense authorization.

4:53 p.m. The Guidry nomination was confirmed on a party line vote of 53-46, with Senator Booker not voting.

4:34 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of Greg Guidry to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

4:34 p.m. The Cain nomination was confirmed, 77-21. Senators Booker and Gillibrand did not vote.

Senators in favor: 53 Republicans, 23 Democrats, 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 20 Democrats (Baldwin, Blumenthal, Brown Cantwell, Casey, Duckworth, Harris, Klobuchar, Markey, Menendez, Merkley, Murray, Peters, Schatz, Schumer, Smith, Stabenow, Van Hollen, Warren and Wyden; 1 Independent: Sanders.

4:18 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of James Cain to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

4:17 p.m. The Winsor nomination was confirmed, 54-44.  It was a party line vote, with the exception of Senator Manchin voting in favor.  Senators Booker and Gillibrand did not vote.

4:02 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of Allen Winsor to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Florida.

4:02 p.m. The Kacsmaryk nomination was confirmed, 52-46.  It was a party line vote, with the exception of Senator Collins voting against.  Senators Booker and Gillibrand did not vote.

3:30 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the Kacsmaryk nomination.

2:55 p.m. Senator Daines spoke about Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

2:36 p.m. Senator Lankford acknowledged the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Then he spoke about the V.A. Mission Act.

1:53 p.m. Senators Ernst, Isakson, Young, Boozman, Braun and Daines spoke about the V.A. Mission Act.

1:34 p.m. Senators Shaheen and Graham spoke on Syria.

12:34 p.m. Senators Blumenthal, Murphy, Casey, Cardin, Kaine and Cortez Masto spoke about gun violence.

12:21 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on the defense authorization and nuclear weapons.

11:59 a.m. Senator Stabenow spoke about Medicare.

11:41 a.m. Senator Cotton spoke about abortion.

11:13 a.m. Senator Cardin spoke about Hong Kong.

11:03 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke about energy security.

10:39 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about foreign policy and climate.

10:26 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on the defense authorization.

9:57 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about health care and pre-existing conditions.

9:42 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell expressed his gratitude on outgoing acting Defense Secretary Shanahan.  He later spoke on the defense authorization, government regulations and border security.

9:32 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about sexual assault in the military.

9:30 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will reconvene at 9:30 am. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Matthew  Kacsmaryk to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas.

At 3:30 pm the Senate will vote on 5 roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #22, Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas;
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #28, Allen Cothrel Winsor, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Florida;
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #50, James David Cain, Jr., of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana;
  4. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #118, Greg Girard Guidry, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana; and
  5. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1790, National Defense Authorization Act.