Tuesday, May 21, 2019

6:41 p.m. The Senate adjourned.

6:38 p.m. Senator Brown spoke on foster care awareness month.

6:31 p.m. ML McConnell wraps up for the evening, passing S Res 216, recognizing the contributions by members of the air force who are responsible for operating and maintaining the global positioning system.

5:53 p.m. Senator Roberts echoed Senator Perdue on the necessity of doing a defense appropriations bill; before turning to discuss mental health awareness month and conditions for farmers and ranchers.

5:38 p.m. Senator Perdue spoke on military appreciation month and the need to do a defense appropriations bill.

5:30 p.m. Senator Cassidy spoke on mental health awareness month.

5:10 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Bell nomination, 56-42. Democrats in favor: Jones, Manchin and Sinema. Senators not voting: Bennet and Booker.

4:42 p.m. The Senate began voting on cloture on the nomination of Kenneth Bell to be a United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina.

4:41 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Nichols nomination, 55-42. Democrats in favor: Jones, Manchin and Sinema. Senators not voting: Bennet, Booker and Burr.

4:17 p.m. The Senate began voting on cloture on the nomination of Carl Nichols to be U.S. District Judge for DC.

4:16 p.m. By a tally of 53-45 the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Stephen Clark to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of MO. Senator Manchin joined Republicans and voted “yes.” Senators Burr and Bennett did not vote.

3:45 p.m. The Senate reconvened and began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Stephen Clark, Sr. to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of MO.

3:08 p.m. The Senate is in recess until approximately 3:45 p.m.

3:07 p.m. By a tally of 52-47 the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Howard Nielson, Jr. to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Utah. Senator Collins joined Democrats and voted no. Senator Bennet did not vote.

2:43 p.m. The roll call vote began on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Howard C. Nielson, Jr., of Utah, to be United States District Judge for the District of Utah.

2:42 p.m. ML McConnell that following the cloture vote on the Nielson nomination, the Senate recess until 3:45 p.m. At 3:45 p.m. the Senate will vote on the motions to invoke cloture on the Clark, Nichols, and Bell nominations. Finally, if cloture is invoked on the nominations, the confirmation votes on the Nielson, Clark, Nichols, and Bell nominations occur at a time TBD on Wednesday, May 22nd.  

2:42 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Daniel Collins to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the 9th Circuit on a party line tally of 53-46. Senator Bennett did not vote.

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from recess, and a roll call vote began on confirmation of the Collins nomination.

12:30 p.m. The Senate recessed until 2:15 p.m.

11:51 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on immigrant detention facilities and abortion.

11:18 a.m. Senators Murray, Wyden, Shaheen, Cantwell, and Klobuchar spoke on abortion.

11:08 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on recovery from Hurricane Harvey.

10:43 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about a trade deal with Canada and Mexico.

10:30 a.m. The Senate resumed post-cloture consideration of the Collins nomination.

10:22 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about abortion law in Alabama and elsewhere. He spoke about judicial nominations. He spoke about China trade.

10:03 a.m. The Senate consented to the passage of S. 1370, a bill to amend the tax code. By consent, when the House sends an identical bill to the Senate, it will be considered passed. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about nominations.

*****

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

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #201, Daniel P. Collins, of California, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, post-cloture.

The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

At 2:15pm, the Senate will vote on (1) confirmation of the Collins nomination and (2) on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #23, Howard C. Nielson, Jr., of Utah, to be United States District Judge for the District of Utah. Additional roll call votes are expected during Tuesday’s session.

 

At 2:45pm, there will be an all-senators briefing on Iran.

 

Senator McConnell has filed cloture on the following nominations (post-cloture debate limit):

1.       Stephen R. Clark, Sr., of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Easter District of Missouri (2 hours)

4.     Carl J. Nichols, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia (2 hours)

5.     Kenneth D. Bell, of North Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina (2 hours)