Blog

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

6:36 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #479, Richard Ernest Myers II, of North Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

6:35 p.m. Senator Merkley asked u.c. to change his vote from No to Yes on roll call #372, (motion to invoke cloture for Douglas Russell Cole to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio). The tally on cloture of the Cole nomination is now 62-29.

6:35 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture 88-4: on Executive Calendar #460 David B. Barlow to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Utah.

6:20 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #460 David B. Barlow to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Utah.

6:19 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on Executive Calendar #459 R. Austin Huffaker, Jr. to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama by a tally of 88-4.
Senators Gillibrand, Hirono, Markey and Merkley voted no.
6:03 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #459 R. Austin Huffaker, Jr. to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama.
6:03 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #381 Douglas Russell Cole to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio by a tally of 61-30.
Not voting: Senators Booker, Harris, Isakson, Johnson, Klobuchar, Murkowski, Rounds, Sanders, and Warren.

5:48 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #381 Douglas Russell Cole to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio.

5:45 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture by a tally of 50-43 on Executive Calendar #478 Sarah E. Pitlyk to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Senator Collins voted no.

Not voting: Senators Booker, Harris, Klobuchar, Murkowski, Rounds, Sanders and Warren.

5:00 p.m. The Senate began a vote on cloture on the nomination of Sarah E. Pitlyk to be a Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.

2:57 p.m. Senators Perdue, Coons, Grassley, Murray, Roberts, Leahy, Collins, Durbin, Enzi, Reed, Alexander, Cardin, Cornyn, Blunt, Thune, Carper and Portman paid tribute to Senator Isakson.

2:29 p.m. Senator Isakson delivered his farewell speech.

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from the recess.

12:55 p.m. The Senate recessed until 2:15 p.m. to accommodate the weekly Caucus luncheons.

12:51 p.m. Senator Feinstein spoke against the Lyndon nomination.

12:48 p.m. Senator Wicker announced at 4:30 pm, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of John Sinatra Jr. to be a Judge for the Western District of New York, post-cloture, with the time until 5:00 pm equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees.

 At 5 pm today, the Senate will proceed to four roll call votes relative to the following:

  • Cloture on the nomination of Sarah E. Pitlyk to be a Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.
  • Cloture on the nomination of Douglas Russell Cole to be a Judge for the Southern District of Ohio.
  • Cloture on the nomination R. Austin Huffaker, Jr. to be a Judge for the Middle District of Alabama.
  • Cloture on the nomination David B. Barlow to be a Judge for the District of Utah.

On Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 11:30 am, the Senate will proceed to three roll call votes relative to the following:

  • Cloture on the nomination of Richard Ernest Myers II to be a Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
  • Cloture on the nomination of Sherri A. Lydon to be a Judge for the District of South Carolina.
  • Cloture on the nomination of Robert M. Duncan to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service.

At 2:00 pm, on Wednesday if cloture has been invoked, the Senate will proceed to five roll call votes relative to the following:

  • Confirmation of the nomination of John L. Sinatra to be a Judge for the Western District of New York.
  • Confirmation of the nomination of Sarah E. Pitlyk to be a Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.
  • Confirmation of the nomination of Douglas Russell Cole to be a District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio.
  • Confirmation of the nomination R. Austin Huffaker, Jr. to be a Judge for the Middle District of Alabama.
  • Confirmation of the nomination David B. Barlow to be a Judge for the District of Utah.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

  • If cloture is invoked on the Myers, Lydon, and Duncan nominations, the confirmation votes will occur on Thursday, December 5 at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Democratic Leader.

12:46 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the Sinatra nomination by a tally of 76-16.

Senators voting against: 16 Democrats: Blumenthal, Brown, Cantwell, Duckworth, Durbin, Heinrich, Hirono, Markey, Menendez, Merkley, Murray, Schatz, Smith, Udall, Van Hollen and Wyden.

Senators not voting: 6 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Gillbrand, Harris, Klobuchar, Warren & Whitehouse; 1 Independent: Sanders; 1 Republican: Rounds.

12:25 p.m. The Senate is currently voting on the Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #353, John L. Sinatra, Jr., of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of New York.

11:46 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Eric Komitee to be a Judge for the Eastern District of New York.  He was confirmed by a roll call vote of 86-4.
YES: 51 Republicans, 34 Democrats & independent King.
NO: Democrats Cantwell, Heinrich, Markey & Murray.
NOT VOTING: Democrats Bennet, Booker, Gillbrand, Harris, Klobuchar, Warren & Whitehouse; independent Sanders; Republicans Rounds & Scott of South Carolina…..

11:18 a.m. Senator Blackburn spoke on constituent frustration.

11:07 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on immigration.

10:50 a.m. Senator Cotton spoke about Communist China.

10:41 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about impeachment and about Russian interference in U.S. elections. He paid tribute to Senator Isakson.

10:36 a.m. Senator Moran spoke about the trade agreement.

10:11 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal, appropriations, and the defense authorization. He paid tribute to Senator Isakson.

10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about Iran.

*****

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and resume consideration of the nomination of Eric Komitee to be a Judge for the Eastern District of New York.

 Two roll call votes at 11:45 a.m.

  • Confirmation of the nomination of Eric Komitee to be a Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
  • Cloture on the nomination of John Sinatra to be a Judge for the Western District of New York.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. for a bipartisan caucus luncheon honoring Senator Isakson.

 At 2:30 p.m Senator Isakson will deliver his farewell address.

Additional votes in relation to the pending nominations (listed below) are expected during today’s session, potentially around 5:00 p.m.

Cloture has also been filed on the following nominations:

  • Sarah Pitlyk to be a Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.
  • DouglasCole to be a District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio
  • Austin Huffaker to be a Judge for the Middle District of Alabama
  • David Barlow to be a Judge for the District of Utah
  • Richard Myers to be a Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina
  • Sherri Lydon to be a Judge for the District of South Carolina.
  • Robert Duncan to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service