Wednesday, December 4, 2019

5:59 p.m. The Senate adjourned.

5:56 p.m. Senator Blackburn wrapped up the days session.  The Senate confirmed the nomination of Hugh Halpern to be Director of the Government Publishing Office.

Passed by UC: S Res 446, regarding printing of tributes to Senator Hagan and HR 5277.

5:39 p.m. Senator Brown paid tribute to Harrison Dillard.

5:07 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke on climate change for the 260th time; on this occassion discussing a recently released report from the National Council for Science and the Environment.

4:59 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke the situation in Hong Kong.

4:32 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke on various legislative proposals that have passed the House before discussing health care.

4:21 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about USMCA.

4:13 p.m. Senator King spoke about blueberries.

4:04 p.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on his recent trip with the President to Afghanistan and the defense authorization and appropriations bills.

4:03 p.m. The Barlow nomination was confirmed 88-4.

Senators voting NO: Gillibrand, Klobuchar, Markey, and Merkley. Senators absent: Booker, Harris, Johnson, Murkowski, Rounds, Sanders, Tillis, and Warren.

3:30 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the nomination of David Barlow, to be a United States District Judge for the District of Utah.

3:30 p.m. The Huffaker nomination was confirmed, 89-4.

Senators voting against: 4 Democrats: Gillibrand, Klobuchar, Markey and Merkley.

Senators not voting: 3 Democrats: Booker,Harris and Warren; 3 Republicans: Johnson, Murkowski and Rounds; 1 Independent:  Sanders.

3:11 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the nomination of Austin Huffaker to be a United States District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama.

3:10 p.m. The Cole nomination was confirmed 64-29.

Senators voting in favor: 50 Republicans, 13 Democrats: Brown, Carper, Casey, Coons, Durbin, Hassan, Jones, Leahy, Manchin, Murphy, Reed, Sinema and Whitehouse; 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 29 Democrats.

Senators not voting: 3 Democrats: Booker,Harris and Warren; 3 Republicans: Isakson, Murkowski and Rounds; 1 Independent: Sanders.

2:55 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the nomination of Douglas Cole to be a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio.

2:54 p.m. The Pitlyk nomination was confirmed 49-44.

Senators voting in favor: 49 Republicans.

Senators voting against: 42 Democrats, 1 Republican: Collins; 1 Independent: King.

Senators not voting: 3 Democrats: Booker,Harris and Warren; 3 Republicans: Isakson, Murkowski and Rounds; 1 Independent:  Sanders.

2:31 p.m. Roll call vote began on the nomination of Sarah Pitlyk to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.

2:30 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Sinatra nomination, 75-18.

Senators voting in favor: 50 Republicans, 24 Democrats, 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 18 Democrats: Blumenthal, Brown, Cantwell, Duckworth, Durbin, Gillibrand, Heinrich, Hirono, Klobuchar, Markey, Menendez, Merkley, Murray, Schatz, Smith, Udall, Van Hollen and Wyden.

Senators not voting: 3 Democrats: Booker,Harris and Warren; 3 Republicans: Isakson, Murkowski and Rounds; 1 Independent:  Sanders.

2:00 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the Sinatra nomination to be a United States District Judge for the Western District of New York.

1:40 p.m. Senator Sasse spoke supporting the USMCA.

1:34 p.m. Senator Hoeven spoke supporting the USMCA.

1:26 p.m. Senator Tillis spoke supporting the USMCA.

1:14 p.m. Senator Ernst spoke supporting the USMCA.

12:58 p.m. Senator Peters spoke about Veteran’s job training, calls up and passes S.760 by voice vote.

12:57 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Duncan nomination, 91-1.

Senator Hirono voted no.

12:31 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Robert Duncan to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2025.

12:31 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Lydon nomination, 79-14.

Senators voting in favor: 51 Republicans, 27 Democrats, 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 14 Democrats: Bennet, Brown, Blumenthal, Cantwell, Gillibrand, Hirono, Klobuchar, Markey, Merkley, Murray, Schatz, Schumer, Smith & Van Hollen.

Senators not voting: 3 Democrats: Booker, Harris and Warren; 3 Republicans: Isakson, Murkowski and Rounds; 1 Independent: Sanders.

12:09 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Sherri Lydon to be a United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina.

12:09 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Myers nomination, 72-22.

Senators voting in favor: 51 Republicans, 20 Democrats, 1 Independent: King.

Senators voting against: 22 Democrats: Baldwin, Bennet, Blumenthal, Brown, Cantwell, Cortez Masto, Gillibrand, Heinrich, Hirono, Klobuchar, Markey, Menendez, Merkley, Murray, Schatz, Schumer, Smith, Stabenow, Udall, Van Hollen, Whitehouse and Wyden.

Senators not voting: 3 Democrats: Booker, Harris and Warren; 2 Republicans: Murkowski and Rounds; 1 Independent: Sanders.

11:33 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Richard Ernest Myers II to be a US District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

11:22 p.m. Senator Lee spoke on the Barlow nomination.

11:05 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about the trade agreement with Mexico and Canada.

10:48 a.m. Senator Lankford spoke about the economy and the federal deficit.

10:37 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about impeachment. He spoke about spending negotiations. He criticized proposed changes in the food stamp program.

10:27 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about a coming wave of new technology — “5G,” for fifth-generation — and the bandwidth and security it will need.

10:07 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about Hong Kong.

*****

The Senate will convene at  10 a.m. and will resume consideration of the nomination of Richard Ernest Myers II, of North Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

At 11:30 a.m., cloture votes will occur on these nominations:

  1.  Richard Ernest Myers II, of North Carolina, to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina
  2.  Sherri A. Lydon, of South Carolina, to be a United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina
  3.  Robert M. Duncan, of Kentucky, to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2025

At 2 p.m., confirmation votes will occur on these nominations:

  1. John L. Sinatra, Jr. to be a United States District Judge for the Western District of New York
  2. Sarah E. Pitlyk to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri
  3. Douglas Russell Cole to be a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio
  4. R. Austin Huffaker, Jr. to be a United States District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama
  5. David B. Barlow, to be a United States District Judge for the District of Utah

Thursday December 5 if cloture has been invoked on these nominations, confirmation votes will occur:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #479, Richard Ernest Myers II, of North Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #489, Sherri A. Lydon, of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #386, Robert M. Duncan, of Kentucky, to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2025