The Senate adjourned at 5:28 p.m. until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to resume consideration of the nomination of Brian Charles Lea to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee, post-cloture.
5:26 p.m. Senator Schmitt wrapped up.
- Agreed to by unanimous consent: S. Res. 596
5:08 p.m. Senator Schmitt spoke on immigration.
4:41 p.m. Senator Young paid tribute to his staffer, John Connell, who is retiring next week.
3:30 p.m. By a vote of 50-47, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Brian Charles Lea to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.
- Senators not voting: Crapo, McConnell, and Tuberville.
2:50 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Brian Charles Lea to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.
2:48 p.m. By a vote of 51-46 the nomination of Megan Blair Benton to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri was confirmed. This was a party-line vote.
- Not voting: Senators Crapo, Gillibrand, and McConnell.
2:03 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the nomination of Megan Blair Benton to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri.
1:53 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke on power outages in Tennessee due to Winter Storm Fern. She also spoke about the Lea nomination
1:26 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on immigration enforcement.
1:14 p.m. Senator Schatz spoke on appropriations.
1:09 p.m. Senator Hagerty spoke on Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and then spoke in support of the Lea nomination.
1:04 p.m. Senator Hyde-Smith spoke on the devastation in Mississippi from Winter Storm Fern.
12:59 p.m. Senator Wicker spoke on the devastation in Mississippi from Winter Storm Fern.
12:58 p.m. By a vote of 51-47, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Megan Blair Benton to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri.
- This was a party-line vote.
- Senators Crapo and McConnell did not vote.
12:20 p.m. By a vote of 58-39, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Aaron Christian Peterson to be United States District Judge for the District of Alaska.
- Democrat Senators voting in favor: Duckworth, Durbin, Hassan, Kaine, Kelly, Shaheen, and Whitehouse.
- Senators not voting: Crapo, McConnell, and Murphy.
11:30 a.m. The Senate is now voting on the confirmation of the nomination of Aaron Christian Peterson to be United States District Judge for the District of Alaska.
10:59 a.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke the shooting of Renee Good and ICE.
10:49 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on the appropriations process and the Department of Homeland Security funding,
10:32 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke on immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
10:22 a.m. Majority Leader Thune spoke about women’s sports.
10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke on the Winter Olympics.
10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.
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The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and resume consideration of the nomination of Aaron Christian Peterson to be United States District Judge for the District of Alaska, post-cloture.
There will be two votes at 11:30 a.m.:
- Confirmation of the Peterson nomination.
- Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Megan Blair Benton to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri.
There will be two votes at 2:15 p.m.:
- Confirmation of the Benton nomination.
- Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Brian Charles Lea to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.
If cloture is invoked on the Lea nomination, there would be up to two hours of debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. This vote is possible during today’s session.
