The Senate is scheduled to convene at 2 p.m.

Due to the weather, however, all votes have been postponed until Tuesday

The Senate is not in session.

The Senate will next convene at 2 p.m. om Monday, March 3.

3:06 p.m. — On a vote of 97 to 0, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Michael L. Connor to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior. This was the final vote of the day.

* * *

2:43 p.m. — On a vote of 56 to 41, the motion to waive a budget point of order failed, 60 votes having been required under the rules. The veterans benefits bill, S. 1982, is therefore recommitted to the Committee on Veterans Affairs.    

* * *

2:22 p.m. — On a party-line vote of 44 to 52, the Graham motion failed to table the Reid motion to commit the veterans bill for a change in its enactment date. The Graham tabling motion would have permitted Republicans to seek an amendment on Iran sanctions.

* * *

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m.

After one hour of morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 1982, the veterans benefits bill.

At 1:45 p.m., Senator Graham will be recognized to raise a budget  point of order, which Senator Murray will move to waive. There will then follow a series of votes:

— At about 2 p.m., a vote is expected on a motion to table Senator Reid’s amendment to commit the veterans bill to committee for reporting back with an enactment-date amendment (#2767).

— After the tabling vote, there will be a vote on the Murray motion to waive points of order on S. 1982, the veterans bill.

— If the motion to waive is agreed to, the Senate will proceed immediately to a cloture vote on the Sanders substitute (Amendment #2747) to the veterans bill.

— If cloture is invoked, post-cloture time will be yielded back. A vote on the Sanders amendment will come immediately.

— Further, if the motion to waive succeeds, a cloture vote on the veterans bill will immediately follow disposition of the Sanders amendment (#2747).

— If cloture is invoked on the veterans bill (S. 1982) post-cloture time will be yielded back and the Senate will vote immediately on final passage of  S. 1982, as amended.

The Senate also expected on Thursday to consider Executive Calendar #561, the nomination of Michael L. Connor to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior

The Senate adjourned at 6:57 p.m. and will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 27.  They will be in morning business for one hour and will then resume consideration of S. 1982, the Veteran’s Benefits bill. At 2:00 there will be a series of votes related to S. 1982.

***

The Senate convened at 9:30 a.m.

At 11:30 a.m., the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to the veterans benefits bill (S. 1982). Cloture was invoked on the motion to proceed on Tuesday.

Votes are possible today.

6:35 p.m. 

The Senate adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 26th and will resume the motion to proceed to S. 1982 – VA benefits (post cloture).

***

4:45

When the Senate came back into session, they resumed the Motion to Proceed to S. 1982, the VA Benefits bill. The Motion was agreed to by a roll call vote of 99 – 0. Senators Sanders, Murray, Burr and Cornyn spoke on S.1982.

12:30

The Senate recessed for weekly party caucuses from 12:30 – 2:15.

The cloture vote on the motion to proceed to the veterans bill has been rescheduled for 3:30 p.m.

* * *

12:58 p.m. — On a vote of 91 to 7, the Senate confirmed the Freeman nomination.

* * *

12:37 p.m. — On a vote of 56 to 42, the Senate invoked cloture on the Freeman nomination.

* * *

12:20 p.m. — On a vote of 90 to 5, the Senate confirmed the Donato nomination.

* * *

11:59 a.m. — On a vote of 55 to 42, the Senate invoked cloture on the Donato nomination.

* * *

11:41 a.m. –– On a vote of 95 to 4, the Senate confirmed the Moody nomination.

* * *

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. and proceed to morning business.

At 11:05 a.m. , the Senate will debate the nomination of James Maxwell Moody Jr. to be a U.S. district court judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

At 11:15 a.m., the Senate will begin this sequence of roll call votes:

o    Confirmation of the Moody nomination;

o    Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of James Donato to be a United States District Judge for the Northern District of California;

o    Confirmation of the Donato nomination;

o    Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Beth Labson Freeman to be a United States District Judge for the Northern District of California;

o    Confirmation of the Freeman nomination.

Upon disposition of the Freeman nomination, the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m. for weekly policy luncheons.

At 2:15 p.m., the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014 (S. 1982).

At about 3:15 p.m., the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the veterans bill.

The Senate will convene at 2 p.m. Up to three roll call votes are expected, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Senator King will be recognized shortly after 2 p.m.  to deliver George Washington’s Farewell Address.

The Senate will then conduct Morning Business.

At 5 p.m., the Senate will begin 30 minutes of debate on the nomination of Jeffrey Alker Meyer to be a U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut (Executive Calendar #564).

At about 5:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on whether to invoke cloture on the Meyer nomination. If cloture is invoked, up to two hours of debate will ensue, followed by a confirmation vote on Meyer.

After the Meyer nomination is disposed of,  the Senate is expected to move directly to a cloture vote on the nomination of James Maxwell Moody Jr. to be a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

The Senate is then expected to adjourn until Tuesday, February 25 with the following sequence of actions pending:

• If cloture has been invoked on the Moody nomination, there will be up to two hours of debate, followed by a confirmation vote.

• Upon disposition of the Moody nomination, the Senate will vote directly on cloture on the nomination of James Donato to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California (Executive Calendar #566). If cloture is invoked, there will be up to two hours of debate, followed by a confirmation a vote. 

• Upon disposition of the Donato nomination, the Senate will immediately proceed to a cloture vote on the nomination of Beth Labson Freeman to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California (Executive Calendar #567). If cloture is invoked, there will be up to two hours of debate, followed by a confirmation vote.

• Upon disposition of the Freeman nomination, the Senate will immediately proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014 (S. 1982).

Senator Levin called the Senate to order at 10:30 a.m. for a pro forma session. No business was conducted. Senator Levin adjourned the Senate until its next legislative session, at 2 p.m. on Monday, February 24.

Senator King will then deliver George Washington’s Farewell Address. The Senate will enter Morning Business.

At 5 p.m., the Senate will begin 30 minutes of debate on the nomination of Jeffrey Alker Meyer to be a U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut (Executive Calendar #564).

At about 5:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on whether to invoke cloture on the Meyer nomination. If cloture is invoked, up to two hours of debate will ensue, followed by a confirmation vote on Meyer.

After the Meyer nomination is disposed of,  the Senate will move directly to a cloture vote on the nomination of James Maxwell Moody Jr. to be a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

The Senate is then expected to adjourn until Tuesday, February 25 with the following sequence of actions pending:

• If cloture has been invoked on the Moody nomination, there will be up to two hours of debate, followed by a confirmation vote.

• Upon disposition of the Moody nomination, the Senate will vote directly on cloture on the nomination of James Donato to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California (Executive Calendar #566). If cloture is invoked, there will be up to two hours of debate, followed by a confirmation a vote. 

• Upon disposition of the Donato nomination, the Senate will immediately proceed to a cloture vote on the nomination of Beth Labson Freeman to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California (Executive Calendar #567). If cloture is invoked, there will be up to two hours of debate, followed by a confirmation vote.

• Upon disposition of the Freeman nomination, the Senate will immediately proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014 (S. 1982).

The Senate will convene at 10:30 a.m. for a pro forma session only. No business will be conducted.

The Senate will likewise meet in pro forma session on Friday, February 21 at 10:30 a.m.

The Senate will next meet in legislative session on Monday, February 24 at 2 p.m., whereupon Senator King will deliver George Washington’s Farewell Address. The Senate will then conduct Morning Business.

At 5 p.m., the Senate will begin 30 minutes of debate on the nomination of Jeffrey Alker Meyer to be a U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut (Executive Calendar #564).

At about 5:30 p.m. the Senate will vote on whether to invoke cloture on the Meyer nomination. If cloture is invoked, up to two hours of debate will ensue, followed by a confirmation vote on Meyer.

After the Meyer nomination is disposed of,  the Senate will move directly to a cloture vote on the nomination of James Maxwell Moody Jr. to be a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

The Senate is then expected to adjourn until Tuesday, February 25 with the following sequence of actions pending:

• If cloture has been invoked on the Moody nomination, there will be up to two hours of debate, followed by a confirmation vote.

• Upon disposition of the Moody nomination, the Senate will vote directly on cloture on the nomination of James Donato to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California (Executive Calendar #566). If cloture is invoked, there will be up to two hours of debate, followed by a confirmation a vote. 

• Upon disposition of the Donato nomination, the Senate will immediately proceed to a cloture vote on the nomination of Beth Labson Freeman to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California (Executive Calendar #567). If cloture is invoked, there will be up to two hours of debate, followed by a confirmation vote.

• Upon disposition of the Freeman nomination, the Senate will immediately proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014 (S. 1982).

The Senate will convene at 10:30 a.m. for a pro forma session only. No business will be conducted.

The Senate will likewise meet in pro forma sessions on Tuesday, February 18 at 10:30 a.m. and on Friday, February 21 at 10:30 a.m.

The Senate will next meet in legislative session on Monday, February 24 at 2 p.m., whereupon Senator King will deliver George Washington’s Farewell Address. The Senate will then conduct Morning Business.

At 5 p.m., the Senate will begin 30 minutes of debate on the nomination of Jeffrey Alker Meyer to be a U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut (Executive Calendar #564).

At about 5:30 p.m. the Senate will vote on whether to invoke cloture on the Meyer nomination. If cloture is invoked, up to two hours of debate will ensue, followed by a confirmation vote on Meyer.

After the Meyer nomination is disposed of,  the Senate will move directly to a cloture vote on the nomination of James Maxwell Moody Jr. to be a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

The Senate is then expected to adjourn until Tuesday, with the following sequence of actions pending:

• If cloture has been invoked on the Moody nomination, there will be up to two hours of debate, followed by a confirmation vote.

• Upon disposition of the Moody nomination, the Senate will vote directly on cloture on the nomination of James Donato to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California (Executive Calendar #566). If cloture is invoked, there will be up to two hours of debate, followed by a confirmation a vote. 

• Upon disposition of the Donato nomination, the Senate will immediately proceed to a cloture vote on the nomination of Beth Labson Freeman to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California (Executive Calendar #567). If cloture is invoked, there will be up to two hours of debate, followed by a confirmation vote.

• Upon disposition of the Freeman nomination, the Senate will immediately proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014 (S. 1982).

3:50 p.m. — The following nominations were confirmed by voice vote:

• Kevin W. Techau to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
• Andrew Mark Luger to be United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota
• Robert L. Hobbs to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas
• Gary Blankinship to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of Texas
• Amos Rojas, Jr. to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of Florida
• Peter C. Tobin to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio
• Anthony Luzzatto Gardner to be Representative of the United States of America to the European Union, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
• Robert A. Sherman to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Portuguese Republic

3:30 p.m. — By a vote of 67-31, cloture was invoked on the motion to concur with the House amendment to S. 540 (House vehicle for Debt Ceiling).

By a vote of 55-43, the Senate passed the motion to concur with the House amendment to S. 540 (House vehicle for Debt Ceiling)

By a vote of 95-3, the Senate passed the motion to concur with the House message to S. 25 (Military COLA)

***

12:35 p.m. — On a voice vote, the Senate confirmed Catherine Ann Novelli’s nomination to be Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment.

***

12:34 p.m. — On a vote of 97 to 0, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Catherine Ann Novelli to be U.S. Alternate Governor of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for a five-year term and to be U.S. Alternate Governor of the Inter-American Development Bank for a five-year term.

***

12:15 p.m. — On a vote of 98 to 0, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Daniel Bennett Smith to be Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research.

***

12 p.m. — On a vote of 98 to 0, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Tina S. Kaidanow to be counter-terrorism coordinator.

***

11:28 a.m. — The Senate agreed to a new order to proceed  to this sequence of votes at 1:45 p.m.:

• The motion to invoke cloture on the House-passed vehicle for debt limit extension (S. 540);
• If cloture is invoked, the motion to concur in the House-passed debt limit vehicle;
• The motion to concur in the House-passed vehicle for the military pension bill (S. 25)

If cloture is not invoked on the debit-limit measure, the Senate will move directly to the vote on the military pension measure.

***

9:59 a.m. — The majority leader got unanimous consent for a vote at about 2 p.m. on S. 25, the House-passed vehicle for the bill to restore cost-of-living-adjustments to military pensions. The vote will follow a debate of up to 30 minutes, to begin at about 1:30 p.m.

***

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m.

There may be votes today on the debt limit bill and the military pay bill.

There will be morning business until 11 a.m., when up to 30 minutes of debate will begin on as many as four nominations.

At about 11:30 a.m., votes will begin on whether to confirm the nominations listed below.  After the first vote, roll-calls will be 10 minutes in duration. At least one of the confirmations may be by voice vote.

–  Tina S. Kaidanow of the District of Columbia to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, with the rank of Ambassador at Large (Executive Calendar #525);

–  Daniel Bennett Smith of Virginia to be Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research (Executive Calendar #595);

– Catherine Ann Novelli of Virginia to be United States Alternate Governor of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for a term of five years and United States Alternate Governor of the Inter-American Development Bank for a term of five years (Executive Calendar #527 );

–  Catherine Ann Novelli of Virginia to be Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment (Executive Calendar #529).