6:10 p.m. — The Senate adjourned until 4 p.m. Friday, April 11.

***

6:04 p.m. — By voice vote, the Senate agreed to S.Res. 422, to provide testimony in Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks vs. U.S.  By unanimous consent, the Senate set its schedule for Friday.

The Senate will convene at 4 p.m. At 5 p.m., there will be as many as three roll call votes on nominations:

— Confirmation of the nomination of Michelle T. Friedland of California to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit;

— Cloture on the nomination of David Weil of Massachusetts to be administrator of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division;

— Confirmation of the Weil nomination.

4:25 p.m. — The Senate passed S. 994, the Federal Government Accounting Act (DATA ACT) (as Amended) without objection.

*****

3:33 p.m. — On a vote of 55 to 37, the Senate agreed to the majority leader’s motion to instruct the Sergeant-at-Arms to require the attendance of absent senators.

***

10:39 a.m. — On a vote of 56 to 41, the Senate invoked cloture on the Friedland nomination. The majority leader has indicated that post-cloture debate would conclude at approximately 4 p.m. on Friday.

***

The Senate will convene at 9:30 am.

At 10:30 am there is a cloture vote scheduled on the nomination of Michelle T. Friedland of California to be United States Circuit Judge for the ninth circuit.   If cloture is invoked, there could be up to 30 hours of debate.  If cloture is not invoked, the Senate will vote on cloture on the nomination of David Weil to be administrator of the Wage and Hour division of the Department of Labor.

4:50 p.m.

There will be NO further roll call votes during today’s session.

• The Senate confirmed the following nominations:
• Wanda Felton, NY, to be First Vice President of Import/Export Bank  by a Vote of 75-21
• Terrell McSweeney, DC, to be Federal Trade Commissioner by a Vote of 95 – 1
• Debra L. Miller, KS, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board by Voice Vote
• Steven Joel Anthony to be a Member of the Railroad Retirement Board by Voice Vote
•  Daniel W. Yohannes to be Representative of the United States of America to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development by Voice Vote

***

11:40 a.m. — On a vote of 53 to 44, the Senate failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Paycheck Fairness bill.

***

The Senate convened at 10:00am and will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 2199).  There is a vote scheduled at 11:00am on cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2199.

5:50 p.m. Senate confirmed Kornze, 71-28, to be Director of Bureau of Land Management. All nays were Republican.

No more votes tonight but a cloture vote on S. 2199, Paycheck Fairness, is expected tomorrow 1 hour after the Senate convenes.

***

4:30 p.m. The Senate will have 2 votes on nominations :

cal. 556 Neil Gregory Kornze, NV, to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management

cal. 502 Frank G. Klotz, VA, to be Under Secretary for Nuclear Security

A voice vote is expected on the Klotz nomination.

***

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m.

After leaders’ remarks, the Senate will be in morning business.

At 12:30 p.m., the Senate will adjourn until 2:15 p.m. for weekly policy meetings.

The majority leader has filed for cloture on the motion to proceed to the Paycheck Fairness bill, S. 2199. That cloture vote will occur on Wednesday morning.

6:30

The Senate resumed consideration of H.R. 3979 (Amend the IRS Code of 1986/Legislative vehicle for unemployment insurance extension), as amended.  At 5:30 PM, the Senate voted on passage of the bill by a roll call vote of  59-38 . The Senate immediately proceeded to Executive Session and confirmed the following nominations by voice vote:

• Francis Xavier Taylor to be Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security.
• Reginald Brothers, Jr. to be Under Secretary for Science and Technology, Department of Homeland Security.
• Mark Bradley Childress to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Republic of Tanzania.

1:30

The Senate will convene at 2 p.m.

After leaders’ remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 5 p.m., whereupon post-cloture debate will resume on H.R. 3979 — the legislative vehicle for the extension of unemployment benefits.

At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on final passage of the unemployment benefits extension.

5:35 pm–The Senate stands in adjournment until 2:00 pm Monday, April 7. Final passage of H.R. 3979 (Unemployment Insurance extension) will occur at 5:30 pm on Monday.

***

5:15 pm- The Senate proceeded to Executive Session. The following treaties were agreed to by division vote:

• Treaty Doc 112-4-Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.
• Treaty Doc 113-1-Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean.
• Treaty Doc 113-2-Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean.
• Treaty Doc 113-3-Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries

***

3:30 pm– The Senate voted 61-35 to invoke cloture on the underlying unemployment insusrance bill, H.R. 3979.    A vote on final passage has been scheduled for Monday, April 3, at 5:30 pm.

The Senate adopted the Reed-Heller substitute amendment by voice vote.

***

2:58 pm– The Senate voted 60-36 to waive the Budget Act in relation to the Reed-Heller substitute amendment.  This happened after Sen. Sessions made a budget point of order against the amendment and Sen. Murray made a motion to waive the Budget Act in relation the amendment.

***

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. and will resume consideration of H.R. 3979, the legislative vehicle for the bill to extend unemployment benefits.

The majority whip has said the Senate hopes to reach agreement Thursday on the unemployment bill and on some executive nomination.

5:30 p.m. – – 

Senator Reid’s motion to table Senator Vitter appeal of ruling of the chair (Vitter attempted to call up an amendment, which the chair ruled not in order) was agreed by a vote of 67 to 29.  The Senate continues to consider H.R. 3739, the legislative vehicle for the extension of unemployment benefits.  The amendment tree has been filled on H.R. 3739.

The Senate agreed to the following nominations by Voice Vote:

• Tomasz Malinowski, DC, Asst Secy of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
• Portia Y. Wu, DC, to be Asst Secy of Labor
• Deborah L Birx, MD, to be Ambassador at large and Coordinator of US Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS

The are no further votes expected during today’s session.

***

4:45 p.m. — On a vote of 46 to 50, the Republican motion fails to table the Reid amendment (#2878) to the legislative vehicle for the unemployment extension.

***

10:25 a.m. — On a vote of 61 to 38, the Senate invoked cloture on the Reed substitute for H.R. 3979, the legislative vehicle for the unemployment extension.

***

The Senate will convene at 9:00 a.m.

The Senate will resume consideration of H.R. 3979, the legislative vehicle for the extension of unemployment benefits,  until 10:00 a.m.

The Senate will vote at 10 a.m. on the  the motion to invoke cloture on Reed-Heller amendment (#2874).

The majority leader has said that there will be more roll call votes Wednesday.

1:00 p.m. — Senate reached unanimous consent provide for two votes today at 2:30 on:

• Kevin Whitaker, VA, to be Ambassador of Columbia
• Christopher P. Lu, VA, to be Deputy Secy of Labor

****

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m.

Following leader remarks and one hour of morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R. 3979, the legislative vehicle for the extension of unemployment benefits.

On Tuesday, the majority leader filed cloture on the unemployment bill, setting up a possible cloture vote on Wednesday. The leader has also filled the amendment tree on the unemployment bill and has moved to proceed to S. 1737, the bill to raise the minimum wage.

At 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Senate will recess for weekly policy lunches until 2:15 p.m.

8:02 p.m. — The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 1.

***

8 p.m. — On voice votes, the Senate has confirmed the nomination of Carolyn R. Welsh of Illinois to be Commerce Secretary and the nominations of 15 military officers to higher rank. The Senate has also passed, by voice vote, a resolution in honor of the late Senator and RADM Jeremiah A. Denton Jr.

***

7:05 p.m. — The majority leader moved to proceed to the minimum wage bill, S. 1737.

***

7:01 p.m. — On a voice vote, the Senate passed the motion to proceed to the unemployment insurance extension. The majority leader has filed cloture on the bill, H.R. 3979.

***

6:58 — On a vote of 64 to 35, the Senate passed the “Doc Fix” bill, H.R. 4302.

Voting with the majority were 46 Democrats, 16 Republicans and 2 independents. Voting with the minority were 29 Republicans and 6 Democrats.

***

6:31   p.m. — On a vote of 64 to 35, the Senate waived the budget act  with respect to the “Doc Fix” bill, H.R. 4302. The next vote will be passage of the Doc Fix.

***

6:11 p.m. — On a vote of 56 to 43, the Senate confirmed the nomination of John B. Owens of California to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

***

4:30PM

Leader Reid gave the Senate schedule and spoke on Obamacare. The Senate moved to H.R. 4302 (Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014). The following Senators spoke on the pending business or as in morning business: Cornyn, Sessions, Tester, Wyden, Coburn, Warner and Kaine.

At 5:00 PM, the Senate will proceed to an Executive Session to consider Cal. #573, John Owens to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. At 5:30 PM, the Senate will proceed to vote on the nomination. The Senate will then proceed to a Legislative Session and vote on final passage of H.R. 4302 (Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014), which will be subject to a 60-yea vote threshold. The Senate will then proceed to vote on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 3979 (Amend the IRS Code of 1986/Legislative vehicle for unemployment insurance extension).

2:00PM

The Senate will convene at 2 p.m.

After leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to consideration of the “Doc fix” bill ( H.R.4302, the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014).

At 5 p.m., the Senate will debate Executive Calendar #573, the nomination of John B. Owens of California to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

At. 5:30 p.m., the Senate will begin a series of votes. Roll calls are expected on at least two of the following:

— Confirmation of the Owens nomination;

—   An expected motion on a budget waiver for the Doc fix bill (60 votes required);

—   Passage of the Doc fix (60 votes required);

—   Motion to proceed to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance extension (possible voice vote).

The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 31.

After leader remarks on Monday, the Senate will proceed to consideration of the “Doc fix” bill ( H.R.4302, the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014).

At 5 p.m., the Senate will debate Executive Calendar #573, the nomination of John B. Owens of California to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

At. 5:30 p.m., the Senate will begin a series of votes. Roll calls are expected on at least two of the following:

— Confirmation of the Owens nomination;

—   An expected motion on a budget waiver for the Doc fix bill (60 votes required);

—   Passage of the Doc fix (60 votes required);

—   Motion to proceed to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance extension (possible voice vote).

6:20 p.m.–The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 31.

***

5:45 p.m.– Senator Reid announced that there will be three votes on Monday, March 31-

• Confirmation of John B. Owens, CA, to be 9th Circuit Judge
• Passage of H.R. 4302, Doc Fix for SGR (60 vote threshold)
• Motion to Proceed to H.R. 3979, Unemployment Insurance extension

***

2:38 p.m.  — On a vote of 65 to 34 the Senate invoked cloture of the motion to proceed to H.R. 3879 (vehicle for UI). 10 Republicans voted in favor of cloture.  Senate confirmed Matthew Tueller to be US Ambassador to Yemen by a voice vote.

No further votes are expected today.

***

2:09  p.m. — On a vote of  54 to 44  the Senate invoked cloture on the Owens nomination.

***

12:40 —  The Senate will vote at 1:45 p.m. today on the following:

• Cloture motion on the nomination of John B. Owens, CA, to be 9th Circuit Judge
• Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to H.R.3979
• The nomination of Matthew Tueller to be Ambassador to Yemen

12: 25 p.m.– The Senate passed the Menendez-Corker substitute amendment (#2867) to H.R. 4152 – the Ukraine aid bill  by a vote of  98 to 2. Sn Heller and Paul voted no. The Senate PASSED H.R. 4152, the Ukraine Aid bill by voice vote. In Executive Session, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Maria Contreras-Sweet, to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration.

***

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., the Senate will resume consideration of the Ukraine aid bill (H.R. 4152). These votes will occur at noon:

• Menendez-Corker substitute amendment  (#2867)
• Passage of the Ukraine aid bill

The Senate will then move immediately into executive session for a confirmation vote no the nomination of Maria Contreras-Sweet to be administrator of the Small Business Administration. There may be cloture votes Thursday on the motion to proceed to the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act (H.R. 3979) and the nomination of John B. Owens to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit.