Monday, December 18, 2023

7:20 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned untill 11:00 a.m. Tuesday December 19th 2023. Following leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Christopher Charles Fonzone, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Attorney General.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus lunches.

At approx. 2:15 p.m. the Senate is expected to hold 5 roll call votes:

  1. Motion to invoke cloture on Christopher Charles Fonzone, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Attorney General
  2. Confirmation of Christopher Charles Fonzone, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Attorney General
  3. Motion to invoke cloture on Sara E. Hill, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma
  4. Confirmation of Sara E. Hill, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma
  5. Confirmation of Elizabeth H. Richard, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, with the rank and status of Ambassador at Large

7:05 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer started wrap up:

  • Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on the following nominations:
    • John David Russell, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
    • Jose Javier Rodriguez, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor.
    • Joseph Goffman, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Confirmed by Voice Vote En Bloc:
    • Paul K. Martin, of Maryland, to be Inspector General, United States Agency for International Development, vice Ann Calvaresi Barr, resigned
    • David K. Sing, of Hawaii, to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2026, vice Joyce Malcolm, term expired|
  • By unanimous consent, the Senate removed the Injunction of Secrecy from the following treaties that were transmitted to the Senate on December 18, 2023 by the President of the United States, and referred with Accompanying Papers to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
    • • The treaties with the Republic of Cuba and the Government of the United Mexican States on the Delimitation of Maritime Boundaries.
  • H.R. 1147 Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023, was placed on the calendar under rule XIV
  • Passed by Unanimous Consent – S. 3427, Overtime Pay for Protective Services Act of 2023
  • Passed by Unanimous Consent – S. 310, Disaster Contract Improvement Act
  • Passed by Unanimous Consent – S. 679, GAO Database Modernization Act of 2023
  • Passed by Unanimous Consent – S. 950, Technical Correction to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2023
  • Passed by Unanimous Consent – S. 2073, Eliminate Useless Reports Act of 2023
  • Passed by Unanimous Consent – 1416, NWR Modernization Act of 2023
  • Passed by Unanimous Consent – S. 2685, Reuse Excess Property Act
  • The Following was adopted to En Bloc by unanimous Consent
    • S. Res. 512, Lung Cancer Awareness Month
    • S. Res. 513, Wright Brothers Day
    • S. Res. 517, FSU Women’s Soccer

6:21 p.m. By a vote of 50 to 11, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Martin O’Malley to be Commissioner of Social Security.
Senators Capito, Collins, Grassley, Murkowski, Rounds, and Tillis voted YEA

5:26 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the nomination of Martin O’Malley to be Commissioner of Social Security.

5:13 p.m. Senators Wyden, Carper, and Cardin spoke on the O’Malley nomination.

4:44 p.m. Senators Whitehouse, Cardin, Carper, Markey, and Wyden spoke on COP 28.

4:33 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke on the O’Malley nomination and on COP 28.

3:13 p.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke about the national security supplemental.

3:06 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on the national security supplemental and nominations.

3:00 p.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m., and following any Leader remarks, will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #415, Martin O’Malley to be Commissioner of Social Security.

At approximately 5:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on confirmation of the O’Malley nomination.

Cloture has been filed on the following nominations:
1. Christopher Fonzone to be an Assistant Attorney General.
2. Sara Hill to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

At a time to be determined, the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination of Elizabeth Richard to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, with the rank and status of Ambassador at Large.