Monday, October 2, 2017

7:31 p.m. Senate adjourned until 10:00 a.m. Tuesday.

7:18 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke on gun violence.

7:05 p.m. Senator Gillibrand spoke on gun violence.

7:02 p.m. ML McConnell wraps up for the evening.  S. 1894, regarding the Jones Act was read for the first time.  S.396, regarding marine fish conservation;and H.R. 1616, authorizing the National Computer Forensics Institute were passed by voice vote.  UC that when the Senate adjourns it do so until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, and resume consideration of the Cissna nomination.  Recess for weekly conference luncheons from 12:30-2:15.  Adjourn following remarks of Senators Gillibrand and Blumenthal.

6:15 p.m. Senators Murphy, Durbin and Casey spoke on guns.

6:12 p.m. ML McConnell calls up and files cloture on the following four nominations:

1. Lee Cissna to be Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

2. Eric Hargan to be Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services.

3. Randle Quarles to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

4. Callista Gingrich to be Ambassador to the Holy See.

6:05 p.m. Senator Flake spoke on the nomination of Amy Barrett to be a Circuit Court judge on the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

6:04 p.m. The Pai nomination was confirmed 52-41.

Senators in favor: 48 Republicans 4 Democrats: Manchin, McCaskill, Peters and Tester.

Senators against: 40 Democrats, 1 Independent: Sanders.

Senators not voting: 4 Republicans: Cochran, Heller, McCain and Toomey. 2 Democrats: Cortez Masto and Menendez. Independent: Sanders

5:33 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the Pai nomination.

5:29 p.m. Senator Thune spoke in support of the Pai nomination.

5:04 p.m. Senator Cantwell spoke about Las Vegas and the Pai nomination.

4:44 p.m. Senator Fischer paid tribute to Nebraskans Lyle Strom and William Riley.

4:34 p.m. Senator Warren spoke about Las Vegas and the Pai nomination.

4:23 p.m. Senator Capitol spoke about Las Vegas and the Pai nomination.

4:03 p.m. Senator Udall spoke about Las Vegas. He spoke against the Pai nomination.

3:52 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about Las Vegas and about taxes.

3:35 p.m. Senator Moran spoke about regulation of the internet. He spoke in favor of the Pai nomination.

3:38 p.m. Senator Schatz spoke about Law Vegas.

3:07 p.m. The Senate resumed consideration of the Pai nomination. Senator Hatch spoke about the Las Vegas massacre. He paid tribute to the late Elder Robert D. Hales of the Church of Latter Day Saints. He spoke about criminal justice reform.

3:04 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the Las Vegas massacre.

3:03 p.m. The Senate observed a moment of silence for the victims of the massacre in Las Vegas.

**********

The Senate will convene at 3:00 p.m.

There will be a moment of silence when the Senate convenes to acknowledge the tragedy in Las Vegas.

Following any leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Ajit Pai to be a member of the Federal Communications Commission until 5:30 p.m.

At 5:30 p.m., all post-cloture time will expire and the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Pai nomination.