6:18 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2019. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #422, Barbara Barrett, to be Secretary of the Air Force, post-cloture. At 11:00 a.m., the cloture motions on the Volk, Eskridge, Novak, and Kovner nominations will ripen and the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nominations.
The Senate will recess from 12:30 pm until 2:15 pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
At 4:15 pm on Wednesday, the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Barrett, Volk, Eskridge, Novak, and Kovner nominations.
6:10 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke about the music industry in Nashville.
6:08 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Barrett nomination by a tally of 84-7. Senators Blumenthal, Duckworth, Gillibrand, Markey, Merkley, Smith, and Wyden voted no.
Senators not voting: Alexander, Bennet, Booker, Coons, Harris, Hirono, Klobuchar, Sanders and Warren.
5:30 p.m. The Senate is currently voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #422, the nomination of Barbara Barrett to be secretary of the Air Force.
5:00 p.m.Senator Whitehouse spoke on retirees in fear of losing their pensions and H.R. 397, the Rehabilitation of Multiemployer pension Act.
4:40 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke on retirees in fear of losing their pensions and H.R. 397, the Rehabilitation of Multiemployer pension Act.
4:30 p.m. Senator Manchin spoke on retirees in fear of losing their pensions and H.R. 397, the Rehabilitation of Multiemployer pension Act.
4:25 p.m. Senator Brown spoke on retirees in fear of losing their pensions and H.R. 397, the Rehabilitation of Multiemployer pension Act.
4:07 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about whistleblowers.
3:50 p.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the Ukraine episode at the center of the impeachment inquiry. He said Democrats will use a special procedure to force votes on health care, taxes, and climate change.
He spoke about the situation in Syria.
3:30 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the presidential impeachment effort in the House. He spoke about the Senate agenda, including nominations, appropriations, and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
He voiced “grave concern” about the situation in Syria.
He moved under Rule XIV to place on the calendar H.R. 2593, the continuing resolution on federal spending for fiscal year 2020.
3:07 p.m. Senator Tillis paid tribute to the visiting chaplain, Pastor Andrew Brunson of North Carolina.
3:02 p.m. Senator Grassley noted the anniversary of the U.S. Navy. He paid tribute to former Ambassador Ken Quinn for his fight against hunger.
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The Senate will convene at 3 p.m., and will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #422, the nomination of Barbara Barrett to be secretary of the Air Force.
At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Barrett nomination.
Cloture has also been filed on the following nominations:
1. Executive Calendar #359, Frank Volk to be a district court judge for the Southern District of West Virginia;
2. Executive Calendar #363, Charles Eskridge to be a district court judge for the Southern District of Texas;
3. Executive Calendar #328, David Novak to be a district court judge for the Eastern District of Virginia;
4. Executive Calendar #348, Rachel Kovner to be a district court judge for the Eastern District of New York.
