10:17 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 10 a.m. Wednesday.
10:03 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke about guns.
9:13 p.m. Senators Whitehouse, Murphy and Schatz spoke about guns.
8:18 p.m. Senators Van Hollen, Casey, Brown and Murphy spoke about guns.
7:25 p.m. Senators Murray, Heinrich, Gillibrand, Udall, Bennet, Cantwell, Markey and Blumenthal spoke on background checks and gun safety.
5:26 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about gun safety and background checks.
5:18 p.m. Senator Stabenow spoke about the need for background checks.
5:17 p.m. ML McConnell announced that following the remarks of Democrats this evening, the Senate will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday and the Senate will have 3 votes at 11:00 a.m.:
1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #223 Robert A. Destro to be Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #419 Brent James McIntosh to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury
3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #418 Brian Callanan to be General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury.
5:17 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on Brian Callanan to be General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury by a tally of 55-37.
Democrats voting yes: Senators Carper, Jones, Manchin, Murphy, and Sinema.
Republican voting no: Senator Paul
Senators not voting: Alexander, Booker, Harris, Johnson, Klobuchar, Roberts, Sanders and Warren.
4:56 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #418 Brian Callanan to be General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury.
4:55 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on Brent James McIntosh to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury by a vote of 54-40.
4:30 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the Destro nomination to be Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights by a vote of 49-44. Senator Collins joined 42 Democrats and 1 Independent voting no.
Senators Alexander, Bennet, Booker, Cruz, Harris, Roberts, Sanders and Warren did not vote.
4:09 p.m. The Senate began voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Robert A. Destro to be Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights.
4:08 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Kenneth Howery to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden by a vote of 62-32.
3:30 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of Kenneth Howery to be the Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden.
3:02 p.m. Senator Coons spoke on gun violence.
2:21 p.m. Senator Feinstein spoke on gun violence.
2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from recess. Senator Perdue paid tribute to Senator Isakson.
1:23 p.m. The Senate recessed until 2:15 p.m.
1:22 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Howery nomination, 63-29.
Senators voting in favor: 51 Republicans; 11 Democrats: Carper, Coons, Hassan, Jones, Kaine, Manchin, Merkley, Murphy, Shaheen, Sinema and Warner; 1 Independent: King.
Senators voting against: 29 Democrats.
Senators not voting: 5 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Harris and Warren and Wyden; 2 Republicans: Alexander and Roberts; 1 Independent: Sanders.
12:52 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Kenneth Howery to be the Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden.
12:50 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of John Rakolta to be Ambassador to the UAE by a tally of 63-30.
Senators voting in favor: 51 Republicans, 11 Democrats: Coons, Hassan, Jones, Manchin, Murphy, Peters, Shaheen, Sinema, Stabenow, Tester and Van Hollen; 1 Independent: King.
Senators voting against: 30 Democrats.
Senators not voting: 4 Democrats: Bennet, Booker, Harris and Warren; 2 Republicans: Alexander and Roberts; 1 Independent: Sanders.
12:00 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of John Rakolta to be Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
11:56 a.m. Senator Romney spoke in favor of the Rakolta nomination.
11:46 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about taxes and the cost of prescription drugs.
11:27 a.m. Senator Kennedy spoke about taxes.
11:08 a.m. Senator Tester spoke about impact on agriculture due to tariffs.
11 a.m. Senator Blackburn spoke about the charges against Justice Kavanaugh.
10:46 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about a pioneering advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, Marcia Bristo. He spoke against the transfer of military funds to construction of a border wall.
10:40 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about agricultural trade.
10:33 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about appropriations. He spoke about Democratic plans to hold the floor tonight for speeches on gun control.
10:03 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the floor schedule for appropriations.
10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about Constitution Day.
*****
The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m.
Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of John Rakolta to be Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, post-cloture.
12:00 noon – 2 roll call votes:
- Confirmation of John Rakolta to be Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
- Cloture on Kenneth Howery to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden.
Following the Howery cloture vote, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
3:30pm – 4 roll call votes:
- If cloture is invoked, confirmation of Kenneth Howery to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden.
- Cloture on Robert Destro to be Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
- Cloture on Brent McIntosh to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury.
- Cloture on Brian Callanan to be General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury.
During Monday’s session, Majority Leader McConnell filed cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2740, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020. That cloture vote is expected to occur during Wednesday’s session.
If cloture is invoked on the nominations, then expected at TBD Wednesday September 18 – 4 roll call votes:
- Confirmation of Robert Destro to be Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
- Confirmation of Brent McIntosh to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury.
- Confirmation of Brian Callanan to be General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury.
- Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2740, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020
