4:50 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11. They will resume consideration of the nomination of Richard E. N. Federico to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit. At 5:30 they will vote on confirmation of the Federico nomination.
4:49 p.m. The Senate confirmed by voice vote the following nominations:
- Col. Andrew O. Saslav to be Brigadier General
- Capt. Jason P. Tama to be Rear Admiral
- Capt. Arex B. Avanni to be Rear Admiral
- Capt. Gregory C. Rothrock to be Rear Admiral
- Capt. Jeffrey W. Novak to be Rear Admiral
- Capt. Adam A. Chamie to be Rear Admiral
- Capt. Zeita Merchant to be Rear Admiral
- All nominations on the Secretary’s Desk.
4:43 p.m. Senator Gillibrand spoke about victims of the Hamas attack.
3:46 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about American Financial Institutions and the Chinese Military.
3:30 p.m. Senator Lee spoke on the UN and his Defund Act.
3:15 p.m. Senator Durbin began wrap-up:
Received unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the Majority and Republican Leaders, the Senate proceed to the nomination of Martin O’Malley to be Commissioner of Social Security for the remainder of the term expiring January 19, 2025. That there be one hour of debate and that the Senate then vote on confirmation of the nomination.
S. Res. 492, Honoring the Life of First Lady Rosalynn Carter, was adopted by unanimous consent.
3:01 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on prescription drugs, the October 7th attack on Israel, and credit card fees.
2:48 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke on Medicare part D prescription drug benefits.
2:38 p.m. Senator Hirono spoke on supplemental appropriations.
2:37 p.m. By a vote of 63-32, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Richard E. N. Federico to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit. Republican senators voting yes: Capito, Cassidy, Collins, Cornyn, Graham, Hoeven, Lankford, Marshall, Murkowski, Rubio, Thune, Tillis, and Wicker. Cramer, Moran, and Rounds did not vote.
1:50 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Richard Federico to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit.
1:35 p.m. Senator Hawley spoke on nuclear contamination in Missouri.
1:30 p.m. Leader Schumer filed cloture on the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2024 and filed the amendment tree.
1:30 p.m. By a vote of 82-15, the Senate adopted the motion to proceed to HR 2670 the Defense Authorization conference report.
Voting no: Booker, Braun, Hawley, Johnson, Lee, Lujan, Markey, Merkley, Paul, Sanders, Sullivan, Tuberville, Vance, Warren & Wyden.
Not voting: Cramer, Moran & Rounds.
12:42 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to the Conference Report to accompany H.R.2670, FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
12:32 p.m. Senators Reed, Wicker, and Majority Leader Schumer spoke supporting the NDAA Conference Report.
12:31 p.m. By a vote of 13-84, the Senate did not adopt the motion to discharge from Foreign Relations Committee S.J.Res.51, Paul War Powers Resolution (re: Syria). Not voting: Senators Cramer, Moran, and Rounds.
Voting in favor: Senators Braun, Durbin, Lee, Markey, Merkley, Murphy, Paul, Sanders, Tuberville, Vance, Warren, Welch, and Wyden.
11:32 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to discharge from the Foreign Relations Committee S.J. Res. 51, a joint resolution directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in Syria that have not been authorized by Congress.
11:28 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on the nomination of Harry Coker, Jr. to be National Cyber Director.
11:08 a.m. Senator Paul spoke on US Armed Forces in Syria and made a motion to discharge from the Foreign Relations Committee S.J. Res. 51, a joint resolution directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in Syria that have not been authorized by Congress.
10:43 a.m. Senator Thune spoke on inflation.
10:28 a.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke on border security, Ukraine aid, Syria, and inflation.
10:15 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke about an assault weapons bill, and about Ukraine and border funding.
*****
The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and following any Leader remarks will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.815, the vehicle for supplemental appropriations.
Senator Paul is expected to make a motion to discharge S.J.Res.51, a joint resolution directing the removal of US Armed Forces from hostilities in Syria that have not been authorized by Congress, from the Committee on Foreign Relations.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., if a motion to discharge is made, the Senate is expected to proceed to two votes:
1) The motion to discharge S.J.Res.51.
2) Either confirmation of the nomination of Elizabeth Richard to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism OR the non-debatable motion to proceed to NDAA Conference Report.
At approximately 1:45 p.m., the Senate will proceed to a cloture vote on the nomination of Richard Federico to be a Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit.
