6:48 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will return on Sunday, December 19th at 1:00 p.m. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Brian Noland to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2024.
At 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Brian Noland to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority. If cloture is invoked on the nomination, there would be up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. Following disposition of the Noland nomination, the Senate will vote on cloture on the nomination of Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California.
6:41 p.m. Senator Gardner began wrap up:
- S. 1694, Human Heritage in Space. Concurred in House amendment passed by voice vote.
- Adopted S.Res. 458, Global repeal blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws, w/ Lankford amendments.
- S. 2204, Data Analytics Robocall Technology Act of 2019. Passed by unanimous consent.
- Passed H.R. 7898, To amend the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider certain recognized security practices of covered entities and business associates when making certain determinations, and for other purposes.
- S. 2683, Child Care Protection Improvement Act, concurred in House amendment. Passed by voice vote.
- Concurred in the House amendments to S. 3989, United States Semiquincentennial Commission Amendments Act/
- H.R. 5459, Rocky Mountain National Park Ownership Correction Act. Passed by voice vote.
6:43 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Beth Harwell to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority by a tally of 59-25.
6:01 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of
Beth Harwell to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
5:20 p.m. Senator Toomey asked unanimous consent that at 6:00 p.m. today, the Senate vote on confirmation of Beth Harwell to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2024. Further, at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 20th, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Brian Noland to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2024.
4:44 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke on the NDAA and on his 61st wedding anniversary.
4:44 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Beth Harwell to be a member of the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority by a tally of 61-25.
14 Senators did not vote: Blunt, Burr, Cruz, Enzi, Ernst, Fischer, Harris, Hirono, Loeffler, Paul, Perdue, Portman, Risch and Rounds.
4:16 p.m. Roll call vote began on the nomination of Beth Harwell to be a member of the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
4:15 p.m. Cloture was not invoked on the Soskin nomination, on a party line tally of 39-48. Majority Leader McConnell changed his vote to no in order to offer a motion to reconsider.
Senators not voting: 12 Republicans: Blunt, Burr, Cruz, Enzi, Ernst, Fischer, Loeffler, Paul, Perdue, Portman, Risch and Rounds; 1 Democrat: Harris.
3:38 p.m. Roll call vote began on the nomination of Eric Soskin to be Inspector General of the Department of Transportation.
3:37 p.m. Cloture was not invoked on the Johnson nomination, on a party line tally of 39-48. Majority Leader McConnell changed his vote to no in order to offer a motion to reconsider.
Senators not voting: 12 Republicans: Blunt, Burr, Cruz, Enzi, Ernst, Fischer, Loeffler, Paul, Perdue, Portman, Risch and Rounds; 1 Democrat: Harris.
3:15 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of John Johnson to be Inspector General of the Federal Communications Commission.
3:13 p.m. Senators Cantwell and Wicker spoke on the Johnson nomination.
3:12 p.m. The Dietz nomination was confirmed, 51-36.
Senators in favor: 40 Republicans, 10 Democrats: Booker, Carper, Hassan, Kelly, Manchin, Menendez, Rosen, Sinema, Warner and Whitehouse; 1 Independent: King.
Senators voting against: 35 Democrats, 1 Independent: Sanders.
Senators not voting: 12 Republicans: Blunt, Burr, Cruz, Enzi, Ernst, Fischer, Loeffler, Paul, Perdue, Portman, Risch and Rounds; 1 Democrat: Harris.
2:35 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the Dietz nomination.
2:17 p.m. Senator Toomey spoke on his federal reserve proposal.
2:01 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke on covid relief negotiations.
1:44 p.m. Senator Brown spoke on the pension crisis.
12:57 p.m. Senator Leahy spoke on the appropriations process and later the Department of Justice and Attorney General Barr.
12:40 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on vaccines and Covid relief negotiations.
12:36 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Dietz nomination to be a judge on the US Court of Federal Claims, 50-37.
Senators voting in favor: 40 Republicans, 9 Democrats: Booker, Hassan, Kelly, Manchin, Menendez, Rosen, Sinema, Warner and Whitehouse; 1 independent: King.
Senators voting against: 36 Democrats, 1 Independent: Sanders.
Senators not voting: 12 Republicans: Blunt, Burr, Cruz, Enzi, Ernst, Fischer, Loeffler, Paul, Perdue, Portman, Risch and Rounds; 1 Democrat: Harris.
11:59 a.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the Dietz nomination.
11:39 a.m. Democratic Leader Schumer spoke on Covid relief negotiations.
11:04 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke on vaccines and Covid relief negotiations.
11:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke on Democrats questioning election results.
11:00 a.m. The Senate convened.
The Senate will convene at 11:00 a.m.
Following Leader remarks, resume consideration of Executive Calendar #895, Thompson Dietz to be a Judge of the US Court of Federal Claims.
At 12:00 noon, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Dietz nomination.
If cloture is invoked on the Dietz nomination and no further agreement is reached, there would be up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. Following disposition of the Dietz nomination, the Senate will vote on cloture on the Johnson nomination (IG FCC).
Additional roll call votes are expected during Saturday’s session.
Cloture has also been filed on the following nominations:
1. Executive Calendar #712, John Johnson to be Inspector General, Federal Communications Commission.
2. Executive Calendar #904, Eric Soskin to be Inspector General, Department of Transportation.
3. Executive Calendar #757, Beth Harwell to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority
4. Executive Calendar #758, Brian Noland to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority
5. Executive Calendar #591, Fernando Aenlle-Rocha to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California
