Blog

Thursday, April 11, 2019

5:03 p.m. The Senate adjourned.

5:02 p.m. ML McConnell announced the pro forma schedule for the recess:

  • Monday April 15 at 3:00 p.m.
  • Thursday April 18 at 11:45 a.m.
  • Monday April 22 at 9:00 a.m.
  • Thursday April 25 at 4:30 p.m.

The Senate will next convene for business on Monday, April 29 at 3:00 p.m. and resume consideration of the nomination of the nomination of William Cooper to be General Counsel of the Department of Energy; with a cloture vote on the nomination at 5:30 p.m.



4:54 p.m. ML McConnell wrapped up for the evening and week. The following were confirmed by voice vote:


    

  • Drew Wrigley to be US Attorney for the District of North Dakota
    • 

  • Wing Chau to be US Marshal for the District of Rhode Island
    • 

  • Ramona Dohman to be US Marshal for the District of Minnesota
    • 

  • Nick Proffitt to be US Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia
    • 

  • S. RES. 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, and 168
    • 

  • H Res 23, regarding awareness about preventing child abductions
    • 

  • Daniel Rosenblum to be Ambassador to Uzbekistan
    • 

  • Donald Tapia to be Ambassador to Jamaica
    • 

  • Robert Scott to be Ambassador to Malawi
    • 



Agreed to by UC:


    

  • S Res 85, recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Easter Seals
    • 

  • S Res 131, regarding national 9-1-1 education month.
    • 

  • S Res 136, regarding national safe digging month
    • 

  • S Con Res 14, regarding celebrating King Kamehameha
    • 

  • H Con Res 31, regarding holocaust remembrance day
    • 

  • HR 1222, regarding target practice and marksmanship training support
    • 



The following had their first reading:

HR 1644 (regarding net neutrality) and HR 1957 (Taxpayer First Act of 2019)


4:45 p.m. Senator Cramer spoke on the nomination of Drew Wrigley to be US Attorney for the District of North Dakota.


4:23 p.m. Senator Enzi introduced the “association health plan act of 2019.”


2:41 p.m. Senator Sulllivan spoke on the Bernhardt nomination and the Alaskan of the week.


2:30 p.m. ML McConnell filed cloture on the following nominations:


    

  1. William Cooper to be General Counsel of the Department of Energy.
    2. 

  2. Clark Cooper to be Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs
    3. 

  3. Gordon Hartogensis to be director of the Pension Benefits Guarantee Corporation.
    4. 

  4. Campbell Barker to be a district judge for the Eastern District of Texas.
    5. 

  5. Andrew Brasher to be a district judge for the Middle District of Alabama.
    6. 

  6. Rodolfo Ruiz to be a district judge for the Southern District of Florida.
    7. 

  7. Raul Arias-Marxuach to be a district judge for the District of Puerto Rico.
    8. 

  8. Joshua Wolson to be a district judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
    9. 



2:29 p.m. The senate confirmed the nomination of David Bernhardt to be Secretary of Interior, 57-41.


Democrats in favor: Heinrich, Manchin and Sinema.

Independent in favor: King

Not voting : 2 Democrats: Booker and Harris, 1 Republican: Perdue.


1:52 p.m. The Senate began voting on the Bernhardt nomination.


1:45 p.m. Senator Menendez spoke against the Bernhardt nomination.


1:29 p.m. Senator Scott of FL spoke on Venezuela.


1:21 p.m. Senator Fischer spoke about ICBMs.


1:14 p.m. Senator Manchin spoke in support of the Bernhardt nomination.


1:10 p.m. Senator Durbin paid tribute to his staffer M.J. Kenney.


1:00 p.m. Senator Murkowski spoke in favor of the Bernhardt nomination.


12:30 p.m. Senator Markey spoke against the Bernhardt nomination.


12:15 p.m. Senator Cornyn spoke on border security.


12:11 p.m. Senator Peters spoke about the vehicle innovation act.


12:05 p.m. ML McConnell announced the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Bernhardt nomination at 1:45 pm.


11:54 a.m. Senator Blackburn spoke on Broadband.


11:34 a.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke on the Bernhardt nomination.


11:17 a.m. Senator Scott (SC) paid tribute to former Senator Hollings.


11:09 a.m. Senator Graham paid tribute to former Senator Hollings.


10:55 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about AG Barr and the Bernhardt nomination.


10:36 a.m. Senator Gardner spoke supporting the Bernhardt nomination and in memory of Corporal Daniel Groves.


10:10 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about flooding in the Midwest.


10:05 a.m. ML McConnell spoke on nominations.


10:03 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke on health care.


10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.


*****


The Senate will convene at 10:00 am and resume consideration of the nomination of David Bernhardt to be Secretary of the Interior, post-cloture.


A roll call vote on confirmation of the Bernhardt nomination is expected during Thursday’s session.