4:30 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned and will reconvene for a pro forma session on Friday, January 12th. The next legislative session will occur on Tuesday, January 16th at 4:30 p.m. with a 5:30 p.m. vote on the cloture motion to S. 139 – the legislative vehicle for FISA.
4:20 p.m. Senator Murkowski conducted wrap up. The Senate passed the following bills by unanimous consent:
S. Res 372, Congratulating North Dakota State University Football team for winning 2017 Div 1, Subdivision title.
H.R. 4641, An Act to Authorize the award of the Metal of Honor to John Canley for acts of volor, Vietnam War, Marine Corps.
4:07 p.m Senator Murphy spoke on CHIP.
3:45 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke on the “Alaskan of the Week” .
3:30 p.m. Senator Hirono spoke on her recent votes against judicial nominees.
3:18 p.m. Senator Perdue spoke about immigration.
3:00 p.m. Senator Portman spoke about benefits of tax reform.
2:54 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke about his last term in the Senate.
2:33 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about Russia.
2:31 p.m. ML McConnell fills the tree on the vehicle for the FISA amendme tns re authorization act vehicle.
2:30 p.m. The motion to proceed to the House message to accompany S. 139, the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act vehicle. was agreed to 69-26.
Senators voting against: 20 Democrats: Baldwin, Brown, Cantwell, Coons, Durbin, Gillibrand, Harris, Heinrich, Hirono, Leahy, Markey, Merkley, Menendez, Murray, Schatz, Smith, Tester, Udall, Van Hollen, Warren and Wyden. 4 Republicans: Gardner, Lee, Moran and Paul; 1 Independent:Sanders.
Senators not voting: Alexander, Booker, Heller and McCain.
2:08 p.m. Roll call vote began on the motion to proceed to the consideration of the House Message to accompany S.139, the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act vehicle.
2:07 p.m. The Countas nomination was confirmed 96-0.
Senators not voting: Alexander, Booker, Heller and McCain.
1:36 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of the Counts nomination.
1:35 p.m. H.R. 984-Federal Recognition of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe-was approved by voice vote.
1:32 p.m. Senator Warner spoke about federal recognition of Native American tribes in Virginia.
1:18 p.m. Senator Warren spoke about offshore drilling.
1:08 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about Senate rules.
1:07 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Counts nomination, 90-1. Senators not voting: Alexander, Booker, Cotton, Durbin, Graham, Heller, McCain, Perdue, and Sanders.
Senators voting against:
Senators not voting:
6 Republicans: Alexander, Cotton, Graham, Heller, McCain and Perdue; 2 Democrats: Booker and Durbin.
12:04 p
6 Republicans: Alexander, Cotton, Graham, Heller, McCain and Perdue; 2 Democrats: Booker and Durbin.
12:04 p
6 Republicans: Alexander, Cotton, Graham, Heller, McCain and Perdue; 2 Democrats: Booker and Durbin.
12:04 p
12:43 p.m. Roll call vote began on cloture on the nomination of Walter Count to be US District Judge for the Western District of Texas.
12:42 p.m. The nomination of Michael Brown was confirmed 92-0.
not voting: 6 Republicans: Alexander, Cotton, Graham, Heller, McCain and Perdue; 2 Democrats: Booker and Durbin.
12:04 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the nomination of Michael Brown to be US District Judge for the northern district of Georgia.
11:52 a.m. Senator Shaheen discussed Russian involvement in the 2016 election.
11:32 a.m. Senators Blunt and Capito spoke on the opiod epidemic.
11:04 a.m. Senator Moran spoke about his seat on the banking committee and about community banking.
10:41 a.m. Senator Daines spoke about the trade in people for sexual purposes.
10:30 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about deadlines looming for legislation on spending, immigration and other areas. He spoke about the investigation into Russian involvement in the U.S. elections of 2016.
10:03 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the economy. He spoke about the tax overhaul.
* * * * *
The Senate will convene at 10:00 am. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to resume consideration of Executive Calendar #389, Michael Lawrence Brown, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia.
At 12:00 pm the Senate will proceed to 2 roll call votes on the following:
- Confirmation of the Brown nomination.
- Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #435, Walter David Counts III, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas.
Further, if cloture is invoked, at 1:45 pm the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on confirmation of the Counts nomination
NOTE: Senator Coons will hold a pen-and-pad session today at 12:15 p.m. in the Senate Press Gallery (Rm. S-316). Topic: Iran.