5:36 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene at 3:00 p.m on Monday, January 13. They will resume consideration of the nomination of Peter Gaynor to be administrator of FEMA with a cloture vote to occur on the nomination at 5:30 p.m.

Passed by voice vote during wrap up:

• Calendar #289, S.2629, United States Public Health Service Modernization Act of 2019
• H.R. 263, to rename the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge as the Congressman Lester Wolff Oyster Bay Wildlife Refuge.
• S.J.Res.265, providing for the reappointment of John Fahey as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
• S.J.Res.266, providing for the appointment of Denise O’Leary as a citizen of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution
• S.J.Res.267, providing for the reappointment of Risa Lavizzo-Mourney as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution
• H.R. 925, North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act, w/ Barrasso amdts
• S. 1982, Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, w/Sullivan substitute amdt

The following nominations were confirmed by voice vote:

• Executive Calendar #541, Cynthia L. Attwood, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission for a term expiring April 27, 2025.  (Reappointment)
• Executive Calendar #542, Amanda Wood Laihow, of Maine, to be a Member of Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission for the remainder of a term expiring April 27, 2023.
• Executive Calendar #552, Crosby Kemper III, of Missouri, to be Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services for a term of four years.

5:27 p.m. The Senate reconvened.

3:32 p.m. The Senate stands in recess subject to the call of the chair.

3:15 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about the Alaskan of the Week! – Doug and April Moore of Moore’s Hardware in Talkeetna.

3:10 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about USMCA.

3:02 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about NAFTA and trade.

2:27 p.m. Senators Cramer and Hoeven paid tribute to former Senator Jocelyn Burdick.

2:25 p.m. Senator Scott of FL spoke about Iran.

2:23 p.m. ML McConnell filed cloture on the nomination of Peter Gaynor to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

2:22 p.m. The Ray nomination was confirmed on a party line vote of 50-44.

Senators not voting: 3 Republicans: Alexander, Moran and Perdue; 2 Democrats: Booker and Warren; 1 Independent: Sanders.

1:37 p.m. The Senate began a vote on confirmation of the nomination of Paul Ray to be administrator of thiOffice of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget.

1:22 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about departing staffer Lauren Oppenheimer.

1:08 p.m. Senator Blackburn spoke supporting the Ray nomination and on Iran.

12:50 Senator Carper spoke about carbon emissions, on Iran, and against the Ray nomination.

12:41 p.m. Senator Gardner spoke about Iran.

12:23 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about the USMCA trade agreement.

12:07 p.m. Senator Rubio spoke about Iran.

11:37 a.m. Senators Cornyn and Leahy spoke on impeachment.

11:36 a.m. Cloture was invoked on the Ray nomination on a party line tally of 50-45.

Senators not voting: 3 Republicans: Alexander, Moran and Perdue; 2 Democrats: Booker and Warren.

11:03 a.m. The vote began on whether to invoke cloture on the nomination of Paul Ray to be administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget.

11 a.m. Senator Johnson spoke for the Ray nomination.

10:56 a.m. Senator Peters spoke in opposition to the Ray nomination.

10:46 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about impeachment.

10:29 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about Iran and about impeachment.

10:04 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about impeachment.

10:03 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about Iran.

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and resume consideration of the nomination of Paul Ray to be Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. 

At 11:00 a.m., the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Ray nomination.

The Ray nomination is subject to up to two hours of post cloture debate prior to a confirmation vote, which is expected to occur in the afternoon.