Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019

4:48 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene for a proforma session at 8:00 a.m on Friday, November 7. They will reconvene for regular session at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12 and will resume consideration of Chad Wolf to be Under Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security with a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination to occur at 5:30 p.m.

Passed during wrap up:

  • S. 1388-Supply Chain Counterintelligence Training Act
  • S. 979-FACE Act
  • H.R. 1123- Divisional Realignment for the Eastern District of Arkansas Act of 2019
  • S. Res. 412-National Family Service Learning Week
  • S. Res. 413-National Veterans Small Business Week.
  • S. Res. 414-National Native American Heritage Month

4:31 p.m. Senator Sullivan spoke about the Alaskan of the Week.

3:36 p.m. Senator Peters spoke about prescription drug costs.

3:15 p.m. Senator Ernst spoke about the Violence Against Women Act.

2:54 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke about price gouging for insulin.

2:40 p.m. Senator Portman spoke on reforms to retirement plans.

2:36 p.m. ML McConnell filed cloture on the following:

**Chad Wolf to be Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy and Plans to the Department of Homeland Security.

**Steven Menashi to be a Circuit Court Judge.

2:35 p.m. The Nardini nomination was confirmed 86-2.

Senators Gillibrand and Markey voted against.

1:38 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of the nomination of William Nardini to be a U.S. circuit court judge for the Second Circuit.

1:24 p.m. Senator Casey spoke on impeachment.

12:58 p.m. Senators Toomey, Cruz and Portman spoke on tax code revisions. Senator Toomey asked UC to take up H.R. 1994 with equal numbers of amendments and a 10 hour time agreement.  Senator Murray objected and offered her own UC to take up and pass HR 1994 without amendments. Senator Toomey objected.

12:57 p.m. The Wilson nomination was confirmed 88-3.

Senators voting against: 3 Democrats: Gillibrand, Hirono and Markey.

Senators not voting: 6 Democrats: Booker, Cardin, Harris, Klobuchar, Warren and Wyden; 2 Republicans: Isakson and Perdue; 1 Independent: Sanders.

12:31 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #365 Jennifer Wilson to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

12:22 p.m. DL Schumer spoke about Syria and ISIS and asked u.c. to call up and pass S 2755, A bill to require a report on the plan to secure the enduring defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Senator Scott of Florida proposed an amendment to modify S. 2755, Senator Schumer objected to the modification. Senator Scott of Florida objected to passing S. 2755.

12:21 p.m. By a tally of 51-41 the Senate confirmed the nomination of Lee Rudofsky to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

11:45 a.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of Lee Rudofsky to be US District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

11:44 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about prescription drug prices.

11:42 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about prescription drug prices.

10:55 a.m. Senator Kaine spoke about veterans.

10:45 a.m. Senator Murray spoke against the several judicial nominations.

10:40 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about defense appropriation.

10:25 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about appropriations and immigration.

10:04 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about nominations. He spoke about the rural economy.

10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke about veterans.

10 a.m. Senator Inhofe delivered the morning prayer.

*****

The Senate will convene at 10 a.m.

At 11:45 a.m., roll call votes will begin on confirmation of the nominations of Lee Rudofsky to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas and of  Jennifer Wilson to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

At 1:45 p.m., the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination of William Nardini to be a U.S. circuit court judge for the Second Circuit.