Thursday, November 16, 2017

5:45 p.m. The Senate adjourned and will reconvene for pro forma session on Friday, November 17 at 11:00 a.m. The next votes will occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, November 27th on:

  • Confirmation of Dabney Langhorne Freidrich to be a United States District Judge for the District of Columbia
  • Cloture motion on Greg Katsas to be a US Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia

There will be three pro forma sessions during the Thanksgiving recess all occurring at 11:00 a.m.: November 17, 21 and 24.

The following executive calendar nominations were confirmed during wrap up: Calendar numbers: 461,464,478,479,480,488, 490, 491,492. 493, 494 and 292.

The following resolutions were passed en bloc: S. RES. 337,
338, 339, and 340.

4:50 p.m. Senator Reed spoke about NDAA.

4:45 p.m. Senator Sasse spoke about Judicial nominees.

4:30 p.m. Senator Fischer spoke supporting the NDAA Conference Report.

4:28 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about blue slip nominations and about Chairman Grassley’s hard work.

4:05 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about judiciary nominees.

4:04 p.m. Senator Reed spoke against the tax reform bill.

3:34 p.m. Senator Coons spoke about tax reform.

3:05 p.m. Senator Peters spoke about tax reform.

2:30 p.m. Senator Inhofe spoke on the Museum of the Bible and energy in Alaska.

2:26 p.m. Majority Leader McConnell moves to the nomination of Greg Katsas to be a US Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia; and files cloture on the nomination.  He then spoke about the just passed Defense Authorization.  He later paid tribute to departing staffer Brian Forrest.

2:25 p.m. The Coggins nomination was confirmed 96-0.

Senators not voting: Booker, Franken, McCain and Menendez.

1:47 p.m. Roll call vote began on confirmation of  Donald Coggins to be a United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina.

1:46 p.m. The Senate agreed to adopt the conference report to accompany H.R. 2810, the National Defense Authorization Act by voice vote.

1:12 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Friedrich nomination 93-4.

Senators voting against: Gillibrand, Hirono, Kennedy (R), and Warren.

Senators not voting: Booker, Franken and Menendez.

12:54 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the Friedrich nomination.

12:53 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Coggins nomination by a vote of 96 to 1. Senator Hirono voted NO and Senators Booker, Franken and Menendez did not vote.

12:34 p.m.  The cloture vote began on the Coggins nomination.

12:33  p.m. By a vote of 54 to 43, the  Senate confirmed the nomination of Joseph Otting to be Comprotoller of the Currency. YEAS were all Republicans and Democrats Heitkamp and Manchin. Not voting: Booker, Franken and Menendez.

12:01 p.m. The vote began on confirmation of the the Otting nomination.

12:00 p.m. Leader McConnell secured consent for the Senate to debate the conference report on the fiscal 2018 defense authorization (H.R. 2810) at 1:30 p.m. A vote on the defense bill will occur at about 1:45 p.m.

After the vote on the defense bill, the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Coggins nomination. Confirmation of the Friedrich nomination will occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 27.

11:58 a.m. Senator Crapo spoke for the Otting nomination.

10:38 a.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke about background checks and judicial nominations.

9:56 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on “Dreamers”.

9:48 a.m. Democratic Leader Schumer spoke on tax reform.

9:34 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke on tax reform and todays votes on nominations.  He then achieved UC to pass H.R.4374 – To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize additional emergency uses for medical products to reduce deaths and severity of injuries caused by agents of war; and further got agreement that at a time to be determined, begin consideration of the Defense Authorization Conference Report.

***

The Senate convenes at 9:30 am and resumes consideration of the nomination of Joseph Otting to be Comptroller of the Currency, post-cloture.  At 11:30 am, there will be thirty minutes of post-cloture time remaining on the nomination.

At 12:00 pm, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on confirmation of the Otting nomination.

Following disposition of the Otting nomination, the Senate will proceed to roll call votes on the motions to invoke cloture on the following nominations:

  • Donald Coggins Jr., to be a United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina
  • Dabney Langhorne Freidrich to be a United States District Judge for the District of Columbia

If cloture is invoked on the Coggins and Langhorne nominations, their respective post-cloture debate will be processed consecutively.  Additional roll call votes relative to these nominations are possible during Thursday’s session.