Tuesday, December 12, 2017

7:03 p.m. The Senate has adjourned until 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 13, 2017 and will resume post-cloture debate of the Willett nomination.

During wrap-up:

  1. Nomination of Mary Kirtley Waters to be an Assistant Secretary of State was agreed to by voice vote.
  2. S.Res. 357 was agreed to by voice vote.
  3. S. Res. 358 was agreed to by unanimous consent.

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6:38 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke about DACA.

6:25 p.m. Senator Booker spoke about DACA.

6:20 p.m. Senator Brown spoke about DACA.

6:11 p.m. Senator Hirono spoke about DACA.

5:58 p.m. Senator Cortez Masto spoke about DACA.

5:38 p.m. Senators Wyden and Durbin spoke about DACA.

5:20 p.m. 50-48 the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Don Willett to be a Circuit Court Judge for the 5th Circuit. Senators Cochran and McCain did not vote.

5:01 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the nomination of Don Willett to be a Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit.

5:00 p.m. The Senate confirmed the Grasz nomination by a vote of 50-48. This was a party line vote. Senators Cochran and McCain did not vote.

4:30 p.m. The Senate is currently voting on the Grasz nomination followed by a cloture vote on the nomination of Don Willett to be a Circuit Judge for the US Court of Appeals for the fifth circuit.

4:25 p.m.  Senator Fischer spoke in favor of the Grasz nomination.

3:44 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about tax reform.

3:24 p.m. Senator Reed spoke about net neutrality.

2:43 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke on the Children’s health insurance program and other health care bills.

2:25 p.m. Senator Sanders spoke on a possible government shutdown, tax reform, immigration, children’s health insurance and student loans.

2:15 p.m. The Senate returned from the recess.

12:30 p.m. The Senate recessed until 2:15 p.m.

12:14 p.m. Senator Nelson spoke about the conflict between offshore oil production and aerospace and military activities.

12:13 p.m. Senator McConnell secured consent for a confirmation vote on the Grasz nomination to occur at 4:30 p.m., followed by a cloture vote on the nomination of Don Willett to be a Circuit Judge for the US Court of Appeals for the fifth circuit.

11:32 a.m. Senator Sasse spoke in favor of the Grasz nomination.

11:22 a.m. Senator Stabenow spoke about tax reform and Children’s health insurance.

11:03 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about tax reform.

10:48 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about broadband internet and net neutrality.  He also spoke on tax reform.

10:20 a.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the opioid crisis and the end of the year workload.

10:03 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke in favor of the Grasz nomination and Justice Willett nominated to the 5th Circuit. S.447, Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today Act of 2017 and the committee reported amendment, was agreed to by unanimous consent.

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 #533, Leonard Steven Grasz, of Nebraska, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, post-cloture. The Senate will recess from 12:30 pm until 2:15 pm to allow for weekly conference meetings.

Please note, all time during recess, adjournment, Morning Business, and Leader remarks will count post-cloture on the Grasz nomination.