Blog

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

6:26 p.m. The Senate adjourned until 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, February 28, 2018. Following leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #153, Russell Vought, of Virginia, to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, post-cloture. All post-cloture time on the Vought nomination will expire at 4:30 pm and the Senate will have two votes on:

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #153, Russell Vought, of Virginia, to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget and 2) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #437, A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr., of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina

6:24 p.m. The Majority Leader began the Rule 14 process to bypass committee and place on the Legislative Calendar of Business S.2464: Three-Year Border and DACA Extension Act.

  • Adopted by U.C.: S.Res.415: Speech and Debate Month.
  • Adopted by U.C.: S.Res.416: Career and Technical Education Month.
  • Agreed to by U.C.: S.Con.Res.35: Authorizing Emancipation Hall for OSS Gold Medal.

6:11 p.m. Senator Warren spoke about the need for a director of the Indian Health Service.

5:34 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke about climate change and the American Petroleum Institute.

5:24 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke about the passing of constituent Ursula Le Guin.

5:08 p.m. Senator Collins and Senator Heinrich spoke supporting the terrorist firearms prevention act.

5:07 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Russell Vought to be Deputy Director of OMB by a vote of 49-48.

4:30 p.m. The Senate confirmed Elizabeth L. Branch, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit by a vote of 73-23.

4:00 p.m.  The Senate will proceed to 2 roll call votes on the following:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #623, Elizabeth L. Branch, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.
  2. Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #153, Russell Vought, of Virginia, to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

3:35 p.m. Senator Markey spoke about gun legislation and the need for reform.

3:20 p.m. Senator Sanders spoke about gun legislation and the need for reform.

3:15 p.m. Senator Daines spoke in favor of both nominations.

2:40 p.m. Senator Thune spoke on tax penalties on foreign entities and the benefits from lowering rates.

2:19 p.m. Senator Portman paid tribute to Columbus Ohio police officers Morelli and Durly and also spoke about the opioid epidemic.

12:30 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned for the weekly caucus luncheons.

11:04 a.m. Senator Lee paid tribute to Frederick Douglass.

11:03 a.m. Senator Young achieved the following confirmation by voice vote: William Northey to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for farm and foreign agriculture services.

10:47 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke on the Branch nomination.

10:22 a.m. Senators Durbin and Cornyn spoke on gun violence.

10:11 a.m. Democratic Leader Schumer spoke on gun violence and net neutrality and taxes.

10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.

***

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of  the nomination of Elizabeth Branch to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit, post-cloture.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. to allow for weekly conference meetings.

Cloture has also been filed on the following nominations:
1. Russell Vought to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
2. Marvin Quattlebaum to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina.
3. Karen Scholer to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas.
4. Tilman Self to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia.
5. Terry Doughty to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.
Each nomination is subject to a cloture vote and then, if cloture is invoked, up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate prior to a vote on confirmation. Upon disposition of the first nomination, there would be a cloture vote on the next nomination in the series.