Tuesday, July 17, 2018

10:09 p.m. The Senate adjourned.

9:42 p.m. Senator Merkely spoke against the Bounds nomination.

9:31 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke against the Bounds and Oldham nominations.

9:20 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke about the Kavanaugh nomination.

9:06 p.m. Senator Casey spoke about judicial nominations.

8:15 p.m. Senator Wyden spoke against the Kavanaugh nomination and Bounds nomination.

7:59 p.m. Senator Warren spoke against the Kavanaugh nomination.

7:34 p.m. Senator Whitehouse spoke against the Kavanaugh nomination.

7:11 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke against the Kavanaugh nomination.

7:08 p.m. Senator Merkley spoke against the Kavanaugh and Bounds nominations.

6:41 p.m. Senator Rubio spoke about Russian interference in our elections.

6:22 p.m. Senator Sanders spoke about President Trump’s visit to Helsinki.

6:20 p.m. Senator Graham conducted wrap up. During wrap up, passed H.R. 6042, To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to delay the reduction in Federal medical assistance percentage for Medicaid personal care services furnished without an electronic visit verification system.  When the Senate adjourns tonight, it will reconvene on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and following Leader remarks resume consideration of the Oldham nomination. At 2:00 p.m., the Senate will have 2 votes on: 1. Confirmation of Andrew Oldham to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit 2. Motion to invoke cloture on Cal. #903 Ryan Bounds to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the 9th Circuit.

5:57 p.m. Senator Smith  spoke against the Kavanaugh nomination.

5:31 P.M. Senator Whitehouse spoke on the Kavanaugh nomination.

5:10 p.m. Senator Carper spoke about President Trump’s visit to Helsinki.

5:00 p.m. Senator Portman  spoke on the Kavanaugh nomination.

4:55 p.m. Senator Murray spoke about President Trump’s visit to Helsinki.

4:45 p.m. Senator Van Hollen spoke about President Trump’s visit to Helsinki.

4:35 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke about President Trump’s visit to Helsinki.

4:33 p.m. Senator Flake spoke about President Trump’s visit to Helsinki.

4:30 p.m. Senator Reed spoke about President Trump’s visit to Helsinki.

4:00 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke about President Trump’s visit to Helsinki.

3:56 p.m. Senator Kaine spoke about President Trump’s visit to Helsinki.

3:47 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke about President Trump’s visit to Helsinki.

3:38 p.m. Senator Thune spoke about the Kavanaugh nomination.

3:18 p.m. Senator Grassley spoke about the Kavanaugh nomination.

3:18 p.m. Cloture was invoked on the Oldham nomination by a vote of 50 to 49 (Not voting: McCain).

2:52 p.m. The Senate voted on invoking cloture on the Andrew S. Oldham nomination to be a Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit.

2:51 p.m. The Senate confirmed Randal Quarles to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve by a vote of 66-33. (Not voting: McCain)

2:24 p.m. The Senate voted on the nomination of Randal Quarles to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.

2:20 p.m. Senator Crapo spoke in support of the Quarles nomination.

2:18 p.m. Senator Cortez Masto spoke against the Quarles nomination.

2:15 p.m. Senator Brown spoke against the Quarles nomination.

1:04 p.m. The Senate is in recess until 2:15 p.m.

1:03 p.m. Senator Daines received unanimous consent that all post cloture time on the Quarles nomination expires at 2:25 p.m. and that there will be two votes:

  • Confirmation on the nomination of Randal Quarles to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
  • Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Andrew S. Oldham to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit

1:03 p.m. The Senate invoked cloture on Randal Quarles nomination with a vote of 66-33. (Not voting: McCain)

12:28 p.m. The Senate voted to invoke cloture on Randal Quarles to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.

12:27 p.m. The Senate confirmed James Blew to be the Assistant Secretary of Education for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development by a vote of 50-49. (Not voting: McCain)

11:45 a.m. The Senate voted on James Blew’s nomination to be the Assistant Secretary of Education for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development.

11:42 a.m. Senator Alexander spoke in support of James Blew’s nomination.

11:37 a.m. Senator Murray spoke in opposition of James Blew’s nomination.

11:23 a.m. Senator Hatch spoke about global tariff policy and tax reform.

11:04 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about the 2016 election and Abolish ICE movement.

10:44 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about President Trump in Helsinki, the 2016 election, and the Kavanaugh nomination.

10:21 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke about President Trump’s statements in Helsinki.

10:05 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell endorsed a change in Internal Revenue Service policy on monitoring the political donations of non-profit groups. He spoke about the economy.

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The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m.

At that time, resume consideration of the nomination of James Blew to be Assistant Secretary of Education for Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.

At 11:45 a.m. the Senate will conduct two roll call votes:
1. Confirmation of the Blew nomination.
2. Cloture on the nomination of Randal Quarles to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.

Following the cloture vote on the Quarles nomination, the Senate will recess until 2:15 to accommodate the caucus luncheons.