Tuesday, May 19, 2026

7:00 p.m. The Senate adjourned on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. under the provisions of S.Res.739,  as a mark of further respect to the memory of the late Senator John Seymour until 10:00am on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of Morning Business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. At approximately 11:15am, the Senate will vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #737 Evan Rikhye, of the Virgin Islands, to be Judge for the District Court of the Virgin Islands for a term of ten years. Further votes are expected in the day.

In Tuesday’s session of the Senate:

Roll Call Votes

  1. Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #735 Sheria Akins Clarke, of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina; invoked: 57-38.
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #735 Sheria Akins Clarke, of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina; confirmed: 52-38.
  3. Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #737 Evan Rikhye, of the Virgin Islands, to be Judge for the District Court of the Virgin Islands for a term of ten years; invoked: 50-47.
  4. Motion to discharge S.J.Res.185, directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress (Kaine); discharged 50-47.

Legislative Business

Adopted the following resolutions:

S.Res.738 – Jewish American Heritage Month

S.Res.739 – Former Senator John Seymour

S.Res.740 – Motorcycle Awareness Month

Executive Business

Confirmed the following nomination:

NAVY

Executive Calendar #741 – Rear Adm. Douglas L. Williams to be Vice Admiral

6:50 p.m. Senator Welch spoke on American’s voting rights.

6:40 p.m. Senator Blumenthal spoke on American’s voting rights.

6:15 p.m. Senator Durbin spoke on American’s voting rights.

6:05 p.m. Senator Klobuchar spoke in favor of the voting rights.

5:46 p.m. Senator Padilla spoke on the shooting in California and voting rights.

5:44 p.m. By a vote of 50-47, the Senate discharged S.J. Res 185, Kaine War Powers Resolution from the Foreign Relations Committee.
Democrat voting against: Fetterman. Republicans voting in favor: Cassidy, Collins, Murkowski, Paul. Senators not voting: Cornyn, Tillis, Tuberville.

4:44 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to discharge from Foreign Relations Committee, S.J.Res.185, the Kaine War Powers Resolution regarding Iran.

4:39 p.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke on the Kaine war powers resolution.

4:27 p.m. Senator Baldwin spoke on the Kaine war powers resolution.

4:16 p.m. Senator Murphy spoke on the Kaine war powers resolution.

4:05 p.m. Senator Kaine spoke on his war powers resolution (Iran).

4:04 p.m. Senator Barrasso received unanimous consent that the post-cloture time with respect to the Rikhye nomination be expired and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Democrat Leader tomorrow.

4:03 p.m. By a party-line vote of 50-47, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Evan Rikhye to be a Judge for the District Court of the Virgin Islands for a term of ten years.

  • Senators Cornyn, Tillis, and Tuberville did not vote.

2:57 p.m. The Senate began voting on cloture on the nomination of Evan Rikhye to be a Judge for the District Court of the Virgin Islands for a term of ten years.

2:56 p.m. By a vote of 52-38, the Senate confirmed Sheria Clarke to be a District Judge for South Carolina.

  • Democrats in favor: Durbin, Fetterman, Gallego, Hassan, Heinrich, Reed, Shaheen, and Whitehouse.
  • Not voting: Bennet, Blackburn, Cornyn, Cramer, Hagerty, Hyde-Smith, Sheehy, Tillis, Tuberville, and Wicker.

2:10 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the confirmation of Sheria Akins Clarke to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina.

2:09 p.m. By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed to S.Res.738, Recognizing the significance of Jewish American Heritage Month and calling on American officials to counter Anti-Semitism.

2:04 p.m. Senator Rosen spoke on Jewish Americans.

2:02 p.m. Senator Scott (Fl) spoke on Jewish Americans.

2:00 p.m. The Senate has reconvened.

12:45 p.m. The Senate recessed for weekly caucus meetings.

12:44 p.m. By a vote of 57-38, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Sheria Akins Clarke to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina.

  • Democratic Senators voting in favor: Durbin, Fetterman, Gallego, Hassan, Heinrich, Reed, Shaheen, and Whitehouse.
  • Senators not voting: Bennet, Cornyn, Cramer, Tillis and Tuberville.

11:43 p.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the nomination of Sheria Akins Clarke to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina.

11:35 p.m. Senator Ricketts spoke on agriculture in Nebraska.

11:16 p.m. Senator Murray spoke on gun violence.

11:07 p.m. Senator Young spoke on the Merchant Marine.

10:54 a.m. Senator Durbin spoke on the White House east wing construction.

10:49 a.m. Senator Barrasso spoke on immigration.

10:38 a.m. Democratic Leader Schumer spoke on the White House east wing construction and reconciliation, and later on Iran, election security and the shooting in San Diego on Monday.

10:17 a.m. Majority Leader Thune spoke on the last 500 days since January 2025 when the Republicans took the majority in the Senate and their priorities ahead.

10:02 a.m. Senator Grassley spoke on foster youth.

10:00 a.m. The Senate has convened.

******

The Senate will convene at 10:00 a.m. and will resume consideration of Executive Calendar #735, Sheria Akins Clarke, of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina.

At 11:45 a.m., the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Clarke nomination.

Following the cloture vote on the Clarke nomination, the Senate will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the weekly conference meetings.

At 2:15 p.m., if cloture is invoked, the Senate will proceed to two roll call votes on the following:

1. Confirmation of the Clarke nomination.

2. Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #737, Evan Rikhye, of the Virgin Islands, to be Judge for the District Court of the Virgin Islands for a term of ten years.

Please note, further roll call votes are expected during Tuesday’s session of the Senate.