The Senate has adjourned until 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 16 for a pro forma session only. Following adjournment on March 16th, the Senate will next convene on Monday, March 20th at 10:00 a.m. for a pro forma session only. Following Monday’s adjournment, the Senate will next convene on Tuesday, March 21st at 10:30 a.m. and after morning business will begin consideration, en bloc, of the following nominations:
- Charles R. Breyer, CA, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission.
- Danny C. Reeves, KY, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission.
During wrap-up:
- R. 1362, naming the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Pago Pago, American Samoa, the Faleomavaega Eni Fa’aua’a Hunkin VA Clinic, was agreed to by unanimous consent.
- Res. 83, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the trafficking of illicit fentanyl into the United States from Mexico and China, was agreed to by unanimous consent.
- Res. 9, honoring in praise and remembrance the extraordinary life, steady leadership, and remarkable, 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, was agreed to by unanimous consent.
- Res. 76, expressing support for the designation of March 21, 2017, as “National Rosie the Riveter Day”, was agreed to by unanimous consent.
- Res. 89, supporting the designation of March 2017 as national colorectal cancer awareness month, was agreed to by unanimous consent.
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5:48 p.m. Senator Hatch spoke in favor of the nomination of Judge Gorsuch.
5:06 p.m. Senator Lankford spoke about the Congressional Review Act and the recent forest fires in Oklahoma.
4:46 p.m. Senator Murkowski spoke about the Iditarod.
4:38 p.m. Senator Warren spoke about the Affordable Care Act.
4:00 p.m. Senator Shaheen echoed Senator Hassan’s remarks on the opiod epidemic and Senator Shaheen supported the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program.
3:46 p.m. Senator Hassan delivered her first speech on the Senate floor speaking about the opiod epidemic.
3:18 p.m. Senators McCain, Cardin and Shaheen spoke in a colloquy about Montenegro. Senator McCain asked u.c. to consider Calendar #1 Treaty on the accession of Montenegro, Senator Paul objected.
2:52 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke about the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
2:47 p.m. Senator Reed spoke about General McMaster.
2:46 p.m. By a vote of 86 to 10, the Senate confirmed Herbert McMaster as a Lieutenant General in the Army. NAYS: independent Sanders; Democrats Booker, Gillibrand, Harris, Hirono, Markey, McCaskill, Merkley, Schumer and Warren.
2: 19 p.m. By a vote of 85 to 12, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Daniel Coats to be Director of Central Intelligence. Voting “NAY” were Republican Paul, independent Sanders and Democrats Baldwin, Booker, Duckworth, Gillibrand, Harris, Markey, Merkley, Udall, Warren and Wyden.
1:45 p.m. The Senate began voting on the Coats nomination.
1:35 p.m. Senator McCain spoke supporting the Coats nomination.
1:05 p.m. Senators Flake, Barasso, and Daines spoke supporting Judge Gorsuch.
12:48 p.m. Senator Schumer spoke about the McMaster nomination and the national security council.
12:27 p.m. Senator Sullivan paid tribute to the Alaskan of the Week and spoke about homelessness.
11:31 a.m. Senator Udall spoke about Sunshine Week and about free press.
10:46 a.m. Senator Cornyn announced that there will be votes on the Coats nomination and the McMaster nomination at 1:45 p.m.
10:43 a.m. Senator Wyden spoke against the Coats nomination and spoke about The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance act.
10:35 a.m. Senator Cornyn spoke about transparency in the Senate.
10:26 a.m. Senator Kaine spoke supporting the Coats nomination.
10:24 a.m. The Senate invoked cloture on the Coats nomination to be DNI by a vote of 88-11 (Senator Isakson did not vote).
Senators voting in favor: 50 Republicans, 37 Democrats, 1 Independent.
Senators voting against: 9 Democrats, 1 Republican, 1 Independent.
Republicans voting no: Senator Paul
Democrats voting no: Senators Baldwin, Booker, Duckworth, Gillibrand, Harris, Markey, Merkley, Wyden, and Warren.
Independents voting no: Senator Sanders.
10 a.m. The cloture vote on Coats began.
9:51 a.m. The Senate resumed consideration of the Coats nomination. Senator Burr spoke for the nomination.
9:42 a.m. Minority Leader Schumer spoke about the proposed changes in health insurance. He spoke about the Gorsuch nomination.
9:32 a.m. Majority Leader McConnell spoke about the Coats, McMaster and Gorsuch nominations. He also spoke about the proposed overhaul of the health insurance system.
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The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m.
At 10 a.m., the Senate will vote on cloture for the nomination of Daniel Coats to be Director National Intelligence.
If all time is used and the clock is permitted to run during adjournment, post-cloture debate would conclude at about 5 p.m. Thursday, whereupon a confirmation vote could occur on Coats.
There may be more votes on Wednesday but none have been scheduled yet.
Cloture has been filed on the nomination of Herbert McMaster Jr. to be a lieutenant general. That cloture vote may take place after disposition of the Coats nomination.