The Senate will convene at 1:00pm on Monday, November 28, 2011. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1867, the Department of Defense Authorization Act.

At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #270, the nomination of Christopher Droney, of Connecticut, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit with 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on confirmation of the Droney nomination.

Additional roll call votes in relation to amendments to the DoD Authorization act are possible Monday evening.

Following Leader remarks this afternoon, Senator Reid filed cloture on S.1867, Department of Defense Authorization. The Senate is now considering the DoD Authorization bill for debate only until 5:00pm.

At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Christopher Droney, of Connecticut, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit. There will be up to 30 minutes for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

As a result, at approximately 5:30pm today the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on confirmation of the Droney nomination.

5:33pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Christopher Droney, of CT, to be US Circuit Judge for the 2nd Circuit; Confirmed: 88-0

By unanimous consent, the McConnell for Kirk amendment #1084 (Iran Sanctions) and the Menendez amendment #1292 (Iran Sanctions) were withdrawn and the Menendez-Kirk amendment #1414 (Iran Sanctions) was called up. Further, notwithstanding cloture being invoked, if invoked, at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republican Leader, and prior to passage of the Defense Authorization bill, there will be up to 1 hour of debate equally divided in the usual form on the Menendez-Kirk amendment, prior to a vote in relation to the amendment. No amendments, motions or points of order are in order to the amendment prior to the vote other than budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive.

The Leahy amendment #1072 (National Guard) was passed by voice vote.

WRAP UP …

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, November 29. Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business for 1 hour, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The Majority will control the first 30 minutes and the Republicans will control the final 30 minutes. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 1867, the Department of Defense Authorization Act. When the Senate resumes the DoD Authorization bill, Senator Udall (CO) will be recognized to speak.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

The filing deadline for first degree amendments to the Department of Defense Authorization Act is 2:30pm on Tuesday.

Wrap Up

Legislative:

The Senate began the Rule 14 process on S.1817, the Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011 (Casey)

Executive:

Confirmed the nomination of Christopher Droney, of CT, to be US Circuit Judge for the 2nd Circuit; Confirmed: 88-0

————————————————————————-

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on November 29, 2011.