The Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Thursday, April 10.

 Following any Leader remarks, the time until 10:30am will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. At 10:30am, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #574, the nomination of Michelle Friedland, to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 30 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination, unless an agreement can be reached. Upon disposition of the Friedland nomination, there will be a cloture vote on the Weil nomination to be Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division at the Department of Labor. There would then be up to 8 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the Weil nomination.

10:31am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #574, the nomination of Michelle Friedland, to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit;

Invoked: 56-41

This afternoon, Senator Toomey asked unanimous consent the HELP committee be discharged from further consideration of S.1596 and the bill be read a third time and passed.

S.1596 is a bill to require State educational agencies that receive funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to have in effect policies and procedures on background checks for school employees.

Senator Manchin also spoke in support of the bill.

Senator Harkin objected to Senator Toomey’s request stating he supports the goals of the legislation but would like the bill to go through the committee process. Senator Alexander also spoke in support of the bill going through the committee process.

A procedural vote is expected to begin around 3pm. This will most likely be a motion to instruct the SAA to request the attendance of absent senators.

The Senate is currently considering the Friedland nomination, post-cloture.

3:00pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Reid motion to instruct the SAA to request the presence of absent senators. Senators are asked to report to the floor;

Agreed To: 55-37

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent that at 4pm today, the Senate proceed to a series of 3 votes on the following Executive items:

 

–          Confirmation Executive Calendar #574, the nomination of Michelle Friedland, to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit;

–          Cloture on Executive Calendar #613, the nomination of David Weil, of Massachusetts, to be Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division at the Department of Labor; and if cloture is invoked, the proceed immediately to-

–          Confirmation of the Weil nomination.

 

Senator Grassley objected and asked consent to delay the confirmation vote on the Freidland nomination until 5:30pm on April 28^th  and then process the Weil nomination.

 

Senator Reid objected.

 

If no agreement is reached, at 5pm tomorrow, Friday, April 11, there will be up to 3 votes on the following items:

 

–          Confirmation Executive Calendar #574, the nomination of Michelle Friedland, to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit;

–          Cloture on Executive Calendar #613, the nomination of David Weil, of Massachusetts, to be Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division at the Department of Labor. If cloture is invoked, we hope to yield back the 8 hours of post-cloture debate and proceed immediately to vote on–

–          Confirmation of the Weil nomination.

 

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #574, the nomination of Michelle Friedland, to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Invoked: 56-41

2)     Reid motion to instruct the SAA to request the presence of absent Senators; Agreed to: 55-37

 

Legislative items

Passed S.994, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014, with a Carper substitute amendment and a Carper amendment to the substitute.

Adopted S.Res.422, a resolution to authorize written testimony, document production, and representation in Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Foundation, Inc. v. United States.

 

Additional Executive items

Confirmed all nominations placed on the Secretary’s desk in the Coast Guard and the following items:

COAST GUARD

Executive Calendar #760 To be Rear Admiral

Linda L. Fagan

Thomas W. Jones

Steven D. Poulin

James E. Rendon

Executive Calendar #761 Rear Adm. William D. Lee – to be Vice Admiral

Executive Calendar #762 Rear Adm. Charles W. Ray – to be Vice Admiral

Executive Calendar #763 Rear Adm. Charles D. Michel – to be Vice Admiral

Executive Calendar #764 Vice Adm. Peter V. Neffenger – to be Vice Admiral

 

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Last Floor Action:
9:18:57 A.M. -H. Con. Res. 96
DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 544, the Committee of the Whole proceeded

with 30 minutes of debate on the Woodall amendment in the nature of a substitute no. 4.

9:00:29 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:34 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Virginia Foxx to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
9:00:48 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:02:21 A.M.		POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Speaker announced that she had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Olsen demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Speaker announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Olsen objected to the voice vote based upone the absence of a quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day.
9:02:48 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Kilmer to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:03:02 A.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.
9:17:43 A.M.	H. Con. Res. 96	Considered as unfinished business. H. Con. Res. 96 — “Establishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2015 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2016 through 2024.”
9:18:06 A.M.	H. Con. Res. 96	The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
9:18:54 A.M.	H. Con. Res. 96	An amendment, in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Woodall, numbered 4, printed in House Report 113-405 to balance the budget in four years and cut discretionary spending to FY2008 levels.
9:18:57 A.M.	H. Con. Res. 96	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 544, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Woodall amendment in the nature of a substitute no. 4.

9:43:57 A.M.	H. Con. Res. 96	The Committee of the Whole rose informally.
9:44:28 A.M.		The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 33 and S. Con. Res. 35. Appointments: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
9:45:19 A.M.	H. Con. Res. 96	The Committee of the Whole resumed its sitting.
9:45:20 A.M.	H. Con. Res. 96	DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole continued debate on the Woodall amendment in the nature of a substitute no. 4.
9:54:37 A.M.	H. Con. Res. 96	On agreeing to the Woodall amendment (A004) Roll Call 175 – Recorded vote pending.

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