6:50 p.m. Senate adjourned until 9:30am, Wednesday, May 21st.

There will be 1 roll call vote at 12:15 p.m. to confirm the Fischer nomination. And up to 5 more votes are expected beginning at 2:10 p.m., the last 4 being voice votes.

During wrap up, the following legislation was passed by unanimous consent:

• H.R. 2939, Congressional Gold Medal
• H.R. 1209, Congressional Gold Medal
• H.R. 3658, Congressional Gold Medal
• H.R. 685, Congressional Gold Medal
• S. Res. 452, Authorizing testimony, documents, and representation in City of Lafayette v. Brian Benoit
• Removing Injunction of Secrecy from Treaty #113-5, Convention on Taxes with Republic of Poland

S. 2363 Protecting Recreational Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting was read for the 1st time.

***

At 5:00 the Senate moved to executive seesion to consider  the following nominations:  Dana J. Hyde to be Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Susan McCue to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and Mark Green to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. All three were confirmed by voice vote.

The Senate held two roll call votes. The first vote was on the nomination of Gregg Jeffrey Costa to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit (confirmed 97-0) and a motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Stanley Fischer to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (cloture invoked by 62-35) .  Per the Unaimous concent agreement, there is now 8 hours of post cloture debate.

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5:00

Senator Barasso spoke in morning business on the effects of Obamacare and Senator Hatch followed speaking on nominations.

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3:58 p.m.: Levin spoke on his corporate tax avoidance bill.

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3:41 p.m.: Colloquy –Senators Nelson and Collins on their Medicare fraud bill.

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3:27 p.m.: Senator Sanders spoke  on the FCC and net neutrality.

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3:11 p.m.: Senator Graham spoke on Benghazi.

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2:50 p.m.: Senator Durbin speaks on student loans and for profit colleges.

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2:30 p.m.: Senator Stabenow spoke about the future of the middle class and the Koch brothers.

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2:15 p.m.: The Senate returned from the brief lunch recess.    Senator Cornyn spoke on  the scandal at the Bureau of Veterans Affairs.

***

1:00 p.m.: Before adjourning from 12:30 -2:15, the Senate scheduled votes for 5:30 p.m.  The Senate will go into executive session to consider confirmations of Dana J. Hyde to be Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Susan McCue to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Mark Green to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. These three are expected to be voice votes.  The Senate is then expected to take two roll call votes on the nomination of Gregg Jeffrey Costa to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit and a motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Stanley Fischer to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

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11:56 a.m.: Sen. Thune spoke about healthcare.

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11:25 a.m.: Sen. Boxer spoke against further investigation of attacks on U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi in 2012.  She also emphasized her support for a bipartisan Embassy Security measure.

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10:48 a.m.: Senator Grassley spoke against the Barron nomination to the First Circuit.

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10:22 a.m.: Senator Cardin spoke on the tax extenders bill.

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10:03 a.m.: The majority leader spoke about Brown v. Board of Education; the police memorial; and the Republican use of the filibuster.

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The Senate convened at 10:00am and will be in morning business until 5:30pm.

The Senate will recess for the Democratic policy luncheon from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.  (The weekly Republican policy luncheon will be held on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.)

At 5:30 p.m., there will be two votes:

1) Confirmation on the nomination of Gregg Jeffrey Costa of Texas to the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court.

2) Cloture on the nominati0n of Stanley Fischer of New York to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. The Fischer nomination is subject to up to 8 hours of post-cloture debate, equally divided.

On Wednesday, a cloture vote is expected on the nomination of David Jeremiah Barron to the First U.S. Circuit Court.

11:00 a.m. The Senate met for a pro forma session only. Sen. Hirono was in the chair.

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow, May 20th at 10:00 a.m. There will be two roll call votes starting at 5:30 p.m.

• Confirmation of Gregg Jeffrey Costa, TX, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for 5th Circuit., cal. 732.
• Cloture on the nomination of Stanley Fischer, NY, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, cal. 768.

The Senate is not in session.

The Senate will meet, in pro forma session only, at 11 a.m. Monday, May 19. No business will be conducted.

The Senate will next meet in legislative session at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, with morning business to run until 5:30 p.m.

The Senate will recess for the Democratic policy luncheon from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.  (Next week’s Republican policy luncheon will be held on Wednesday, May 21, at 12:30 p.m.)

At 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, there will be two votes:

1) Confirmation on the nomination of Gregg Jeffrey Costa of Texas to the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court.

2) Cloture on the nominati0n of Stanley Fischer of New York to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

Note: Cloture was filed Thursday on the nomination of David Jeremiah Barron of Massachusetts to the First U.S. Circuit Court.

5:45: The Senate adjourned and will reconvene for a pro forma session at 11:00 AM on Monday, May 19.  On Tuesday May 20, the Senate will convene at 10:00 AM. There will be three votes at 5:30 p.m. on the following nominations:

• Confirmation of  Gregg Jeffrey Costa to be US Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit, Texas
• Cloture on the nomination of Stanley Fischer to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
• Cloture on the nomination of David Jeremiah Grone to be United States Circuit Judge for the 1st Circuit of Massachusetts.

5:40: Senator Reid withdrew the cloture motion in regard to H.R. 3474-Tax extenders

Senator Reid filed a cloture motion on the nomination of David Jeremiah Grone to be United States Circuit Judge for the 1st Circuit of Massachusetts.

On a voice vote, the Senate passed S. Res. 449-Commemorating and honoring fallen police officers.

On a voice vote, the Senate passed S. Res. 450-May 17 as Kids to Parks day.

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5:03: Senator Heitkamp spoke about Peace officers and National Police week

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4:00 p.m.: Senator Cornyn spoke on the VA scandal, followed by Senators Schumer and Hatch on the tax extenders legislation.

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3:47 p.m. On a vote of 53 – 40, cloture was not invoked on the Wyden substitute amdt. 3060 to H.R. 3474 the Tax Extenders Vehicle.

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3:10 p.m. Senator McConnell spoke on the Tax Extenders Vehicle and asked that following the disposition of the Wyden substitute amdt. #3060, the Toomey amdt. on Medical Device Tax be offered. And following, allowing further amendments to be offered.

3:15 p.m. Senator Reid objected and spoke on Republican obstruction and the Tax Extenders Vehicle.

***

3:08 p.m.: On a vote of 58-36, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Gregg Costa to be a Circuit Court Judge for the 5th Circuit.

2:50 p.m.: On a vote of 95-1, the Senate confirmed the Soto nomination

2:35 p.m.: On a vote of 77-19, the Senate confirmed the Rayes nomination.

2:15pm: On a vote of 81-15, the Senate confirmed the  Vasquez nomination.

12:36 p.m.:  The Senate recessed until 1:45 p.m.

***

12:35 p.m.: On voice votes the Senate confirmed these nominations:

– Leslie Ragon Caldwell of New York to be an assistant attorney general;

– Helen Meagher La Lime of the District of Columbia to be ambassador to Belize.

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12:34 p.m.: On a vote of 61 to 35 the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of James Alan Soto to the U.S. District Court for Arizona.

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12:06 p.m.: On a vote of 58 to 35, the Seante invoked cloture on the nomination of Douglas L. Rayes to the U.S. District Court for Arizona.

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11:48 a.m.: On a vote of 58 to 35, the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Rosemary Marquez to the U.S. District Court for Arizona.

11:16 a.m.: These senators have spoken since the Senate convened:

Reid on the Koch brothers and a campaign finance amendment to the Constitution; McConnell on the VA scandal and on bourbon; Grassley on tax extenders; Kaine on the VA scandal and on technical and trade education for veterans; Coats on Democratic parliamentary procedures and on tax extenders; Wyden, in colloquuy with Coats, on bipartisan nature of tax extenders bill.

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9:56 a.m.  S. Res. 446 – Anniversary of the congressional declaration making bourbon a distinctive product of the U.S., was passed without objection.

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The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m.

At 11:15 a.m., there will be as many as five votes:

1) Cloture on the nomination of  Rosemary Marquez to the  U.S. District Court judge for Arizona;

2) Cloture on the nomination of Douglas L. Rayes to the U.S. District Court for Arizona;

3) Cloture on the nomination of James Alan  Soto to the U.S. District Court for Arizona;

4) Confirmation of Leslie Ragon Caldwell of New York to be an assistant attorney general;

5) Confirmation of Helen Meagher La Lime of Washington, D.C. to be ambassador to Angola.

After these votes, the Senate will recess until 1:45 p.m., whereupon there will be as many as five votes:

1) Confirmation of Marquez;

2) Confirmation of Rayes;

3) Confirmation of Soto;

4) Cloture on  the nomination of Gregg Jeffrey Costa of Texas to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court;

5) Cloture on Amendment #3060, the Reid (for Wyden) substitute for  the tax extenders vehicle, H.R. 3474.

On Wednesday, cloture was filed on the nomination of Stanley Fischer of  New York to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve

There will be no roll call votes on Monday, May 19.

On Tuesday, May 20, at 5:30 p.m., there will be a confirmation vote on the Costa nomination to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court.