Senate Record — Tuesday, 12/5/2023
48 pages: S5719-5766
Senate Congressional Record (PDF) + Senate Daily Press Log + Senate Periodical Press Log
10:00 a.m. The Senate convened.
PRAYER (S5719-2)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 🇺🇸 (S5719-3)
APPOINTMENT OF ACTING PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE (S5719-4)
RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME (S5719-5)
CONCLUSION OF MORNING BUSINESS (S5719-6)
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session) (S5719-7)
10:18 a.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke on Ukraine and weapons.
10:33 a.m. Republican Leader McConnell spoke on national security and anti-Semitism.
10:55 a.m. Senator Thune spoke about inflation.
11:08 a.m. Senator Manchin spoke on the Inflation Reduction Act.
Cloture Motion (Executive Session) (S5725)
11:38 a.m. The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Loren L. AliKhan to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia.
12:55 p.m. By a vote of 51-50 with the Vice President voting in the affirmative the Senate invoked cloture on Loren L. AliKhan to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia.
12:56 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer spoke Vice President’s Harris 32nd tie-breaking vote. He then announced that the Senate will vote on confirmation of Loren L. AliKhan to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia and then will recess until 4:30 p.m. following the vote.
12:58 p.m. Senator Hagerty and Kaine spoke about the USMCA.
Senator Durbin spoke about the nomination of Loren L. AliKhan.
1:09 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 2:15 p.m.
Vote on AliKhan Nomination (Executive Calendar) (S5728-2)
2:15 p.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of Loren L. AliKhan to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia
3:41 p.m. By a vote of 51-50, with Vice President Harris voting in the affirmative, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Loren L. AliKhan to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia.
3:42 p.m. The Senate stands in recess until 4:30 p.m. The next roll call vote will occur at 5:15 p.m. on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Elizabeth H. Richard to be a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, w/ the rank and status of Ambassador at Large.
4:31 p.m. The Senate returned from recess.
4:31 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer asked for unanimous consent for the senate to pass the following nominations en bloc by voice vote: Executive Calendar #46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 110, 111, 112, 113, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136 137, 138, 139, 180, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 199, 200, 201, 203, 204, 205, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 248, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 289, 290, 291, 293, 294, 295, 296, 325, 326, 327, 330, 331, 332, 336, 337, 339, 340, 342, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422. There was no objection.
Excepting: Col. David J. Berkland, Col. Benjamin R. Jonsson, Col. John W. Sannes, Col. Andrew O. Saslav, Capt. Brian J. Anderson, Brig. Gen. Scott A. Cain, Brig. Gen. Paul D. Moga and Brig. Gen. Lawrence G. Ferguson.
4:42 p.m. Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Reed spoke about military promotions.
4:45 p.m. Senator Scott (FL) spoke about the election in Venezuela. He then asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to pass S. 486. Senator Cardin objected.
4:55 p.m. Senator Cardin spoke in support of the Richard nomination.
4:58 p.m. Senator Cruz spoke about free speech and AM radio access. He then asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to pass S. 1669, AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2023, as amended. Senator Paul asked for a modification to his request to include his amendment. Senator Markey objected to Senator Paul’s request. Senator Paul then objected to the original request from Senator Cruz. Senator Lujan spoke on AM radio access.
CLOTURE MOTION (S5739)
5:31 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Elizabeth H. Richard to be a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, w/the rank and status of Ambassador at Large.
Cloture Invoked, 63-37: Motion to Invoke Cloture on Elizabeth H. Richard a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, with the rank and status of Ambassador at Large.
Senate began consideration of the nomination of Richard E.N. Federico, of Kansas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit.
6:58 p.m. Senate adjourned until 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 6, 2023.