Senate Record — Wednesday, 11/29/2023
38 pages: S5643-5680
Senate Congressional Record (PDF) + Senate Daily Press Log
10:00 a.m. - The Senate convened.
PRAYER (S5643-2)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 🇺🇸 (S5643-3)
APPOINTMENT OF ACTING PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE (S5643-4)
RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME (S5643-5)
CONCLUSION OF MORNING BUSINESS (S5643-6)
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session) (S5643-7)
Recognition of the Majority Leader (Executive Session) (S5643-8)
10:02 a.m. - Majority Leader Schumer spoke on anti-Semitism.
10:47 a.m. - Republican Leader McConnell spoke on anti-Semitism, border security, and inflation.
10:58 a.m. - Senator Gillibrand spoke on the hostages of Hamas.
11:01 a.m. - Senator Thune spoke on the southern border.
11:12 a.m. - Senator Schatz spoke about climate change and COP28 and in support of the nominations of Shanlyn Park to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii and Micah Smith to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii.
11:20 a.m. - Senator Collins spoke about the 2024 NDAA.
Cloture Motion (Executive Session) (S5652)
11:36 a.m. - The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Micah Smith to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii.
12:55 p.m. - By a vote of 57-42, the Senate invoked cloture on Micah Smith to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii. Senators Collins, Graham, Kennedy, Mullin, Murkowski, Rounds and Tillis voted YEA. Senator Hickenlooper did not vote.
12:56 p.m. - Senator Grassley spoke about Iran and government oversight.
1:11 p.m. - Senator Ricketts spoke about border security.
1:22 p.m. - Senator Moran spoke about the budget and appropriations.
1:35 p.m. - Senator Hirono spoke about immigration and nominations.
Border Security (Executive Session) (S5656-2)
Senator Capito spoke about border security.
1:53 p.m. - Senator Marshall spoke about border security.
1:58 p.m. - Senator Cornyn spoke about border security.
2:10 p.m. - Senator Graham spoke about border security.
2:20 p.m. - Senator Tillis spoke about border security.
Senator Hoeven spoke about border security.
2:33 p.m. - Senator Menendez spoke in favor of the nomination of Jamel Semper to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey and about immigration.
Senator Durbin spoke on the nomination of Micah W.J. Smith.
Vote on Smith Nomination (Executive Session) (S5662-2)
2:36 p.m. - The Senate began voting on confirmation of the nomination of Micah Smith to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii.
3:21 p.m. - By a vote of 57-41, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Micah Smith to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii. Senators Collins, Graham, Kennedy, Mullin, Murkowski, Rounds and Tillis voted in favor. Senators Cruz and Hickenlooper did not vote.
CLOTURE MOTION (S5662-3)
3:22 p.m. - The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Jamel Semper to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey.
4:21 p.m. - By a vote of 54-44, the motion to invoke cloture on the Semper nomination was agreed to. Senators Collins, Graham, Kennedy, and Murkowski voted in favor. Senators Cruz and Hickenlooper did not vote.
4:22 p.m. - Senators Murray, Smith, Shaheen, Whitehouse, Kaine, Wyden, Murphy and Stabenow, Klobuchar, Cortez Masto and Markey spoke about childcare.
Senator Durbin spoke on the nomination of Jamel Semper.
Vote on Semper Nomination (Executive Calendar) (S5668-2)
5:18 p.m. - The Senate is now voting on confirmation of Jamel Semper to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey
6:22 p.m. - By a vote of 54-44, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Jamel Semper to be a District Judge for New Jersey. Republican senators voting in favor: Collins, Graham, Kennedy and Murkowski. Senators Cruz and Hickenlooper were absent.
6:22 p.m. - The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Shanlyn Park to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii.
7:27 p.m. - By a tally of 53-44, the Senate invoked cloture on the Park nomination. Republicans in favor: Collins, Graham and Murkowski. Senators not voting; Cruz, Hawley and Hickenlooper.
7:28 p.m. - Majority Leader wrapped up for the evening. The following nominations were confirmed en bloc by voice vote: Ann Yastishock to be Ambassador to New Guinea, the Solomons Islands and Vanuatu; Heather Variava to be Ambassador to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Vernelle FitzPatrick to be Ambassdor to the Gabonese Republic; and Kara McDonald to be Ambassador to LIthuania.
S 1278, renaming a federal building in Detroit after Rosa Parks was passed by unanimous consent; S. 2644, establishing standards for trauma kits was passed by unanimous consent; S Res 479, designating November 2023 as National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month was agreed to by unanimous consent.
7:32 p.m. - Senator Sanders spoke on the situation in Israel.
7:57 p.m. - The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m., Thursday, November 30, 2023.