EXECUTIVE SESSION CONSIDERATION-CORDRAY NOMINATION Pursuant to an order of the Senate of December 7, 2011, The Senate proceeded to executive session to consider the nomination of Richard Cordray, of Ohio, to be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection for a term of five years. VOTE ON CLOTURE MOTION - CORDRAY NOMINATION Pursuant to the previous order, following debate and the yielding back of remaining time, the legislative clerk read the motion to invoke cloture, the mandatory quorum call having been waived by unanimous consent, the Presiding Officer, in further pursuance of the provisions of Rule XXII, stated the question to be: Is it the sense of the Senate that debate on the pending nomination of Richard Cordray, of Ohio, to be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection for a term of five years, shall be brought to a close? The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll (No. 223 Ex.) and The vote resulted - yeas 53, nays 45, present 1 - as follows: Yeas: Akaka, Baucus, Begich, Bennet, Bingaman, Blumenthal, Boxer, Brown (MA), Brown (OH), Cantwell, Cardin, Carper, Casey, Conrad, Coons, Durbin, Feinstein, Franken, Gillibrand, Hagan, Harkin, Inouye, Johnson (SD), Klobuchar, Kohl, Landrieu, Lautenberg, Leahy, Levin, Lieberman, Manchin, McCaskill, Menendez, Merkley, Mikulski, Murray, Nelson (NE), Nelson (FL), Pryor, Reed, Reid, Rockefeller, Sanders, Schumer, Shaheen, Stabenow, Tester, Udall (CO), Udall (NM), Warner, Webb, Whitehouse, Wyden- 53. Nays: Alexander, Ayotte, Barrasso, Blunt, Boozman, Burr, Chambliss, Coats, Coburn, Cochran, Collins, Corker, Cornyn, Crapo, DeMint, Enzi, Graham, Grassley, Hatch, Heller, Hoeven, Hutchison, Inhofe, Isakson, Johanns, Johnson (WI), Kirk, Kyl, Lee, Lugar, McCain, McConnell, Moran, Murkowski, Paul, Portman, Risch, Roberts, Rubio, Sessions, Shelby, Thune, Toomey, Vitter, Wicker-45. Present: Snowe -1. Three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, the motion was not agreed to. Pursuant to the previous order, The Senate returned to legislative session. EXECUTIVE SESSION NOMINATIONS CONSIDERED On request by Mr. Reid and by unanimous consent, it was Ordered, That the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations on the Executive Calendar: DEPARTMENT OF STATE Norman L. Eisen, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Czech Republic, to which position he was appointed during the recess of the Senate from December 22, 2010, to January 5, 2011. Mari Carmen Aponte, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of El Salvador. Pending debate, CLOTURE MOTIONS FILED Mr. Reid presented a motion to invoke cloture on the following nomination, which was stated as follows: We, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the following nomination: Norman L. Eisen, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Czech Republic, to which position he was appointed during the recess of the Senate from December 22, 2010, to January 5, 2011. Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Patrick J. Leahy, Patty Murray, Richard J. Durbin, Kent Conrad, John D. Rockefeller IV, Jeff Bingaman, Tim Johnson, Daniel K. Inouye, Debbie Stabenow, Robert P. Casey, Jr., Max Baucus, Charles E. Schumer, John F. Kerry, Mark Udall, Michael F. Bennet. Mr. Reid presented a motion to invoke cloture on the following nomination, which was stated as follows: We, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the following nomination: Mari Carmen Aponte, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of El Salvador. Harry Reid, John F. Kerry, Barbara Boxer, Patrick J. Leahy, Patty Murray, Richard J. Durbin, Kent Conrad, John D. Rockefeller IV, Jeff Bingaman, Tim Johnson, Robert Menendez, Daniel K. Inouye, Max Baucus, Charles E. Schumer, Mark Udall, Michael F. Bennet, Al Franken. UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT On request by Mr. Reid and by unanimous consent, it was Ordered, That at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, December 12, 2011, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations concurrently: DEPARTMENT OF STATE Norman L. Eisen, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Czech Republic, to which position he was appointed during the recess of the Senate from December 22, 2010, to January 5, 2011. Mari Carmen Aponte, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of El Salvador. Ordered further, That there be one hour for debate equally divided in the usual form; that upon the use or yielding back of time the Senate proceed without intervening action or debate to vote on cloture on the Eisen nomination; that if cloture is invoked, the Senate immediately vote on confirmation of the nomination and following the disposition of the Eisen nomination, the Senate proceed to vote on cloture on the nomination of Mari Carmen Aponte; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions and the Senate then resume legislative session. Ordered further, That relative to the cloture motions filed on the Eisen and Aponte nominations, the mandatory quorum under Rule XXII be waived MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2011 EXECUTIVE SESSION NOMINATIONS CONSIDERED Pursuant to an order of the Senate of December 8, 2011, The Senate proceeded to executive session to consider the following nominations: DEPARTMENT OF STATE Norman L. Eisen, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Czech Republic, to which position he was appointed during the recess of the Senate from December 22, 2010, to January 5, 2011. Mari Carmen Aponte, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of El Salvador. VOTE ON CLOTURE MOTION - EISEN NOMINATION Pursuant to the order of the Senate of December 8, 2011, following debate and the yielding back of remaining time, the assistant legislative clerk read the motion to invoke cloture, the mandatory quorum call having been waived by previous order, the Presiding Officer, in further pursuance of the provisions of Rule XXII, stated the question to be: Is it the sense of the Senate that debate on the pending nomination of Norman L. Eisen, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Czech Republic, to which position he was appointed during the recess of the Senate from December 22, 2010, to January 5, 2011, Department of State, shall be brought to a close? The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll (No. 226 Ex.) and Yeas: Akaka, Alexander, Ayotte, Begich, Bennet, Bingaman, Blumenthal, Boxer, Brown (MA), Brown (OH), Cantwell, Cardin, Carper, Casey, Chambliss, Coats, Collins, Conrad, Coons, Corker, Durbin, Feinstein, Franken, Gillibrand, Hagan, Harkin, Hatch, Hoeven, Hutchison, Inhofe, Inouye, Isakson, Johnson (SD), Kerry, Klobuchar, Kohl, Kyl, Landrieu, Lautenberg, Leahy, Levin, Lieberman, Lugar, Manchin, McCain, McCaskill, Menendez, Murkowski, Murray, Nelson (NE), Nelson (FL), Portman, Pryor, Reed, Reid, Rockefeller, Sanders, Schumer, Sessions, Shaheen, Shelby, Snowe, Stabenow, Tester, Toomey, Udall (CO), Udall (NM), Warner, Webb, Whitehouse - 70. Nays: Barrasso, Boozman, Cochran, Crapo, DeMint, Enzi, Grassley, Johanns, Johnson (WI), McConnell, Paul, Risch, Roberts, Rubio, Vitter, Wicker - 16. Three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn having voted in the affirmative, the motion was agreed to. CONFIRMATION - EISEN NOMINATION Pursuant to an order of the Senate of December 8, 2011, The Senate proceeded to vote on the nomination of Norman L. Eisen, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Czech Republic, to which position he was appointed during the recess of the Senate from December 22, 2010, to January 5, 2011, Department of State. On request by Mr. Kerry and by unanimous consent, it was Ordered, That the nomination be considered and confirmed; that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions. VOTE ON CLOTURE MOTION - APONTE NOMINATION Pursuant to an order of the Senate of December 8, 2011, following debate, the assistant bill clerk read the motion to invoke cloture, the mandatory quorum call having been waived by previous order, the Presiding Officer, in further pursuance of the provisions of Rule XXII, stated the question to be: Is it the sense of the Senate that debate on the pending nomination of Mari Carmen Aponte, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of El Salvador, Department of State, shall be brought to a close? The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll (No. 227 Ex.) and Yeas: Akaka, Begich, Bennet, Bingaman, Blumenthal, Boxer, Brown (MA), Brown (OH), Cantwell, Cardin, Carper, Casey, Collins, Conrad, Coons, Durbin, Feinstein, Franken, Gillibrand, Hagan, Harkin, Inouye, Johnson (SD), Kerry, Klobuchar, Kohl, Landrieu, Lautenberg, Leahy, Levin, Lieberman, Manchin, McCaskill, Menendez, Murray, Nelson (FL), Pryor, Reed, Rockefeller, Sanders, Schumer, Shaheen, Stabenow, Tester, Udall (CO), Udall (NM), Warner, Webb, Whitehouse - 49. Nays: Alexander, Ayotte, Barrasso, Boozman, Chambliss, Coats, Cochran, Corker, Crapo, DeMint, Enzi, Grassley, Hatch, Hoeven, Hutchison, Inhofe, Isakson, Johanns, Johnson (WI), Kyl, Lugar, McCain, McConnell, Murkowski, Nelson (NE), Paul, Portman, Reid, Risch, Roberts, Rubio, Sessions, Shelby, Snowe, Toomey, Vitter, Wicker – 37. Three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, the motion was not agreed to. MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION - APONTE NOMINATION A motion by Mr. Reid was entered to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked in Senate. Under the previous order, The Senate returned to legislative session. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2011 As in executive session, REPORTS OF COMMITTEE The following favorable reports of nominations were submitted: By Mr. Johnson, of South Dakota, for the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Maurice A. Jones, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Carol J. Galante, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Thomas Hoenig, of Missouri, to be Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Thomas Hoenig, of Missouri, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for a term of six years. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2011 As in executive session, REPORTS OF COMMITTEES The following favorable reports of nominations were submitted: Mr. Rockefeller, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, reported favorably the following nomination list which had previously appeared in the Congressional Record on the date indicated and, at the Senator's request and by unanimous consent, it was ordered that it lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration nominations beginning with Benjamin M. Lacour and ending with Brian D. Prestcott. (See Executive Journal proceedings of December 5, 2011, for complete list.) By Mrs. Boxer for the Committee on Environment and Public Works. Rebecca R. Wodder, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife. By Mr. Harkin for the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Deepa Gupta, of Illinois, to be a Member of the National Council on the Arts for a term expiring September 3, 2016. Christopher Merrill, of Iowa, to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2016. Stephanie Orlando, of New York, to be a Member of the National Council on Disability for the remainder of the term expiring September 17, 2011. Stephanie Orlando, of New York, to be a Member of the National Council on Disability for a term expiring September 17, 2014. Gary Blumenthal, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the National Council on Disability for a term expiring September 17, 2013. Wendy M. Spencer, of Florida, to be Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Mr. Harkin, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, reported favorably the following nomination list which had previously appeared in the Congressional Record on the date indicated and, at the Senator's request and by unanimous consent, it was ordered that it lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators. Public Health Service nominations beginning with Jose G. Bal and ending with Kendra J. Vieira. (See Executive Journal proceedings of November 8, 2011, for complete list.) EXECUTIVE SESSION NOMINATIONS CONFIRMED On request by Mr. Reid and by unanimous consent, it was Ordered, That the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations on the Executive Calendar: IN THE NAVY The following named officers for appointment in the United States Navy to the grade indicated under title 10, U.S.C., section 624: To be rear admiral Rear Adm. (1h) Barry L. Bruner |