This Week in the Senate: 4/1/2019

This week, the Senate is holding votes on one nomination and a few legislative measures, and the Judiciary Committee will possibly convene a business meeting.

Floor Action:
Monday:

• The Senate will vote at 5:30 pm to invoke cloture on the Shelby substitute Amendment No. 201 to H.R. 268, the supplemental disaster appropriations bill. Depending on whether or not Democrats revolt regarding the level of Puerto Rico funding in the bill (they see it as too low, and the President believes it is too high) cloture may or may not be invoked.

Tuesday:

• If H.R. 268 isn't wrapped up on Monday, the Senate will complete work on it and then will vote to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.Res. 50, the resolution changing up postcloture time for various presidential nominations. It's likely this motion will fail due to the 3/5ths requirement, but Democrats might support the initial vote in a demonstration of good faith if they earn guarantees of voting on possible amendments. If cloture is not invoked, no further business has been planned for on the Senate floor.

Wednesday:

• The Senate will likely vote to invoke cloture on the nomination of WilmerHale counsel Jeffrey Kessler to be the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Enforcement and Compliance as part of the nuclear option. Further details regarding the Senate's plans have not yet been specified.

Thursday:

• If the Kessler nomination has already been disposed of, the Senate will vote to invoke cloture on the nomination of Podhurst Orseck partner Roy Altman to be a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida. Altman is the first judicial nominee on the executive calendar to not have been reported out of committee by a party-line vote, so it's possible Sen. McConnell (R-KY) is trying to confirm a less controversial nominee.

On Thursday, the Judiciary Committee might will hold an executive session to vote on and/or hold over the following nominations (the number in the parentheses appearing after the nominee's name signifies whether this is the first or second time appearing on the agenda; first-time appearances are typically held over and nominees appearing for the second time usually receive votes):

Court of Appeals:

1. Daniel P. Collins, to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit (2)
2. Kenneth Kiyul Lee, to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit (2)

District Court:

1. James Wesley Hendrix, to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas (2)
2. Sean D. Jordan, to be a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas (2)
3. Mark T. Pittman, to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas (2)

Department of Justice:

1. Virgil Madden, to be a Commissioner of the United States Parole Commission (1)
2. Nick Edward Proffitt, to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia (1)

Department of Homeland Security:

1. Ronald D. Vitiello, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (1)

Update # 1 (4/1/2019): Updated Wednesday and Thursday floor schedule. Also linked to executive business meeting and added Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security nominees.