Senate Confirms Pandemic Recovery Inspector General & District Court Judges, Unanimously Passes PPP Flexibility Bill

What’s happening in Congress?

• The Senate returns this week and is expected to confirm the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, in addition to a duo of district court judges and a pair of Dept. of Defense officials.
• The Senate may also take up a House-passed bill to provide small businesses with more flexibility in using forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans, and move to form a conference committee that would negotiate a compromise on reauthorizing & reforming surveillance authorities with the House.

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate convenes Monday afternoon for an evening confirmation vote on the nomination of John Badalamenti to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida.
• Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) filed cloture motions on several additional nominations before the Senate last adjourned, which set up the likely consideration of Brian Miller’s nomination to serve as the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, plus two Dept. of Defense officials and Drew Tipton’s nomination the serve as a judge in the Southern District of Texas.
• Cloture votes are procedural votes that limit additional debate to either 30 hours for legislation, nominees to Cabinet posts, and Supreme Court & Circuit Court judicial nominees; or two hours for lower-level nominees. Once post-cloture time expires or the Senate agrees to waive the remaining time, a vote on final passage or confirmation occurs. 
• Additionally, the Senate may consider a motion to form a conference committee with the House to negotiate a bicameral compromise on legislation reauthorizing & reforming surveillance authorities, after the House approved a conference motion last week; and legislation providing small businesses with more flexibility in using forgivable loans under the Paycheck Protection Program.
• Off the floor, there will be numerous in-person & partially remote committee hearings this week, including on financial, higher education, infrastructure, & pharmaceutical aspects of the coronavirus pandemic response plus its impact on “Main Street” businesses; oversight of the Russia collusion investigation with testimony from Rod Rosenstein & authorizing related subpoenas; and U.S. tools for responding to the crisis in Hong Kong. 

HOUSE SCHEDULE

• The House is on recess this week, and isn’t scheduled to return for floor votes until Tuesday, June 30th, although it could return for floor votes with 72 hours of notice. It was in session for two days last week, bringing its total number of days in session this spring to four.
• Committees will hold several remote hearings this week, including hearings about protecting the right to vote during the coronavirus pandemic; and the economic impacts of the pandemic.

Check below throughout the week to see the vote results and updates to the schedule.

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Confirmation vote on the nomination of John Badalamenti to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida Confirmed 55-22.

Tuesday after 11:45am

• Cloture motion of Victor Mercado to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense Invoked 75-14.
• (If cloture is invoked) Confirmation of Victor Mercado to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense Confirmed 75-15.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Brian Miller to be Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, Treasury Dept. Invoked 51-40.
• (If cloture is invoked) Confirmation of Brian Miller to be Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, Treasury Dept. Confirmed 51-40.

Wednesday after 12pm

• Cloture motion on the nomination of James Anderson to be a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Invoked 78-18.
• (If cloture is invoked) Confirmation of James Anderson to be a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Confirmed 78-18.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Drew Tipton to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas Invoked 53-42.
• (If cloture is invoked) Confirmation of Drew Tipton to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas Confirmed 52-41.
• H.R. 7010: Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 Passed by voice vote.

Thursday after 11:40am

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Michael Pack to be Chief Executive Officer of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term of three years Invoked 53-39.
• (If cloture is invoked) Confirmation vote on the nomination of Michael Pack to be Chief Executive Officer of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term of three years Confirmed 53-38.

HOUSE

• The House is scheduled to return for its next votes on Tuesday, June 30th. Votes may be held sooner with 72 hours of notice for lawmakers.

Tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills and share your thoughts below!

— Eric Revell