Biden Cabinet Confirmation Live Thread ***hearings, votes, etc.***

[AndyHogan14]

Seems like the final vote for Mayorkas will be 57-42

EDIT: It's 57-43. McConnell just came in and voted nay.

EDIT (2): It's 56-43. Seems like C-SPAN was mistaken on their tally when I looked at it.

[AndyHogan14]

Both Vilsack and McDonough have been referred out of committee for a full Senate vote. I'm assuming Schumer will schedule votes for those two in the next couple of days.

[AndyHogan14]

What's the schedule for upcoming votes and hearings?

Vilsack and McDonough have cleared committee, but no Senate vote has been scheduled. I assume, however, that they will get a vote sometime this week.

Committee hearings/votes are as follows:

February 3
9:30am • Raimondo (vote)
9:45am • Thomas-Greenfield (vote)
10:00am • Cardona (hearing)
10:00am • Granholm (vote)
10:30am • Guzman (hearing)
2:00pm • Regan (hearing)

February 4
10:00am • Walsh (hearing)
2:00pm • Fudge/Rouse (vote)

February 9
9:15am • Tanden (hearing)

So, if the Senate moves quickly, Vilsack, McDonough, Raimondo, Thomas-Greenfield, Granholm, Fudge, and Rouse could all be in place by the end of the week or early next week.

[AndyHogan14]

So, Patty Murray is chairing the HELP hearing for Cardona. Even though the OR hasn't been passed, it is definitely close.

[AndyHogan14]

Cardona's confirmation is now being intensified as Cardona has defended the CT policy for transgender girls to compete in girls sports.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/02/03/rand-paul-repeatedly-questions-education-nominee-on-boys-competing-with-girls-in-sports/?sh=13dd3d714031


Personally  I don't really have much here.

I kind of agree with Rand Paul here (I need to now go and throw up after saying that), but it is a tricky subject. I don't want trans girls to have an unfair advantage because they are physically stronger because they were assigned male at birth. At the same time, however, it is probably unfair for them to compete against those biologically male (I can no trouble with trans boys competing against those that are biologically male if they choose to do so). I have also noticed that the research is mixed on this and to be honest, there is no good answer.

[AndyHogan14]

UPDATED SCHEDULE:
February 4
10:00am • Walsh (hearing)
10:00am • Thomas-Greenfield (vote)
2:00pm • Fudge/Rouse (vote)

February 9
9:15am • Tanden (hearing; HSGAC)

Also, we have one new hearing added:

February 10
9:15am • Tanden (hearing; Budget)

Raimondo and Granholm have cleared committee so they, along with Vilsack and McDonough are now just awaiting their full Senate vote. I would assume Schumer will schedule a vote before the end of the week or early next week, but we will see.

***

Confirmed
Blinken, Yellen, Austin, Buttigieg, Mayorkas, Haines

Awaiting Full Senate Vote
Vilsack (TBA), Raimondo (TBA), Granholm (TBA), McDonough (TBA)

Awaiting Committee Vote
Thomas-Greenfield (2/4), Fudge (2/4), Rouse (2/4), Cardona (TBA), Guzman (TBA), Regan (TBA)

Awaiting Committee Hearing
Walsh (2/4), Tanden (2/9-10)

Committee Hearings Not Yet Scheduled
Garland, Haaland, Becerra, Tai, Lander

[AndyHogan14]

By the way, Granholm received a 13-4 vote while Raimondo received a 21-3 vote in committee.

[AndyHogan14]

UPDATED SCHEDULE:
February 8
5:30pm • McDonough (Senate Vote)

February 9
9:15am • Tanden (hearing; HSGAC)

February 10
9:15am • Tanden (hearing; Budget)

February 11
10:00am • Walsh/Cardona (Committee Vote)

Cardona's committee vote has been added to the schedule, it'll be 2/11 at 10am. Thomas-Greenfield was also advanced out of committee (18-4) as was Fudge (17-7) and Rouse (24-0). EDIT: Walsh will also get his committee vote on 2/11.

***

Confirmed
Blinken, Yellen, Austin, Buttigieg, Mayorkas, Haines

Awaiting Full Senate Vote
McDonough (2/8), Vilsack (TBA), Raimondo (TBA), Fudge (TBA), Granholm (TBA), Thomas-Greenfield (TBA), Rouse (TBA)

Awaiting Committee Vote
Walsh (2/11), Cardona (2/11), Guzman (TBA), Regan (TBA)

Awaiting Committee Hearing
Tanden (2/9-10)

Committee Hearings Not Yet Scheduled
Garland, Haaland, Becerra, Tai, Lander

[AndyHogan14]

McConnell has said he won't consent to any floor votes while the Senate is considering the budget resolution or impeachment. (Yes, Schumer can file cloture, but the 30 hour clock on that pauses if the Senate debates something else unless there is UC to keep the clock running) So it will be some time before we see anyone else confirmed.

Shouldn't Schumer just file cloture anyway? Sure, it may take a while for the 30 hours to run out, but they could probably get a few cabinet positions filled faster than if they wait until after the impeachment trial/budget resolution are taken care of.

[AndyHogan14]

https://twitter.com/SenateCloakroom/status/1357639709133053952?s=20

EDIT: Regan's committee vote has been scheduled for tomorrow (2/9) at 10am.

[AndyHogan14]

Voting has begun on Denis McDonough's confirmation to be VA Secretary.

EDIT: McDonough was easily confirmed, 87-7. The nays were Cotton, Ernst, Hagerty, Hawley, Marshall, Scott (FL), and Cruz. Those not voting were Barrasso, Burr, Inhofe, Moran, Paul, and Toomey.

[AndyHogan14]

UPDATED SCHEDULE:
February 9
9:15am • Tanden (Hearing; HSGAC)
10:00am • Regan (Committee Vote; EPW)

February 10
9:15am • Tanden (Hearing; Budget)

February 11
10:00am • Walsh/Cardona (Committee Vote; HELP)

McDonough was easily confirmed, 87-7 today (2/8). There are also committee hearings scheduled for Tanden and committee votes for Regan, Walsh, and Cardona. With the impeachment trial starting tomorrow, we may see some hearings scheduled, but are likely not going to be seeing anyone advanced beyond a committee vote anytime soon.

EDIT: Kathleen Holland Hicks was just confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Defense by a voice vote (of just Schumer). I wasn't keeping track of her nomination because the Deputy Secretary of Defense isn't a cabinet-level position, but I happened to hear it as I had C-SPAN on in the background so I figured I would add it here.

***

Confirmed
Blinken, Yellen, Austin, Buttigieg, McDonough, Mayorkas, Haines

Awaiting Full Senate Vote
Vilsack (TBA), Raimondo (TBA), Fudge (TBA), Granholm (TBA), Thomas-Greenfield (TBA), Rouse (TBA)

Awaiting Committee Vote
Regan (2/9), Walsh (2/11), Cardona (2/11), Guzman (TBA)

Awaiting Committee Hearing
Tanden (2/9-10)

Committee Hearings Not Yet Scheduled
Garland, Haaland, Becerra, Tai, Lander

[AndyHogan14]

UPDATED SCHEDULE:
February 10
9:15am • Tanden (Hearing; Budget)

February 11
10:00am • Walsh/Cardona (Committee Vote; HELP)

February 22
TBA • Garland (Hearing; Judiciary • Day 1)

February 23
TBA • Garland (Hearing; Judiciary • Day 2)

March 1
TBA • Garland (Committee Vote; Judiciary)

Regan was advanced out of committee today by a 14-6 vote. Based on commentary online (and here), it is looking like Tanden will end up being exceptionally close with a possible 50-50 vote +Harris. She will have another hearing tomorrow with the Budget Committee (interesting because Sanders is the chair). Also, on Thursday both Walsh and Cardona will end up being advanced out of the HELP committee.

***

Confirmed
Blinken, Yellen, Austin, Buttigieg, McDonough, Mayorkas, Haines

Awaiting Full Senate Vote
Vilsack (TBA), Raimondo (TBA), Fudge (TBA), Granholm (TBA), Thomas-Greenfield (TBA), Rouse (TBA), Regan (TBA)

Awaiting Committee Vote
Walsh (2/11), Cardona (2/11), Garland (3/1), Guzman (TBA), Tanden (TBA; HSGAC)

Awaiting Committee Hearing
Tanden (2/10), Garland (2/22-23)

Committee Hearings Not Yet Scheduled
Haaland, Becerra, Tai, Lander

[AndyHogan14]

UPDATED SCHEDULE:
February 10
9:15am • Tanden (Hearing; Budget)

February 11
10:00am • Walsh/Cardona (Committee Vote; HELP)

February 22
TBA • Garland (Hearing; Judiciary • Day 1)

February 23
TBA • Garland (Hearing; Judiciary • Day 2)

March 1
TBA • Garland (Committee Vote; Judiciary)

Regan was advanced out of committee today by a 14-6 vote. Based on commentary online (and here), it is looking like Tanden will end up being exceptionally close with a possible 50-50 vote +Harris. She will have another hearing tomorrow with the Budget Committee (interesting because Sanders is the chair). Also, on Thursday both Walsh and Cardona will end up being advanced out of the HELP committee.

***

Confirmed
Blinken, Yellen, Austin, Buttigieg, McDonough, Mayorkas, Haines

Awaiting Full Senate Vote
Vilsack (TBA), Raimondo (TBA), Fudge (TBA), Granholm (TBA), Thomas-Greenfield (TBA), Rouse (TBA), Regan (TBA)

Awaiting Committee Vote
Walsh (2/11), Cardona (2/11), Garland (3/1), Guzman (TBA), Tanden (TBA; HSGAC)

Awaiting Committee Hearing
Tanden (2/10), Garland (2/22-23)

Committee Hearings Not Yet Scheduled
Haaland, Becerra, Tai, Lander

https://twitter.com/SenatorDurbin/status/1359332608715476993?s=20

Nothing is on the Senate website, but I assume that it will be there soon.

[AndyHogan14]

Cardona just received a 17-5 vote in committee and Walsh 18-4. Both have now cleared committee.

The nays for Cardona were Paul, Braun, Marshall, Scott (SC), and Tuberville, The nays for Walsh were Paul, Braun, Scott (SC), and Moran.

[AndyHogan14]

Guzman's committee vote has been added to the schedule. With the impeachment vote likely coming over the weekend, it is my hope that we will start seeing full Senate votes next week and the rest of the cabinet in place in the coming weeks.

EDIT: Now that the impeachment trial is through, Schumer has filed cloture for Thomas-Greenfield and scheduled a vote (immediate consideration) for Vilsack.

[AndyHogan14]

[snip]

Thank you for posting this, I actually came here to ask if there was a simplified list of confirmations as I've lost track given all the other threads.

Happy to do it! I've actually been keeping track of it for my students because we just went through the unit concerning executive departments (we always end comparing the Washington administration to the current administration). Following this thread (and certain Twitter feeds) has made it so I can keep the list up-to-date for my class.

[AndyHogan14]

UPDATED SCHEDULE:
February 22
9:30am • Garland (Hearing; Judiciary • Day 1)
5:30pm • Thomas-Greenfield (Cloture)

February 23
9:30am • Garland (Hearing; Judiciary • Day 2)
10:00am • Becerra (Hearing; HELP)
TBA • Vilsack (Senate Vote)

February 24
2:30pm • Guzman (Committee Vote; SBE)

March 1
TBA • Garland (Committee Vote; Judiciary)

***

Confirmed
Blinken, Yellen, Austin, Buttigieg, McDonough, Mayorkas, Haines

Awaiting Full Senate Vote
Vilsack (2/23), Raimondo (TBA), Fudge (TBA), Granholm (TBA), Walsh (TBA), Cardona (TBA), Thomas-Greenfield (Cloture 2/22), Rouse (TBA), Regan (TBA)

Awaiting Committee Vote
Guzman (2/24), Garland (3/1), Tanden (TBA; HSGAC), Tanden (TBA; Budget)

Awaiting Committee Hearing
Garland (2/22-23), Becerra (2/23)

Committee Hearings Not Yet Scheduled
Haaland, Tai, Lander

***

The actual times for Merrick Garland's hearings have been added to the Senate website and Xavier Becerra's hearings have FINALLY been scheduled by the HELP Committee.

[AndyHogan14]

The confirmation process seems to be going even slower since the Democrats assumed control of the agenda. Jesus, get a move on already!

Impeachment did not help and the current recess is not helping. Right now, there is a logjam of nominees that have been approved by committee but haven't had a full Senate vote. We already have two Senate votes scheduled for next week and I expect more to be put on the schedule soon—perhaps we will have a quasi-votearama on nominees next week! Ha!

[AndyHogan14]

UPDATED SCHEDULE:
February 22
9:30am • Garland (Hearing; Judiciary • Day 1)
5:30pm • Thomas-Greenfield (Cloture)

February 23
9:30am • Garland (Hearing; Judiciary • Day 2)
9:30am • Haaland (Hearing; Energy)
10:00am • Becerra (Hearing; HELP)
TBA • Vilsack (Senate Vote)

February 24
2:30pm • Guzman (Committee Vote; SBE)
TBA • Tanden (Committee Vote; Budget)

March 1
TBA • Garland (Committee Vote; Judiciary)

***

Confirmed
Blinken, Yellen, Austin, Buttigieg, McDonough, Mayorkas, Haines

Awaiting Full Senate Vote
Vilsack (2/23), Raimondo (TBA), Fudge (TBA), Granholm (TBA), Walsh (TBA), Cardona (TBA), Thomas-Greenfield (Cloture 2/22), Rouse (TBA), Regan (TBA)

Awaiting Committee Vote
Guzman (2/24), Garland (3/1), Tanden (2/24; Budget), Tanden (TBA; HSGAC)

Awaiting Committee Hearing
Garland (2/22-23), Haaland (2/23), Becerra (2/23)

Committee Hearings Not Yet Scheduled
Tai, Lander

***

Haaland's hearings have been added to the schedule and next Tuesday is shaping up to be a busy day with three important hearings and a full Senate vote on Vilsack. Tanden's Budget committee vote has been scheduled for next Wednesday. Also, while not a major cabinet official, Adewale Adeyemo's committee hearing has been scheduled for next Tuesday at 10am.

[AndyHogan14]

snip

What do you peg as the odds that Raimondo is confirmed next week?

Pretty good being that she has already cleared committee, but you never know. I haven't heard any rumors of a filibuster of her but that could still be taken care of by next Friday if Schumer wanted to invoke cloture early in the week.

[AndyHogan14]

UPDATED SCHEDULE:
February 22
9:30am • Garland (Hearing; Judiciary • Day 1)
5:30pm • Thomas-Greenfield (Cloture)

February 23
9:30am • Garland (Hearing; Judiciary • Day 2)
9:30am • Haaland (Hearing; Energy)
10:00am • Becerra (Hearing; HELP)
TBA • Vilsack (Senate Vote)

February 24
2:30pm • Guzman (Committee Vote; SBE)
TBA • Tanden (Committee Vote; Budget)

February 25
10:00am • Tai (Hearing; Finance)

March 1
TBA • Garland (Committee Vote; Judiciary)

***

Non-Cabinet-Level
Adeyemo (Hearing, 2/23 at 10am)
Burns (Hearing, 2/24 at 10am)
Murthy (Hearing, 2/25 at 10am)

***

Confirmed
Blinken, Yellen, Austin, Buttigieg, McDonough, Mayorkas, Haines

Awaiting Full Senate Vote
Vilsack (2/23), Raimondo (TBA), Fudge (TBA), Granholm (TBA), Walsh (TBA), Cardona (TBA), Thomas-Greenfield (Cloture 2/22), Rouse (TBA), Regan (TBA)

Awaiting Committee Vote
Guzman (2/24), Garland (3/1), Tanden (2/24; Budget), Tanden (TBA; HSGAC)

Awaiting Committee Hearing
Garland (2/22-23), Haaland (2/23), Becerra (2/23), Tai (2/25)

Committee Hearings Not Yet Scheduled
Lander

***

Okay...tons of news today on the Cabinet front even though the Senate is still in recess. Hearings have been scheduled for Tai, Burns, and Murthy (Tai being the only Cabinet-level official). This makes Lander the only Cabinet-level official without a scheduled hearing. Monday should be a busy day with the cloture vote on Thomas-Greenfield, the first day of Garland's hearing, and I think it is likely that Schumer will add some more full Senate votes to the schedule on Monday as well. In addition to all of that, Tanden's confirmation is hanging by the thread with Manchin's announcement today. While it seems likely that she will make it through committee with a 50-50 vote, she'll need to pick up a GOP vote to get confirmed. Romney is on the Homeland Security Committee, so it may be interesting to see how he votes in committee because if they go ahead with her nomination, it'll come down to Collins, Murkowski, or Romney to save her.

[AndyHogan14]

I wonder what the odds are that Manchin and Murkowski end up abstaining on Tanden, thus making it so she gets confirmed with a 49-49 vote. Murkowski ended up doing that with Kavanaugh...

[AndyHogan14]

Well we see now why Mitch didn't let Garland have a hearing. He would have been confirmed easily.

Yeah, it's too bad that the President of the Senate doesn't have any real power...it would have been nice to have Biden stroll into the Senate and force a vote. Ha!

[AndyHogan14]

According to Schumer, Granholm and Cardona will get their Senate votes after Vilsack.