The Senate held confirmation hearings this week for Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) for Secretary of Interior, Wilbur Ross for Secretary of Commerce, Scott Pruitt for Administrator of the EPA, Rep. Tom Price (R-SC) for Secretary of Health and Human Services, former Governor Rick Perry (R-TX) for Secretary of Energy, Steve Mnuchin for Secretary of Treasury, Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) to be U.S. Representative to the United Nations, and Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) said that he hoped that seven Cabinet nominees would be confirmed by the Senate on Friday, comparable to the number confirmed the first day of the Obama administration. The Senate Armed Services Committee voted 26 to 1 to recommend the Senate confirm retired Marine Corps General James Mattis to be the next Secretary of Defense. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) was the only Senator to vote against the nomination of Mattis stating that civilian control of the military is fundamental. The full Senate is expected to confirm Mattis tomorrow. Mattis still needs to be officially nominated by President-Elect Trump after he is sworn in and signs the legislation providing the waiver for Mattis to serve as Defense Secretary. Retired Marine Corps General John Kelly is also expected to be confirmed by the full Senate for Secretary of Homeland Security as is Transportation Secretary-designee Elaine Chao.
The following hearings and nomination votes are scheduled for next week:
January 24, 2017
Vote on the Nomination of Dr. Ben Carson to be Secretary of HUD
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee
10:00 AM
538 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Vote on the Nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) to be US Attorney General
Judiciary Committee
10:00 AM
226 Dirksen Senate Office Building
*Senate Democrats may use a rule to delay the vote a week.
Hearing on the Nomination of Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) to be Secretary of HHS
Finance Committee
10:00 AM
215 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Hearing on the Nomination of Rep. Rick Mulvaney (R-SC) to be Director of OMB
Budget Committee
10:30 AM
608 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Hearing on the Nomination of Linda McMahon to be Administrator of the SBA
Small Business Committee
10:30 AM
428A Russell Senate Office Building
Hearing on the Nomination of Rep. Rick Mulvaney (R-SC) to be Director of OMB
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
2:30 PM
342 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Finally, fast food executive Andy Puzder, President-Elect Donald Trump’s pick for Labor Secretary, is scheduled to face questioning from the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on February 2.