the clerk: nomination, department of agriculture, stephen alexander vaden of tennessee to be general counsel. mr. mcconnell: mr. president. the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that following the cloture vote on the kelley nomination, the senate recess until 2:15. further, if cloture is invoked, all time during the recess count postcloture on the nomination. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: the senate returned from our thanksgiving recess and got back to work. since the election earlier this month, there have been plenty of procrastination about -- prognostication about what the new congress will bring, but i would rather focus on the one we're still involved in. this congress has more business to complete before the end of the year. even after two historic years of accomplishments for the american people, there are still important items left to check off our list. yesterday evening, we voted to advance the nomination of stephen vaden, the president's choice to serve as general counsel for the department of agricul

the clerk: nomination, department of agriculture, stephen alexander vaden of tennessee to be general counsel. mr. cornyn: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from texas. mr. cornyn: mr. president, i would ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: there is no quorum call. mr. cornyn: i appreciate that, mr. president. members of congress are making their way back to the nation's capital after celebrating thanksgiving with home -- with the folks at home, their friends and their family. to me, this holiday offered a little bit of respite and time for reflection, a time to pause with our families and think about what we have to be grateful for. and this year, i am particularly thankful for the organizations that i have met with when i was back home in texas who have donated a lot of their most valuable time, their most valuable resource. thousands took time out of their family celebrations to provide meals and assistance to those less fortunate. i also had the opportunity to join the ranks of some of my other volunteers like mayor s

standing rules of the senate do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of stephen alexander vaden of tennessee to be general counsel of the department of agriculture. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed to legislatives. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all those in favor say aye. opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion carries. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 939. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all those in favor say aye. opposed, no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: nomination, department of commerce, karen dunn kelley of pennsylvania to be deputy secretary. mr. mcconnell: i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the cloture motion. the clerk: cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of