melvin l. watt of north carolina to be director of the federal housing finance agency signed by 18 senators. the presiding officer: by unanimous consent, thed mandatory quorum call has been waived. the question is, is it the sense of the senate that debate on the nomination of melvin l. north carolina to be the director of the federal howling housing fine agency for a term of five years shall be brought at that close? the yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule. the clerk will call the roll. vote: vote: the presiding officer: on this vote, the ayes are 57 and the nays are 40. upon reconsideration, the motion to invoke cloture is invoked. the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: nomination, federal housing finance agency, melvin l. watt of north carolina to be director of the federal housing finance agency for a term of five years. the presiding officer: pursuant to the provisions of s. resolution 15 of the 113th congress, there will now be up to eight hours of postcloture consideration of the nomination equally divided in the usual form. a senator: madam president? the presiding o