Daily Digest of Congressional - 13 May, 2025

Hey there! this is your Congressional Daily Digest for Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

No spin. No political bias. Just the facts.

The Senate was in session and spent the day focused on confirmations and committee activity.

Several key nominations were confirmed, including Reed Rubinstein as Legal Adviser to the Department of State, Troy Meink as Secretary of the Air Force, and Whitney D. Hermandorfer as a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit. Maria Lanahan and Cristian Stevens were confirmed as U.S. District Judges for the Eastern District of Missouri, while Edward O’Connell was confirmed as Associate Judge for the D.C. Superior Court. Monica Crowley was also confirmed to serve as Chief of Protocol with the rank of Ambassador.

Cloture motions were filed for upcoming votes on James Danly to serve as Deputy Secretary of Energy, Sean Donahue for Assistant Administrator of the EPA, and Eric Ueland for Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget.

Several nominations were withdrawn, including Charlton Allen for the Office of Special Counsel, Michael Jensen for Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Jonathan McKernan for Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Behind closed doors, the Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces received a classified briefing from U.S. Space Force leadership on space superiority strategy.

In committee hearings, the Armed Services Committee reviewed nominations for senior military and national security positions. The Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held hearings on leadership appointments in the Federal Railroad Administration, the Department of Commerce, and the Amtrak Board. The Finance Committee held a business meeting to consider the nomination of Rodney Scott for Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Foreign Relations Committee examined stability in East Africa and the Horn, while the Judiciary Committee focused on competition in the prescription drug supply chain—specifically the role of pharmacy benefit managers.

Over in the House, members reconvened at noon but did not hold any votes on the floor.

However, several committees were active. The Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means Committees all continued work on legislative proposals tied to the Fiscal Year 2025 budget reconciliation directive. The Rules Committee held hearings on multiple bills, including the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act and the LEOSA Reform Act.

And that’s your Daily Digest for Tuesday, May 13th.

We’ll be back with more no-spin coverage straight from Congress.

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