[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 118 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 118

Amending rule XXXI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, to provide for 
                  timely consideration of nominations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 26, 2015

 Mr. Merkley submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
               the Committee on Rules and Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Amending rule XXXI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, to provide for 
                  timely consideration of nominations.

    Resolved,

SECTION 1. TIMELY CONSIDERATION OF NOMINATIONS.

    Rule XXXI of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs 3 through 7 as paragraphs 4 
        through 8, respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph 2 the following:
    ``3. (a) In this paragraph, the term `covered nomination' means a 
nomination other than a nomination--
            ``(1) of an individual to serve as a justice of the Supreme 
        Court of the United States or as Chief Justice of the United 
        States; or
            ``(2) to a position entitled to expedited procedures under 
        S. Res. 116 (112th Congress).
    ``(b) Subject to subparagraph (c), if a covered nomination has been 
on the Executive Calendar for more than 14 calendar days, the covered 
nomination shall be eligible for expedited consideration in accordance 
with subparagraph (d).
    ``(c)(1) For a covered nomination described in clause (3), unless 
not less than 10 Senators have submitted written requests for the 
record that the covered nomination be considered by the full Senate in 
executive session before the end of the 14 calendar day period 
described in subparagraph (b)--
            ``(A) the nomination shall be deemed to be confirmed by the 
        Senate; and
            ``(B) the Secretary shall send to the President a 
        notification of the confirmation.
    ``(2) If not less than 10 Senators submit a written request in 
accordance with clause (1) with respect to a covered nomination 
described in clause (3), the covered nomination shall be eligible for 
expedited consideration in accordance with subparagraph (d).
    ``(3) A covered nomination described in this clause is a covered 
nomination other than the nomination of an individual--
            ``(A) to serve as a judge or justice appointed to hold 
        office during good behavior; or
            ``(B) to a position at level I of the Executive Schedule 
        under section 5312 of title 5, United States Code.
    ``(d)(1) The majority leader may provide notice that a covered 
nomination that is eligible for expedited consideration in accordance 
with this subparagraph shall be considered on an expedited basis.
    ``(2) Except as provided in clauses (3) and (4), 24 hours after the 
majority leader provides notice under clause (1) with respect to a 
covered nomination, the Senate shall proceed to executive session and 
begin consideration of the covered nomination.
    ``(3) Forty-eight hours after the majority leader provides notice 
under clause (1) with respect to a covered nomination to serve as a 
judge appointed to hold office during good behavior or a nomination to 
a position at level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of 
title 5, United States Code, the Senate shall proceed to executive 
session and begin consideration of the nomination.
    ``(4) If the majority leader provides notice with respect to more 
than 1 covered nomination during any 24 hour period, the covered 
nominations shall be considered in accordance with clause (5) in the 
order in which notice was provided.
    ``(5) Notwithstanding rule XXII, expedited consideration of a 
covered nomination under this subparagraph, including consideration of 
any debatable motion or appeal in connection therewith--
            ``(A) shall be limited to 4 hours, evenly divided in the 
        usual form, in the case of a nomination to serve as a judge of 
        a circuit court of the United States or a nomination to a 
        position at level I of the Executive Schedule under section 
        5312 of title 5, United States Code; and
            ``(B) shall be limited to 2 hours, evenly divided in the 
        usual form, in the case of any other covered nomination.''.
                                 <all>