[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 197 (Thursday, December 13, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 724--AMENDING RULE XXXI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE 
 SENATE TO LIMIT THE TIME DURING WHICH A NOMINATION SHALL BE CONFIRMED 
                  OR REJECTED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

                              S. Res. 724

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. PROCEEDINGS ON NOMINATIONS.

       Rule XXXI of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended 
     by--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``A covered nominee 
     shall submit the basic requirements to the appropriate 
     committee within 30 legislative days of the covered 
     nomination being transmitted to the Senate. The appropriate 
     committee shall vote on the covered nomination within 30 
     legislative days of receipt of the basic requirements. By 
     agreement of the chairman and ranking minority member, the 
     committee may extend or suspend the deadline on the committee 
     to vote. If the committee does not hold a vote, the nominee 
     is deemed reported to the full Senate. For a covered 
     nomination for a position described in section 5312 of title 
     5, United States Code, the Senate shall vote on the covered 
     nomination within 40 legislative days of the committee 
     reporting the covered nomination. For a covered nomination 
     other than for a position described in section 5312 of title 
     5, United States Code, if not fewer than 10 Senators, within 
     30 legislative days of the committee reporting on the covered 
     nomination, have submitted written requests for the record 
     that the covered nomination be considered by the full Senate 
     in executive session within 40 days of the committee 
     reporting the covered nomination, the Senate shall vote on 
     the covered nomination. If the covered nomination is not 
     confirmed or rejected within 40 days of the committee 
     reporting the covered nomination, the nomination shall be 
     deemed to be confirmed. Debate on any covered nomination 
     other than for a position described in section 5312 of title 
     5, United States Code, debate shall be limited to not more 
     than 2 hours.'' after ``consent.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``8. (a) In paragraph (1)--
       ``(1) the term `basic requirements' means--
       ``(A) an agreement with the Office of Government Ethics;
       ``(B) a financial disclosure form;
       ``(C) a background check conducted by the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation;
       ``(D) responses to a questionnaire of each relevant 
     committee;
       ``(E) tax forms, if required by a relevant committee; and
       ``(F) any other requirements of a relevant committee; and
       ``(2) the term `covered nomination' means a nomination of 
     an individual to a position in an executive agency, as 
     defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code.''.

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