December 20, 2015 Senate GOP blocks Obama pick for housing agency Senate Republicans have blocked President Obama's nominee to head the federal agency that oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Senate voted Thursday 56-42 for Congressman Melvin Watt's nomination. But that was 4 short of the 60 votes needed to end GOP delaying tactics.
December 20, 2015 Senate approves Obama pick for National Labor Relations Board general counsel The Senate has cleared the way for approval of President Barack Obama's pick for a top post at the National Labor Relations Board.
December 20, 2015 Graham says he'll block all nominations for federal government positions over Benghazi Sen. Lindsey Graham threatened Monday to hold up all nominations for federal government positions until survivors of last year's deadly attack on the diplomatic post in Libya appear before Congress.
December 20, 2015 Senate confirms Caroline Kennedy as ambassador to Japan The Senate has confirmed the daughter of slain President John F. Kennedy to be U.S. ambassador to Japan.
December 20, 2015 GOP senator blocks Air Force nominee over aircraft A Republican lawmaker is blocking Senate action on President Obama's nominee for Air Force secretary until she gets answers about the fate of the A-10 attack aircraft.
December 20, 2015 Senate confirms nominee criticized for role in Benghazi response The Senate on Thursday confirmed Victoria Nuland, President Barack Obama's choice as chief U.S. envoy for Europe who was widely criticized for her role in the talking points created after last year's deadly assault in Benghazi, Libya.
December 20, 2015 Senate confirms US ambassador to Russia After a period in limbo with a slew of other nominees to be U.S. diplomats around the world, John Tefft gained Senate confirmation Thursday night as America's new envoy to Russia.
December 20, 2015 Senate confirms McDonald as VA secretary The Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald as the new Veterans Affairs secretary, with a mission to overhaul an agency beleaguered by long veterans' waits for health care and VA workers falsifying records to cover up delays.
December 20, 2015 Senate panel backs McDonald for VA secretary The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday endorsed former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald to be the new secretary of Veterans Affairs.
December 20, 2015 VA nominee McDonald goes before Congress President Barack Obama's choice to lead the beleaguered Veterans Affairs Department is going before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for a confirmation hearing as Congress considers a bill to help the next VA leader do his job.
