WASHINGTON — Here’s a look at how area members of Congress voted over the week ending Sept. 17.
There were no key votes in the House this week.
Senate
EDUCATION OFFICIAL: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of James Kvaal to serve as the Education Department’s undersecretary. Kvaal, a staffer in both the Clinton and Obama administrations, was president of the Institute for College Access and Success starting in 2018. A supporter, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said, “Kvaal’s background reflects a deep commitment to our nation’s students and the experience needed to hit the ground running on day one.” The vote, on Sept. 14, was 58 yeas to 37 nays.
YEAS:
Maria Cantwell D-Wash., Patty Murray D-Wash.
Nays:
None
WASHINGTON JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of David Estudillo to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the western district of Washington. Estudillo has been a Superior Court judge in Grant County since 2015; previously, he was a private practice lawyer specializing in immigration law. A supporter, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said “his strong character and respect for the rule of law, a sense of justice, fairness, humility, empathy, and capacity for compassion and understanding would be a benefit to the court and all the parties concerned.” The vote, on Sept. 14, was 54 yeas to 41 nays.
YEAS
Cantwell, Murray
NAYS
None
MASSACHUSETTS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Angel Kelley to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts. Kelley has been a judge on the Massachusetts district and then superior courts since 2009. A supporter, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., said that Kelley “has throughout her career demonstrated one thing above all else, and that is an abiding commitment to our nation’s promise of equal justice under the law.” The vote, on Sept. 14, was 52 yeas to 44 nays.
