FEMA and immigration nominees to testify at Senate confirmation hearings

October 15th, 2009 Senate panel to vote on labor board nomineesWASHINGTON — A Senate panel plans to vote next week on three long-stalled nominees to fill the National Labor Relations Board. The five-member board, which resolves conflicts between unions and management, has worked with three vacancies for nearly two years because of political wrangling in the Senate.

September 16th, 2009 Kansas senators drop roadblock of Obama nomineesWASHINGTON — Two senators who have been blocking confirmation of Obama administration nominees, including the man put forward for secretary of the Army, say they'll back off and let the approval process go forward. Kansas Sens.

September 16th, 2009 Kansas senators drop protest of Obama nomineesWASHINGTON — Two senators who have been blocking confirmation of Obama administration nominees, including the man put forward for secretary of the Army, say they'll back off and let the approval process go forward. Kansas Sens.

July 13th, 2009 Historic Sotomayor confirmation hearings under wayWASHINGTON — In the glare of bright lights, Sen. Patrick Leahy called to order confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor that she hopes will make history and knows will be closely followed by millions.

July 12th, 2009 Obama phones Sotomayor on eve of hearingsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has called his Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, to wish her luck at her confirmation hearings. The White House says Obama called the appellate court judge from the Oval Office on Sunday.

July 10th, 2009 Mock exercises prepare Sotomayor for hearingsWASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has endured weeks of insults, obnoxious questions and unwelcome drilling into her work as a judge and a lawyer — and it was all on purpose, essentially a dress rehearsal for her confirmation hearings. In a series of faux hearings, Sotomayor has been barraged by hostile questions thrown her way by allies preparing the federal appeals judge for the interrogation that will begin Monday.

June 23rd, 2009 Senate GOP: Will Sotomayor uphold Constitution?WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans are questioning whether Judge Sonia Sotomayor could be counted upon to uphold the Constitution on the Supreme Court. In multiple floor speeches Tuesday and later in a closed lunch of GOP senators, Republicans said they want to hear more about whether she would uphold constitutional amendments guaranteeing equal protection under the law and the right to keep and bear arms, as well as whether the government can freely take land from one person and give it to another.

June 4th, 2009 White House builds case for swift confirmationWASHINGTON — The White House says Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's quick response to an extensive Senate survey should lead to swift confirmation hearings. White House counsel Gregory Craig said Sotomayor (soh-toh-my-YOR') completed substantive answers to the Senate Judiciary Committee's questions in nine days.

May 13th, 2009 FEMA chief confirmed after senator lifts holdWASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed President Barack Obama's pick to head the nation's emergency management agency Tuesday after a Louisiana Republican agreed to stop blocking the vote amid bipartisan criticism that the agency was left vulnerable with hurricane season just a few weeks away. Craig Fugate took over the Federal Emergency Management Agency on a voice vote by the Senate.

May 12th, 2009 Republican agrees to lift nold on FEMA nomineeWASHINGTON — A Louisiana Republican agreed Tuesday to stop blocking the White House's pick to lead FEMA amid bipartisan criticism that he was leaving the agency vulnerable just a few weeks away from hurricane season. Sen. David Vitter had put a hold on confirming Craig Fugate at the Federal Emergency Management Agency until FEMA officials provided answers on several lingering questions involving Hurricane Katrina rebuilding.

May 12th, 2009 Republican agrees to stop blocking FEMA nomineeWASHINGTON — A Louisiana Republican agreed Tuesday to stop blocking the White House's pick to lead FEMA amid bipartisan criticism that he was leaving the agency vulnerable just a few weeks away from hurricane season. Sen. David Vitter had put a hold on confirming Craig Fugate at the Federal Emergency Management Agency until FEMA officials provided answers on several lingering questions involving Hurricane Katrina rebuilding.

May 6th, 2009 White House defends FEMA nomineeWASHINGTON — The White House says its nominee to run the Federal Emergency Management Agency deserves immediate Senate confirmation, not "political posturing" from a Republican senator standing in the way. President Barack Obama nominated Craig Fugate (FYOO'-gayt) two months ago.

May 5th, 2009 Senator blocking Obama's FEMA nomineeWASHINGTON — Hurricane season starts in just a few weeks, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency remains without a leader as a Louisiana Republican senator is blocking the White House's nominee over lingering concerns from Hurricane Katrina. Sen. David Vitter said Tuesday he is standing by the hold he placed on President Barack Obama's choice to lead FEMA.

April 22nd, 2009 FEMA nominee promises to improve agency responseWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's pick to head FEMA promised senators Wednesday that he would hold the disaster relief agency to a much higher standard than it displayed in the wake of the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes. Craig Fugate and John Morton — Obama's choice to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement — cruised through their Senate hearings Wednesday and appeared on a fast track for confirmation.

April 22nd, 2009 FEMA nominee promises to improve responseWASHINGTON — The president's nominee to lead the nation's disaster response agency said he will hold the agency to a much higher standard than how it demonstrated in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In testimony prepared for his confirmation hearing Wednesday, Craig Fugate said the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes would no longer be the benchmark for performance under his watch at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.