This afternoon, the Senate approved Dan Brouillette's nomination to be the deputy Energy secretary on a 79-17 vote. Brouillette's nomination was approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee nearly two months ago, but was placed on hold by Senator Deal Heller (R-NV) due to Brouillette's pro-Yucca Mountain stance. Brouillette may be sworn in at DOE as early as today.
By voice vote, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced the nominations of Mark Wesley Menezes as undersecretary of DOE and Paul Dabbar as DOE undersecretary of science. The committee did not vote on David Jonas, for DOE's general counsel; the committee is expected to pick up Jonas' nomination when they return from
recess.
The Senate is expected to adjorn for August recess as early as this afternoon.
