UPDATED -- The Senate will not be in session Wednesday due to a second major winter storm in less than a week, as it was announced that the federal government will remain closed for a third straight day.
Senate Majority Leader Reid said the Senate will return Thursday, and announced a Democratic Conference meeting that day to discuss jobs legislation.
"Despite the storm, we're going to make progress on the jobs bill," Reid said. "We're going to continue to work with everyone."
But Reid said he did not expect the bill to be finished this week because of absences due to the weather and difficulties in getting a final bill pieced together (see related story).
"I would doubt very seriously there will be any votes this week," said Reid.
Before recessing tonight, the Senate confirmed the nominations of Clifford Stanley as undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness and Phillip Goldberg as the State Department's intelligence chief, two of four that had been held up by Republican objections.
Earlier Tuesday the Senate confirmed, 84-0, Joseph Greenaway as a judge for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals but failed get cloture on nomination of Craig Becker as a member of the National Labor Relations Board.
Although a 52-33 majority voted for cloture, which was eight votes shy of the 60 needed.
House leaders earlier today cancelled their sessions and votes for the rest of the week.
The House was already scheduled not to meet on Friday so members could begin the Presidents Day weekend and recess early. According to House Majority Leader Hoyer, the House will return Feb. 22, with votes scheduled at 6:30 p.m., and the House will extend that week through Friday.
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