This vote was a 'cloture' motion regarding a presidential nomination, identified by the number PN346-3. Cloture is a specific process used in the Senate to set a time limit on the consideration of a person being appointed by the President to a government position. In the Senate, members can theoretically speak for as long as they want to prevent a vote from happening, a tactic known as a filibuster. A cloture vote is the formal mechanism used to stop that debate. While many Senate actions traditionally require 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, current rules for most presidential appointments allow debate to be ended by a simple majority of those voting. By agreeing to this motion, the Senate has limited further discussion on this nominee. This means the Senate can now proceed to a final 'yes' or 'no' vote on whether to confirm the person to the job. The vote was bipartisan, with 26 members from each major party voting in favor.