The Senate Convenes: 9:30amET July, 15 2010

Updates when needed today

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the conference report to accompany HR4173, Wall Street Reform. At approximately 11:00am, the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Wall Street Reform conference report. That will be the first vote of the day. Additional votes are expected during Today session of the Senate.

The vote for cloture 60-38 moves the Wall Street bill forward …i might be cynical but i will get excited about finally moving beyond Wall Street to get Every Street fixed with this somewhat watered down bill Wall Street has let the People down and needs to be reform repaired and reintroduced so that it functions correctly not corruptly.  The official record is below…

The Senate completed action on the Wall Street Reform conference report.

Senator Reid announced that the new senator from West Virginia will be sworn in at 2:15pm on Tuesday, July 20, 2010.

After that, at approximately 2:30pm on Tuesday, we’ll have a vote on extending Unemployment benefits. The Leaders are working on a way to move forward on Small Business. After we finish Small Business, the Majority Leader intends to consider the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill. It appears we’re going to have to have a cloture vote on the supplemental.

Votes:
206: Cloture on the conference report to accompany HR4173, Wall Street Reform:
Invoked: 60-38

207: Dodd motion to waive Budget Act with respect to the Conference Report to accompany HR4173, Wall Street Reform; Waived: 60-39

208: Adoption of the conference report to accompany HR4173, Wall Street Reform;
Adopted: 60-39

-Harry Reid says President Obama will sign HR4173 Wall Street Reform bill today

There will be no further roll call votes today.

There will be no further roll call votes today.

Unanimous Consent:
Ratified Treaty Document 111-1, TAx Convention with Malta.

Ratified Treaty Document 111-3, Protocal Amending Tax Convention with New Zealand.

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The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10amET July 15, 2010

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JULY 15, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

5:22 P.M. –

The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on July 19, 2010. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.

Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.

4:01 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House resumed with Special Order speeches.

4:00 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate agreed to the conference report accompanying H.R. 4173.

2:59 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

2:58 P.M. –

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on July 22: himself for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, and Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min. Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on July 21: Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min.

Mr. Poe of TX requested that Mr. Burton of IN be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on July 20.

Mr. Poe of TX requested that Mr. Burton of IN be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on July 19.

2:53 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches. Mr. Hoyer asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Monday, July 19, 2010, it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.

2:52 P.M. –

Mr. Hoyer asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Thursday, July 15, 2010, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, July 19, 2010, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.

2:38 P.M. –

Mr. Conyers filed a report from the Committee on Judiciary on H. Res. 1455.

2:37 P.M. –

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER – Pursuant to the provision of section 208(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, the Chair appointed Daniel J. Strodel of the District of Columbia to act as and to exercise temporarily the duties of Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, effective July 18, 2010.

2:36 P.M. –

The House received a communication from Daniel P. Beard wherein he resigns as the Chief Administrative Officer effective July 18, 2010.

H.R. 5114:

to extend the authorization for the national flood insurance program, to identify priorities essential to reform and ongoing stable functioning of the program, and for other purposes

2:35 P.M. –

The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 5114. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 329 – 90 (Roll no. 447).

2:25 P.M. –

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 191 – 229 (Roll no. 446).

2:06 P.M. –

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

1:56 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hensarling motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment striking section 18 (relating to flood insurance outreach).

1:55 P.M. –

Mr. Hensarling moved to recommit with instructions to Financial Services.

1:54 P.M. –

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

1:53 P.M. –

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 5114.

1:52 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Murphy (NY) amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 421 – 0 (Roll no. 445).

1:44 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Flake amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 423 – 3 (Roll no. 444).

1:13 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Murphy (NY) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Murphy (NY) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

1:11 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1517, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Murphy (NY) amendment. Amendment offered by Mr. Murphy (NY).

An amendment numbered 11 printed in House Report 111-537 to require all funds authorized under the Act to be expended in a manner consistent with the manual on Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch.

On agreeing to the McMahon amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

1:02 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1517, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McMahon amendment. Amendment offered by Mr. McMahon.

An amendment numbered 10 printed in House Report 111-537 to (1) permit federal grants to educate local real estate agents in communities participating in the NFIP regarding the program and the availability of coverage under the program for owners and renters of properties and (2) establish coordination and liaisons with such agents to facilitate purchase of coverage and increase awareness of flood risk reduction.

On agreeing to the Loebsack amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

12:58 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1517, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Loebsack amendment. Amendment offered by Mr. Loebsack.

An amendment numbered 9 printed in House Report 111-537 to require FEMA to notify a local television and radio station of proposed flood elevation determinations in addition to the current requirement of publication in a prominent local newspaper. Would also require FEMA to make such notifications for communities that have not yet been issued a Letter of Final Determination through the flood insurance map modernization process at the time of enactment.

12:57 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Hill amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

12:52 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1517, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hill amendment.

12:51 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Hill.

An amendment numbered 8 printed in House Report 111-537 to include `identifying ways to assist communities in efforts to fund the accreditation of flood protection systems’ as a function of the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate.

On agreeing to the Boswell amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

12:48 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1517, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Boswell amendment.

12:47 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Boswell.

An amendment numbered 7 printed in House Report 111-537 to ensure occupants have relevant information on appropriate evacuation routes, and ensure the outreach program under the bill includes relevant information on where to obtain coverage.

On agreeing to the Miller (MI) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

12:41 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1517, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Miller (MI) amendment. Amendment offered by Mrs. Miller (MI).

An amendment numbered 6 printed in House Report 111-537 to require that the Government Accountability Office conduct a study on ways the private insurance market can contribute to insuring against flood damage; the impact on the National Flood Insurance Program if communities were to opt out; and the feasibility of regionalizing the National Flood Insurance Program so there is no cross-subsidization between regions.

12:40 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Taylor amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

12:31 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1517, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Taylor amendment. Amendment offered by Mr. Taylor.

An amendment numbered 5 printed in House Report 111-537 to prohibit the Write Your Own insurance companies that contract with NFIP from excluding coverage of wind damage under their own policies solely because flooding also caused damage to the property. It would establish requirements for adjustment by WYO insurers when there are claims on the same property, from the same event, for flood damage covered by NFIP and for wind damage covered by the WYO insurer.

12:30 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Flake amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Waters demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

12:28 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1517, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Flake amendment.

12:27 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Flake.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 111-537 to prohibit funds made available for grants from being used for earmarks.

On agreeing to the Driehaus amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

12:19 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1517, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Driehaus amendment. Amendment offered by Mr. Driehaus.

An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 111-537 to provide that if the owner of any property located in an area described in section 102(i)(1) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 obtains a letter of map amendment during the 5-year period for such area referred to in such section, FEMA shall reimburse such owner, or such entity or jurisdiction acting on such owners behalf, for any costs incurred in obtaining such letter.

On agreeing to the Putnam amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

12:12 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1517, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Putnam amendment. Amendment offered by Mr. Putnam.

An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 111-537 to require the FEMA to annually submit a report (no later than December 31 of each calendar year) to Congress on the effectiveness of grants awarded to local government agencies, the activities conducted and the effect of such activities on the retention or acquisition of flood insurance coverage.

On agreeing to the Waters amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

12:07 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1517, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Waters amendment.

12:06 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Ms. Waters.

An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 111-537 to (1) Phase out subsidized premiums for severe repetitive loss prope rties, substantially damaged or improved properties and policy holders who voluntarily allow flood coverage to lapse. (2) Clarify application of actuarial rate phase-in for pre-FIRM properties sold after enactment. (3) Provide preferred rate premium for properties participating in NFIP during newly established, 5-year delay in mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement. (4) Expand availability of installment premium payment program to all policyholders. (5) Clarify that the FEMA Director may work directly with property owners to make mitigation grants for certain repetitive loss properties where States or communities are either unable or unwilling to address repetitive loss issues with a property owner. (6) Allow commercial properties with swimming pools located below the base flood level to enclose those pools with breakaway walls outside of hurricane season. (7) Require FEMA to review mapping of surrounding properties following successful appeal of hazard designation in newly mapped areas. (8) Clarify ability of FEMA Administrator to use demolition and rebuilding as mitigation techniques. (9) Require study of the impact of working waterfronts on storm and flood risk. (10) Establish relevant flood insurance related studies. (11) Conform rule writing and implementation of various provisions of bill. (12) Include other technical improvements.

11:29 A.M. –

GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 5114.

11:27 A.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Ed Pastor to act as Chairman of the Committee. House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1517 and Rule XVIII.

11:26 A.M. –

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5114 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now printed in the bill. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1517.

H. Res. 1517:

providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 5114) to extend the authorization for the national flood insurance program, to identify priorities essential to reform and ongoing stable functioning of the program, and for other purposes

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 239 – 182 (Roll no. 443).

10:57 A.M. –

The previous question was ordered without objection.

10:29 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1517

10:26 A.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

10:07 A.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair would be limited to ten per side of the aisle.

10:06 A.M. –

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 4861, H.R. 5051, H.R. 5099, S. 1288, and S. 3372.

10:05 A.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Poe of TX to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

10:04 A.M. –

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

10:01 A.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. John Cross, South Biscayne Church, North Port, Florida.

10:00 A.M. –

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

Since President Obama’s election, Republicans in Congress have criticized the administration’s stimulative economic policies for increasing the deficit and “spending trillions of dollars we do not have.” But the GOP’s concern about the debt goes out the window when they’re advocating for extending the Bush tax cuts. Over the weekend, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) said Congress should not allow the Bush tax cuts to expire and suggested that tax cuts should never have to be paid for, a sentiment echoed by almost every prominent Republican. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) agreed, saying, “I tend to think that tax cuts should not have to be offset.” Carly Fiorina, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate in California, said this week that “you don’t need to pay for tax cuts. They pay for themselves.” GOP Senate candidate Marco Rubio (FL) released an economic platform of almost all unpaid-for tax cuts. Then, on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) went a step further, claiming that “there’s no evidence whatsoever that the Bush tax cuts actually diminished revenue. They increased revenue, because of the vibrancy of these tax cuts in the economy.”

BUSH TAX CUTS DID ‘DIMINISH REVENUE’: As Michael Linden, Associate Director for Tax and Budget Policy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, put it, McConnell’s claim “is not some disagreement among economists over the effects of a future tax cut. Nor is this a philosophical debate between the left and the right.” “Instead,” Linden said, “what we have here is McConnell making a clearly false claim about recent history.” Before the tax cuts, income tax revenues were 10.2 percent of GDP. Three years later, income tax revenues were 6.9 percent of GDP. Even in total dollars, tax receipts were lower in 2002 and 2003 than they were in 2001. What’s more, the Bush tax cuts led to “the weakest jobs and income growth in the post-war period,” with monthly job growth the worst of any business cycle since 1945 and only contributed to the nation’s income inequality. Today, income inequality is the worst it has been since 1928, and according to the latest data, “the gaps in after-tax income between the richest 1 percent of Americans and the middle and poorest fifths of the country more than tripled between 1979 and 2007.”

THE COSTS OF EXTENDING BUSH TAX CUTS: While Obama has proposed extending the Bush tax cuts “for all but the richest two percent of taxpayers,” Republicans have all insisted on “making permanent all the tax cuts enacted under President Bush,” including cuts for the richest 2 percent of Americans. But as Fox News’ Chris Wallace pointed out to Kyl, extending tax cuts for people making more than $250,000 per year would add $678 billion over 10 years to the growing deficit. Debt-service costs alone would amount to “$1.7 trillion over the 2009-2019 period” and more than $330 billion in the 2019 fiscal year. As Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) told The Progress Report yesterday, “When reasonably intelligent people say something that is patently absurd and ridiculous, then you have to look to the hidden agenda, right? Judd Gregg, Sen. Kyl, these are not dumb people. They know what they’re saying is completely self-serving, but they’re looking at it strictly from the standpoint of personal gain and the gain of individuals directly connected to them and people who they regard as their base.”

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM A DEFICIT PEACOCK?: Indeed, earlier this year, the GOP repeatedly rejected legislation that would have, among other things, increased aid to states and boosted unemployment benefits. Despite Democratic attempts to offset the bill, Republicans still voted against the measure, demonstrating that they were unwilling to tolerate a one-year short-term hike in the deficit of $33 billion to save jobs and help people who can’t find them, but supported adding $678 billion to the deficit to help the richest Americans. “We just can’t keep kicking the can down the street and say, ‘Oh, we’ll take care of it later on. It’ll be offset later,” Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) told The Hill. “That’s all we’ve been doing these last couple of years, and I’m fed up with it.” “What our Republicans believe is that the bill spends too much money and not enough of the money it does spend is offset,” Kyl added yesterday, just three days after insisting that Bush’s tax cuts should not be paid for. Linden refers to these conservative thinkers as “deficit peacocks” because they “like to preen and call attention to themselves, but are not sincerely interested in taking the difficult but necessary steps toward a balanced budget.”

I don’t need to remind you of the disaster BP has caused in the Gulf — you’re painfully reminded of it everyday by the images on television, in the newspaper and on the internet.

But what you might not know about is BP’s reckless endangerment of the health of its clean-up workers. The oil in the Gulf of Mexico is toxic and BP is not providing the 30,000 clean-up workers with respirators or other safety gear essential to cleaning it up.

BP clean-up workers are already being hospitalized due to nausea, headaches and chest pains caused by the toxic fumes that they breathe in everyday on the job. Yet BP cares more about the negative impact on its public image if clean-up crews wear masks than BP cares about safety. And BP continues to cut every corner possible to protect its bottom line. It’s irresponsible and unacceptable.

DEMAND BP PROVIDE PROTECTIVE GEAR TO CLEAN-UP WORKERS — ADD YOUR NAME NOW

9/11 clean-up crews worked without protective gear and they are still suffering for it. We can’t let that happen again. That’s why we’ve joined with our friends at the PCCC in calling on President Obama to demand BP provide protective gear to each and every clean-up worker — and we’re not the only ones standing up.

Already, over 60,000 Americans have added their names. RFK Jr. and more than 50 elected leaders and candidates for office have joined the campaign. And the media, including the New York Times, have been covering every step of the campaign so far. That’s why we need you to sign on today to keep the momentum building and the pressure on until BP does the right thing — or President Obama makes BP do it.

ADD YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW

But wait, there’s more. Now there are reports that BP is threatening to fire any worker who actually uses protective gear. Why? Because BP thinks it’s an admission of liability and it’d be responsible for even more clean-up costs.

BP is already responsible for the biggest environmental disaster in U.S. history, but instead of learning from its mistakes it’s making all new ones. It’s wrong and it has to stop.

Tens of thousands of DFA members joined us in Boycotting BP, so join us again us today in calling on President Obama to demand BP provides protective gear to all clean-up workers. We’ll make sure that the White House, Congress and every candidate for office knows where you stand.

JOIN US TODAY TO DEMAND BP PROTECT ITS CLEAN-UP CREWS

It’s time for BP to stop cutting corners. Join us today to make sure they get the message.

Thank you for everything you do,

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Political Director
Democracy for America

monthly newsletter, July
Major bank drops Sinar Mas, but fast food companies are still serving forest destruction

Two weeks ago, our activists in New York and California donned orangutan suits and headed down to local branches of HSBC, the world’s largest banking and financial services company, to protest the company’s investments in Sinar Mas, a notorious destroyer of Indonesia’s Paradise Forests. We’re happy to announce that, thanks to the many activists who took action, HSBC has dropped all holdings in forest destroyer Sinar Mas from its global asset management groups. The orangutans have achieved victory!

This is just the latest in a long string of companies that have cut Sinar Mas out of their business. Nestle, Unilever, and Kraft have all taken steps to remove Sinar Mas from their supply chains. But, as Greenpeace reveals in a new report, many fast food companies are still serving up Sinar Mas’ rainforest destruction, including Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Pizza Hut. Take action now and tell these fast food joints to hold the forest destruction!

Tell the EPA: Coal ash is hazardous!

Now is the time to tell the EPA and Big Coal fat cats that Americans refuse to be poisoned by dirty energy any longer. Help us reach our goal of 10,000 signatures in support of tough legislation that forces coal to clean up its act.

Coal ash, the highly toxic leftovers from burning coal for fuel, contains dangerous pollutants like mercury, lead, and arsenic that cause cancer and can wreak havoc on both plant and animal life. The EPA has let the coal industry dump coal ash into unlined ponds and landfills that leak into our rivers, streams, and recreation areas for far too long.

On May 4, 2010, the EPA issued two very different proposals for regulating coal ash. One proposal put forth by the EPA is good and the other is very bad. The first proposal would classify coal ash as a hazardous waste, which it very much is. The other would classify coal ash as non-hazardous, which would run contrary to the EPA’s own findings and play right into the hands of big polluters. The EPA’s choice is clear: Coal ash must be regulated as a hazardous waste immediately.

Watch our new video: ScamWow!

There’s no way to clean up an oil spill. It’s clear BP knows this all too well, and is determined to spare no expense on the cleanup… of its image. We put together a new video to highlight this sad state of affairs. Watch the video now: ScamWow!

Take action and tell Congress: No Drilling. Period.

Greenpeace airship takes flight

Greenpeace has a new ship to announce. But, this fine ship doesn’t sail in the ocean; it flies in the sky! The A.E. Bates Thermal Airship brings a “higher” viewpoint to Greenpeace’s mission to “bear witness.” Meet our new ship.