it’s Saturday but lame duck -Congress in Session


The Senate Convenes: at 9:00amET December 18, 2010
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume executive session to resume consideration of the New START Treaty. Following any Leader remarks in Executive session, the Senate will turn to Legislative session and be in a period of morning business until 10:30am with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.At 10:30am, the Senate will proceed to a series of up to 4 roll call votes in relation to the following items: 

– Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.5281, (DREAM Act);
– if cloture is not invoked on the DREAM Act, the Senate would proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.2965 (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell);
– Following the cloture vote/s, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination of Albert Diaz, of North Carolina, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; and
– On confirmation of the nomination of Ellen Hollander, of Maryland, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland.

The Senate is debating the House message with respect to HR2965, DADT, post-cloture, with the time until 3pm equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. At 3pm, all post-cloture debate time will be yielded back and the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to HR2965 (DADT). There will then be 4 minutes for debate equally divided prior to a vote in relation to the McCain amendment #4814 to the New START Treaty.

Votes:
278: Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.5281, (DREAM Act);
Not Invoked: 55-41279: Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.2965 (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal);
Invoked: 63-33 

280: Confirmation of the nomination of Ellen Hollander, of Maryland, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland;
Confirmed: 95-0

281: Motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.2965 (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal);
Agreed To: 65-31

282: McCain amendment #4814: to the New START Treaty (Missile Defense); Not Agreed to: 37-59

Unanimous Consent:
Confirmed the nomination of Albert Diaz, of North Carolina, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth CircuitConfirmed the nomination of Edmond E-Min Chang, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois 

Confirmed Leslie Kobayashi, of Hawaii, to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii

Passed HR6510, To direct the Administrator of General Services to convey a parcel of real property in Houston, Texas, to the Military Museum of Texas, and for other purposes.

Passed HR6473, Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2010, Part IV.

Passed HR6533, Local Community Radio Act of 2010.

Passed HR4915,(Baucus substitute and title amendment), An Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make technical corrections to the pension funding provisions of the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010

H.Con.Res.335, a concurrent resolution honoring the exceptional achievements of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and recognizing the significant contributions he has made to the U.S. national security, humanitarian causes, and peaceful resolutions of international conflict.

Adopted S.Res.703, a resolution recognizing and honoring Bob Feller and expressing the condolences of the Senate to his family on his death.

Adopted S.Res.704, a resolution to
authorize the printing of a revised edition of the Senate Election Law Guidebook.

Passes S.118, (committee substitute and Dodd substitute), the Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act.

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The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00amET December 21, 2010