The Senate Convenes at 10:00amET May 4, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business for debate only with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees, with the Majority controlling the first 30 minutes each and the Republicans controlling the next 30 minutes.

The filing deadline for all 2nd degree amendments to S.493, the Small Business Jobs bill is at 11am on Wednesday.

There will be up to 2 roll call votes at 12:15pm. The first roll call vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on S.493, the small business jobs bill. If cloture is not invoked on the bill, the Senate will immediately proceed to a second roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of John McConnell to be US District Judge for the District of Rhode Island.

The Senate is now debating the nomination of John McConnell to be US District Judge for the District of Rhode Island, post-cloture. If all time is used, the 30 hours of post-cloture debate time will expire at approximately 7:10pm, Thursday, May 5th. However, there is a possibility some debate time will be yielded back and a vote on confirmation of the nomination could occur this afternoon or evening. Senators will be notified when the vote is scheduled.

We expect to lock in an agreement to yield back time and vote on confirmation of the nomination of John McConnell to be a US District Judge for the District of Rhode Island at approximately 5:30pm.

Votes:

64: Motion to invoke cloture on S.493, the Small Business Jobs bill; Not Invoked: 52-44

65: Motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of John McConnell to be US District Judge for the District of Rhode Island; Invoked: 63-33-1(present)

66: Now voting on confirmation of the nomination of John McConnell to be US District Judge for the District of Rhode Island

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MAY 4, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

5:29 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

5:20 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

5:19 P.M. – Mr. Westmoreland asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Wednesday, May 4, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 5, 2011. Agreed to without objection.

H.R. 3: to prohibit taxpayer funded abortions and to provide for conscience protections, and for other purposes

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 251 – 175 (Roll no. 292).

5:12 P.M. – On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 192 – 235 (Roll no. 291).

4:52 P.M. – The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

4:43 P.M. – Floor summary: DEBATE – The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Speier 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 adding a new section providing that nothing in the bill would permit the Federal Government to gain access to the private medical records of the victims of rape and incest.

4:42 P.M. – Ms. Speier moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.

4:41 P.M. – Considered as unfinished business.

CONTINUATION OF PROCEEDINGS – Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced that proceedings would now resume on H.R. 3 which had been considered earlier in the day.

H.R. 1214: to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction

4:40 P.M. – On passage Passed by recorded vote: 235 – 191 (Roll no. 290).

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

4:33 P.M. – On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 180 – 230 (Roll no. 289).

4:16 P.M. – The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

4:05 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the McCarthy (NY) 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 adding a new paragraph directing the Secretary to publish, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the names and locations of each school based health center or sponsoring facility that will not receive a grant.

4:04 P.M. – Mrs. McCarthy (NY) moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce.

4:03 P.M. – The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

4:02 P.M. – The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1214.

On agreeing to the Pallone amendment Failed by recorded vote: 205 – 210 (Roll no. 288).

3:53 P.M. – On agreeing to the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment Failed by recorded vote: 207 – 218 (Roll no. 287).

3:26 P.M. – UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

3:25 P.M. – The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 3: to prohibit taxpayer funded abortions and to provide for conscience protections, and for other purposes

3:24 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair announced that pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, further proceedings on H.R. 3 would be postponed until a time to be announced.

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

1:59 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 3.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3 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. Bill is closed to amendments. The amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the report of the Committee on Rules 112-71 shall be considered as adopted. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 237.

H. Res. 237: providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 3) to prohibit taxpayer funded abortions and to provide for conscience protections, and for other purposes

1:55 P.M. – Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 243 – 177 (Roll no. 286).

1:32 P.M. – The previous question was ordered without objection.

12:27 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 237.

Considered as privileged matter.

12:02 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.

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

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

12:01 P.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Kurt Gerhard, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Washington DC.

12:00 P.M. – The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of May 4.

10:41 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

10:00 A.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Michael G. Fitzpatrick to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.