Congress: the Republican led House – the Senate considers HR2112, the Agriculture, CJS, and Transportation/HUD Appropriations bill:

The Senate Convenes: 3pm October 31, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #249, Stephen A. Higginson, of LA, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5^th Circuit with one hour equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.
The first roll call vote of the week will be at approximately 5:30pm today on confirmation of the Higginson nomination.
On Tuesday, November 1, 2011, when the Senate resumes consideration of H.R.2112, the Agriculture, CJS and Transportation/HUD Appropriations bill (at approximately 11:10am), there will be up to 7 roll call votes in relation to the following:

Coburn #800 (rural development agency);
Paul #821 (TIGER grants ) (60-vote threshold);
DeMint #763 (epinephrine);
Crapo #814 (Dodd-Frank WSR – derivatives) (60-vote threshold);
Lee Motion to Recommit (FY11 levels);
Coburn amendment #801 (Small Community Air Service Development Program);
Passage of H.R.2112, as amended.
Senators should be aware the Senate will recess at 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings and the series of votes listed above will be interrupted to accommodate the caucus meetings. The Senate will resume voting on the items above, which are not completed prior to 12:15pm, at a time to be determined Tuesday afternoon.

10:AM The following amendments are pending to H.R.2112, the Agriculture, CJS, and Transportation/HUD Appropriations bill:

Crapo amendment #814 (derivatives – Dodd-Frank)
Lee motion to recommit H.R.2112 (FY11 levels)
DeMint amendment #763 (epinephrine)
DeMint amendment #764 (eliminate increase in funding)
Coburn amendment #794 (government programs annual report)
Coburn amendment #795 (collect more than $500M from deadbeat developers)
Coburn amendment #797 (Federal buildings construction/purchase/lease/renovation)
Coburn amendment #799 (Rural Energy for America Program)
Coburn amendment #800 (Rural Development Agency)
Coburn amendment #801 (Small Community Air Service Development Program)
Coburn amendment #833 (end direct payment program)

The following amendments have been considered:

Cornyn amendment #775, as modified (Operation Fast and Furious); Agreed to: 99-0
McCain amendment #740 (eliminate TAA funding for firms); Not Agreed to: 44-55
Collins amendment #804 (vegetables in school meal programs); Agreed to by Voice Vote
McCain amendment #739 (critical surface transportation); Tabled: 59-39
McCain amendment #741 (ethanol blender pumps and storage facilities); withdrawn
Sanders amendment #816 (energy efficiency programs for small businesses); Agreed to by Unanimous Consent
Coburn amendment #793 (transparency in federally attended and funded conferences); Agreed to by Unanimous Consent
Coburn amendment #798, as modified (prohibit funds for purchase of new passenger motor vehicles); Agreed to by Unanimous Consent
Murray amendment #772 (reconstruction of highway facilities damaged by natural disasters or emergencies); Withdrawn
Vitter amendment #769, as modified (drug reimportation) Not Agreed To: 45-55 (60-vote threshold)
Webb amendment #750, as modified (National Criminal Justice Commission) Not Agreed To: 57-43 (60-vote threshold)
Merkley amendment #879 (freight and rail products made in the US) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed to: 55-44
Brown (OH) amendment #874, as modified (Fair Housing Initiatives Program); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Moran amendment #815, as modified (spending levels for Watershed Protection); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Grassley amendment #860 (DOJ Federal Grants)(60-vote threshold); Not Agreed to: 46-54
Landrieu amendment #781 (farmer program loans); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Kohl amendment #755 (spending plan); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Vitter amendment #917 to Menendez #857 (Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed to: 41-57-1(present)
Menendez amendment #857 (extend loan limits for FHA, VA and others) (60-vote threshold); Agreed to: 60-38-1 present
Gillibrand amendment #869 (increase funding for emergency conservation/emergency watershed protection programs); Agreed to: 58-41
Lautenberg amendment #836 (Economic Development Assistance Program); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Bingaman amendment #771, as modified (funds to investigate trade violations); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Sessions amendment #810 (prohibit funds to allow categorical eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance program) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed to: 41-58
Coburn amendment #791 (prohibit funds for direct payments to individuals with income over $1M); Agreed to: 84-15
Coburn amendment #792, as modified (end payments to slumlords) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed to: 59-40
Coburn amendment #796 (end lending schemes) (60-vote threshold); Agreed to: 73-26
Ayotte amendment #753 (prohibit funds for prosecutions of enemy combatants in Article III Courts) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed to: 47-52
Portman amendment #859 (beam rail elements and terminal sections); Agreed to by Voice Vote
McCain amendment #892 (Rural Development offices); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Cantwell amendment #893, as modified (infectious salmon); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Cochran amendment #805, as modified (Fossil-fueled electric generating plants); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Burr amendment #890 (transparency of FDA); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Inouye amendment #918 (strike provisions re: Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Kyl amendment #912, as modified (US Marshals Service & courthouse security upgrades); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Rubio amendment #898 (Evaluation of Gulf Coast Claims Facility); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Thune amendment #809 (reimbursement for expenditures made in reliance of a grant erroneously awarded); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Hutchison amendment #806; Agreed to by Voice Vote
Brown (MA)-Kerry amendment #889 (Audits of Fisheries Enforcement Asset Forfeiture Fund); Agreed to by Voice Vote
Inouye substitute amendment #738 (text of the 3 appropriations bills); Agreed to by Unanimous Consent

5:33pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Stephen A. Higginson, of Louisiana, to be a United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit; Confirmed: 88-0

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed S.1637, Appeal Time Clarification Act of 2011

Passed H.R.368, Removal Clarification Act of 2011

Passed H.R.394, Federal Courts Jurisdiction and Venue Clarification Act of 2011 with committee-reported amendments

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed the following:

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

#103 Eric L. Hirschhorn – to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

#416 Cyrus Amir-Mokri – to be an Assistant Secretary for the Treasury

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

#420 David S. Johanson – to be a Member of the United States International Trade Commission for a term expiring December 16, 2018

There will be no roll call votes on Monday, November 14, 2011.

***************************************************************************

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF OCTOBER 31, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

-The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on November 1, 2011.1:03:07 P.M. –PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.1:02:56 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.1:01:52 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.1:01:44 P.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Thomas J. Rooney to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.1:00:59 P.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on October 31, 2011.