the Senate Convened at 10:00amET February 28, 2012

• Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business until 12:30pm.
• The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
• The Senate may resume consideration of S.1813, the Surface Infrastructure bill, during Tuesday’s session.

The following amendments are pending to S.1813, the Surface Transportation Act:

• Reid amendment #1730 (Banking, Finance and Commerce titles)
• Blunt amendment #1520 (moral objections to health care services)

The following amendments have been considered to S.1813, the Surface Transportation Act:

• Johnson-Shelby #1515 (banking title); withdrawn
• Reid amendment #1633 (Banking, Finance and Commerce titles); withdrawn
• Reid amendment #1634 (date change); withdrawn
• Reid motion to commit with instructions (date change); withdrawn
• Reid amendment #1636 to the motion to commit (date change); withdrawn
• Reid amendment #1637 to #1636 (date change); withdrawn

The Senate has resumed consideration of S.1813, the Surface Infrastructure bill.

The Senate has reached an agreement that it be in order for the Blunt amendment #1520 (contraception) to be called up. Further, at a time to be determined on Thursday, March 1, the Senate will proceed to a vote in relation to the Blunt amendment. No other amendments are in order prior to the vote in relation to the Blunt amendment.

The Blunt amendment is now pending

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.381, authorizing the taking of the official photograph of the Senate in the 112^th Congress on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 2:15pm in the Chamber of the U.S. Senate.

Completed the Rule 14 process of H.R.1173, an act to repeal the CLASS program.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF FEBRUARY 28, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

-SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House resumed with Special Order speeches.5:55:47 P.M. -The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting the text of a Presidential Policy Directive establishing procedures to implement section 1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112-81) – referred to the Committee on Armed Services and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-91).5:10:26 P.M. -SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.5:06:12 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.5:05:49 P.M. -The House received a communication from Sandra Hanlon, District Representative, Office of Steve King Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Ms. Hanlon notified the House that she had been served with a trial subpoena ad testificandum issued by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, she will determine whether compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.5:05:30 P.M. -H.R. 1433Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.5:05:21 P.M. -H.R. 1433On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.4:31:40 P.M. -H.R. 1433DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1433.4:31:38 P.M. -H.R. 1433Considered under suspension of the rules.4:31:26 P.M. -H.R. 1433Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1433 — “To protect private property rights.”4:30:49 P.M. -The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.4:29:55 P.M. -Mr. Bishop (UT) filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 566.4:29:42 P.M. -H.R. 2117Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.4:29:41 P.M. -H.R. 2117On passage Passed by recorded vote: 303 – 114 (Roll no. 79).4:23:00 P.M. -H.R. 2117On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 176 – 241 (Roll no. 78).3:58:12 P.M. -H.R. 2117DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Capps motion to recommit. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment which adds a provision entitled “PROTECTING STUDENTS FROM HIGHER LOAN COSTS AND A DEVALUED EDUCATIONAL DEGREE”.3:58:00 P.M. -H.R. 2117Mrs. Capps moved to recommit with instructions to Education and the Workforce.3:56:43 P.M. -H.R. 2117The 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.3:56:02 P.M. -H.R. 2117The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2117.3:55:40 P.M. -H.R. 2117On agreeing to the Polis amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 199 – 217 (Roll no. 77).3:50:51 P.M. -H.R. 2117On agreeing to the Bishop (NY) amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 160 – 255 (Roll no. 76).3:44:12 P.M. –MOMENT OF SILENCE – The House observed a moment of silence in honor of those who lost their lives, their families, and the staff at the high school in the City of Chardon.3:42:30 P.M. -H.R. 2117On agreeing to the Grijalva amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 170 – 247 (Roll no. 75).3:17:04 P.M. -H.R. 2117UNFINISHED 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.3:16:36 P.M. -H.R. 2117The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.3:16:03 P.M. -H.R. 2117Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2117 — “To prohibit the Department of Education from overreaching into academic affairs and program eligibility under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.”3:15:02 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 28.2:53:59 P.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.2:53:31 P.M. -H.R. 2117Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2117 as unfinished business.2:52:59 P.M. -H.R. 2117On motion that the committe rise Agreed to by voice vote.2:52:52 P.M. -H.R. 2117Ms. Foxx moved that the committee rise.2:52:51 P.M. -H.R. 2117POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Polis amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.2:45:45 P.M. -H.R. 2117DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 563, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Polis amendment No. 5.2:45:31 P.M. -H.R. 2117An amendment, offered by Mr. Polis,  numbered 5 printed in House Report 112-404 to require the Secretary to present a plan to prevent waste, fraud and abuse to ensure effective use of taxpayer dollars.2:45:12 P.M. -H.R. 2117POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Bishop (NY) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Bishop (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.2:39:01 P.M. -H.R. 2117DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 563, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Bishop (NY) amendment No. 4.2:38:57 P.M. -H.R. 2117An amendment, offered by Mr. Bishop (NY),  numbered 4 printed in House Report 112-404 to strike the prohibition on the Secretary of Education from ever promulgating or enforcing any regulation or rule defining the term “credit hour”.2:38:06 P.M. -H.R. 2117On agreeing to the Polis amendment; Failed by voice vote.2:33:07 P.M. -H.R. 2117DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 563, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Polis amendment No. 3.2:33:03 P.M. -H.R. 2117An amendment, offered by Mr. Polis,  numbered 3 printed in House Report 112-404 to link state authorization regulations to student outcomes.2:30:58 P.M. -H.R. 2117On agreeing to the Foxx amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.2:28:27 P.M. -H.R. 2117DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 563, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Foxx amendment No. 2.2:28:25 P.M. -H.R. 2117An amendment, offered by Ms. Foxx,  numbered 2 printed in House Report 112-404 to repeal a section of the credit hour regulation impacting clock hour programs.2:27:50 P.M. -H.R. 2117POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Grijalva amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Grijalva demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.2:22:40 P.M. -H.R. 2117DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 563, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Grijalva amendment No. 1.2:22:37 P.M. -H.R. 2117An amendment, offered by Mr. Grijalva,  numbered 1 printed in House Report 112-404 to retain the requirement that states have a process to hear and take appropriate action on student complaints regarding institutions as part of the state authorization.1:26:09 P.M. -H.R. 2117GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2117.1:25:43 P.M. -H.R. 2117The Speaker designated the Honorable Candice S. Miller to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.1:25:42 P.M. -H.R. 2117House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 563 and Rule XVIII.1:25:31 P.M. -H.R. 2117Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2117 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. 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 Education and the Workforce now printed in the bill.1:25:26 P.M. -H.R. 2117Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 563. H.R. 2117 — “To prohibit the Department of Education from overreaching into academic affairs and program eligibility under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.”1:24:41 P.M. -H. Res. 563Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.1:24:31 P.M. -H. Res. 563On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 244 – 171 (Roll no. 74).12:58:41 P.M. -H. Res. 563The previous question was ordered without objection.12:28:30 P.M. -H. Res. 563DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 563.12:25:42 P.M. -H. Res. 563Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 563 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2117) to prohibit the Department of Education from overreaching into academic affairs and program eligibility under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.”12:04:32 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.12:04:21 P.M. -Pursuant to section 287a of title 2, United States Code, the Chair appointed Thomas J. Wickham, Jr. as Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives to succeed John V. Sullivan, resigned.12:02:50 P.M. -The House received a communication from The Honorable John V. Sullivan wherein he resigns as the Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives effective March 31, 2012.12:02:11 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Connolly of VA to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.12:02:00 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal.  Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.12:00:49 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Adam McHugh, Vitas Hospice Center, Covina, California12:00:47 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 28.10:31:08 A.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.10:01:04 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.10:00:53 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Michael G. Fitzpatrick to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.10:00:00 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.