the Senate Convenes at 10:00amET March 27, 2012

• Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business for one hour with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.
• Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act, post-cloture.  By unanimous consent, all time during adjournment, recess and morning business will count post-cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2204.
• At 12:30pm, the Senate will recess subject to the call of the Chair to accommodate the weekly caucus meetings and the official photograph of the 112^th Congress.
• We hope to begin consideration of S.2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act during Tuesday’s session.

The Senate has reached an agreement that results 1 roll call vote beginning at 3:30pm today. The agreement is as follows:

The time until 3:30pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. At 3:30pm, the Senate will adopt the motion to proceed to S.2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies bill. We will then proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1789, the Postal Reform bill.

3:45pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1789, the Postal Reform bill; Not Invoked: 51-46

Senator Reid changed his vote to no and entered a motion to reconsider the failed cloture vote.

 The Senate then resumed consideration of S.2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies bill. Senator Reid then filled the amendment tree and filed cloture on the bill. We expect the cloture vote on the bill to occur Thursday.

 Senator Reid then moved to proceed to Legislative Calendar #339, S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act (Buffet Rule).

This afternoon, Senator DeMint asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass Legislative Calendar #336, S.2191, a bill to amend the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to prohibit the Attorney General from administering or enforcing certain accessibility regulations relating to pools at public accommodations or provided by public entities.

Senator Harkin objected to the request.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R.1905, the Iran Threat Reduction Act, and the Senate proceed to its consideration; that all after the enacting clause be stricken and a substitute amendment, which includes the text of Calendar #320, S.2101, the Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Human Rights Act, as reported by the Banking Committee, be inserted in lieu thereof; that the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Senator Paul objected to the request.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 27, 2012

 112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

 . -SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.6:38:34 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.6:36:10 P.M. -Mr. Woodall filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 597.6:35:54 P.M. -H.R. 3309Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:35:53 P.M. -H.R. 3309On passage Passed by recorded vote: 247 – 174 (Roll no. 138).6:29:56 P.M. -H.R. 3309On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 184 – 236 (Roll no. 137).6:12:59 P.M. -H.R. 3309The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.6:03:49 P.M. -H.R. 3309Floor summary: DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Perlmutter motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment to prohibit the underlying bill from limiting the ability of the FCC to adopt a rule or amend an existing rule to protect online privacy including requirements that prohibit licensees or regulated entities from mandating that job applicants or employees disclose confidential passwords to social networking sites.6:03:25 P.M. -H.R. 3309Mr. Perlmutter moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce.6:02:30 P.M. -H.R. 3309The 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.6:02:10 P.M. -H.R. 3309The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.6:01:22 P.M. -H.R. 3309The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3309.6:01:14 P.M. -H.R. 3309On agreeing to the Owens amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 194 – 222 (Roll no. 136).5:57:04 P.M. -H.R. 3309On agreeing to the Eshoo amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 179 – 238 (Roll no. 135).5:52:39 P.M. -H.R. 3309On agreeing to the Crowley amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 196 – 219 (Roll no. 134).5:24:24 P.M. -H.R. 3309UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.5:23:12 P.M. -H.R. 3309On agreeing to the Eshoo amendment; as modified Agreed to by voice vote.5:22:59 P.M. -H.R. 3309DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 595, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Eshoo amendment No. 10, as modified.5:22:17 P.M. -H.R. 3309Eshoo amendment; modified by unanimous consent. Amendment inserts a new section regarding communications of first responders.5:21:45 P.M. -H.R. 3309An amendment, offered by Ms. Eshoo, numbered 10 printed in House Report 112-422 to express that nothing in this Act shall impede the FCC from providing efficient and effective communication systems for state and local first responders.5:17:57 P.M. -H.R. 3309On agreeing to the Speier amendment; Failed by voice vote.5:10:56 P.M. -H.R. 3309DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 595, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Speier amendment No. 9.5:10:52 P.M. -H.R. 3309An amendment, offered by Ms. Speier, numbered 9 printed in House Report 112-422 to prevent this Act from taking effect until the FCC provides a report on the impact of the changes of this Act on the FCC’s mandate to promote competition and innovation.5:10:33 P.M. -H.R. 3309On agreeing to the Green, Al amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.5:09:37 P.M. -H.R. 3309DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 595, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Green, Al (TX) amendment No. 8.5:09:34 P.M. -H.R. 3309An amendment, offered by Mr. Green, Al, numbered 8 printed in House Report 112-422 to clarify that the Act would not impede the FCC’s ability to provide in times of an emergency, for effective and efficient communication systems to alert the public of dangerous weather conditions.5:08:27 P.M. -H.R. 3309POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Owens amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Owens demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.5:02:03 P.M. -H.R. 3309DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 595, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Owens amendment No. 7.5:01:59 P.M. -H.R. 3309An amendment, offered by Mr. Owens, numbered 7 printed in House Report 112-422 to express that nothing in this Act shall impede the FCC from implementing rules to ensure broadband access in rural areas.5:01:48 P.M. -H.R. 3309On agreeing to the Walden amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.4:58:26 P.M. -H.R. 3309DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 595, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Walden amendment No. 6.4:58:23 P.M. -H.R. 3309An amendment, offered by Mr. Walden, numbered 6 printed in House Report 112-422 to make the FCC’s handling of FOIA requests more open and transparent.4:57:32 P.M. -H.R. 3309POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Eshoo amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Eshoo demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.4:47:43 P.M. -H.R. 3309DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 595, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Eshoo amendment No. 5.4:47:19 P.M. -H.R. 3309An amendment, offered by Ms. Eshoo, numbered 5 printed in House Report 112-422 to require entities sponsoring political programming to disclose the identity of any donor that has contributed $10,000 or more to such entity in an election reporting cycle.4:44:47 P.M. -H.R. 3309POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Crowley amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Crowley demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.4:39:33 P.M. -H.R. 3309DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 595, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Crowley amendment No. 1.4:39:30 P.M. -H.R. 3309An amendment, offered by Mr. Crowley, numbered 1 printed in House Report 112-422 to require, in the event that the FCC creates or amends a rule relating to baby monitors, the FCC to require the packaging of a new baby monitor to display a warning label so that families are informed that video and sounds captured by an analog baby monitor may be easily viewed or heard by potential intruders outside a consumer’s home.3:32:41 P.M. -H.R. 3309GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3309.3:32:12 P.M. -H.R. 3309The Speaker designated the Honorable Adam Kinzinger to act as Chairman of the Committee.3:32:09 P.M. -H.R. 3309House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 595 and Rule XVIII.3:29:50 P.M. -H.R. 3309Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3309 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. The resolution waives all points of order against the bill. The resolution waives all points of order against amendment printed in the report.3:29:45 P.M. -H.R. 3309Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 595. H.R. 3309 — “To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for greater transparency and efficiency in the procedures followed by the Federal Communications Commission.”3:29:11 P.M. -H.R. 4239At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.2:35:39 P.M. -H.R. 4239DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4239.2:35:37 P.M. -H.R. 4239Considered under suspension of the rules.2:35:24 P.M. -H.R. 4239Mr. Mica moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 4239 — “To provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing such programs.”2:32:17 P.M. -The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.2:26:25 P.M. -POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE – Mrs. Maloney rose to a point of personal privilege. The Chair announced that it had been made aware of a basis for the point of personal privilege and recognized Mrs. Maloney to proceed for up to one hour on her point of personal privilege.2:24:44 P.M. -H.R. 3298Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.2:24:43 P.M. -H.R. 3298On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 414 – 5 (Roll no. 133).2:16:30 P.M. -H.R. 3298Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3298 — “To establish the position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for other purposes.”2:16:06 P.M. -H.R. 3606Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.2:16:05 P.M. -H.R. 3606On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 380 – 41 (Roll no. 132).2:09:13 P.M. -H. Res. 595Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.2:09:10 P.M. -H. Res. 595On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 242 – 177 (Roll no. 131).2:01:14 P.M. -MOMENT OF SILENCE – The House observed a moment of silence in remembrance of our brave men and women in uniform who have given their lives in the service of our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families, and all who serve in our armed forces and their families.2:00:21 P.M. -H. Res. 595On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 236 – 182 (Roll no. 130).1:10:19 P.M. -H. Res. 595DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 595.1:07:37 P.M. -H. Res. 595Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 595 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3309) to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for greater transparency and efficiency in the procedures followed by the Federal Communications Commission.”1:07:05 P.M. -H. Res. 596Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.1:07:00 P.M. -H. Res. 596On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.1:06:33 P.M. -H. Res. 596Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 596 — “Requesting return of official papers on H.R. 5.”1:05:44 P.M. -H.R. 3606At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.12:29:18 P.M. -H.R. 3606DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the Senate amendment to H.R. 3606.12:29:00 P.M. -H.R. 3606Mr. Bachus moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.12:28:27 P.M. -The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.12:27:37 P.M. -The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the house that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on March 27, 2012 at 9:15 a.m. stating that that body had agreed to H. Con. Res. 108 without amendment and had made appointments to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.12:02:28 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.12:02:04 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. McHenry to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.12:01:56 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.12:00:38 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.12:00:32 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 27.10:54:17 A.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.10:48:29 A.M. -MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House resumed with Morning-Hour Debate.10:47:33 A.M. -The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 3606 with an amendment. The Senate also agreed to the House amendment to S. 2038. The Senate made appointments to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.10:01:07 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.10:00:19 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Erik Paulsen to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.10:00:08 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.