the Senate Convenes at  10:00amET March 13, 2012

• Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business for one hour with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
• Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1813, the Surface Transportation bill. At 12:00pm, there will be 2 roll call votes in relation to the following amendments to S.1813:

• DeMint #1756 (State discretionary authority);
• Bingaman #1759 (privatized highways)
• Following the vote in relation to the Bingaman amendment, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
• At 2:15pm, there will be up to 21 roll call votes in relation to the following:

• Roberts #1826, side-by-side to Stabenow #1812, as modified (Energy Tax Extenders) (60-vote threshold);
• Stabenow #1812, as modified (Energy Tax Extenders) (60-vote threshold);
• DeMint #1589 (repeal of energy tax subsidies) (60-vote threshold)
• Menendez-Burr #1782 (Natural Gas) (60-vote threshold);
• Coats #1517 (Apportionment formula);
• Brown(OH) #1819 (Buy America);
• Blunt #1540 (Off system bridges);
• Merkley #1814 (Farm vehicle exemptions);
• Portman #1736 (gas tax flexibility);
• Klobuchar #1617 (Ag transportation);
• Corker #1785 (discretionary spending cap adjustment)
• Shaheen #1678 (small bus systems);
• Portman #1742 (rest areas);
• Corker #1810 (limitation on expenditures);
• Carper #1670 (tolls);
• Hutchison #1568 (tolls);
• McCain #1669 (Grand Canyon – noise abatement), as modified with the changes at the desk;
• Alexander #1779 (over-flights of national parks).
• Boxer #1816 (SoS emergency exemptions);
• Paul #1556 (emergency exemptions);
• Passage of S.1813, as amended.
• During Monday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on the following Executive Calendar items in the following order:

• Cal.#408, Gina Marie Groh, of West Virginia, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of WV;
• Cal.#441, David Nuffer, of Utah, to be US District Judge for the District of UT;
• Cal.#461, Michael Walter Fitzgerald, of California, to be US District Judge for the Central District of CA;
• Cal.#462, Ronnie Abrams, of New York, to be US District Judge for the Southern District of NY;
• Cal.#463, Rudolph Contreras, of Virginia, to be US District Judge for the District of Columbia;
• Cal.#464, Miranda Du, of Nevada, to be US District Judge for the District of NV;
• Cal.#497, Susie Morgan, of Louisiana, to be US District Judge for the Eastern District of LA;
• Cal.#509, Gregg Jeffrey Costa, of Texas, to be US District Judge for the Southern District of TX;
• Cal.#510, David Campos Guaderrama, of Texas, to be US District Judge for the Western District of TX;
• Cal.#528, Brian C. Wimes, of Missouri, to be US District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of MO;
• Cal.#568, Kristine Gerhard Baker, of Arkansas ,to be US District Judge for the Eastern District of AR;
• Cal.#569, John Z. Lee, of Illinois, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of IL;
• Cal.#570, George Levi Russell, III, of Maryland, to be US District Judge for the District of Maryland;
• Cal.#571, John J. Tharp, Jr., of Illinois, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of IL;
• Cal.#610, Jeffrey J. Helmick, of Ohio, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of OH;
• Cal.#612, Mary Geiger Lewis, of South Carolina, to be US District Judge for the District of SC; and
• Cal.#613, Timothy S. Hillman, of Massachusetts, to be US District Judge for the District of MA.

Under the rule, the first cloture vote would occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Wednesday, March 14, 2012.

At 12:00pm today, there will be 2 roll call votes in relation to the following amendments to S.1813, the Surface Transportation bill:

– DeMint #1756 (State discretionary authority);

– Bingaman #1759 (privatized highways)

Following the vote in relation to the Bingaman amendment, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

At 2:15pm, there will be up to 21 roll call votes in relation to the following:

– Roberts #1826, side-by-side to Stabenow #1812, as modified (ANWR, Keystone, etc) (60-vote threshold);

– Stabenow #1812, as modified (Energy Tax Extenders) (60-vote threshold);

– DeMint #1589 (repeal of energy tax subsidies) (60-vote threshold)

– Menendez-Burr #1782 (Natural Gas) (60-vote threshold);

– Coats #1517 (Apportionment formula);

– Brown(OH) #1819 (Buy America);

– Blunt #1540 (Off system bridges);

– Merkley #1814 (Farm vehicle exemptions);

– Portman #1736 (gas tax flexibility);

– Klobuchar #1617 (Ag transportation);

– Corker #1785 (discretionary spending cap adjustment)

– Shaheen #1678 (small bus systems);

– Portman #1742 (rest areas);

– Corker #1810 (limitation on expenditures);

– Carper #1670 (tolls);

– Hutchison #1568 (tolls);

– McCain #1669 (Grand Canyon – noise abatement), as modified with the changes at the desk;

– Alexander #1779 (over-flights of national parks).

– Boxer #1816 (SoS emergency exemptions);

– Paul #1556 (emergency exemptions);

– Passage of S.1813, as amended.

This morning Senator Reid asked that immediately following disposition of H.R. 3606, an act to increase American job creation and economic growth by improving access to the public capital markets for emerging growth companies, the Senate proceed to Executive Session and votes on confirmation of the district court nominations listed below. Senator McConnell objected to the Leader’s request.

Cal.#408, Gina Marie Groh, of West Virginia;

Cal.#441, David Nuffer, of Utah;

Cal.#461, Michael Walter Fitzgerald, of California;

Cal.#462, Ronnie Abrams, of New York;

Cal.#463, Rudolph Contreras, of Virginia;

Cal.#464, Miranda Du, of Nevada;

Cal.#497, Susie Morgan, of Louisiana;

Cal.#509, Gregg Jeffrey Costa, of Texas;

Cal.#510, David Campos Guaderrama, of Texas;

Cal.#528, Brian C. Wimes, of Missouri;

Cal.#568, Kristine Gerhard Baker, of Arkansas;

Cal.#569, John Z. Lee, of Illinois;

Cal.#570, George Levi Russell, III, of Maryland;

Cal.#571, John J. Tharp, Jr., of Illinois;

Cal.#610, Jeffrey J. Helmick, of Ohio;

Cal.#612, Mary Geiger Lewis, of South Carolina; and

Cal.#613, Timothy S. Hillman, of Massachusetts

12:03pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the DeMint amendment #1589 (state discretionary authority); Not Agreed to: 30-67

12:30pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Bingaman amendment #1759 (privatized highways) Agreed To: 50-47

2:20pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Roberts amendment #1826, as modified (ANWR, Keystone, etc) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 41-57

All votes after this vote will be 10 minutes in duration. There will be 2 minutes for debate prior to each subsequent vote. Senators are encouraged to remain on or near the floor during this series of votes.

2:50pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Stabenow amendment #1812, as modified (Energy Tax Extenders) Not Agreed To: 49-49

3:09pm The Senate began a roll call vote on DeMint amendment #1589 (repeal energy tax credits); Not Agreed To: 26-72

3:28pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Menendez amendment #1782 (Natural Gas); Not Agreed to: 51-47

3:48 pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Coats amendment #1517 (apportionment formula); Not Agreed to: 28-70

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

• McCain amendment #1669, as modified (Grand Canyon noise abatement)
• Corker amendment #1785 (discretionary spending cap adjustment)
• Corker amendment #1810 (limitation on expenditures)
• Portman amendment #1742 (rest areas)
• Alexander amendment #1779 (over-flights of national parks)

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
• Blunt amendment #1520 (moral objections to health care services); Tabled: 51-48
• Reid amendment #1730 (Banking, Finance and Commerce titles); withdrawn
• Reid amendment #1761; Agreed to by UC
• Vitter amendment #1535 (OCS) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 44-54
• Baucus amendment #1825 (Rural Schools) (60-vote threshold); Agreed To: 82-16
• Collins amendment #1660 (Boiler MACT) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 52-46
• Coburn amendment #1738 (OMB/Duplicative Programs) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 52-46
• Nelson(FL) amendment #1822 (RESTORE) (60-vote threshold); Agreed To: 76-22
• Wyden amendment #1817 (Keystone Pipeline) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 33-65
• Hoeven amendment #1537 (Keystone Pipeline) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 56-42
• Levin amendment #1818 (offshore tax havens); Agreed to by voice vote
• DeMint amendment #1756 (state discretionary authority); Not Agreed To: 30-67
• Bingaman amendment #1759 (privatized highways); Agreed To: 50-47
• Roberts amendment #1826 (ANWAR,Keystone, etc.) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 41-57
• Stabenow amendment #1812 (energy tax extenders) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 49-49
• DeMint amendment #1589 (repeal of energy tax subsidies) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 26-72
• Menendez-Burr amendment #1782 (natural gas) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 51-47
• Coats amendment #1517 (Apportionment formula); Not Agreed To: 28-70
• Brown(OH) amendment #1819 (Buy America); Agreed to by Voice Vote
• Blunt amendment #1540 (Off system bridges); Agreed to by Voice Vote
• Klobuchar amendment #1617 (Ag transportation); Agreed to by Voice Vote
• Portman amendment #1736 (gas tax flexibility); Not Agreed to: 30-68
• • Corker amendment #1785, as modified (discretionary spending cap adjustment); Fell when the Budget Act was Not Waived: 40-58
  • Portman amendment #1742 (rest areas); Not Agreed to: 12-86

By consent, the Shaheen amendment #1678 (small bus system) will be considered following the Paul amendment #1556.

The managers’ package was agreed to. The Shaheen amendment #1678 (small bus systems) was included in the managers package and will not require a roll call vote. There will be no further roll call votes tonight.

WRAP UP FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2012

ROLL CALL VOTES

1. Roberts amendment #1826 (ANWAR,Keystone, etc.) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 41-57
2. Stabenow amendment #1812 (energy tax extenders) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 49-49
3. DeMint amendment #1589 (repeal of energy tax subsidies) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 26-72
4. Menendez-Burr amendment #1782 (natural gas) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 51-47
5. Coats amendment #1517 (Apportionment formula); Not Agreed To: 28-70
6. Portman amendment #1736 (gas tax flexibility); Not Agreed To: 30-68
7. Motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to Corker amendment #1810, as modified (limitation on expenditures) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed To: 40-58
8. Portman amendment #1742 (rest areas); Not Agreed To: 12-86

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Completed the Rule 14 process of H.R.3606, Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (Republican request)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.2186, 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. (DeMint)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

There will be no roll call votes on Monday, March 19. 2012

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The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 13, 2012.

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 13, 2012

 112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

 . -The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 16, 2012.10:02:56 A.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 12, 2012 at 10:11 a.m. stating that that body had agreed to S. Res. 390.10:02:19 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.10:02:06 A.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.10:00:45 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.10:00:38 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Thomas J. Rooney to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.10:00:26 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.