the Senate Convened at  9:30amET April 19, 2012

• Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act with the first hour equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the Majority controlling the following 30 minutes.
• The filing deadline for 2^nd degree amendments to the Lieberman-Collins substitute amendment #2000, as modified and to S.1789, the Postal Reform bill is 11:00am on Thursday.
• At 2:15pm, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Lieberman-Collins substitute amendment #2000, as modified.  If cloture is not invoked, there will be a 2^nd roll call vote on S.1789, the Postal Reform bill.
• We continue to work on an agreement regarding amendments to the Postal Reform bill and will notify Senators if such an agreement is reached.

As we continue to work on an agreement for a finite list of amendments to S.1789, the Postal Reform bill, the cloture votes on the Lieberman-Collins substitute amendment #2000, as amended and on the underlying bill have been postponed until a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Republican Leader.

When an agreement is reached and/or votes are scheduled, another message will be sent.

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Judiciary committee and passed H.R.1021, the Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeships Extension Act with a Coons amendment.

Adopted S.Res.430, recognizing the 75^th anniversary of the founding of Ducks Limited.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

The Senate has reached an agreement to consider Executive Calendar #528, the nomination of Brian Wimes, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri.

At 5:00pm on Monday, April 23, there will be 30 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

As a result of this agreement, at approximately 5:30pm on Monday, April 23, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination of Brian Wimes, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri.

The Senate has reached an agreement to consider S.J.Res.36, a joint resolution disapproving a rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to representation election procedures.

There will be 4 hours for debate on the joint resolution of disapproval equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. The first 2 hours of debate will occur from 2-4pm on Monday, April 23. The final 2 hours will occur from 10:30am-12:30pm on Tuesday, April 24. At 2:15pm on Tuesday, the Senate will proceed to vote on adoption of the motion to proceed to S.J.Res.36.

If the motion is successful, then the time for debate with respect to the joint resolution would be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. Then upon use or yielding back of time the Senate would proceed to vote on passage of the joint resolution. All other provisions of the statute governing consideration of the joint resolution remain in effect.

The Senate has reached the following agreement on S.1789, the Postal Reform bill.

The cloture motions with respect to the Lieberman-Collins substitute amendment and the bill were vitiated. The motion to recommit was withdrawn. The pending amendments #2013 and #2015 were withdrawn.

The following amendments are the only amendments in order to S.1789 or the pending substitute amendment #2000, as modified:

– McCain #2001 (substitute);

– Tester #2056 (modify process for closing facilities);

– Coburn #2060 (government sponsored conferences)**;

– McCain #2033 (Reorganization Commission);

– Wyden-Feinstein #2020 (vote by mail)**;

– Coburn #2058 (access to postal facilities)**;

– McCaskill-Merkley #2031 (rural post offices) ;

– Coburn #2061 (retirement);

– Snowe #2080** (3^rd party study closings);

– Udall (NM) #2043 (six day delivery);

– Durbin #2082 (to protect efficient processing facilities)**;

– Akaka #2034, with a modification agreed to by both managers (workers compensation);

– Bennet-Blunt #2047 (protection advocate)**;

– Corker #2083 (frequency of mail delivery) ;

– Mikulski #2003 (Governor certification)**;

– Akaka #2049, ** (managerial organizations);

– Paul #2025 (end mailbox use monopoly);

– Manchin #2079 (extend moratorium on closings);

– Paul #2026 (performance based bonuses)**;

– Bingaman #2076 (state liaisons)**;

– Paul #2027 (capitol complex);

– Cardin #2040 (50 mile limit)**;

– Paul #2028 (alternative methods pilot program);

– Carper #2065 (stamp rate authority);

– Paul #2029 (profitability plan)**;

– Carper #2066 (executive compensation);

– Paul #2039 (prohibit collective bargaining);

– Casey #2042 (delivery time);

– Paul #2038 (first class mail and mailbox use);

– Landrieu #2072 (impact on small businesses)**;

– DeMint #2046 (unions);

– McCaskill #2030 compensation reforms)**;

– Coburn #2059 (close unprofitable facilities);

– Pryor #2036 (SoS re: closing and consolidation)**;

– Rockefeller #2073 (Medicare coordination)**;

– Rockefeller #2074 (health benefits program)**;

– Schumer #2050 (delivery point services);

– Tester #2032 (executive pay)**; and

– Warner #2071, with modification to be agreed to by two Managers (OPM retirement implementation plan).

On Tuesday, April 24^th at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republican Leader (likely following the 2:15pm vote in relation to S.J.Res.236), the Senate will vote in relation to the amendments in the order listed, with two minutes equally divided in the usual form between the votes. All votes after the first vote will be 10 minutes in duration. The amendments are subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold. No other amendments are in order to the bill or the substitute. No points of order or motions are in order to any of these amendments, the substitute amendment, or the bill other than budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive.

Upon disposition of the amendments, the substitute amendment, as amended, if amended, will be agreed to. The bill, as amended, will be read a third time and the Senate will proceed to a vote on passage of the bill, as amended. Finally, the vote on passage of the bill is subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold.

** indicates the amendments we would like to consider by voice vote.

————————————————————————————————

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF APRIL 19, 2012

 112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION 

. -The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on April 23, 2012.4:57:36 P.M. -On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.4:57:25 P.M. -Mr. Broun (GA) moved that the House do now adjourn.4:54:06 P.M. -The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification of the 2012 National Drug Control Strategy – referred to the Committees on Armed Services, Education and the Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Judiciary, Natural Resources, Oversight and Government Reform, Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans’ Affairs, and Ways and Means and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-98).2:34:35 P.M. -SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.2:23:46 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.2:23:11 P.M. -Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Thursday, April 19, 2012, it adjourn to meet at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 23, 2012. Agreed to without objection.1:56:18 P.M. -H.R. 9Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.1:56:17 P.M. -H.R. 9On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 235 – 173, 1 Present (Roll no. 177).1:46:32 P.M. -H.R. 9On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 179 – 229 (Roll no. 176).1:31:00 P.M. -H.R. 9The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.1:24:00 P.M. -H.R. 9DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Deutch motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House forthwith with amendments to prevent the tax deduction from allowing companies to ship jobs overseas. It would also prevent the tax deduction from being used on income from prostitution, pornography, drug trafficking, lobbying, golf courses that discriminate based on sex or race, or by taxpayers who violate Iran sanctions. Further, any Member of Congress taking the deduction would have to disclose the deduction amount and type of business income from which it came.1:20:01 P.M. -H.R. 9Mr. Deutch moved to recommit with instructions to Ways and Means.1:18:51 P.M. -H.R. 9On agreeing to the Levin amendment; Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 175 – 236 (Roll no. 175).12:26:01 P.M. -H.R. 9DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 620, as amended, the House proceeded with 25 minutes of debate on the Levin substitute amendment.12:25:48 P.M. -H.R. 9Amendment  in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Levin.11:00:40 A.M. -H.R. 9DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 620, as amended, the House proceeded with 70 minutes of debate on H.R. 9.10:58:53 A.M. -H.R. 9Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 9 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed. Measure will be considered read. A specified amendment is in order. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The resolution provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute, now printed in the bill, shall be considered as adopted. The resolutions waives all points of order against provisions of the bill, as amended. The resolution makes in order the amendment in the nature of a substitute, for 20 minutes of debate, which shall not be subject to amendment.10:58:48 A.M. -H.R. 9Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 620. H.R. 9 — “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a deduction for domestic business income of qualified small businesses.”10:58:14 A.M. -On approving the Journal Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 290 – 118, 3 Present (Roll no. 174).10:51:16 A.M. -H. Res. 620Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.10:51:16 A.M. -H. Res. 620On agreeing to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by recorded vote: 234 – 178 (Roll no. 173).10:42:26 A.M. -H. Res. 620On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 234 – 179 (Roll no. 172).9:21:21 A.M. -H. Res. 620DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 620.9:21:06 A.M. -H. Res. 620On agreeing to the Sessions amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.9:20:41 A.M. -H. Res. 620An amendment, offered by Mr. Sessions,  to make changes to the debate time for both the resolution and the amendment .9:14:20 A.M. -H. Res. 620Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 620 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 9) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a deduction for domestic business income of qualified small businesses.”9:03:15 A.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.9:02:48 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Hochul to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.9:02:17 A.M. -POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that she had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Gene Green(TX) demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Gene Green(TX) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day.9:01:06 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Gerald Baker, St. Ann Catholic Church, Morganfield, Kentucky9:00:38 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Candice S. Miller to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.9:00:25 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.