the Senate Convenes: 3:00pmET June 18, 2012

• Following the prayer and the pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
• The Senate will continue to debate S.3240, the Farm bill. We continue to work on an agreement on amendments to the bill.
• At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #612, the nomination of Mary Geiger Lewis, of SC, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina with up to 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.
• Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), there will be a roll call vote on confirmation of the Lewis nomination.

5:30pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #612, the nomination of Mary Geiger Lewis, of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina; Confirmed: 64-27

WRAP UP

The Senate has locked an agreement to limit amendments and bring the Farm bill to passage. Under the agreement, we will begin voting on amendments at 2:15pm tomorrow. There will be a break in consideration of the amendments to debate and vote in relation to S.J.Res.37, Boiler MACT/EPA, Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. I will send the agreement on the joint resolution of disapproval in a separate email message once it is locked in. Please note that we will consider amendments in an alternating fashion between Democrats and Republicans.

The agreement is as follows:

Leader: I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate resumes consideration of S.3240, the pending motion to recommit be withdrawn; that amendment #2390 be withdrawn; that the Stabenow-Roberts amendment #2389 be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be considered original text for the purposes of further amendment; that the following amendments and motions be the only first degree amendments and motions in order to the bill:

– Akaka #2440 (highly fractionated tribal lands);

– Akaka #2396 (tribal relations office);

– Baucus #2429 (Livestock);

– Bingaman #2364 (multi-state aquifers);

– Brown (OH) #2445 (rural development);

– Cantwell #2370 (pulse pilot);

– Casey #2238 (technical/study -federal milk marketing)

– Coons #2426 (poultry insurance study);

– Feinstein #2422 (conservation innovation grants);

– Feinstein #2309 (insurance recall);

– Gillibrand #2156 (SNAP);

– Hagan #2366 (crop insurance – plain language);

– Kerry #2187 (commercial fishermen);

– Landrieu #2321 (rural development loans);

– Manchin #2345 (dietary study);

– Merkley #2382 (organic crop insurance);

– Schumer #2427 (acer);
– Stabenow #2453 (NAP);

– Udall(CO) #2295 (bark beetle);

– Warner #2457 (rural broadband);

– Wyden #2442 (microloans);

– Wyden #2388 (farm to school);

– Leahy #2204 (rural development);

– Nelson(NE) #2242 (rural housing);

– Klobuchar #2299 (transportation study);

– Carper #2287 (poultry feed research);

– Sanders #2254 (biomass);

– Thune #2437 (crop insurance);

– Durbin-Coburn #2439 (crop insurance);

– Snowe #2190 (milk marketing order reform);

– Ayotte #2192 (value added grants);

– Collins #2444 (dairy);

– Grassley #2167 (pay cap marketing loans);

– Sessions #2174 (SNAP);

– Nelson(NE) #2243 (SNAP);

– Sessions #2172 (SNAP);

– Paul #2181 ($250,000 income limit);

– Alexander #2191 (wind loans);

– McCain #2199 (catfish);

– Toomey #2217 (organic/AMA);

– DeMint #2263 (broadband funding);

– DeMint #2262 (SoS Free MKT);

– DeMint #2268 (Loan guarantees);

– DeMint #2276 (checkoffs);

– DeMint #2273 (broadband);

– Coburn #2289 (MAP);

– Coburn #2293 (Limit Millionaires);

– Kerry #2454 (North Korea);

– Kyl #2354 (North Korea);

– Lee #2313 (Forest Legacy);

– Lee #2314 (CSP/CRP cut);

– Boozman #2355 (Ag research, law info);

– Boozman #2360 (TEFAP);

– Toomey #2226 (energy title);

– Toomey #2433 (sugar);

– Lee Motion to Recommit (FY 2008 levels);

– Johnson(WI) Motion to Recommit;

– Chambliss #2438 (conservation crop insurance);

– Chambliss #2340 (sugar);

– Chambliss #2432 (FMPP);

– Ayotte #2195 (GAO crop insurance fraud report);

– Blunt #2246 (veterans);

– Moran #2403 (food aid);

– Moran #2443 (beginning farmers)

– Vitter #2363 (pets);

– Toomey #2247 (paperwork);

– Sanders #2310 (genetically engineered food);

– Coburn #2214 (convention funding);

– Boxer #2456 (aerial inspections);

– Johanns #2372 (aerial inspections);

– Murray # 2455(sequestration);

– McCain #2162 (Sequestration report – DoD); and

– Rubio #2166 (RAISE Act).

That at 2:15pm, Tuesday, June 19^th, the Senate proceed to votes in relation to the amendments in the order listed alternating between Republican and Democratic sponsored amendments; that there be no amendments or motions in order to the amendments prior to the votes other than motions to waive points of order and motions to table; that there be two minutes of debate equally divided in the usual form in between the votes and all after the first vote be ten minute votes; that the Toomey #2247; Sanders #2256; Coburn #2214; Boxer #2456; Johanns #2372; Murray #2455; McCain #2162 and the Rubio amendment #2166 be subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold; that the clerks be authorized to modify the instruction lines on amendments so the page and line numbers match up correctly; that upon disposition of the amendments, the bill, as amended, be read a third time; that there be up to ten minutes equally divided in the usual form prior to a vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended; finally, the vote on passage of the bill be subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold.

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #612, the nomination of Mary Geiger Lewis, of SC, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina; Confirmed: 64-27

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Agreed to a Snowe amendment to the preamble of S.Res.488, a resolution commending the efforts of the firefighters and emergency response personnel of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, who came together to extinguish the May 23, 2012, fire at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine., notwithstanding adoption of the resolution.

Discharged Judiciary and adopted S.Res.470, a resolution designating July 28, 2012, as “National Day of the American Cowboy”.

Adopted S.Res.495, designating the period beginning on June 17, 2012, and ending on June 23, 2012, as “Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week”, and raising awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease and the impact such disease has on patients.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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House Floor Activities
Legislative Day of June 18, 2012

2:00:07 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
2:00:33 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Steven C. LaTourette to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
2:00:42 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:01:45 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
2:01:50 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Burgess to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:02:13 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:11:50 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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on June 15, 2012 at 10:20 a.m.: That the Senate passed H. Con. Res. 128, without amendment.
2:12:41 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 4:00 P.M. today.
4:01:00 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of June 18.
4:02:02 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. today.
4:02:14 P.M.	H.R. 1556	Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 1556 — “To amend the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act to allow certain land to be used to generate income to provide funding for academic programs, and for other purposes.”
4:02:32 P.M.	H.R. 1556	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:02:38 P.M.	H.R. 1556	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1556.
4:06:47 P.M.	H.R. 1556	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:06:50 P.M.	H.R. 1556	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:07:00 P.M.	H.R. 4027	Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 4027 — “To clarify authority granted under the Act entitled “An Act to define the exterior boundary of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in the State of Utah, and for other purposes”.”
4:07:19 P.M.	H.R. 4027	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:07:22 P.M.	H.R. 4027	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4027.
4:12:12 P.M.	H.R. 4027	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:12:16 P.M.	H.R. 4027	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:12:20 P.M.	S. 404	Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 404 — “To modify a land grant patent issued by the Secretary of the Interior.”
4:12:37 P.M.	S. 404	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:12:41 P.M.	S. 404	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 404.
4:16:44 P.M.	S. 404	At 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.
4:17:00 P.M.	S. 684	Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 684 — “To provide for the conveyance of certain parcels of land to the town of Alta, Utah.”
4:17:09 P.M.	S. 684	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:17:11 P.M.	S. 684	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 684.
4:19:15 P.M.	S. 684	At 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.
4:19:20 P.M.	S. 997	Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 997 — “To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend a water contract between the United States and the East Bench Irrigation District.”
4:19:35 P.M.	S. 997	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:19:36 P.M.	S. 997	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 997.
4:21:48 P.M.	S. 997	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:21:53 P.M.	S. 997	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:28:03 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification of the continuance of the National emergency with respect to the proliferation of weapons-uasable fissile material on the Korean Peninsula – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-113).
4:29:18 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification of the continuance of the National emergency with respect to the accumulation of a large volume of weapons-usable fissile material in the territory of the Russian Federation – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-114).
4:35:05 P.M.	H. Res. 683	Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution. H. Res. 683 — “Expressing the regret of the House of Representatives for the passage of laws that adversely affected the Chinese in the United States, including the Chinese Exclusion Act.”
4:35:10 P.M.	H. Res. 683	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:35:15 P.M.	H. Res. 683	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 683.
4:57:12 P.M.	H. Res. 683	On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
4:57:17 P.M.	H. Res. 683	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:57:21 P.M.	H.R. 3668	Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 3668 — “To prevent trafficking in counterfeit drugs.”
4:57:36 P.M.	H.R. 3668	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:57:37 P.M.	H.R. 3668	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3668.
5:10:45 P.M.	H.R. 3668	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
5:10:49 P.M.	H.R. 3668	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:10:57 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.
6:30:03 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of June 18.
6:30:06 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:31:34 P.M.	S. 684	Considered as unfinished business. S. 684 — “To provide for the conveyance of certain parcels of land to the town of Alta, Utah.”
6:55:05 P.M.	S. 684	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 383 – 3 (Roll no. 379).
6:55:07 P.M.	S. 684	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6:55:25 P.M.	S. 404	Considered as unfinished business. S. 404 — “To modify a land grant patent issued by the Secretary of the Interior.”
7:01:43 P.M.	S. 404	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 380 – 0 (Roll no. 380).
7:01:44 P.M.	S. 404	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:02:00 P.M.		Mr. Bishop (UT) filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 688.
7:03:45 P.M.		NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO OFFER MOTION TO INSTRUCT – Mr. Walz notified the House of his intention to offer a motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 4348.
7:04:40 P.M.	H.R. 1272	Mr. Young (AK) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1272 — “To provide for the use and distribution of the funds awarded to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, et al, by the United States Court of Federal Claims in Docket Numbers 19 and 188, and for other purposes.”
7:05:06 P.M.	H.R. 1272	Considered under suspension of the rules.
7:05:41 P.M.	H.R. 1272	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1272.
7:13:41 P.M.	H.R. 1272	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
7:13:43 P.M.	H.R. 1272	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:14:27 P.M.	H.R. 2938	Mr. Young (AK) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2938 — “To prohibit certain gaming activities on certain Indian lands in Arizona.”
7:14:50 P.M.	H.R. 2938	Considered under suspension of the rules.
7:14:54 P.M.	H.R. 2938	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2938.
7:43:05 P.M.	H.R. 2938	At 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.
7:45:10 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:46:45 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
8:15:50 P.M.		Mr. Jones moved that the House do now adjourn.
8:15:58 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
8:15:59 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on June 19, 2012.