Black History

CONGRESS: the Republican led House – the Senate


the Senate Convened 9:30amET August 1, 2012

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
  • The first hour will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.
  • On Tuesday, cloture was filed on S.3414, the Cybersecurity bill.  As a result, the filing deadline for first degree amendments to S.3414 is 1:00pm on Wednesday. We continue to work on an agreement on amendments to the bill.  If no agreement is reached, the cloture vote will occur on Thursday.

Senator Murray asked unanimous consent to discharge the Finance Committee from further consideration of H.R.9 and the Senate proceed to its consideration, strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof the text of S.1925, the  Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization, as passed by the Senate on April 26th by a vote of 68-31, and the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed.

Senator Grassley objected.

Senator Grassley then asked consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar #406, H.R.4970, the House-passed Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act; that all after the enacting clause be stricken, the text of the Senate-passed VAWA bill, S.1925, with a modification that strikes sections 805 and 810 related to the immigration provisions; that the bill be read three times and passed; and the Senate request a conference with the House and the Chair authorized to appoint conferees on part of the Senate with a ratio agreed to by both Leaders.

Senator Murray objected.

The Senate has reached an agreement to consider S.3326, AGAO/CAFTADR/Burma Sanctions. Under the agreement, there will be 30 minutes for debate prior to a vote in relation to a Coburn amendment, which is at the desk and a copy is attached. If the amendment is not agreed to, which is the outcome we expect, the Senate would pass the bill by consent. Further, that when the Senate receives H.R.5986 and if the text is identical to S.3326, the Senate would pass H.R.5986. We expect to execute this agreement tomorrow morning.

If the Coburn amendment is agreed to, we would do some fancy parliamentary maneuvering to split the bill into 2 sections, AGOA and CAFTADR/Burma Sanctions, and pass them in two separate House bills.

Below you will find the text of the agreement.

S.3326, African Trade/CAFTADR/Burma Sanctions

Leader:       Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar #459, S.3326; that the only amendment in order be a Coburn amendment which is at the desk, that there be 30 minutes for debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the amendment; that if the amendment is not agreed to, the bill be read a third time and passed, without further action or debate; that when the Senate receives H.R.5986 and if its text is identical to S.3326, the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R.5986, the bill be read a third time and passed, without further debate, with no amendments in order prior to passage;

Further that if the Coburn amendment is agreed to, the Finance Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R.9 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration, that all after the enacting clause be stricken and the text of S.3326, as amended, be inserted in lieu thereof, the bill be read a third time and passed, without further debate; that when the Senate receives H.R.5986, the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration, and all after the enacting clause be stricken and the text of Sections 2 and 3 of S.3326, as reported, be inserted in lieu thereof, the bill be read a third time and passed, without further debate, as amended; and S.3326 be returned to the Calendar of Business;

Finally, that no motions be in order other than motions to waive or motions to table; and that the motions to reconsider be made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

The filing deadline for second degree amendments to S.3414, Cybersecurity Act of 2012, is 10:00am, Thursday, August 2. If your senator has a germane second degree amendment and would like to preserve their ability to offer, please send a signed copy of the amendment to the cloakroom prior to the deadline so that we may file it at the desk for you. If you have already filed, there is no need to refile.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Con.Res.55, directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R.1627 (the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012).

Concurred in the House message to H.R.1905, the Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Human Rights Act of 2012 by voice vote.

Discharged the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and passed the following post office naming bills:

–          H.R.1369, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1021 Pennsylvania Avenue in Hartshorne, Oklahoma, as the “Warren Lindley Post Office”.

–          H.R.3276, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2810 East Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, Florida, as the “Reverend Abe Brown Post Office Building”.

–          H.R.3412, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1421 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville, Louisiana, as the “Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post Office Building”.

–          H.R.3501, o designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, Indiana, as the “SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office”.

–          H.R.3772, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 150 South Union Street in Canton, Mississippi, as the “First Sergeant Landres Cheeks Post Office Building”.

Passed H.R.1560, to amend the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act to allow the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribe to determine blood quantum requirement for membership in that tribe.

Passed S.1409, the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012 with a committee-reported substitute amendment and a Carper amendment.

Adopted S.J.Res.49, providing for the appointment of Barbara Barrett as a citizen regent to the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Discharged the Judiciary Committee and adopted S.Res.519, designating October 30, 2012, as a national day of remembrance for nuclear weapons program workers.

Adopted S.Res.536, designating September 9, 2012 as “National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day”.

Adopted S.Res.537, supporting the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

Adopted S.Res.538, designating September 2012 as “National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month”.

Adopted S.Res.539, designating October 13, 2012, as “National Chess Day”.

Adopted S.Res.540, designating the week of August 6th through August 10, 2012, as “National Convenient Care Clinic Week”.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

——————————————————————————-

http://www.houselive.gov/

Last Floor Action:

10:02:50 A.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House resumed with Morning-Hour Debate.