Monthly Archives: December 2012

Black History

CONGRESS: the Republican led House : acts out ::: the Senate led by Dems : debates


Obama Launches DNC Campaign Tour At Illinois State Capitol

the Senate Convenes: 11:00amET December 31, 2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only until 12:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

The Senate stands in recess subject to the call of the chair. A caucus meeting is still expected this evening.

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

Last Floor Action:
9:01:07 A.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 10:00 a.m. for the start of legislative business.

Black History

Congress : Republican led House :: Will they do the People’s Business? :: the Senate led by Dems


WethePeople

the Senate Convenes: 1:00pmET December 30, 2012

There will now be up to 60 minutes for debate prior to a series of 2 roll call votes. Upon the use or yielding back of time (approximately 2:05pm), the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the following nominations:

–          Confirmation of Executive Calendar #909, William Joseph Baer, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General (majority vote threshold) and

–          Confirmation of Executive Calendar #518, Carol J. Galante, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (60-vote threshold).

Following the votes, the Senate will recess in order to accommodate the caucus meetings. The Democratic caucus meeting will begin at 3pm.

2:10pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of William Joseph Baer, of Maryland, to be Assistant Attorney General (majority-vote threshold);

Confirmed: 64-26

2:40pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Carol J. Galante, of California, to be Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (60-affirmative vote threshold);

Confirmed: 69-24

The Senate stands in recess subject to the call of the chair.

The Senate has reconvened and is in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no further roll call votes today. Roll call votes are possible tomorrow. We will convene at 11am and hope to have more information regarding the schedule then.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      Confirmation of Executive Calendar #909, William Joseph Baer, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General; Confirmed: 64-26

2)      Confirmation of Executive Calendar #518, Carol J. Galante, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Confirmed: 69-24

 

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Energy Committee and Passed the following:

S.2015, Powell Shooting Range Land Conveyance Act

S.3563, A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to modify the Pilot Project offices of the Federal Permit Streamlining Pilot Project.

 

Passed the following Energy bills:

H.R.3263 Lake Thunderbird

H.R.3641 Pinnacles National Park

H.R.4073 Pikes Peak

S.264 Natchez Trace conveyance, with committee amendment

S.2015 Powell Shooting Range

S.3563 Pilot Project Renaming

S.1047 Leadville Mine Drainage

S.1421 Peace Corps Memorial

S.1478 Minuteman Missile NHP

S.499 Bonneville Unit

S.970 White Clay Creek WSR

S.140 Sleeping Bear Dunes

S.114 San Antonio Missions, with committee substitute and floor amdt. to committee substitute

 

Passed S.970, White Clay Creek by voice vote.

 

Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.459, theFederal Reserve Transparency Act of 2012. (Republican request)

 

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

 

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on December 31, 2012.

Black History

CONGRESS: Republicans stall ::: Democrats meet today


capitol29

the Senatae Convenes: 9:00amET December 28,2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.5949, the FISA Reauthorization Act.
  • At approximately 9:45am, there will be several roll call votes in order to complete action on H.R.5949, the FISA bill and on H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.
  • The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for caucus meetings.
  • Additional roll call votes in relation to Executive nominations are possible on Friday.

The Senate has resumed consideration of H.R.5949, FISA reauthorization. There will now be up to 30 minutes for debate prior to a series of votes in relation to the items listed below. Senators should expect the votes to begin as early as 9:35am.

– Wyden amendment #3439 (public reporting)

(2 minutes for debate prior to vote)

– Passage of H.R.5949, as amended, if amended

Upon disposition of the FISA bill, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill. Under the previous order, all post-cloture debate time will yielded back and the Senate will proceed to dispose of the remaining amendments in order which you will find listed below. Senators should expect roll call votes to occur throughout the day. There will be a break in voting when the Senate recesses from 12:30-2:15pm to allow for the caucus meeting.

– Cardin #3393(surety bonds);

– Grassley #3348 (DOJ – vehicles);

– Feinstein #3421 (Army Corps projects), as modified with changes at the desk;

– Harkin #3426 (technical – grants);

– Landrieu #3415 (emergency reimbursement);

– Leahy #3403 (U.S. embassy security);

– McCain #3384 (Amtrak), as modified with changes at the desk;

– Bingaman #3344 (Palau);

– (4 minutes for debate prior to vote) Coburn #3368 (cost sharing – Army Corps);

– (4 minutes for debate prior to vote) Coburn #3369 (notification triggers);

– (4 minutes for debate prior to vote) Coburn #3370, as modified and with two divisions – delinquent tax debts and fisheries);

– (4 minutes for debate prior to vote) Coburn #3371 (severe disasters);

– (4 minutes for debate prior to vote) Coburn #3382 (Merit based recovery contracts);

– (4 minutes for debate prior to vote) Coburn #3383 (strike certain studies – Army Corps);

– Tester #3350 (Fire management);

– (10 minutes for debate prior to vote) Paul #3376 (Non-application of Davis-Bacon);

– (10 minutes for debate prior to vote) Paul #3410 (Offset)

– (8 minutes for debate prior to vote) McCain #3355 (strike emergency forest restoration);

– Merkley #3367 (extend Agriculture disaster assistance programs), as modified;

– (10 minutes for debate prior to vote) Lee #3373, as modified (special rules – retirement funds);

– Coats #3391 (Republican alternative);

– Reid substitute amendment #3395

– Passage of H.R.1, as amended, if amended.

9:36am The Senate began a roll call vote on Wyden amendment #3439 (public reporting) to H.R.5949, FISA;

Not Agreed To: 43-52

10:06am The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of H.R.5949, FISA Amendments Act  Reauthorization Act of 2012;

Passed: 73-23

10:36am The Senate began a roll call call vote on Bingaman amendment #3344 (Palau);

Not Agreed To: 52-43

The following amendments were agreed to by voice vote.

Cardin #3393

Grassley #3348

Feinstein #3421 as modified

Harkin #3426

Landrieu #3415

Leahy #3403

Coburn #3369

Coburn #3370 – Division I

Senator McCain will not offer #3384.

The Senate is now voting on Bingaman amendment #3344 (Palau).

11:02am The Senate began a roll call vote on Tester motion to waive the budget order with respect to Tester #3350 (fire management);

Not Waived: 51-44

The point of order was well taken and the emergency designation was removed. Senator Tester then withdrew his amendment.

11:27am The Senate began a roll call vote on Coburn amendment #3368 (cost sharing-Army Corps); Not Agreed to: 44-51

11:57am The Senate began a roll call vote on the Coburn amendment #3370, as modified – Division II (fisheries);

Not Agreed to: 35-60

12:14pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Coburn amendment #3371 (severe disasters)

Not Agreed to: 40-55

The Senate stands in recess until 2pm. At 2pm there will be up to 8 minutes of debate prior to a series of 2 stacked roll call votes in relation to the following amendments:

–          Coburn #3382 (merit based recovery contracts)

–          Coburn #3383(strike certain studies – Army Corps)

Both of these votes will be 10 minutes in duration. There will then be a break in voting to allow leadership to go to the White House.

2:11pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Coburn amendment #3382 (competitive bidding)

Not Agreed to: 48-47

4:18pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Paul amendment #3376 (Davis-Bacon)

Not Agreed to: 42-52

4:57pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Paul amendment #3410 (offset)

Not Agreed to: 3-91

5:20pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the McCain amendment #3355 (strike emergency forest restoration)

Not Agreed to: 46-49

5:47pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Motion to Waive the Budget Act with respect to the Merkley amendment #3367, as modified further (extend Agriculture disaster assistance program)

5:47pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Motion to Waive the Budget Act with respect to the Merkley amendment #3367, as modified further (extend Agriculture disaster assistance program);

Not Waived: 55-40

The point of order was well taken and then the amendment was withdrawn.

6:12pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Coats amendment #3391 (Republican substitute);

Not Agreed To: 41-54

The Reid substitute amendment was agreed to by voice vote.

6:33pm The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of H.R.1, as amended (Emergency Supplemental);

Passed: 61-33

This will be the last vote of the night. The next votes will occur at approximately 2pm on Sunday. Those votes will be on confirmation of the Baer and Galante nominations.

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the next House meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on December 31, 2012.

~ Recent Post

Pass the Farm Bill


Tell Congress to Pass a Healthy Farm Bill
Farmers growing healthy food items such as organic milk often face hurdles that others do not. Congress is past overdue in passing legislation that would address these imbalances. Tell Congress you want a Farm Bill that invests in organic dairy & healthy-food farmers, NOW!

A Farm Bill for Organic Dairy & Healthy-Food Farmers

Imagine this: billions of taxpayer dollars support the production of unhealthy processed foods and sugary drinks, while farmers supplying healthier items such as organic milk are overlooked or even penalized. Worse, despite an overdue and ticking timeline, Congress is sitting on its hands instead of passing legislation to address these imbalances.

Sound like a bad dream? Unfortunately, it’s reality—but it doesn’t have to be.

Recent reports from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) showed how smarter agriculture policies can help farmers grow more of the healthy fruits and vegetables we need and boost local economies along the way. Now, a new UCS study, Cream of the Crop: The Economic Benefits of Organic Dairy Farms, reveals that public investment in organic dairy farmers would pay off in multiple ways. In addition to producing a healthier product and safeguarding the environment, organic dairy farms generate greater economic opportunity and more jobs in rural communities compared with conventional dairies.

But current agriculture policy favors big polluting CAFOs (confined animal feed operations) over organic dairy farms. And because Congress has failed to act on the now-overdue 2012 Farm Bill—the 5-year legislative package that shapes U.S. agriculture—the limited programs that currently help organic dairy farmers are at risk.

We can change this, but we need quick action. Tell Congress: pass a Farm Bill—one that calls for investments in organic dairies and other healthy-food farmers—NOW.

Sincerely, Ashley Elles Ashley Elles National Field Organizer UCS Food and Environment Program

Black History

CONGRESS: the Republican led House :::: the Senate Dems


capitolsnowclosed

the Senate Convenes: 10:00amET December 27,2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will begin consideration of H.R.5949, FISA Reauthorization, at which point Senator Wyden will be recognized.
  • The next roll call vote will be at 5:30pm on Thursday, December 27th in relation to the FISA bill or the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.

The Senate has begun consideration of H.R.5949, FISA Reauthorization. Under the previous order, there will be up to 7 hours for debate on the bill and 30 minutes equally divided on each of the amendments listed below.

– Leahy (Judiciary committee reported substitute);

– Merkley (declassification of FISA court opinions);

– Paul (4th Amendment – searches/seizures); and

– Wyden (public reporting);

Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will proceed to votes in relation to the amendments in the order listed. Upon disposition of the amendments, the bill will be read a third time and the Senate will proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended.

In addition to the FISA extension, we could also consider amendments to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill today, as provided for under a previous order. As you may recall, cloture on the Supplemental was invoked last week and we reached a further agreement to limit amendments that are in order to the Supplemental.

Senators should expect a series of votes to begin at 5:30pm tonight in relation to the FISA extension and possibly amendments to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.

Senate-designate Brian Schatz will be sworn in as senator (HI) at 2:30pm today.

At 5:30pm tonight, the Senate will proceed to a series of up to 3 roll call votes in relation to the following amendments to H.R.5949, FISA:

–       Leahy #3437 (substitute);

–       Merkley #3534 (declassification of FISA court opinions); and

–       Paul #3436 (searches and seizures).

There will be 2 minutes for debate between each vote. All votes after the first vote will be 10 minutes in duration. When the Senate convenes tomorrow, there will be 30 minutes for debate prior to a vote in relation to the Wyden amendment (public reporting) and passage of H.R.5949, as amended, if amended. Under the previous order, the amendments and passage of the FISA bill are subject to 60 affirmative vote thresholds.

Senator Reid has asked senators with amendments to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill to call up and debate their amendments tonight so that we can begin voting on the amendments tomorrow.

5:34pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Leahy amendment #3427 (substitute);

Not Agreed To: 38-52

6:07pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Merkley amendment #3435 (declassification of FISA reports);

Not Agreed To: 37-54

6:27pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Paul amendment #3436 (searches-seizures);

Not Agreed To: 12-79

The Senate has resumed consideration of H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.

The Cardin amendment #3393 and the Tester amendment #3350 are pending.

Senator Mikulski announced her intention to have the following additional amendments made pending this evening:

– Senator Landrieu to be recognized for up to two minutes to call up her amendment #3415;

– Senator Coburn to be recognized for up to 30 minutes to call up his amendments #3368, #3369, #3370, as modified, #3371, #3382 and #3383;

– Senator Merkley to be recognized for up to five minutes to call up his amendment #3367;

– Senator Mikulski to be recognized for up to two minutes to call up on behalf of Senator Leahy amendment #3403 and on behalf of Senator Harkin amendment #3426.

The following amendments are pending to H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill:

The following amendments have been considered to H.R.1:

On Friday, December 28, when the Senate resumes consideration of H.R.1, the Emergency Supplemental (upon disposition of FISA bill), the Senate will proceed to votes in relation to the amendments to the bill, under the previous order. All remaining time under the previous order with respect to the amendments will be yielded back. There will be two minutes equally divided prior to each vote with the exception of the following:

– 4 minutes equally divided prior to each of the votes in relation to the Coburn amendments and divisions;

– 10 minutes equally divided prior to the votes in relation to each of the Paul amendments;

– 8 minutes equally divided prior to the vote in relation to the McCain amendment #3355; and

– 10 minutes equally divided prior to the vote in relation to the Lee amendment.

That all other provisions of the previous order remain in effect.

As a reminder, under the previous order the following amendments are in order to the Supplemental:

– Cardin #3393 (surety bonds);

– Grassley #3348 (DOJ – vehicles);

– Feinstein #3421 (Army Corps projects), as modified with changes at the desk;

– Harkin #3426 (technical – grants);

– Landrieu #3415 (emergency reimbursement);

– Leahy #3403 (U.S. embassy security);

– McCain #3384 (Amtrak), as modified with changes at the desk;

– Bingaman #3344 (Palau);

– Coburn #3368 (cost sharing – Army Corps);

– Coburn #3369 (notification triggers);

– Coburn #3370, as modified and with two divisions – delinquent tax debts and fisheries);

– Coburn #3371 (severe disasters);

– Coburn #3382 (Merit based recovery contracts);

– Coburn #3383 (strike certain studies – Army Corps);

– Tester #3350 (Fire management);

– Paul #3376 (Non-application of Davis-Bacon);

– Paul #3410 (Offset)

– McCain #3355 (strike emergency forest restoration);

– Merkley #3367 (extend Agriculture disaster assistance programs), as modified;

– Lee #3373, as modified (special rules – retirement funds); and

– Coats #3391 (Republican alternative).

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Adoption of the Leahy amendment #3437 to H.R.5949, the FISA Reauthorization Act; NOT ADOPTED: 38-52

2) Adoption of the Merkley amendment #3534; NOT ADOPTED: 37-54

3) Adoption of the Paul amendment #3436; NOT ADOPTED: 12-79

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee and passed the following:

–          H.R.2338, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa, Florida, as the “Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post Office”.

–          H.R.3892, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8771 Auburn Folsom Road in Roseville, California, as the “Lance Corporal Victor A. Dew Post Office.”

Passed the following postal naming bills, en bloc:

–          H.R.3869, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 600 East Capitol Avenue in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the “Sidney ‘Sid’ Sanders McMath Post Office Building”.

–          H.R.4389, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 19 East Merced Street in Fowler, California, as the “Cecil E. Bolt Post Office”.

–          H.R.6260, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 211 Hope Street in Mountain View, California, as the “Lieutenant Kenneth M. Ballard Memorial Post Office”.

–          H.R.6379, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6239 Savannah Highway in Ravenel, South Carolina, as the “Representative Curtis B. Inabinett, Sr. Post Office”.

–          H.R.6587, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 225 Simi Village Drive in Simi Valley, California, as the “Postal Inspector Terry Asbury Post Office Building”.

Discharged the Finance committee and Passed S.3667, A bill to rename section 219(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as the Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA.

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on December 27, 2012.