FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, September 9, 2013.

At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following items:

– Executive Calendar #184 Valerie E. Caproni – to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York and

– Executive Calendar #185 Vernon S. Broderick – to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York.

There will be up to 30 minutes of debate on the nomination equally divided and controlled in the usual form. Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nominations. Only roll call vote is expected Monday evening; one of the nominations is expected to be confirmed by voice vote.

5:34pm the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #184, Valerie E. Caproni, of New York, to be a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York.

Confirmed: 73-24

The Broderick nomination was confirmed by voice vote. The Senate is now 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 tonight.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #184, the nomination of Valerie E. Caproni, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; Confirmed: 73-24

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.220, to authorize representation by the Senate Legal Counsel in the case of Wade vs. Miller, et al.

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #185, Vernon S. Broderick, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York by voice vote.

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House Floor Activities Legislative Day of September 09, 2013

2:00:23 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
2:00:32 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Virginia Foxx to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
2:00:54 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:02:00 P.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. Holding 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. Holding objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Chair postpone d further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the approval of the Journal until a time to be announced.
2:03:13 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Holding to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:03:40 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:14:06 P.M.		>The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 4:00 P.M. today.
4:00:34 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 9.
4:00:41 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
4:01:35 P.M.	H.R. 2052	Mr. Terry moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2052 — “To direct the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, to conduct an interagency review of and report to Congress on ways to increase the global competitiveness of the United States in attracting foreign direct investment.”
4:01:43 P.M.	H.R. 2052	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:01:45 P.M.	H.R. 2052	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2052.
4:13:54 P.M.	H.R. 2052	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.
4:14:11 P.M.	H.R. 2844	Mr. Scalise moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2844 — “To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to consolidate the reporting obligations of the Federal Communications Commission in order to improve congressional oversight and reduce reporting burdens.”
4:14:46 P.M.	H.R. 2844	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:14:48 P.M.	H.R. 2844	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2844.
4:24:35 P.M.	H.R. 2844	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.
4:24:55 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
6:45:13 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 9.
6:46:18 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.
6:47:02 P.M.	H.R. 2052	_Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2052 — “To direct the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, to conduct an interagency review of and report to Congress on ways to increase the global competitiveness of the United States in attracting foreign direct investment.”
7:13:08 P.M.	H.R. 2052	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 379 – 32, 1 Present (Roll no. 448).
7:13:29 P.M.	H.R. 2844	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2844 — “To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to consolidate the reporting obligations of the Federal Communications Commission in order to improve congressional oversight and reduce reporting burdens.”
7:26:21 P.M.	H.R. 2844	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 – 0 (Roll no. 449).
7:26:37 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and put the question on agreeing to the Journal de novo.
7:27:21 P.M.		On approving the Journal Agreed to by voice vote.
7:27:34 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:38:30 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
9:38:06 P.M.		Mr. Bentivolio moved that the House do now adjourn.
9:38:09 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
9:38:18 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 10, 2013.

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~ the Senate ~ Congress ~Republican led House

the Senate CONGRESS ~~ the House

09/10/2013 Nativegrl77

Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am on Tuesday, September 10, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 11:00am with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 11:00am, the Senate will resume the motion to proceed to Legislative Calendar #166, S.J.Res.21, to authorize the limited and specified use of the United States Armed Forces against Syria. The time until 12:00pm will be equally divided Senators will be permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

The Senate will recess from 12:00pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

After the Senate convened today, Senator Reid renewed the motion to proceed to S.J.Res.21, to authorize limited use of the Armed Forces against Syria.

There was a previous order that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S.1392, the Energy Efficiency bill sponsored by Senators Shaheen and Portman, at 11am today. By consent, the order was modified that the motion to proceed be agreed to at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader with the concurrence of the Republican Leader.

Under the previous order, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 11:00am, with the time equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees.

The Senate will continue to debate the motion to proceed to the Syria resolution today. The Senate will recess from 12:00 noon until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

By unanimous consent the Senate confirmed Executive Calendar #191, the nomination of Georgia, Marilyn A. Brown, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2017 (Reappointment).

The Senate is now debating the motion to proceed to S.J.Res.21, Syria, with the time until 12:00 noon equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.221, designating the week of October 7 through October 13, 2013, as “Naturopathic Medicine Week” to recognize the value of naturopathic medicine in providing safe, effective, and affordable health care.

Discharged the Finance committee from further consideration of S.1427, the Family Farmer Bankruptcy Clarification Act, and referred it to the Judiciary committee.

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #191, Marilyn A. Brown – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2017.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Last Floor Action: 9/10
2:25:48 P.M. – The Speaker announced that
the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

10:00:15 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:22 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:00:54 A.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
10:27:26 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:00 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 10.
12:01:00 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Harmon E. Stockdale, Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, Rochester, New York.
12:03:02 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:03:07 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Higgins to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:03:28 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
12:24:41 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
12:25:00 P.M.	H.R. 1155	Mr. Neugebauer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1155 — “To reform the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers, and for other purposes.”
12:25:03 P.M.	H.R. 1155	Considered under suspension of the rules.
12:25:05 P.M.	H.R. 1155	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1155.
12:46:12 P.M.	H.R. 1155	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.
12:47:07 P.M.	H.R. 2747	Mr. Walberg moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 2747 — “To amend title 40, United States Code, to transfer certain functions from the Government Accountability Office to the Department of Labor relating to the processing of claims for the payment of workers who were not paid appropriate wages under certain provisions of such title.”
12:47:19 P.M.	H.R. 2747	Considered under suspension of the rules.
12:47:20 P.M.	H.R. 2747	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2747.
12:55:16 P.M.	H.R. 2747	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.
1:00:18 P.M.	S. 130	Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 130 — “To require the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal land to the Powell Recreation District in the State of Wyoming.”
1:00:35 P.M.	S. 130	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:00:37 P.M.	S. 130	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 130.
1:02:54 P.M.	S. 130	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.
1:03:25 P.M.	S. 157	Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 157 — “To provide for certain improvements to the Denali National Park and Preserve in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.”
1:03:40 P.M.	S. 157	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:03:45 P.M.	S. 157	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 157.
1:06:08 P.M.	S. 157	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
1:06:14 P.M.	S. 304	Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 304 — “To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the State of Mississippi 2 parcels of surplus land within the boundary of the Natchez Trace Parkway, and for other purposes.”
1:06:29 P.M.	S. 304	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:06:31 P.M.	S. 304	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 304.
1:08:39 P.M.	S. 304	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.
1:09:00 P.M.	S. 256	Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 256 — “To amend Public Law 93-435 with respect to the Northern Mariana Islands, providing parity with Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.”
1:09:13 P.M.	S. 256	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:09:16 P.M.	S. 256	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 256.
1:19:29 P.M.	S. 256	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.
1:20:00 P.M.	S. 459	Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 459 — “To modify the boundary of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in the State of South Dakota, and for other purposes.”
1:20:03 P.M.	S. 459	Considered under suspension of the rules.
1:20:05 P.M.	S. 459	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 459.
1:22:34 P.M.	S. 459	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.
1:22:54 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess for a period of less than 15 minutes.
1:38:29 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 10.
1:38:32 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debate earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
1:38:56 P.M.	H.R. 1155	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1155 — “To reform the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers, and for other purposes.”
2:05:51 P.M.	H.R. 1155	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): (Roll no. 450).
2:05:52 P.M.	H.R. 2747	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2747 — “To amend title 40, United States Code, to transfer certain functions from the Government Accountability Office to the Department of Labor relating to the processing of claims for the payment of workers who were not paid appropriate wages under certain provisions of such title.”
2:16:37 P.M.	H.R. 2747	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): (Roll no. 451).
2:18:25 P.M.	S. 130	Considered as unfinished business. S. 130 — “To require the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal land to the Powell Recreation District in the State of Wyoming.”
2:25:36 P.M.	S. 130	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): (Roll no. 452).
2:25:48 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

4:30:56 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 10.
4:30:57 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.
4:31:17 P.M.	S. 304	Considered as unfinished business. S. 304 — “To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the State of Mississippi 2 parcels of surplus land within the boundary of the Natchez Trace Parkway, and for other purposes.”
4:31:53 P.M.	S. 304	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Roll Call 453 – 2/3 Yea and Nay vote pending.

4:58:02 P.M.	S. 304	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 419 – 1 (Roll no. 453).
4:58:17 P.M.	S. 256	Considered as unfinished business. S. 256 — “To amend Public Law 93-435 with respect to the Northern Mariana Islands, providing parity with Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.”
5:08:25 P.M.	S. 256	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 – 0 (Roll no. 454).
5:08:48 P.M.	S. 459	Considered as unfinished business. S. 459 — “To modify the boundary of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in the State of South Dakota, and for other purposes.”
5:16:09 P.M.	S. 459	_On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 – 5 (Roll no. 455).
5:17:21 P.M.		Mr. Burgess filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 339.
5:19:21 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification of a continuance of the national emergency declared in Proclamation 7463 with respect to the terrorist attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001 – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 113-59).
5:21:02 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
5:25:05 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
7:27:42 P.M.		Mr. King (IA) moved that the House do now adjourn.
7:27:54 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
7:27:55 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 11, 2013.

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~ politics petitions pollution &pop culture

Digging into our Roots!

09/10/2013 Nativegrl77

NMAAHC -- National Museum of African American History and Culture

africa diaspora title bannerFINAL-01.jpg

Searching for Your Roots

This event is full. However, please join us via webcast at nmaahc.si.edu/Events/SearchingforYourRoots.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. Photo by Jeffrey Dunn

Thursday, September 12, 2013 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM

We share a basic drive to discover our own personal stories that explain who we are — and where we come from. In the 2012 PBS series, Finding Your Roots, Henry Louis Gates Jr. explored “the DNA of American culture.” Gates enlisted his own corps of discovery — leading genealogists, geneticists, and ancestry genetic testing companies — to uncover the ancestry of celebrities in each episode. This very team has been busy tracing the genetic histories of tonight’s guests, the Smithsonian’s own Lonnie Bunch, director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and Washington Week’s Gwen Ifill. Gates will reveal their ancestral backgrounds, discovered through historical records and genomic data, live on stage. Ifill and Bunch will explore the results and comment on what they’ve learned.

Lonnie Bunch

Gwen Ifill

After the ancestral reveal, the program continues with a discussion on the promise and limitations of genomic research and ancestral inference genetic testing. Panelists include:

Aravinda Chakravarti, professor, McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University;

Charmaine Royal, faculty, Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, and associate research professor, Department of African and African American Studies, Duke University;

Joanna Mountain, senior director of research, 23andMe.

The panel moderator is Vence Bonham, associate investigator, National Human Genome Research Institute. A question-and-answer session with the audience follows.

Gates is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University, and director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research.
For more information, email NMAAHCPROGRAMS@si.edu.

Presented in partnership with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of Natural History, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health.