30 | January | 2014 | Be a Seed for Change

Big News for the Arctic — Appeals Court’s ruling put Shell’s summer drilling plans in limbo.
Take action today!

Now is our chance to turn up the pressure. Tell Secretary Jewell to cancel the lease under which Shell plans to drill in the Alaskan Arctic this summer.

A federal court just dealt a huge blow to Shell’s plans to drill for oil in the Alaskan Arctic this year.
The court ruled that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) — the federal agency that permits oil companies to drill offshore — intentionally downplayed the impact Arctic oil drilling would have on the fragile environment of the Arctic Ocean.

This beautiful place is home to hundreds of Alaskan Native communities in addition to wildlife like polar bears, seals and whales.
This agency has a history of failing to protect our coastline from oil spills — like the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010. This time a court caught their mistake.
This ruling is a big deal for Arctic protection. The proposed drilling area at the center of the case is the same one that Shell notoriously failed to drill last year, due to its own negligence. It’s the same area Shell is chomping at the bit to get at again this summer.
This is one of our best chances to stop Shell. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell oversees BOEM and has the power to make sure this lease does not go through.
Send a message to Secretary Jewell today, urging her to cancel this lease and stop Shell from drilling in the Arctic in 2014.
Meanwhile, things are not looking good for Shell. In 2012, its drill ship ran aground and it could not meet the basic requirements of its permits. The company is desperate to put the humiliations in encountered in 2012 behind it. To make matters worse, its investors are becoming increasingly worried. The company invested over $5 billion into its Arctic drilling plans — and has nothing to show for it.
All indications say this is causing Shell’s investors to lose their patience. If we get this lease cancelled and stop Shell from drilling again this year, they might not get another chance. Help us keep the campaign momentum going by telling Secretary Jewell to cancel this lease sale and keep Shell out of the Arctic in 2014.
We have the world on our side. A few days ago, the movement to create a global sanctuary in the Arctic surpassed five million people. There aren’t many movements in the world that can claim victories like this. Together, we can protect the Alaskan Arctic this year.
For the Arctic,
Gustavo Ampugnani Greenpeace Arctic Campaigner

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Thursday, January 30, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1926, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act.

The time until 11:15am will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. The final 10 minutes will be equally divided and controlled between Senators Menendez and Toomey or their designees with Senator Toomey controlling the final five minutes.

At 11:15am, there will be up to 4 roll call votes in relation to the following:

– Toomey amendment #2707, as modified

– Coburn amendment #2697

– Merkley amendment #2709, as modified and

– Heller amendment #2700.

Following disposition of the Heller amendment, the Senate will recess until 2:00pm. At 2:00pm, there will be a roll call vote on passage of S.1926, as amended. There will be two minutes of debate prior to each vote and all after the first vote will be 10 minutes in duration.

During Leader remarks, Senator Reid moved to proceed to Calendar #297, S.1950, a bill to improve the provisions of medical services and benefits to veterans. At 10:39am, the Senate resumed consideration of Calendar #294, S.1926, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014. The time until 11:30am will be equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees.

At 11:15am, there will be up to 4 roll call votes in relation to the following:

– Toomey amendment #2707, as modified (substitute);

– Coburn amendment #2697 (NARAB alternative);

– Merkley amendment #2709, as modified (forced planned insurance); and

– Heller amendment #2700 (state authority—private flood insurance).

Following the votes, the Senate will recess until 1:50pm for the DPCC luncheon.

At 1:50pm the Senate will vote on the following:

– Passage of S.1926, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, as amended.

All of the above listed votes are subject to majority vote thresholds. There will be 2 minutes for debate equally divided prior to each vote. All votes after the first will be 10 minute votes.

11:19am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Toomey amendment #2707, as modified (substitute);

Not Agreed To: 34-65

11:49am The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Coburn amendment #2697 (NARAB alternative);

Not Agreed To: 24-75

Senator Merkley withdrew amendment #2709, as modified.

12:10pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Heller amendment #2700 (state authority—private flood insurance

Not Agreed to: 49-50

At 1:55pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on passage of S.1926, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, as amended.

Passed: 67-32

This will be the last vote of the week.

Senator Reid filed cloture on the conference report to accompany H.R.2642, the Farm bill.

By consent, the cloture vote will occur at 5:30pm, Monday, February 3^rd.

If cloture is invoked, there will be 20 minutes remaining post-cloture at 2:15pm, Tuesday, February 4^th, with the time equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees.

Upon the use or yielding back of that time, all post cloture time will be considered expired and the Senate will proceed to vote on adoption of the conference report.

The Senate is considering the conference report to accompany H.R.2642, the Farm bill.

There will be no further roll call votes this week.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1) Toomey amendment #2707, as modified (substitute) to S.1926, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act; Not Agreed To: 34-65

2) Coburn amendment #2697 (NARAB alternative); Not Agreed To: 24-75

3) Heller amendment #2700 (state authority—private flood insurance); Not Agreed to: 49-50

4) Passage of S.1926, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, as amended; Passed: 67-32

Legislative Items

Adopted S.Res.342, designating February 3 through 6, 2014, as “National School Counseling Week”.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1977, to repeal section 403 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, relating to an annual adjustment of retired pay for members of the Armed Forces under the age of 62, and to provide and offset (Ayotte and others) in order to place the bill on the Legislative Calendar.

No Executive Items

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Last Floor Action:
12:31:09 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on January 31, 2014.