The Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Thursday, March 27, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 10:30am with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.

 Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of H.R.4152, the Ukraine bill. The time until noon will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

 At noon, there will be up to 3 roll call votes:

–        Adoption of the Menendez-Corker substitute amendment #2867

–        Passage of H.R.4152, as amended, if amended, and

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #689 Maria Contreras-Sweet, to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration.

 During Wednesday’s session, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance Compensation Extension and on Executive Calendar #573, John B. Owens, of CA, to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. Under the rule, the first cloture vote would occur Friday morning; it is possible one or both could be moved to Thursday.

At 12:00pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Menendez-Corker substitute amendment to H.R.4152, Ukraine;

Agreed to: 98-2

The Senate passed H.R.4152, as amended, if amended (Ukraine) by voice vote.

The Senate confirmed Executive Calendar #689 Maria Contreras-Sweet, to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration, by voice vote.

By consent, at 1:45pm today, the Senate will proceed to a cloture vote on Executive Calendar #573, John B. Owens, of CA, to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit that and then, notwithstanding rule 22, the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.3979.

 

Further, if cloture is invoked on the Owens nomination, all post cloture time will be considered expired at 5:30pm, Monday, March 31^st, and the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the Owens nomination. Upon disposition of the Owens nomination, the Senate resume Legislative Session and, if cloture is invoked on the motion to proceed to H.R.3979, then all post-cloture time be considered expired and the Senate proceed to consideration of the  bill.

 

Following the cloture vote on motion to proceed to H.R.3979 today, there will be 2 minutes for debate equally divided prior to a vote on confirmation of Confirmation of Executive Calendar #700, Mathew H. Tueller, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen.

 

There is still hope that we reach an agreement on the SGR legislation today. Another message will be sent if and when any agreement is reached.

 

1:45pm Thursday:

–          Cloture on Cloture on Executive Calendar #573, John B. Owens, of CA, to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit

–          Cloture on motion to proceed to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance extension

–          Confirmation of Executive Calendar #700, Mathew H. Tueller, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen (expect a voice vote)

 

5:30pm Monday:

–          Confirmation of Owens nomination

–          Adoption of MTP to H.R.3979, UI

2:10pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance extension;

1:48pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #573, John B. Owens, of CA, to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit;

Invoked: 54-44

Executive Calendar #700, the nomination of Mathew H. Tueller, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen, was confirmed by voice vote.

 

The Senate has reached an agreement to vote on passage of the SGR bill on Monday, March 31, with a 60-affirmative vote point of order. We expect a Republican to raise a Budget point of order against the bill prior to the vote on passage.

 

As a result of this agreement beginning at 5:30pm on Monday, March 31, there would be 3 roll call votes and 1 voice vote. Those would be on the following:

 

–          Confirmation of Executive Calendar #573, John B. Owens, of CA, to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit (majority vote threshold);

–          Motion to waive applicable budget points of order with respect to H.R.4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (SGR/Doc Fix) (60-vote threshold);

–          Passage of H.R.4302,  Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (SGR/Doc Fix) (60-vote threshold); and

–          Adoption of the motion to proceed to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance extension (voice vote expected)

The agreement is as follows:

Following Leader remarks on Monday, March 31^st, the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R.4302, which was received from the House and is at the desk; that there be no amendments or motions in order to the bill with the exception of budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive; that the time until 5pm be equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees, for debate on the bill; that notwithstanding the previous order, following the vote on confirmation of the Owens nomination on Monday, March 31^st, the Senate resume consideration of H.R.4302, the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill; that the bill be subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold; finally, that upon disposition of H.R.4302, the Senate proceed to vote on the motion to proceed to H.R.3979, as provided under the previous order.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Adoption of the Menendez-Corker substitute amendment #2867 to H.R.4152, the Ukraine bill; Agreed to: 98-2

2)     Cloture on Executive Calendar #573, John B. Owens, of CA, to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Invoked: 54-44

3)     Cloture on motion to proceed to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance extension; Invoked: 65-34

 

Additional Legislative items

Passed H.R.4152, the Ukraine bill, as amended by voice vote.

 

Adopted S.Res.400, recognizing the 50^th anniversary of the Great Alaska Earthquake, which struck the State of Alaska at 5:36pm on Good Friday, March 27, 1964, honoring those who lost their lives in the Great Alaska Earthquake and associated tsunamis, and expressing continued support for research on earthquake and tsunami prediction and mitigation strategies.

 

Passed S.2183, U.S. international news programming to Ukraine and neighboring regions.

 

Discharged the Judiciary committee and adopted S.Res.395, designating the month of April 2014 as “Military and Veterans Caregiver Month.”

 

Additional Executive items

Confirmed Executive Calendar #689 Maria Contreras-Sweet to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration by voice vote.

 

Confirmed Executive Calendar #700, Mathew H. Tueller to be Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen by voice vote.

 

Discharged the Commerce committee and confirmed PN1059, Kathryn B. Thomson to be General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

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Last Floor Action:
9:20:04 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

9:00:28 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:43 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Rob Woodall to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
9:00:53 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:02:05 A.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
9:02:10 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Jenkins to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:02:40 A.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
9:20:04 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

9:42:56 A.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 27.
9:43:07 A.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
9:43:21 A.M.	H.R. 4302	Mr. Pitts moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 4302 — “To amend the Social Security Act to extend Medicare payments to physicians and other provisions of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and for other purposes.”
9:43:36 A.M.	H.R. 4302	Considered under suspension of the rules.
9:43:38 A.M.	H.R. 4302	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4302.
10:30:17 A.M.	H.R. 4302	At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Pitts objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
10:31:06 A.M.	H.R. 4278	Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 4278 — “To support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for other purposes.”
10:31:20 A.M.	H.R. 4278	Considered under suspension of the rules.
10:31:23 A.M.	H.R. 4278	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4278.
11:22:31 A.M.	H.R. 4278	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.
11:24:18 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess for a period of less than 15 minutes.
11:31:00 A.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 27.
11:32:26 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
12:07:40 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 27.
12:08:20 P.M.	H.R. 4302	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 4302 — “To amend the Social Security Act to extend Medicare payments to physicians and other provisions of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and for other purposes.”
12:09:00 P.M.	H.R. 4302	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
12:09:00 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption on a motion to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
12:09:10 P.M.	H.R. 4278	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 4278 — “To support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for other purposes.”
12:35:02 P.M.	H.R. 4278	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 399 – 19 (Roll no. 148).
12:45:27 P.M.		COLLOQUY ON HOUSE SCHEDULE – The Chair recognized Mr. Hoyer for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with Mr. Cantor on the expectations regarding the legislative schedule for the House during the upcoming week.
1:01:00 P.M.		Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 11:00 a.m. on March 28. Agreed to without objection.
1:01:00 P.M.		Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Friday, March 28, 2014, it adjourn to meet at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.
1:02:31 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
1:06:07 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has proceeded to Special Order speeches without prejudice to the possible resumption of legislative business.
1:26:49 P.M.		The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 4152 amended, and S. 1827.
1:27:11 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House resumed with Special Order Speeches.

2:40:08 P.M.		Mr. Lance moved that the House do now adjourn.
2:40:15 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
2:40:16 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on March 28, 2014.

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