The Senate stands adjourned until 9:00am on Wednesday, April 2, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance Extension with the time until 10:00am equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

 The filing deadline for all 2^nd degree amendments to the Reed substitute amendment #2874 and to H.R.3979 is 9:30am Wednesday.

 At 10:00am, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Reed substitute amendment #2874.

 Additional roll call votes are possible Wednesday.

Senator Vitter asked unanimous consent that it be in order to offer up amendment #2931 (prohibit concurrent receipt of emergency unemployment benefits and Social Security disability benefits). Senator Reid objected

10:01am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Reed substitute amendment #2974 (Emergency Unemployment Benefits Extension Act) to H.R.3979.

Senator Blunt asked unanimous consent that it be in order to call up amendment #2885 (to create a point of order against any legislation that would create a Federal tax or fee on carbon emissions).

Senator Reed objected

Senator Moran asked unanimous consent that it be in order to call up amendment #2911(formation and growth of new businesses/STEM Visas).

Senator Reed objected.

Senator Vitter asked unanimous consent the Veterans Affairs’ Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R.3521 and pass H.R.3521, Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013, as amended by a Vitter amendment (pay-for through price controls for prescription drugs in the Department of Defense).

Senator Sanders objected.

Senator Sanders then asked the Senate take up and pass S.1950, as amended by the Sanders substitute amendment, which is the text of S.1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act.

Senator Vitter objected.

Senator Flake asked unanimous consent that it be in order to call up amendment #2935 (additional ACA plans).

Senator Durbin objected.

We are told the Republicans intend to make a motion to table one of the pending Reid amendments in the 4:15pm range to make it in order to offer an amendment. If the motion to table fails, we expect Senator Vitter will attempt to offer amendment #2931 (prohibit concurrent receipt of emergency unemployment benefits and Social Security disability benefits) in the third degree. The Chair would rule that third degree amendments are not in order and Senator Vitter would then appeal the rule of the chair.

 

As a result, senators should expect 2 roll call votes to begin in the 4:15pm range:

 

– Republican motion to table a pending Reid amendment to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Unemployment Benefits Extension Act

– Vitter motion to appeal the ruling of the chair. The question before the body would be: Shall the decision of the Chair stand? ( a yes vote would uphold the chair’s ruling and the Senate’s precedents)

 

As a reminder, it is in order to consider the Malinowski, Wu and Birx nominations today. We hope to confirm the nominations by voice votes.

 

–        Executive Calendar #520 Tomasz P. Malinowski, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor;

–        Executive Calendar #679 Portia Y. Wu, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor; and

–        Executive Calendar #705 Deborah L. Birx, of Maryland, to be Ambassador at Large and Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally.

At a time to be determined today, there will be 2 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form on each nomination prior to a vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed. If roll call votes are required, all roll call votes after the first would be 10 minutes in length.

4:32pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Barrasso motion to table Reid amendment #2878 to S.Amdt.2877 (UI) to H.R.3979;

Not Agreed To: 46-50

Senator Vitter attempted to call up amendment #2931 (prohibit concurrent receipt of emergency unemployment benefits and Social Security disability benefits) in the third degree to Reid #2874 to H.R.3970. The chair ruled that the amendment is not in order as it is inconsistent with the Senate’s precedents with respect to the offering of amendments, their number, degree and kind.

Senator Vitter appealed the ruling of the Chair.

Senator Reid moved to table Vitter appealing rule of the chair that a third degree amendment is not in order

5:00pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Reid motion to table the Vitter appeal of the ruling of the chair that a third degree amendment is not in order;

Tabled: 67-29

The Senate confirmed the following nominations by voice vote:

 

–        Executive Calendar #520 Tomasz P. Malinowski, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor;

–        Executive Calendar #679 Portia Y. Wu, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor; and

–        Executive Calendar #705 Deborah L. Birx, of Maryland, to be Ambassador at Large and Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally.

 WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)      Motion to invoke cloture on Reed substitute amendment #2974 (Emergency Unemployment Benefits Extension Act) to H.R.3979; Invoked: 61-38

2)      Motion to table the Reid amendment to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Unemployment Benefits Extension Act; Not Tabled: 46-50

3)      Reid motion to table the Vitter appeal of the ruling of the chair that a third degree amendment is not in order; Tabled: 67-29

 

Additional Legislative items

Adopted S.Res.409, congratulating the Penn State University wrestling team for winning the 2014 National Collegiate Athletic Association Wrestling Championships.

 

Completed the Rule 14 process of the following items in order to place the bills on the legislative calendar:

–        S.2198, the Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014. (Feinstein)

–        S.2199, the Paycheck Fairness Act. (Mikulski)

 

Executive items

Confirmed the following nominations by voice vote:

–        Executive Calendar #520 Tomasz P. Malinowski, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor;

–        Executive Calendar #679 Portia Y. Wu, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor; and

–        Executive Calendar #705 Deborah L. Birx, of Maryland, to be Ambassador at Large and Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally.

 

 

 

 

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Last Floor Action:
10:41:09 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

10:00:21 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:28 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Glenn Thompson to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:00:46 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.
10:41:09 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

12:00:20 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 2.
12:00:47 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Bryan Smith, First Baptist Church Roanoke, Roanoke, Virginia
12:02:03 P.M.		POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Speaker announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Courtney demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Speaker announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Courtney demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day.
12:02:38 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Courtney to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:02:55 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.
12:30:11 P.M.	H. Res. 530	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 530 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2575) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 30-hour threshold for classification as a full-time employee for purposes of the employer mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and replace it with 40 hours.”
12:31:00 P.M.	H. Res. 530	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 530.
1:49:01 P.M.	H. Res. 530	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 229 – 194 (Roll no. 152).
1:56:14 P.M.	H. Res. 530	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 236 – 186 (Roll no. 153).
1:56:15 P.M.	H. Res. 530	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:56:25 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on approval of the Journal which had been debated earlier and on which proceedings had been postponed.
2:03:18 P.M.		On approving the Journal Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 262 – 157, 2 Present (Roll no. 154).
2:03:54 P.M.	H.R. 2575	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 530. H.R. 2575 — “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 30-hour threshold for classification as a full-time employee for purposes of the employer mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and replace it with 40 hours.”
2:03:59 P.M.	H.R. 2575	Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2575 with 3 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.
2:04:49 P.M.	H.R. 2575	DEBATE – The House proceeded with three hours of debate on H.R. 2575.
3:38:36 P.M.	H.R. 2575	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair announced that pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule 19, further proceedings on H.R. 2575 would be postponed.
3:39:31 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

6:36:12 P.M.		Mr. King (IA) moved that the House do now adjourn.
6:36:25 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
6:36:26 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 3, 2014.

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