12 | February | 2015 | Be a Seed for Change

I spent the morning meeting with people who were benefitting from the Affordable Care Act — some folks who are saving hundreds of dollars a month on their premiums, a few people with preexisting conditions who now have access to coverage, and someone who took advantage of a free checkup, caught a tumor early, and is now cancer free.

Then in the afternoon, I saw that Republicans in the House voted to repeal the law that’s providing all of those benefits.

The idea that we would even consider taking that away from the tens of millions who are benefitting under this law makes no sense.

So I’m asking: Will you join me in standing up for Obamacare today?

The Affordable Care Act is not an abstraction. For Americans all over the country, it’s about providing the security they need to live their lives.

So why is it that making sure that folks lose access to health care is at the top of the Republican agenda in this new Congress?

It’s working: People are being covered, and plans on the exchanges are affordable. Health care inflation is at its lowest rate in 50 years. The overall tab for the Affordable Care Act is less than originally projected.

I would just ask our Republican friends to once again consider why they think it’s an important priority to take away health care for millions of people. But as long as they do, I’m going to be standing up for this law.

I hope you’ll join me:

http://my.democrats.org/Obamacare-Is-Here-to-Stay

Barack Obama

P.S. — The progress we’ve made on health care because of the Affordable Care Act is just one of the things I’m looking forward to talking about next week, when Democrats come together in Washington for the DNC’s annual Winter Meeting.

If you enter before midnight tonight, you could have a chance to join me there.

The Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Thursday, February 12, 2015.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for one hour with Democrats controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.

Following morning business the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Ashton Carter to be Secretary of Defense until 2:00pm with the time equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees. At 2:00pm, the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Carter nomination.

2:07pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #12, Ashton B. Carter, of Massachusetts, to be Secretary of Defense.

Confirmed: 93-5

Following the vote on confirmation of the Carter nomination (confirmed 93-5), the Senate resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.240, DHS appropriations. Senator McConnell then asked unanimous consent that the motion to proceed be agreed to; the managers, or their designees, be recognized to offer amendments in an alternating fashion, with the majority manager offering the first amendment.

Senator Durbin objected.

Senator Durbin then asked unanimous consent that following the enactment of the text of S.272, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2015, at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Democratic Leader, but no later than Monday, March 16^th, the Senate proceed to the consideration of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, as passed by the Senate by a vote of 68-32 on June 27, 2013, the text of which is at the desk.

Senator McConnell objected and then filed cloture on the motion to proceed. We expect the cloture vote to occur at 5:30pm on Monday, February 23, 2015.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

Confirmation of Executive Calendar #12, the nomination of Ashton Carter to be Secretary of Defense: confirmed: 93-5.

Legislative Business

Adopted Calendar #18, S.Res.73: Committee Funding.

Adopted S.Res.52: Calling for the release of Ukrainian fighter pilot Nadiya Savchenko.

Adopted S.Res.78: Honoring the life of Jerry Tarkanian.

Adopted S.Res.79: Honoring the life of Dean Smith.

Adopted S.Res.80: Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Lunar New Year.

Adopted S.Res.81: Expressing the sense of the Senate re: trafficked children

Adopted S.Res.82: Commending Kathleen Alvarez Tritak on her service to the United States Senate.

Executive Business

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Last Floor Action:
2:00:51 P.M. -H. Res. 101
On ordering the previous question Roll Call 77 – Yea and Nay vote pending.

Last Floor Action: 2/11
7:58:42 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 12, 2015.

10:00:28 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:41 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Evan H. Jenkins to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:00:49 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.
10:33:45 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:53 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 12.
12:00:56 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
12:02:12 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:02:16 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Brownley of CA to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:02:37 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.
12:39:32 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on February 12, 2015 at 9:09 a.m.: That the Senate passed S. 295.
12:40:52 P.M.	H. Res. 101	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 101 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 644) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend and expand the charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 636) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend increased expensing limitations, and for other purposes.”
12:42:06 P.M.	H. Res. 101	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 101.
1:31:09 P.M.	H. Res. 101	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the resolution, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. McGovern demanded the Yeas and Nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of ordering the previous question until a time to be announced.
1:32:31 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.
2:00:21 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 12.
2:00:31 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announed that the unfinished business was the question on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 101, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
2:00:46 P.M.	H. Res. 101	Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 101 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 644) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend and expand the charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 636) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend increased expensing limitations, and for other purposes.”
2:00:51 P.M.	H. Res. 101	On ordering the previous question Roll Call 77 – Yea and Nay vote pending.

2:30:02 P.M.	H. Res. 101	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 232 – 164 (Roll no. 77).
2:39:39 P.M.	H. Res. 101	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 233 – 163 (Roll no. 78).
2:39:40 P.M.	H. Res. 101	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:40:42 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on February 12, 2015 at 1:42 p.m.: appointments were made to the Congressional-Executive Commission on the People’s Republic of China; the National Council on the Arts; the United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control; Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki); Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; President’s Export Council; and the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.
2:41:02 P.M.	H.R. 644	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 101. H.R. 644 — “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend and expand the charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory.”
2:41:07 P.M.	H.R. 644	The resolution provides for consideration of both H.R. 644 and H.R. 636 under closed rules.
2:42:14 P.M.	H.R. 644	DEBATE – The House proceeded with 90 minutes of debate on H.R. 644.
4:23:52 P.M.	H.R. 644	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
4:24:12 P.M.	H.R. 644	Mr. Neal moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Ways and Means.
4:24:24 P.M.	H.R. 644	DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions, pending the reservation of a point of order. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment that adds 3 new sections to the bill. The point of order was subsequently withdrawn.
4:34:17 P.M.	H.R. 644	The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
5:00:21 P.M.	H.R. 644	On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 168 – 245 (Roll no. 79).
5:09:21 P.M.	H.R. 644	On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 279 – 137 (Roll no. 80).
5:09:22 P.M.	H.R. 644	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:15:01 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
5:27:35 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
6:47:44 P.M.		Mr. Denham moved that the House do now adjourn.
6:47:55 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
6:48:00 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on February 13, 2015