March | 2015 | Be a Seed for Change

Getting sued is no fun. Most people try to avoid it. But not us. In fact, we’ve asked to join the people of Washington as co-defendants in the gun lobby’s lawsuit attacking Initiative 594 – our new universal background checks law.

Why’d we do it? Because 594 is keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. And it’s making our communities safer. We’ve spent the last two years fighting to pass the initiative and defending the initiative against the gun lobby’s attacks.

And we know how to beat them.

Make a donation right now. Join the fight!

We’re asking grassroots supporters to raise $35,000 by the end of the month – that’s midnight tonight – to help us build the 594 Legal Defense Fund. This is going to be tough fight, and we need all hands on deck.

We’re getting close to hitting the goal, but we’re almost out of time. Chip in a donation right now, and let’s show the gun lobby that we won’t back down!

Let’s do this!

Stephanie

The Senate stands adjourned until 9:45am on Tuesday, March 3, 2015.

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

The Senate will recess from 10:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the Joint Meeting of Congress with His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, as well as the weekly caucus meetings. As a reminder, senators should gather in the Senate Chamber to proceed as a body to the Hall of the House of Representatives at 10:30am.

Prior to adjourning, Senator McConnell filed cloture on the veto message on S.1, an act to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. Unless an agreement is reached, the cloture vote would occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Wednesday.

The Senate is in recess until 2:15pm to allow for the joint meeting with His Excellency Binyamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, and then the weekly caucus meetings. At 2:15pm, we expect Senator McConnell to turn to the consideration of S.J.Res.8, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to representation case procedures, at 2:15pm. It is unclear if a roll call vote will be requested on the motion to proceed. After the motion to proceed is adopted, the joint resolution would be subject to up to 10 hours for debate. We expect to vote on passage of the joint resolution tomorrow morning prior to the cloture vote on the Keystone veto override. Senators will be notified if a roll call vote is required on the motion to proceed today.

The Senate is in recess until 2:15pm to allow for the joint meeting with His Excellency Binyamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, and then the weekly caucus meetings.

We expect a roll call vote at 2:15pm today on the motion to proceed to S.J.Res.8, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to representation case procedures.

We expect to vote on passage of the joint resolution tomorrow morning prior to the cloture vote on the Keystone veto override. Senators will be notified if a roll call vote is required on the motion to proceed today.

2:18pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Alexander motion to proceed to S.J.Res.8, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to representation case procedures;

Agreed To: 53-45

The motion to proceed to S.J.Res.8 (NLRB) was agreed to by a vote of 53-45. There will now be up to 10 hours for debate prior to a vote on passage of the joint resolution. We expect this vote to occur tomorrow morning (possibly in the 11:15am range, but that has not been set yet).

Prior to the vote, Senator McConnell began the Rule 14 process to place on the Calendar of Business S.625, a bill to provide for congressional review and oversight of agreements relating to Iran’s nuclear program. S.625 is nearly identical to S.615, which is in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The difference between the two bills is a change in the enactment date.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

Motion to proceed to S.J.Res.8, NLRB; agreed to: 53-45.

Legislative Business

Adopted S.Res.94, supporting the goals and ideals of Career and Technical Education Month

Adopted S.Res.95, designating March 3, 2015, as “World Wildlife Day”.

Began the Rule 14 process to place on the Legislative Calendar of Business S.625, a bill to provide for congressional review and oversight of agreements relating to Iran’s nuclear program (McConnell).

Executive Business

Calendar #48—Lt. Gen. Kenneth W. Tovo to be Lieutenant General

All nominations placed on the Secretary’s Desk in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy

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Last Floor Action:
5:20:50 P.M. – The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 4, 2015.

Last Floor Action:
9:31:03 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 3, 2015.

10:00:27 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:34 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Dan Newhouse to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:00:58 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
10:02:33 A.M.		POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen 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. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the approval of the Journal until a time to be announced.
10:03:11 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. McSally to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
10:04:12 A.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 a message from the Secretary of the Senate on March 3, 2015, at 9:32 a.m. stating that that body had passed H.R. 431 without amendment and Appointment: Election Assistance Board of Advisors.
10:05:04 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The House will reconvene in Joint Meeting with the Senate for the purpose of receiving His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel. The House stands in recess subject to the call of the Chair.
10:48:55 A.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 3.
10:48:58 A.M.		JOINT MEETING – The House has reconvened in Joint Meeting with the Senate to receive an address by His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel.
11:54:11 A.M.		JOINT MEETING DISSOLVED – The Speaker announced that the Joint Meeting was dissolved. The House remains in recess subject to the call of the Chair.
11:54:58 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
12:32:32 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 3.
12:32:35 P.M.		PRINTING OF PROCEEDINGS IN RECORD – Mr. Woodall asked unanimous consent that the proceedings had during the recess be printed in the record. Agreed to without objection.
12:32:39 P.M.	H. Res. 134	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 134 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 749) to reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs, and for other purposes, and providing for proceedings during the period from March 6, 2015, through March 13, 2015.”
12:35:48 P.M.	H. Res. 134	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 134.
1:07:56 P.M.	H. Res. 134	The previous question was ordered without objection.
1:08:00 P.M.	H. Res. 134	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
1:08:21 P.M.	H. Res. 134	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:14:09 P.M.		The House received a message from the Senate. Senate disagreed to a conference on H.R. 240.
1:15:49 P.M.	H.R. 240	Mr. Simpson moved to take the Senate message on H.R. 240 from the Speaker’s table and asked for it’s immediate consideration. Agreed to by voice vote.
1:15:51 P.M.	H.R. 240	Unanimous consent to dispense with the reading of the Senate amendment was objected to and the Chair directed the Clerk to report the Senate amendment.
1:35:00 P.M.	H.R. 240	Mr. Massie asked unanimous consent to dispense with further reading of the Senate amendment. Agreed to without objection.
1:36:02 P.M.	H.R. 240	Mr. Simpson moved that the House recede and concur in the Senate amendment.
1:37:12 P.M.	H.R. 240	Mr. Massie moved to table the Senate amendment.
2:06:16 P.M.	H.R. 240	On motion to table Senate Amendment Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 140 – 278 (Roll no. 108).
2:07:42 P.M.	H.R. 240	DEBATE – The House proceeded with 60 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled on the motion to recede and concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 240.
2:46:23 P.M.	H.R. 240	Mr. Simpson moved the previous question.
2:46:24 P.M.	H.R. 240	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by voice vote.
3:15:43 P.M.	H.R. 240	On motion that the House recede and concur in the Senate Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 257 – 167 (Roll no. 109).
3:15:44 P.M.	H.R. 240	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:15:48 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal which had been postponed from earlier in the legislative day.
3:16:45 P.M.		On approving the Journal Agreed to by voice vote.
3:17:25 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
3:19:04 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
4:57:47 P.M.		Mr. Burgess filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 138.
4:59:36 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House resumed Special Order speeches.
5:16:37 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification of the continuance of the national emergency with repect to Zimbabwe – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 114-13).
5:17:57 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification to continue the National Emergency with respect to Ukraine – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 114-14).
5:17:58 P.M.		Joint Economic Committee – Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1024(a), and the order of the House of January 6, 2015 the Speaker appointed the following members of the House to the Joint Economic Committee: Mr. Delaney, Ms. Adams and Mr. Beyer.
5:20:40 P.M.		Mr. Costa moved that the House do now adjourn.
5:20:43 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
5:20:50 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 4, 2015.