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Black History

CONGRESS: the House: Republican led ::::::: the Senate: Democrat led


capitol30the Senate Convenes: 9:30amET December 19,2012

  • The Senate will convene at 9:30am on Wednesday, December 19, 2012.  Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for one hour with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the emergency supplemental appropriations bill.
  • At 11:30am, Senator Hutchison will be recognized for up to 30 minutes and at 2:00pm, Senator Kyl will be recognized for up to 30 minutes, each for the purposes of delivering retirement speech.

The following amendments are pending to H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill:

Senator Bingaman has called up amendment #3344 (Approval of 2010 U.S.-Palau Agreement in response to Super Typhoon Bopha).

 

The Senate stands in recess subject to the call of the chair. We expect to reconvene around 8:30pm.

 

Prior to the recess, Senator Coburn modified his pending amendment #3371 and then divided his amendment. The divisions are as follows:

 

Division I (per capita damage indicator)

Division II (seriously delinquent tax debt)

Division III (return of unused emergency funds)

Division IV(competitively awarded contracts use of funds)

Division V (public notification and website posting of grant funds)

Division VI (cost sharing)

Division VII (Stafford Disaster Relief Assistance Act)

Division VIII (strike transfer of unused funds)

Division IX (flood hazards)recess subject to the call–Coburn amendment modified and divided

This evening Senator Leahy withdrew the Leahy substitute amendment #3338 (Emergency Supplemental Appropriations), and, as a result, the pending first degree amendments fell along with it. Then Senate Reid offered a new substitute amendment #3395 (Emergency Supplemental Appropriations), filled the amendment tree with date change amendments, and filed cloture on the substitute amendment #3395 and underlying bill, H.R.1. The text of the new substitute can be found at http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.view&id=994105ef-bcde-483d-8d87-0ca155ff43cf

 

We hope to reach an agreement to consider amendments and complete action on the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill tomorrow. If no agreement can be reached, the cloture vote on the substitute would occur on Friday, December 21.

 

Before we leave we need to consider the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, FISA reauthorization, and 3 district court nominations

 

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

 

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged Veterans’ Affairs and passed H.R.4057, the Improving Transparency of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2012 with a Murray substitute amendment.

 

Passed H.R.6029, the Foreign and Economic Espionage Penalty Enhancement Act with a Kohl-Lee substitute amendment.

 

Discharged Homeland Security and Government Affairs and passed the following Postal Naming bills:

H.R.3477, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 133 Hare Road in Crosby, Texas, as the Army First Sergeant David McNerney Post Office Building.

H.R.3870, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6083 Highway 36 West in Rose Bud, Arkansas, as the “Nicky ‘Nick’ Daniel Bacon Post Office”.

H.R.3912, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 110 Mastic Road in Mastic Beach, New York, as the “Brigadier General Nathaniel Woodhull Post Office Building”.

H.R.5738, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15285 Samohin Drive in Macomb, Michigan, as the “Lance Cpl. Anthony A. DiLisio Clinton-Macomb Carrier Annex”.

H.R.5837, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 26 East Genesee Street in Baldwinsville, New York, as the “Corporal Kyle Schneider Post Office Building”.

H.R.5954, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 320 7th Street in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the “Sergeant Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. Post Office Building”.

S.3630, A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 218 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, Wisconsin, as the “Captain Rhett W. Schiller Post Office”.

S.3662, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6 Nichols Street in Westminster, Massachusetts, as the `Lieutenant Ryan Patrick Jones Post Office Building’.

 

Passed S.2318, the Department of State Rewards Program Update and Technical Corrections Act of 2012 with a committee-reported substitute amendment by voice vote.

 

Discharged and passed Veterans’ Affairs and passed S.3202, the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 with a Murray substitute amendment.

 

Passed S.3698, to amend Title 40, United States Code to improve veterans service organizations access to Federal surplus personal property.

 

Discharged Judiciary and adopted S.Res.618, observing the 100th birthday of civil rights icon Rosa Parks and commemorating her legacy.

Adopted S.Res.625, recognizing the January 12, 2013, opening of the United States Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, and supporting the plans for other educational pavilions and initiatives.

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House hearings

10:00 am Hearing: CLOSED: Ongoing Intelligence ActivitiesHouse Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee
10:00 am Markup: H.R. 6654, To provide for the exchange of information related to trade enforcement, and for other purposes.Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee
10:00 am Hearing: “Challenges Facing Multiemployer Pension Plans: Evaluating PBGC’s Insurance Program and Financial Outlook”Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
10:00 am Hearing: Update on the Evolving Security Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Implications for U.S. National SecurityCommittee on Armed Services: Full Committee

Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on December 19, 2012.

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Black History

CONGRESS: the Republican led House :::::: the Democratic led Senate


Obama Launches DNC Campaign Tour At Illinois State Capitol

the Senate Convened 10:00amET December 18,2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for one hour with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.
  • The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

The Senate has resumed consideration of H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Hurricane Sandy Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill. Senator Merkley called up the Merkley-Stabenow amendment #3367 (crop insurance).

The McCain amendment #3355 (strike emergency funding for forest restoration program) and the Tester amendment #3350 (additional funds for wildland fire management) are now pending to H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the emergency supplemental appropriations bill.

Senator Reid made the following unanimous consent request for consideration of S.3276, the FAA Sunsets Extension Act of 2012 .  Senator Chambliss objected to the request.

The text of the request and the unofficial transcript of their remarks are below.

At time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar #463, S.3276 and the only first degree amendments in order be the following:

– Judiciary committee reported substitute;

– Leahy (sunset);

– Leahy (oversight);

– Wyden (public reporting);

– Wyden (back-door searches);

– Tester (reverse targeting); and

– Merkley (declassification of FISA Court opinions)

And that there be one hour of debate equally divided between the proponents and opponents on each amendment, and up to two hours of debate on the bill equally divided between the proponents and opponents.  Further, that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to votes in relation to the amendments in the order listed; and that there be no amendments in order to any of the amendments prior to the votes; and upon disposition of the amendments, the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended.

MR. REID: THE SENATE HAS BEEN CONSIDERING THE SUPPLEMENTAL

APPROPRIATION BILL FOR TWO DAYS NOW. THE REPUBLICANS, I’M TOLD,

ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. WE

HAVE OTHER CONCERNS, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE TRAGEDY IN

CONNECTICUT, THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF OUR FRIEND, SENATOR INOUYE,

BUT TIME DOESN’T STOP FOR ANYTHING. IT KEEPS MARCHING ON.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING. WE HAVE A FISCAL CLIFF THAT’S IN THE

HORIZON. SO I HOPE WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS ON THIS BILL IN THE

MORNING. IF NOT, I’LL BE FORCED TO FILE CLOTURE TO TRY TO

FIGURE OUT A PATH FORWARD ON THIS BILL. IT’S BEEN OPEN FOR

AMENDMENT, THAT’S WHAT MY FRIENDS SAID THEY WANTED, THAT’S WHAT

THEY HAVE. WE HAVE THE D.O.D. AUTHORIZATION. WE NEED TO

COMPLETE ACTION ON THAT CONFERENCE REPORT THAT’S BEEN COMPLETED

NOW. WE EXPECT THAT THEY WILL FILE TONIGHT OR TOMORROW SO WE

NEED TO COMPLETE THAT BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK. CHRISTMAS IS

SEVEN DAYS FROM TODAY. WE HAVE JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS, WE’VE BEEN

MAKING SOME PROGRESS WITH THE DISTRICT COURT NOMINATIONS. WE

HAVE TO DO THREE MORE BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK. WE HAVE

EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS WE NEED TO CONSIDER BEFORE THE END OF THE

WEEK. FISA, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF

LEGISLATION. IMPERFECT AS IT IS, IT IS WHAT IS NECESSARY TO

HELP US BE PROTECTED FROM THE EVIL THAT’S IN THE WORLD. WE HAVE

TO COMPLETE THIS BEFORE WE LEAVE HERE THIS WEEK. TODAY’S

TUESDAY. SO EVERYONE ELSE CAN DO THE MATH JUST AS WELL AS I CAN

ABOUT HOW MANY DAYS ARE LEFT. SO I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT

AT A TIME TO BE DETERMINED BY ME AFTER CONSULTATION WITH

SENATOR McCONNELL, THE SENATE PROCEED TO THE CONSIDERATION OF

CALENDAR NUMBER 463, S.3276, THAT THE ONLY FIRST-DEGREE

AMENDMENTS IN ORDER TO THE BILL BE THE FOLLOWING, JUDICIARY

COMMITTEE REPORTED SUBSTITUTE, LEAHY SUNSET, LEAHY OVERSIGHT,

WYDEN PUBLIC REPORT,, WIENDZ BACK DOOR SEARCHES, AND MERKLEY

WHICH IS ABOUT DECLASSIFICATION OF FISA COURT OPINIONS. THAT

THERE BE AN HOUR OF DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED

BETWEEN THE OPPONENTS AND PROPONENTS ON EACH AMENDMENT, THAT

THERE BE UP TWO TWO HOURS OF DEBATE ON THE BILL EQUALLY DIVIDED

BETWEEN THE PROPONENTS AND OPPONENTS, UPON THE USE OR YIELDING

BACK OF THAT TIME, THE SENATE PROCEED TO VOTE IN RELATION TO

THE AMENDMENTS IN THE ORDER LISTED, THAT THERE BE NO AMENDMENTS

IN ORDER TO ANY OF THE AMENDMENTS PRIOR TO THE VOTES, THAT UPON

DISPOSITION OF THE AMENDMENTS THE BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME AND

THE SENATE PROCEED TO VOTE ON PASSAGE OF THE BILL IF AMENDED.

BEFORE THE CHAIR RULES ON THIS, MR. PRESIDENT, IT’S PRETTY EASY

TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH TIME THIS INCLUDES. THIS IS THE BETTER

PART OF A DAY, THE BETTER PART OF A DAY IF WE GOT THIS CONSENT

DONE. SO I ASK THAT CHAIR APPROVE THE CONSENT AGREEMENT.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?

MR. CHAMBLISS: RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT, AND I DO INTEND TO OBJECT.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY TO THE LEADER THANKS FOR MOVING

TOWARDS THE FISA BILL.

YOU’RE EXAMINING RIGHT, THIS IS A BILL THAT MUST

BE DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR SO WE CAN BE SURE THE

INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO GATHER IN A LAWFUL AND LEGAL

WAY THE KIND OF INTELLIGENCE THAT KEEPS AMERICANS SAFE AND

SECURE. THERE ARE TWO DOCUMENTS, ONE A STATEMENT OF

ADMINISTRATION POLICY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE WHERE THEY HAVE

AGREED TO THE BILL THAT HAS ALREADY PASSED THE HOUSE, AND

SECONDLY, A LETTER FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE INTELLIGENCE

COMMUNITY, NAMELY, THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS

WELL AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DIRECTED TO THE LEADERSHIP BOTH OF

WHICH LETTERS AND STATEMENTS SUPPORT THE HOUSE BILL. AND IT’S

BECAUSE OF THAT AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IF THE HOUSE BILL

COMES THROUGH HERE AND I UNDERSTAND WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE DEBATE,

MAY HAVE TO HAVE AMENDMENTS DEBATED, WHATEVER THE LEADER

DECIDES, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET

THAT BILL PASSED AND ACCEPTED IT DIRECTLY TO THE PRESIDENT’S

DESK. SO I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE LETTER FROM THE

D.N.I. AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DATED FEBRUARY 8 AS WELL AS THE

STATEMENT OF MPTION POLICY DATED SEPTEMBER 10 BE INCLUDED IN

THE RECORD AND, MR. PRESIDENT, I DO OBJECT.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD. AND WITHOUT

OBJECTION THE LETTERS WILL BE INCLUDED.

MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY LEADER.

MR. REID: I’LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON PATH FORWARD IF ANYONE HAS

ANY IDEAS HOW TO HELP ME WITH THAT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LISTEN

TO THEM BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE MUST DO BEFORE WE LEAVE HERE.

CHRISTMAS IS NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS LEGISLATION. I’M

SORRY, I HOPE I’M NOT OFFENDING ANYONE, BUT THAT’S THE WAY IT

IS. WE HAVE TO GET SOMETHING DONE ON THIS BEFORE THE END OF THE

YEAR AND I THINK WE WOULD BE WALKING ON VERY, VERY THIN ICE TO

TRY TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS TO TRY TO DO THIS

LEGISLATION. I DON’T — IT’S HARD FOR ME TO COMPREHEND THE

POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO OUR COUNTRY IF WE DID NOT EXTEND THIS

LEGISLATION.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.622, notifying the House of Representatives of the election of a President pro tempore.

Adopted S.Res.623, notifying the President of the United States of the election of a President pro tempore.

Adopted S.Con.Res.63, a concurrent resolution to correct the enrollment of S.2367 the 21st Century Language Act of 2012.

Adopted S.Con.Res.64, a concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for the lying in state of the remains of the late Honorable Daniel K. Inouye.

Adopted S.Res.624, a resolution relative to the death of the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, United States Senator from the State of Hawaii.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Watch Live House Floor Proceedings

Black History

CONGRESS: the Republican led House :::::: the Senate led by Dems


capitol14

the Senate Convened at 9:30amET 12/13/2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 11:30am with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the first hour equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Republican controlling the first 30 minutes and the Majority controlling the second 30 minutes.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.3637, the transaction account guarantee (TAG) extension legislation with the time until 12:00pm equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. It will be in order for the Republican Leader or his designee to make a point of order against the bill. If a point of order is raised, it will be in order for the Majority Leader or his designee to make a motion to waive the Budget Act.
  • At 12:00pm, there will be up to 2 roll call votes. The first vote will be on motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to S.3637 and if the motion is successful, there will be a second roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on S.3637. (If a budget point of order is not raised, there will be a cloture vote at noon.)
  • Additional votes in relation to judicial nominations are expected during Thursday’s session.

Senator Toomey raised a budget point of order {302(a) allocation of new authority and outlays deemed by the budget control act} against S.3637, the FDIC TAG program (transaction account guarantee) extension. Senator Johnson (SD) moved to waive all applicable budget points of order.

At 12:00 noon, the Senate will proceed to vote on the Johnson (SD) motion to waive all applicable budget points of order. Under the previous order, if the point of order is waived (60-affirmative vote threshold) there would be an immediate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the bill. If 60 votes on the motion to waive is not achieved, there cloture motion would be vitiated.

12:01 noon The Senate began a roll call vote on the Johnson (SD) motion to waive all applicable budget points of order with respect to S.3627, TAG extension;

Not Waived: 50-42

The motion to waive the budget points of order was not agreed to 50-42. Cloture on the TAG extension bill was vitiated. The point of order was sustained and the bill was sent back to committee.

At 2:15pm the Senate will proceed to votes on confirmation of the following nominations:

– Executive Calendar #830 Lorna G. Schofield, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; and

– Executive Calendar #832 Frank Paul Geraci, Jr., of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of New York.

We expect a roll call vote on confirmation of the Schofield nomination and a voice vote on the Geraci nomination.

The Senate is now in a period of morning business until 1:45pm with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. At 1pm Senator Snowe will be recognized to speak for up to 45 minutes to deliver her farewell remarks. At 1:45pm the Senate will turn to Executive Session to consider the nominations listed above with the time equally divided in the usual form.

2:18pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #830, Lorna G. Schofield, of NY, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; Confirmed: 91-0

The Schofield nomination was confirmed by a roll call vote of 91-0. The Senate then confirmed the Geraci nomination by voice vote.

Senator Reid then moved to proceed to H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Hurricane Sandy Emergency Supplemental. We are working on an agreement to adopt the motion to proceed to the Supplemental.

We are in a period of morning business until 4:30pm with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
The Senate also passed S.3313, Women Veterans and Other Health 

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to S.3637, the transaction account guarantee (TAG) extension legislation; Not Waived: 50-42

2) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #830, Lorna G. Schofield, of NY, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; Confirmed: 91-0

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed S.3313, the Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2012 with a committee-reported amendment, a Murray amendment and a committee-reported title amendment by voice vote.

Discharged the Judiciary Committee and passed H.R.6116, a bill to provide for direct review of decisions of the Virgin Island Supreme Court by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Discharged the Veterans’ Affairs committee and passed S.2045, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require judges of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to reside within fifty miles of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.

Adopted S.Res.616, a resolution to authorize the production of records by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #832, Frank Paul Geraci, Jr., of NY, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of New York by voice vote.

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Watch Live House Floor Proceedings

House Hearings

9:00 am Markup: H.J. Res 819, H.R. 4216, H.R. 6014Committee on the Judiciary: Full Committee
10:00 am Hearing: Northeast Corridor Future: Options for High-Speed Rail Development and Opportunities for Private Sector ParticipationCommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee
10:00 am Hearing: State of Uncertainty: Implementation of PPACA’s Exchanges and Medicaid ExpansionCommittee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health
10:00 am Business Meeting: CLOSED: Business MeetingHouse Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee
10:30 am Hearing: Ongoing Intelligence ActivitiesHouse Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee

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Black History

Congress: the Republicans 12/12, 2012 the Democrats


UScapitoltakenfromkenschramstorythe Senate Convenes: 9:30amET  12/12, 2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 2:00pm. The first hour will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.
  • The time from 11:30am until 2:00pm will be designated for speeches by and regarding retiring Senators.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.3627, the transaction account guarantee (TAG) extension legislation.
  • For the information of all Senators, during Tuesday’s session, cloture was filed on S.3637. As a result, the filing deadline for all first degree amendments to the bill is 1:00pm Wednesday. Under the rule, the cloture vote will occur on Thursday morning.

The Senate has reached an agreement that when the Senate receives the papers with respect to H.R.4310, the Senate’s passage of H.R.4310, as amended, be vitiated; that adoption of the Senate amendment be vitiated; that the amendment, the text of S.3245, as amended by the Senate, be modified with the changes that are at the desk; that no other amendments be in order and the Senate proceed to vote (voice vote expected) in relation to the amendment, as modified; that if the substitute amendment, as modified, is agreed to, H.R.4310, as amended, be read a third time and passed; finally, that the previous request with respect to the Senate’s request for conference, including the appointment of conferees, be agreed to; with all of the above occurring with no intervening action or debate.

When we receive the papers from the House we will execute the above order and send the Defense bill to conference.

The Senate is in a period of morning business with until 6:00pm with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10- minutes each.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Concurred in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.2838, an act to reauthorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2013 through 2014, and for other purposes by voice vote.

Passed H.R.3783, the Countering Iran in Western Hemisphere Act of 2012 with a Rubio amendment by voice vote.

Passed S.3677, a act to make technical corrections to the Flood Insurance Program.

Adopted S.Res.614, celebrating the World Peace Corps Mission and the World Peace Prize.

Adopted S.Res.615, Congratulating the recipients of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Watch Live House Floor Proceedings

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