Category Archives: Black History

Pioneers, Activists, Black People, Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 12/18 the House

12/18/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands in adjourned until 10:00am on Wednesday, December 18, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the bipartisan budget act, post-cloture.

All time during adjournment will count post-cloture on the motion to concur with respect to the bipartisan budget act. Roll call vote are possible throughout the day. Senators will be notified when they are scheduled.

The Senate has resumed consideration of H.J.Res.59, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Budget Act. Post-cloture debate time expires at 4:27pm today. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will dispose of the motion to concur with an amendment (either by consent or vote). Then the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.J.Res.59.

Upon disposition of the Bipartisan Budget Act, the Senate will proceed immediately to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.3404, the legislative vehicle for the National Defense Authorization Act.

Additional procedural votes are possible prior to these votes.

Senator Reed (RI) asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass Calendar #259, S.1797, a bill to extend unemployment insurance benefits for 1 year.

Senator Cornyn asked that the request be modified that that all pending cloture motions on Executive nominations be withdrawn, and that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S.1797, and that the Majority Leader and Minority Leader be recognized to offer amendments in an alternating fashion.

Senator Reed declined to modify his request and Senator Cornyn objected to the original request.

Senator Sanders asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass Calendar #258, S.944, with the committee-reported substitute amendment and an amendment to the title. Senator Coburn objected.

Senator Sanders asked if Senator Coburn would agree to having a roll call vote on the bill. Senator Coburn said he would object to a vote without the opportunity to offer amendments.

S.944, is a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require courses of education provided by public institutions of higher education that are approved for purposes of the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program and Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to charge veterans tuition and fees at the in-State tuition rate, and for other purposes.

4:28pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on adoption of the Reid motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.J.Res.59, Bipartisan Budget Act;

Agreed to: 64-36

Senator Sessions asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending motion to concur with an amendment in order to make a motion to concur with Sessions amendment #2573 (the amendment would eliminate a wide variety of deficit-neutral reserve funds that could be used to facilitate future consideration of legislation that would address certain high priorities).

This is the same request he made yesterday.

Senator Murray made a brief statement and objected.

4:56pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.3304, National Defense Authorization Act;

Invoked: 71-29

At 5:15pm Wednesday, the Senate invoked cloture on National Defense Authorization Act 71-29. There will now be up to 30 hours for debate before a vote on adoption of the motion to concur of the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.3304, NDAA (passage). There will be no further roll call votes tonight.

At 6:12pm The Senate has passed H.R.1402, the VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2013 by unanimous consent. The Senate is now in a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the time counting post-cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1) Motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the bipartisan budget agreement; Agreed to: 64-36

2) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act; Invoked: 71-29

Legislative items

Passed H.R.1402, the VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2013.

Discharged the HELP committee and adopted S.Res.316, supporting the goals and ideals of American Diabetes Month.

Adopted S.Res.324, Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the tragic shooting at Los Angeles International Airport on November 1, 2013, of employees of the Transportation Security Administration.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.1845, Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. (Reed)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.1846, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. (Menendez)

No Executive items

———————————————————————————–

Last Floor Action:
11:03:15 A.M. – The Speaker announced
that the House do now adjourn pursuant to H. Res. 438.

The next meeting is
scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on December 19, 2013.

============================================================

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 12/17 the House

12/17/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands in adjourned until 9:00am on Tuesday, December 17, 2013.

At 10:00am, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House message with respect to H.J.Res.59, the budget resolution.

Under the rule, the filing deadline for second degree amendments to the motion to concur in the House message with respect to H.J.Res.59 is 9:00am on Tuesday.

As a reminder to all Senators, on Sunday, December 15^th, Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the budget resolution and the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the Defense Authorization bill.

During Monday’s session, Senator Reid filed cloture on the following nominations, in the following order. The number of hours of post-cloture debate is in parenthesis next to each nomination.

– Executive Calendar #456, Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (8 hours equally divided)

– Executive Calendar #459, John Andrew Koskinen, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service (8 hours equally divided)

– Executive Calendar #382, Brian J. Davis, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the District of Florida (2 hours equally divided)

– Executive Calendar #452, Janet L. Yellen, of Callifornia, to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve (30 hours)

– Executive Calendar #455, Sloan D. Gibson, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs (8 hours equally divided)

– Executive Calendar #445, Sarah Sewall, of Massachusetts, to be an Under Secretary of State (Civility Security, Democracy, and Human Rights) (8 hours equally divided)

– Executive Calendar #371, Michael L. Connor, of New Mexico, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior

– Executive Calendar #457, Sarah Bloom Raskin, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury (8 hours equally divided)

– Executive Calendar #356, Jessica Garfola Wright, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (8 hours equally divided)

– Executive Calendar #189, Richard Engler, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (8 hours equally divided).

At 10:00am, there will be roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Budget Act.

10:04am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.J.Res.59, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Budget Act;

Invoked 67-33

There will now be up to 30 hours for debate of post-cloture debate on H.J.Res.59, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Budget Act.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings. The time during the recess will count post-cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.J.Res.59, the Bipartisan Budget Act.

Senator Sessions asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending motion to concur with a amendment #2547 (date change) in order to make a motion to concur with Sessions amendment #2573 (the amendment would eliminate a wide variety of deficit-neutral reserve funds that could be used to facilitate future consideration of legislation that would address certain high priorities)

Senator Murray made a brief statement and objected.

Senator Sessions then made the following parliamentary inquiry: Is it correct that while the majority leader’s motion to concur in the house amendment with an amendment to which the majority leader has also offered a second degree amendment is pending, no senator is permitted to offer an amendment to the House-passed Budget bill?

Chair: the senator is correct.

Senator Sessions made a further parliamentary inquire: if a motion to table the majority leader’s motion to concur with an amendment is successful, would there be an opportunity for me to offer a motion to concur with my amendment #2573?

Chair: that is correct

Senator Sessions then moved to table the motion to concur with an amendment, offered by the majority leader.

At 5:24pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.J.Res.59, with amendment #2547 (date change);

Not tabled: 46-54

The Sessions motion to table the motion to concur with amendment was not agreed to 46-54. The Senate is now in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the exception of Senator Grassley for up to 20 minutes. The time will count post-cloture. There will be no further roll call votes.

By unanimous consent, the Senate passed H.R.3588, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to exempt fire hydrants from the prohibition on the use of lead pipes, fittings, fixtures, solder, and flux.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the bipartisan budget act; Invoked: 67-33

2) Sessions motion to table the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59 with an amendment; Not Tabled: 46-54

Additional Legislative items

Passed H.R.3588, the Community Fire Safety Act.

Discharged the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee and passed S.947, to ensure access to certain information for financial service industry regulators, and for other purposes.

Passed S.1847, to provide for the redesignation of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies as the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

Passed H.R.185, to designate the United States courthouse located at 101 East Pecan Street in Sherman, Texas, as the “Paul Brown United States Courthouse”.

Discharged the Environment and Public Works Committee and passed H.R.2251, to designate the United States courthouse and Federal building located at 118 South Mill Street, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, as the “Edward J. Devitt United States Courthouse and Federal Building”.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1845, Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. (Reed)

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1846, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. (Menendez)

No Executive items

===================================================

Last Floor Action:12/16
11:03:15 A.M. – The Speaker announced
that the House do now adjourn pursuant to H. Res. 438.

The next meeting is
scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on December 19, 2013.

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 12/16 the House

12/15/2013 Nativegrl77

Schedule for Monday, December 16, 2013

The Senate will convene at 3:00pm on Monday, December 16, 2013. Following Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 5:30pm, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

The filing deadline for first degree amendments to the motions to concur with respect to H.J.Res.59, the Budget Resolution, and H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act, is 4:00pm on Monday.

At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to a series of roll call votes on the following items:

– Confirmation of Executive Calendar #406, Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Ambassador, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs);

– Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #450, Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security; and

– Confirmation of Johnson nomination.

Additional procedural votes are possible following the 5:30pm series of votes.

As a reminder, at 5:30pm today, the Senate will proceed to a series of roll call votes on the following Executive items:

– Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #450, Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security; and

– Confirmation of Johnson nomination.

Additional procedural votes are expected following these votes.

5:30pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #406, Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Ambassador, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs);

Confirmed: 78-16

There will then be a live quorum. Senators are encouraged to remain on the floor in order to quickly establish a quorum. Once a quorum is established, there will be a cloture vote on Executive Calendar #450, Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security. If cloture is invoked, the Senate would proceed immediately to a vote on confirmation of the Johnson nomination.

5:59pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #450, Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security;

Invoked: 57-37

6:20pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #450, Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security;

Confirmed: 78-16

The remaining votes tonight will be 10 minute votes.

6:35pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #456, the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security;

Agreed To: 53-38

At 6:52pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #459, the nomination of John Andrew Koskinen, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service;

Agreed to: 55-37

6:57pm Senator Reid filed cloture on Executive Calendar #456, the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security;

By consent, the Senate resumed Legislative Session and Senator Reid moved to proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #459.

7:28pm The Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to the Koskinen nomination 55-37.

Senator Reid the filed cloture on the nomination. There will be no further roll call votes tonight.

The Next roll call vote is expected to occur at 10:00am tomorrow. Tuesday, December 17.

That vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur with respect to H.J.Res.59, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Budget Act.

We were able to go in and out of Executive Session by voice vote and Senator Reid filed cloture on the following nominations, with the number of post-cloture hours listed in parenthesis:

Executive Calendar #456, Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (8 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #459, John Andrew Koskinen, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service.

(8 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #382, Brian J. Davis, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the District of Florida (2 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #452, Janet L. Yellen, of Callifornia, to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve (30 hours)

Executive Calendar #455, Sloan D. Gibson, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs (8 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #445, Sarah Sewall, of Massachusetts, to be an Under Secretary of State (Civility Security, Democracy, and Human Rights) (8 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #371, Michael L. Connor, of New Mexico, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior

Executive Calendar #457, Sarah Bloom Raskin, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury (8 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #356, Jessica Garfola Wright, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (8 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #189, Richard Engler, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (8 hours equally divided)

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #406, Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Ambassador, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs); Confirmed: 78-16

2) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #450, Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security; Invoked: 57-37

3) Confirmation of Johnson nomination; Confirmed: 78-16

4) Motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #456, the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security; Agreed to: 58-38

5) Motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider to consider Executive Calendar #459, the nomination of John Andrew Koskinen, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service; Agreed to: 55-37

Legislative items

Adopted S.Res.322, authorizing the printing of a collection of the rules of the committees of the Senate.

No additional Executive items

===================================================

Last Floor Action:
11:03:15 A.M. – The Speaker announced
that the House do now adjourn pursuant to H. Res. 438. The next meeting is
scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on December 19, 2013.

Last Floor Action:12/12
9:33:30 P.M. – The House adjourned
pursuant to H. Res. 434.

The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on
December 16, 2013.

11:00:50 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:01:01 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
11:01:53 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Patrick Riffle, St. Peters Catholic Church, Washington, DC
11:01:54 A.M.		The Chair announced that pursuant to section 6(a) of H. Res. 438, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
11:02:52 A.M.		PLEDGE_OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:03:05 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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on December 13, 2013, at 2:59 p.m. stating that that body had passed H.R. 3458 without amendment.
11:03:15 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to H. Res. 438.The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on December 19, 2013.

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 12/15 the House

12/13/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene at 1:00pm on Sunday, December 15, 2013.

The Senate will meet for legislative business only. Majority Leader Reid is expected to file cloture on the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the bipartisan budget agreement and the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the Defense Authorization bill. There will be no roll call votes on Sunday.

The next roll call votes will be at 5:30pm on Monday, December 16^th:

– Confirmation of the Patterson nomination

– Motion to invoke cloture on the Johnson nomination

– Confirmation of the Johnson nomination

– Additional procedural votes are possible. Senator Reid is expected to file additional cloture motions on several nominations.

Senator Reid moved to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.J.Res.59, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Budget Act, and filed cloture on the motion to concur. He then filled the amendment tree.

He then moved to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.3304, the legislative vehicle for the National Defense Authorization Act, and filed cloture on that motion.

The filing deadline for first degree amendments to the motions to concur re: H.J.Res.59, and H.R.3405 is 4:00pm on Monday, December 16.

WRAP UP

No Roll Call Votes

Legislative items

Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to concur in H.J.Res.59, the Budget Resolution, and H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.1824, Drinking Water Supply Assistance Act.

No additional Executive items

=========================================================

Last Floor Action:12/12
9:33:30 P.M. – The House adjourned
pursuant to H. Res. 434.

The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on
December 16, 2013.

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 12/13 the House

12/13/2013 Nativegrl77

Session Continued

At 7:00am Friday, December 13^th, there will be two roll call votes:

– Confirmation of James nomination

Live quorum (no roll call vote expected)

– Cloture on Executive Calendar #444, Heather Anne Higginbottom, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources (up to 8 hours of equally-divided, post-cloture debate);

Remaining roll call votes for this series of cloture filings:

– Confirmation of Higginbottom nomination

Live quorum (no roll call vote expected)

– Cloture on Executive Calendar #406, Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Ambassador, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs) (up to 8 hours of equally-divided, post-cloture debate)

– Confirmation of Patterson nomination

Live quorum (no roll call vote expected)

– Cloture on Executive Calendar #450, Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security (30 hours of post-cloture debate)

– Confirmation of Johnson nomination

7:00am The Senate began a 15-minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #358, Deborah Lee James, of Virginia, to be Secretary of the Air Force

Confirmed: 79-6

7:32am The Senate began a 15-minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #444, Heather Anne Higginbottom, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources

Invoked: 51-34

All remaining Democratic time on the Higginbottom nomination was yielded back. Assuming all Republican time is used (which is expected), there will be 2 roll call votes at 11:55am:

– Confirmation of the Higginbottom nomination

Live quorum (no roll call vote expected)

11:07am The Senate has reached an agreement with respect to the votes on confirmation of the Patterson and Johnson nominations. There will be 2 roll call votes at noon today. The next set of votes will be on Monday, December 16^th at 5:30pm.

Friday, December 13^th at noon 2 roll call votes:

– Confirmation of the Higginbottom nomination

o Live quorum (no roll call vote expected)

Sunday, December 15^th at 1pm:

– The Senate will convene for legislative business only. The Majority Leader is expected to file cloture on the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the bipartisan budget agreement and the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the Defense Authorization bill.

Monday, December 16^th at 5:30pm at least 3 roll call votes:

– Confirmation of the Patterson nomination

– Motion to invoke cloture on the Johnson nomination

– Confirmation of the Johnson nomination

– Additional procedural votes are possible. Senator Reid is expected to file additional cloture motions on several nominations.

The unofficial transcript of Senator Reid’s remarks is below.

MR. REID: I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT IF CLOTURE IS INVOKED ON

THE PATTERSON

NOMINATION THAT AT 5:00 P.M. ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, ALL

POSTCLOTURE TIME BE CONSIDERED EXPIRED, THE SENATE THEN PROCEED

TO VOTE ON THE CONFIRMATION OF THE PATTERSON NOMINATION. THAT

UPON DISPOSITION OF THE PATTERSON NOMINATION, THE SENATE

PROCEED TO VOTE ON THE MOTION TO INVOKE CLOTURE ON THE JOHNSON

NOMINATION. IF CLOTURE IS INVOKED ON THE JOHNSON NOMINATION,

THAT ALL TIME BE YIELDED BACK AND THE SENATE PROCEED TO VOTE ON

CONFIRMATION OF THE JOHNSON NOMINATION.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?

WITHOUT OBJECTION.

MR. REID: MADAM PRESIDENT, I –

MR. REID: MADAM PRESIDENT, WE’RE

GOING TO HAVE TWO VOTES AT 12:00 NOON TODAY. AFTER THAT, THE

NEXT VOTE WOULD

BE AT 5:30 ON MONDAY. THERE WILL BE A SERIES OF VOTES ON

MONDAY.

MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT, AS I INDICATED THIS MORNING, THE

REPUBLICAN LEADER AND I HAVE SPENT SOME TIME TOGETHER AND I

THINK WE’VE HAD A PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION ON THE SCHEDULE. THE

SCHEDULE’S BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR EVERYONE. WE WORKED OUT

A SCHEDULE THAT ALLOWS FOR THE NEXT SET OF VOTES

WHICH WILL OCCUR AT 12:00 NOON TODAY, WILL BE THE LAST VOTES OF

THIS WEEK. WE AGREED THAT ON MONDAY EVENING, THE SENATE WILL

VOTE ON THE MATTERS THAT WE WOULD HAVE VOTED ON THE REST OF

TODAY AND THIS WEEKEND.

SO ON MONDAY AT 5:30 IN THE AFTERNOON, THE SENATE WILL VOTE ON

PATTERSON, JOHNSON AND THEN ONE WOULD BE ON — THE CLOTURE ON

JOHNSON AND THEN IT WOULD BE CONFIRMATION. THEY’RE — WE’RE

DOING OUR UTMOST TO FINISH OUR BUSINESS HERE A WEEK FROM TODAY

SO THAT WE CAN GO HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. SO WE’LL BE IN SESSION

SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THERE WILL BE NO VOTES ON SUNDAY. THE NEXT

ROLL CALL, I REPEAT FOR

THE THIRD TIME, WILL BE 5:30 MONDAY. ON TUESDAY, WE’LL BE BEGIN

CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET. ON WEDNESDAY, THE DEFENSE BILL.

AND AFTER THAT WE’LL ADDRESS FURTHER NOMINATIONS, OF WHICH THE

MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS JANET YELLEN TO BE ON THE FEDERAL

RESERVE. THE OTHERS I WILL WORK WITH SENATOR McCONNELL, WE’LL

FILE ON A NUMBER OF THEM, SEE HOW MANY WE CAN GET DONE. I

PERSONALLY THANK THE SENATORS FOR THE COOPERATION THIS WEEK.

AND NEXT WEEK AS WE WORK THROUGH THESE IMPORTANT MATTERS. AND I

KNOW, MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK WE HAVE TO

DO TO GET BACK TO REGULAR ORDER. WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH

THE DEFENSE BILL THAT WE’RE GOING TO VOTE ON AND THE BUDGET

BILL, BUT I’M SATISFIED THAT WE’VE MADE PROGRESS. SO I NOW ASK

UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT WHEN THE SENATE COMPLETES ITS BUSINESS

TODAY, IT ADJOURN

UNTIL 1:00 P.M. ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15. THAT FOLLOWING THE

PRAYER AND THE PLEDGE, THE MORNING HOUR BE DEEMED EXPIRED, THE

JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS BE APPROVED TO DATE, THE TIME FOR THE

TWO LEADERS BE RESERVED FOR THEIR USE LATER IN THE DAY AND THE

SENATE CONVENE FOR LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS ONLY.

12:02pm the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #444, Heather Anne Higginbottom, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources;

Confirmed: 74-17

12:29pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on #406, Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Ambassador, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs);

Invoked: 54-36

This will be the last vote of the day.

((( WRAP UP )))

Roll Call Votes Wednesday, December 11^th through Friday, December 13, 2013

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #346, the nomination of Cornelia T.L. Pillard, of the District of Columbia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia; Confirmed: 51-44

2) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #378, Chai Rachel Feldblum, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Invoked: 57-39

3) Confirmation of Feldblum nomination; Confirmed: 54-41

4) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #330, Elizabeth A. Wolford, of New York, to be US District Judge for the Western District of New York; Invoked: 55-41

5) Confirmation of Wolford nomination; Confirmed: 70-29

6) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #347, Landya B. McCafferty, of New Hampshire, to be US District Judge for the District of New Hampshire; Invoked: 58-40-1(present)

7) Confirmation of McCafferty nomination; Confirmed: 79-19

8) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #361, Patricia M. Wald, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board; Invoked: 57-41

9) Confirmation of Wald nomination; Confirmed: 57-41

10) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #348, Brian Morris, of Montana, to be United States District Judge for the District of Montana; Invoked: 57-40

11) Confirmation of Morris nomination; Confirmed: 75-20

12) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #349, Susan P. Watters, of Montana, to be United States District Judge for the District of Montana; Invoked: 58-39

13) Confirmation of Watters nomination; Confirmed: 77-19

14) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #358, Deborah Lee James, of Virginia, to be Secretary of the Air Force; Invoked: 58-39

15) Confirmation the James nomination; Confirmed: 79-6

16) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #444, Heather Anne Higginbottom, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources; Invoked: 51-34

17) Confirmation of the Higginbottom nomination; Confirmed: 74-14

18) Motion to invoke cloture on #406, Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Ambassador, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs); Invoked: 54-36

Legislative items Wednesday, December 11^th through Friday, December 13, 2013

Passed H.R.3547, Space Launch Liability Indemnification Extension Act, with a Nelson amendment which is the text of S.1753, and an amendment to the title.

Passed H.R.3458, Fallen Firefighters Assistance Tax Clarification Act.

Discharged the Judiciary committee and adopted S.Res.263, A resolution designating the week of September 23 through September 29, 2013, as “National Estuaries Week” with a Whitehouse amendment to the preamble.

Discharged the Judiciary committee and adopted S.Res.299, congratulating the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee on the celebration of its 100^th anniversary and commending its significant contribution to empower and revitalize developing communities around the world.

Adopted S.Res.320, designating December 14^th, 2013, as “Wreaths Across America Day”.

Adopted S.Res.321, honoring the life, accomplishments, and legacy of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and expressing condolences on his passing.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1824, Drinking Water Supply Assistance Act. (Enzi)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.1797, Unemployment Insurance Benefits Extension Act of 2013.

No additional Executive items Wednesday, December 11^th through Friday, December 13, 2013

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Last Floor Action:12/12
9:33:30 P.M. – The House adjourned
pursuant to H. Res. 434.

The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on
December 16, 2013.