the Senate Convenes: 2:00pmET November 26, 2012

• Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
• It will be in order for Senator Sessions or his designee to recognized to make a Budget Act point of order with respect to S.3525, the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012. Subsequently, it will be order for Senator Reid or his designee to move to waive the point of order.
• At 5:30pm, all post-cloture time on S.3525, the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 will be considered expired. The Senate will then proceed to up to two roll call votes:

• Motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to S.3525 (if a point of order and motion to waive are raised)
• Passage of S.3525, as amended by the Tester substitute amendment #2875

Senators should expect up to 2 roll call votes to begin at approximately 5:30pm today. Those votes would be in relation to the following items:

– Motion to waive Budget Act point of order with respect to Tester amendment #2875 (substitute) (if point of order is raised as expected);

– Then, if the motion to waive the Budget Act is agreed to, passage of S.3525, Sportsmen’s Act of 2012, as amended.

During his opening remarks on the floor this afternoon, Senator Reid announced that while the Republicans discuss among themselves on what they want to do on the Defense Authorization bill, he intends to move to proceed to S.676, a bill to amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian tribes (commonly referred to as the “Carcieri Fix”), and will file cloture on the motion to proceed for a Wednesday cloture vote.

On Tuesday, he intends to turn to Executive Session to consider Treaty document #112-7, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We will seek an agreement to consider a reasonable number of amendments to the treaty.

If cloture is not invoked on the motion to proceed to the Carcieri Fix legislation on Wednesday, Senator Reid will continue to work, with the help of Senators Levin and McCain, on a reasonable agreement to move forward on the Defense Authorization bill.

5:31pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Tester motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Tester substitute amendment #2875 to S.3525, the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012; Not Waived: 50-44

The motion to waive the Budget point of order was not agreed to 50-44. The point of order was well taken and the Tester substitute amendment fell. The Senate then reached an agreement that the Reid amendment #2878 (technical) was withdrawn, the vote on passage of the bill was vitiated, and the bill was returned to the Calendar status quo. Further, at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader after consultation with the Republican Leader, it be in order for the Majority Leader to resume consideration of the bill.

Senator Reid then moved to proceed to S.3254, National Department of Defense Authorization.

There will be no further roll call votes tonight

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Tester motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Tester substitute amendment #2875 to S.3525, the Sportsmen’s Act; Not Waived: 50-44

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Judiciary committee and passed H.R.6063, the Child Protection Act of 2012.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.3637, FDIC TAG Extension bill. (Reid)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on November 27, 2012.

Thanksgiving has always been a day of gratitude — a time to remind ourselves what we are thankful for, and to remember those less fortunate.

This year, I’d like to pass along a letter of thanks from a young girl in Zimbabwe named Eunice. Her school was one of 50 that received hundreds of donated textbooks from Mercy Corps — 21,000 books in all.

Helping children learn is one of many important things we do to make life better for families in need. And it’s only possible because of you.

This Thanksgiving, I’m as grateful as ever for the support and generosity of all of you. Working together, we can change lives.
Click here to see the full letter ▸

On behalf of Eunice in Zimbabwe, and all of the people whose lives you touch, my deepest appreciation. Thank you.

Click here to see the rest of Eunice’s letter ▸

Sincerely,