The Senate Convenes at 10:00amET May 10, 2011
Following any leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only until 5:00pm 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 Majority controlling the first 30 minutes and the Republicans controlling the next 30 minutes.
The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm for the weekly caucus meetings.
At 2:15pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #61, the nomination of Edward Milton Chen, of CA, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of California.
There will be 3 hours of debate on the Chen nomination, with the time equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of time (approximately 5:15pm), the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on confirmation of the Chen nomination.
There will be no further roll call votes today.
Votes:
68: Confirmation of the nomination of Edward Milton Chen, of CA, to be US District Judge for the Northern District of California;
Confirmed: 56-42.
Unanimous Consent:
adopted S.Con.Res.16, authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the CVC for an event to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha
adopted S.Res.178, expressing support for the designation of May1, 2011, as “Silver Star Service Banner Day”.
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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MAY 10, 2011
112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION
7:52 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
H.R. 1229: to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to facilitate the safe and timely production of American energy resources from the Gulf of Mexico
7:51 P.M. – Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1229 as unfinished business.
7:50 P.M. – On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
Mr. Lamborn moved that the Committee rise.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Hastings (FL) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Hastings (FL) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
7:44 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 245, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hastings (FL) amendment No. 11.
Amendment offered by Mr. Hastings (FL).
An amendment numbered 11 printed in Part A of House Report 112-73 to strike section 207 of the bill which pertains to limitations on attorneys’ fees.
7:43 P.M. – On agreeing to the Hastings (FL) amendment Failed by voice vote.
7:36 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 245, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hastings (FL) amendment No. 10.
Amendment offered by Mr. Hastings (FL).
An amendment numbered 8 printed in Part A of House Report 112-73 to amend bill to emphasize quality of court decisions instead of speed of court decisions.
7:35 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Deutch amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mr. Deutch demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption until a time to be announced.
7:24 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 245, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Deutch amendment.
Amendment offered by Mr. Deutch.
An amendment numbered 9 printed in Part A of House Report 112-73 to strike section 202 of H.R. 1229, so that states outside of the 5th Circuit can have their courts hear civil actions relating to energy projects in the Gulf of Mexico.
7:23 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Hastings (FL) amendment No. 8, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mr. Hastings (FL) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption until a time to be announced.
7:16 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 245, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hastings (FL) amendment No. 8.
Amendment offered by Mr. Hastings (FL).
An amendment numbered 8 printed in Part A of House Report 112-73 to require a detailed description of the extent to which and by when any oil found on the leased property will decrease the price of crude oil and at the pump for hardworking Americans.
7:15 P.M. – The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
7:14 P.M. – Considered as unfinished business.
7:13 P.M. – Mr. Bishop (UT) filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 257.
H.R. 1229: to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to facilitate the safe and timely production of American energy resources from the Gulf of Mexico
7:12 P.M. – Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1229 as unfinished business.
On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
Mr. Bishop (UT) moved that the Committee rise.
7:11 P.M. – On agreeing to the Markey amendment Failed by recorded vote: 176 – 237 (Roll no. 301).
7:04 P.M. – On agreeing to the Garamendi amendment Failed by recorded vote: 169 – 240 (Roll no. 300).
6:56 P.M. – On agreeing to the Polis amendment Failed by recorded vote: 167 – 245 (Roll no. 299).
6:34 P.M. – UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Polis (CO) amendment No. 7, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mr. Polis (CO) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption until a time to be announced.
6:30 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 245, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Polis amendment No. 7.
Amendment offered by Mr. Polis.
An amendment numbered 7 printed in Part A of House Report 112-73 to lift timeline requirements if the agency lacks an adequate budget or lacks staff expertise to properly review permits.
6:29 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Holt amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mr. Holt demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption until a time to be announced.
6:19 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 245, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Holt amendment.
Amendment offered by Mr. Holt.
An amendment numbered 6 printed in Part A of House Report 112-73 to strike a provision in the underlying bill that would “deem” drilling permits approved after 60 days even if the necessary safety and environmental reviews have not be completed. The amendment leaves in place a timeline for approving drilling permits, but prevents permits from being “deemed” approved before the safety review has been completed.
6:18 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Hanabusa amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Ms. Hanabusa demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption until a time to be announced.
6:07 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 245, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hanabusa amendment.
Amendment offered by Ms. Hanabusa.
An amendment numbered 4 printed in Part A of House Report 112-73 to state that the Secretary shall not issue an offshore drilling permit without certifying that the applicant has calculated a worst-case discharge scenario for the proposed drilling operations; and has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the applicant possesses the capability and technology to respond immediately and effectively to such worst-case discharge scenario.
6:06 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Markey amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mr. Markey demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption until a time to be announced.
5:54 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 245, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Markey amendment.
Amendment offered by Mr. Markey.
An amendment numbered 3 printed in Part A of House Report 112-73 to implement basic offshore drilling safety reforms recommended by the independent BP spill commission. The Commission found that the root causes of the BP spill were “systematic” and could have been prevented. The Markey amendment would set specific new minimum standards for blow-out preventers, cementing and well design.
5:53 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Garamendi amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mr. Garamendi demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption until a time to be announced.
5:46 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 245, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Garamendi amendment.
Amendment offered by Mr. Garamendi.
An amendment numbered 2 printed in Part A of House Report 112-73 to implement the Commission’s recommendation by requiring that in reviewing a drilling permit, the Secretary consult with an independent drilling safety organization not affiliated with the oil industry trade association.
5:45 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Polis (CO) amendment no. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mr. Polis (CO) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption until a time to be announced.
5:35 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 245, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Polis amendment no. 1.
Amendment offered by Mr. Polis.
An amendment numbered 1 printed in Part A of House Report 112-73 to require safety review of permits to take into consideration all applicable safety, environmental and fisheries laws.
5:33 P.M. – The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
5:32 P.M. – Considered as unfinished business.
H.R. 1016: to measure the progress of relief, recovery, reconstruction, and development efforts in Haiti following the earthquake of January 12, 2010, and for other purposes
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
5:06 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1016.
Considered under suspension of the rules.
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
5:05 P.M. – The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. today.
H.R. 1229: to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to facilitate the safe and timely production of American energy resources from the Gulf of Mexico
5:04 P.M. – Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1229 as unfinished business.
On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
Mr. Lamborn moved that the committee rise.
4:01 P.M. – GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1229.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Steve Womack to act as Chairman of the Committee.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 245 and Rule XVIII.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1229 and H.R. 1230. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. H.R. 1229 and H.R. 1230 shall each be debatable for not to exceed one hour, equally divided and controlled. In each case, the previous question shall be considered as ordered and in each case, a motion to recommit, with or without instructions is allowed.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 245.
4:00 P.M. – The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of May 10.
2:14 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
2:02 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:01 P.M. – ADJUSTED WHOLE NUMBER OF THE HOUSE – Under clause 5(d) of rule XX, the Chair announced to the House that, in light of the resignation of the gentleman from Nevada, Mr. Heller, the whole number of the House is 432.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Poe of TX to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
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 May 9, 2011 at 10:05 a.m.: That the Senate added an additional conferee to H.R. 658.
The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
2:00 P.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Jane Wood, Jerusalem-Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church, Rockville, Maryland.
The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of May 10.
12:06 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.
12:01 P.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
12:00 P.M. – The Speaker designated the Honorable Tom Graves to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
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