Black History

the Senate ~~~~~~~~~~ CONGRESS 3/25 ~~~~~~~~~~ the House


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The Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.Con.Res.11, the budget resolution, with the time until 10:30am equally divided between the two managers or their designees. When the Senate resumes consideration of S.Con.Res.11, there will be 18 hours of debate time remaining.

As a reminder, on Wednesday, at 11:00 a.m., His Excellency Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, will address a Joint Meeting of Congress in the Hall of the House of Representatives in the U.S. Capitol. Senators will gather in the chamber at 10:35am and depart as a body to the Hall of the House of Representatives at 10:40am. The Senate will recess subject to the call of the chair at 10:30am for the Joint Meeting.

Senator Burr called up amendment #622 and Reed on behalf of Senator Warren called up amendment #652 (student loans). The Senate stands in recess subject to the call of the chair for the joint meeting of Congress. When the Senate resumes consideration of S.Con.Res.11, Budget, the time until 12:15pm will be equally divided between the managers or their designees. At 12:15pm, the Senate will vote in relation to the Burr and Warren amendments. There will be 2 minutes for debate equally divided between the votes.

12:15pm—up to 2 roll call votes:

  1. Burr amendment #622 (student loans)
  2. Warren amendment #652 (student loan refinance)

The following amendments are pending to S.Con.Res.11:”>S.Con.Res.11, Budget:

The Burr amendment #622 was agreed to by voice vote.

12:35pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Warren amendment #652 (student loan refinance);

Not Agreed To: 46-53

Not Agreed To: 46-53

After this vote, we expect to have some debate time before setting up the next series

The following amendments are pending to S.Con.Res.11, Budget:

We’ve had a couple more amendments offered—Sanders side by side to Blunt and Moran on Veterans health care.

Pending amendments:

  1. Cotton #481(Israel)
  2. Enzi forKirk #535 (Iran Sanctions)
  3. Rounds #412(prevent EPA closed door settlement agreements)
  4. Rubio #423, as modified (increase Defense budget)
  5. Daines #388(national monuments)
  6. Daines #389(holding Members responsible for balanced budget)
  7. Barrasso amendment #347 (Waters of the United States)
  8. Bennet-Stabenow # 601 (Medicare)
  9. Stabenow amendment #755 (WOTUS) side by side to Barrasso amendment #347
  10. Blunt #350 (Carbon)
  11. Sanders #777 (climate change) side by side to Blunt #350
  12. Moran #356 (Veterans health care)

The Republican suggestion for votes this afternoon has grown. They added the rest of their currently pending amendments to the list of possible votes today (not included is the Rubio amendment to increase Defense budget). We do not expect to vote on all of these amendments tonight; however, I wanted to share the larger universe. Senator Gardner also hopes to offer amendment #443 (water rights) this afternoon. That amendment could be added to the mix if it’s made pending.

Possible 4:30pm vote series

  1. Stabenow #755 (WOTUS side by side),
  2. Barrasso #347 (WOTUS),
  3. Sanders #777 (climate side by side to Blunt)
  4. Blunt #350 (carbon),
  5. Hatch alternative to Medicare amendment?
  6. Bennet-Stabenow #601 (Medicare),
  7. Murray # (replace sequestration in 2016 and 2017)
  8. ? Republican alternative to Sequester amendment?
  9. Cotton #481 (Israel)
  10. Kirk #545 (Iran)
  11. Rounds #412 (EPA)
  12. Daines #389 (member pay)
  13. Daines #388 (national monuments)

The following amendments have been offered to S.Con.Res.11, Budget:

Hatch amendment #796 (Medicare) side-by-side to Bennet-Stabenow

Roberts amendment #352 (Federal employee bonuses)

Roberts amendment #462 (over the counter medications)

Vitter amendment #515 (Common Core)

Vitter amendment #811 (no exemptions for Washington for Obamacare)

Pending amendments:

  1. Cotton #481(Israel)
  2. Enzi forKirk #535 (Iran Sanctions)
  3. Rounds #412(prevent EPA closed door settlement agreements)
  4. Rubio #423, as modified (increase Defense budget)
  5. Daines #388(national monuments)
  6. Daines #389(holding Members responsible for balanced budget)
  7. Barrasso amendment #347 (Waters of the United States)
  8. Bennet-Stabenow # 601 (Medicare)
  9. Stabenow amendment #755 (WOTUS) side by side to Barrasso amendment #347
  10. Blunt #350 (Carbon)
  11. Sanders #777 (climate change) side by side to Blunt #350
  12. Moran #356 (Veterans health care)
  13. Hatch amendment #796 (Medicare) side-by-side to Bennet-Stabenow
  14. Roberts amendment #352 (Federal employee bonuses)
  15. Roberts amendment #462 (over the counter medications)
  16. Vitter amendment #515 (Common Core)
  17. Vitter amendment #811 (Obamacare)

The Senate has reached an agreement that results in a series of up to 8 roll call votes at 4:45pm today.

The time until 4:45pm will be equally divided between the managers or their designees. All votes after the first will be 10 minute votes. There will be 2 minutes for debate equally divided prior to each vote. At 4:45pm, the Senate will vote in relation to the following amendments in the order listed, with no second degree amendments in order prior to the votes:

  1. Stabenow amendment #755 (WOTUS) side by side to Barrasso amendment #347
  2. Barrasso amendment #347 (Waters of the United States)
  3. Sanders amendment #777, as modified (climate change) side by side to Blunt #350
  4. Blunt amendment #350 (Carbon)
  5. Hatch amendment #796 (Medicare) side-by-side to Bennet-Stabenow
  6. Bennet-Stabenow amendment #601 (Medicare)
  7. Murray amendment #801 (Sequester Replacement)
  8. Cotton amendment #481 (Israel)

The following amendments have been called up:

Daines amendment #465 (Second Amendment rights)

Daines amendment #387 (postal reform)

Pending amendments:

  1. Cotton #481(Israel)
  2. Enzi forKirk #535 (Iran Sanctions)
  3. Rounds #412(prevent EPA closed door settlement agreements)
  4. Rubio #423, as modified (increase Defense budget)
  5. Daines #388(national monuments)
  6. Daines #389(holding Members responsible for balanced budget)
  7. Barrasso amendment #347 (Waters of the United States)
  8. Bennet-Stabenow # 601 (Medicare)
  9. Stabenow amendment #755 (WOTUS) side by side to Barrasso amendment #347
  10. Blunt #350 (Carbon)
  11. Sanders #777 (climate change) side by side to Blunt #350
  12. Moran #356 (Veterans health care)
  13. Hatch amendment #796 (Medicare) side-by-side to Bennet-Stabenow
  14. Roberts amendment #352 (Federal employee bonuses)
  15. Roberts amendment #462 (over the counter medications)
  16. Vitter amendment #515 (Common Core)
  17. Vitter amendment #811 (Obamacare)
  18. Gardner #443 (water rights)
  19. Murray #801 (Sequester)
  20. Coats #595 (cybersecurity)
  21. Coats #368 (Medicaid)
  22. Daines amendment #465 (Second Amendment rights)
  23. Daines amendment #387 (postal reform)

4:49pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Stabenow amendment #755 (WOTUS);

Agreed to: 99-0

We expect the Republicans to raise points of order against Bennet amendment #601 and Blunt #350. Those votes would be on motions to waive.

Next:

  1. Barrasso amendment #347 (Waters of the United States)
  2. Sanders amendment #777, as modified (climate change) side by side to Blunt #350
  3. Blunt amendment #350 (Carbon)
  4. Hatch amendment #796 (Medicare) side-by-side to Bennet-Stabenow
  5. Bennet-Stabenow amendment #601 (Medicare)
  6. Murray amendment #801 (Sequester Replacement)
  7. Cotton amendment #481 (Israel)

5:17 the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Barrasso amendment #347 (Waters of the United States);

Agreed To: 59-40

Next:

  1. Sanders amendment #777, as modified (climate change) side by side to Blunt #350
  2. Blunt amendment #350 (Carbon)
  3. Hatch amendment #796 (Medicare) side-by-side to Bennet-Stabenow
  4. Bennet-Stabenow amendment #601 (Medicare)
  5. Murray amendment #801 (Sequester Replacement)
  6. Cotton amendment #481 (Israel)

The following amendments are pending to S.Con.Res.11, Budget:

Senator Enzi withdrew the Blunt amendment #350 (carbon).

5:37pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Sanders amendment #777, as modified (climate change);

Not Agreed To: 59-40

Next:

  1. Blunt amendment #350 (Carbon) withdrawn
  2. Hatch amendment #796 (Medicare) side-by-side to Bennet-Stabenow
  3. Bennet-Stabenow amendment #601 (Medicare)
  4. Murray amendment #801 (Sequester Replacement)
  5. Cotton amendment #481 (Israel)

The Hatch amendment was agreed to by voice vote. Senator Enzi raised a budget point of order against the Bennet amendment and Senator Stabenow moved to waive.

At 5:55pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the Stabenow motion to waive the budget points of order with respect to Bennet-Stabenow amendment #601 (Medicare).

Not agreed to: 46-53.

Enzi: I RAISE A POINT OF ORDER AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT UNDER SECTION 305-B-2 OF THE

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT OF 1974 AND ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS.

Next:

  1. Murray amendment #801 (Sequester Replacement)
  2. Cotton amendment #481 (Israel)

6:–pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the Murray amendment #801 (Sequester Replacement).

Next:

  1. Cotton amendment #481 (Israel)

6:–pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the Murray amendment #801 (Sequester Replacement).

Not agreed to: 46-53

6:40pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the Cotton amendment #481 (Israel). This will be the last roll call vote of the day.

Agreed to: 99-0.

The following amendments are pending to S.Con.Res.11, Budget:

  1. Enzi for Kirk #545 (Iran Sanctions)
  2. Rounds #412 (prevent EPA closed door settlement agreements)
  3. Rubio #423, as modified (increase Defense budget)
  4. Daines #388 (national monuments)
  5. Daines #389 (holding Members responsible for balanced budget)
  6. Moran #356 (Veterans health care)
  7. Roberts #352 (Federal employee bonuses)
  8. Roberts #462 (over the counter medications)
  9. Vitter #515 (Common Core)
  10. Vitter #811 (Obamacare)
  11. Gardner #443 (water rights)
  12. Coats #595 (cybersecurity)
  13. Coats #368 (Medicaid)
  14. Daines #465 (Second Amendment Rights)
  15. Daines #387 (Postal Reform)
  16. Wyden #434 (Wildlife suppression funding)
  17. Paul amendment #940 (defense increase)
  18. Murray amendment #697 (education)
  19. Murray amendment #798 (paid sick leave)
  20. Cantwell amendment #800 (crude by rail safety)
  21. Murray amendment #812 (women’s healthcare)
  22. Murray amendment #951 (preschool programs)
  23. Durbin amendment #345 (biomedical research)
  24. Durbin amendment #817 (patriot employers)
  25. McCain amendment #360 (unaccompanied children)
  26. Wyden amendment #708 (student tax incentives)
  27. Wyden amendment #791 (strike reconciliation)
  28. Wyden amendment #870 (extend tax provisions)
  29. Heller amendment #453 (high priority corridors)
  30. Heller amendment #452 (candidate conservation)
  31. Heller amendment #457 (eliminate bonuses (VBA))
  32. Heller amendment #456 (women veterans)
  33. Coons amendment #343 (ag conservation)
  34. Coons amendment #391 (small employers)
  35. Coons amendment #392 (college savings accounts)
  36. Coons amendment #394 (start up companies)
  37. Coons amendment #802 (offset ISIS costs)
  38. Baldwin amendment #432 (2 free years –community college)
  39. Baldwin amendment #436 (point of order- reconciliation)
  40. Manchin amendment #694 (fossil energy technology)
  41. Manchin amendment #578 (meth abuse)
  42. Whitehouse amendment #700 (high income earners)
  43. Whitehouse amendment #867 (secretly influence elections)
  44. Whitehouse amendment #895 (programmatic effects)
  45. Casey amendment #632 (pregnant worker accommodations)
  46. Casey amendment #633 (childcare)
  47. Merkley amendment #842 (consumer financial protection)
  48. Merkley amendment #843 (college affordability)
  49. Merkley amendment #952 (trade agreements
  50. Merkley amendment #953 (student financial aid)
  51. Blumenthal amendment #825 (service member healthcare)
  52. Cassidy amendment #341 (offshore energy)
  53. Cassidy amendment #539 (Medicaid)
  54. Cassidy amendment #795 (air quality)
  55. Bennet amendment #715 (clean energy jobs)
  56. Thune amendment #607 (federal estate tax)
  57. Thune amendment #743 (air quality standards)
  58. Murkowski amendment #838 (federal loan disposal)
  59. Murkowski amendment #770 (polar icebreakers)
  60. Ayotte amendment #485 (public safety officer death benefits)
  61. Ayotte amendment #490 (community banks)
  62. Ayotte amendment #852 (small businesses)

WRAP UP

  1. Warren amendment #652 (student loan refinance); not agreed to: 46-53.
  2. Stabenow amendment #755(WOTUS, side by side to Barrasso #347; agreed to: 99-0.
  3. Barrasso amendment #347 (Waters Of The United States); agreed to: 59-40.
  4. Sanders amendment #777 (Climate Change); not agreed to: 49-50.
  5. Stabenow motion to waive budget act re:Bennet-Stabenow #601 (Medicare); not agreed to: 46-53.
  6. Murray amendment #801 (Sequester Replacement); not agreed to:46-53.
  7. Cotton amendment #481 (Israel); agreed to: 99-0.
  8. Legislative Business

The following amendments were agreed to by voice vote:

  1. Burr amendment #622;
  2. Hatch amendment #796.

Adopted S.Res.115, designating April 2015, as “National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month”.

-======================================================

Last Floor Action:
6:17:35 P.M. -H. Con. Res. 27
On agreeing to the Price, Tom amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 140).

Last Floor Action:
1:30:53 P.M. -H. Con. Res. 27
DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 163, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Congressional Progressive Caucus amendment in the nature of a substitute.

10:00:58 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:01:18 A.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Alexander X. Mooney to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:01:40 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Tim Crumpton, Cleburne County Baptist Church, Heber Springs, Arkansas.
10:03:21 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. Mr. Crawford 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. Mr. Crawford 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.
10:03:53 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Gohmert to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
10:04:23 A.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
10:06:54 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 Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
10:55:00 A.M. JOINT MEETING – The House reconvened in Joint Meeting with the Senate to receive an address by His Excellency Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
12:07:01 P.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.
12:29:08 P.M. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 25.
12:29:09 P.M. PRINTING OF PROCEEDINGS IN RECORD – Mr. Brady(TX) asked unanimous consent that the proceedings had during the recess be printed in the Congressional Record of today. Agreed to without objection.
12:29:30 P.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 March 25, 2015, at 10:26 a.m., stating that that body had passed S. 301.
12:29:53 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 Considered as unfinished business. H. Con. Res. 27 — “Establishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2016 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2017 through 2025.”
12:30:31 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
12:30:43 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with further general debate on H. Con. Res. 27.
1:30:04 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 An amendment, in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Ellison, numbered 1 printed in House Report 114-49 to create 8.4 million jobs, while reducing the deficit and providing a boost to America’s long-term global competitiveness.
1:30:53 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 163, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Congressional Progressive Caucus amendment in the nature of a substitute.
2:05:39 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Ellison substitute, the Chair put the question on adoption of the substitute and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mr. Ellison demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the substitute until later in the legislative day.
2:06:01 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 An amendment, in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Butterfield, numbered 2 printed in House Report 114-49 to make investments in education, job training, transportation and infrastructure, and advanced research and development programs that will help the economic recovery. It includes funding for a comprehensive jobs bill and targeted investments to reduce the poverty in America. The CBC budget protects the social safety net without cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or SNAP. It raises new revenue by making our tax system fairer, saving more than $1.9 trillion on the deficit over the next decade and reduces the annual budget deficit to 2.3% of GDP by FY 2025.
2:06:18 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 163, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Congressional Black Caucus amendment in the nature of a substitute.
2:43:54 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Butterfield substitute, the Chair put the question on adoption of the substitute and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Butterfield demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedingson the question of adoption of the substitute until a time to be announced.
2:44:17 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 An amendment, in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Stutzman, No. 3 printed in House Report 114-49 representing the Republican Study Committee to provide for a balanced budget in six years, encourage pro-growth tax reform and to provide for a national defense.
2:44:59 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 163, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Republican Study Committee substitute.
3:20:58 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Butterfield substitute, the Chair put the question on adoption of the substitute and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Stutzman demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the substitute until a time to be announced.
3:21:40 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 An amendment, in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Van Hollen, numbered 3 printed in House Report 114-49 to provide for tax policies that help the middle class and those working their way into the middle class by raising the take-home pay of hard-working Americans, and rejects the sequester caps to make investments that create jobs for those still seeking work, educate children and prepare them for success.
3:21:55 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 163, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Democratic Caucus substitute.
3:57:11 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Van Hollen substitute, the Chair put the question on adoption of the substitute and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Van Hollen demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the substitute until a time to be announced.
3:58:23 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
4:26:00 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 On agreeing to the Ellison amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 96 – 330 (Roll no. 136).
4:35:26 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 On agreeing to the Butterfield amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 120 – 306 (Roll no. 137).
4:42:49 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 On agreeing to the Stutzman amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 132 – 294 (Roll no. 138).
4:54:02 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 On agreeing to the Van Hollen amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 160 – 264 (Roll no. 139).
4:54:33 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 An amendment, in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Price, Tom, numbered 5 printed in House Report 114-49 that is identical to the reported resolution.The total level of new budget authority for the Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism function (Function 970) remains at $94 billion in Fiscal Year 2016. The amendment also retains a deficit-neutral reserve fund for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism in section 513. This section permits the Chair of the Committee on the Budget to adjust the 302(a) allocations to the Committee on Appropriations, and other appropriate levels, for any appropriations measure that provides new budget authority for Overseas Contingency Operations in excess of $73.5 billion up to $94 billion in Fiscal Year 2016.
4:54:40 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 163, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Price (GA) substitute No. 5.
5:06:53 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Price (GA) substitute, the Chair put the question on adoption of the substitute and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Price (GA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the substitute until a time to be announced.
5:07:21 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 An amendment, in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Price, Tom, numbered 6 printed in House Report 114-49 to increase new budget authority for the Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism function (Function 970) by $2 billion, from $94 billion to $96 billion in Fiscal Year 2016. The amendment increases the outlay amounts for OCO over the period of Fiscal Years 2016 to 2025. As a consequence of the increase in OCO/GWOT, conforming increases are made in total budget authority and outlays, deficits, interest, debt subject to limit, and debt held by the public. The amendment also strikes a deficit-neutral reserve fund for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism in section 513 of the reported resolution.
5:07:28 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 163, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Price (GA) substitute No. 6.
5:50:25 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Price (GA) substitute, the Chair put the question on adoption of the substitute and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Price (GA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the substitute until a time to be announced.
5:50:59 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:17:35 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 On agreeing to the Price, Tom amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 140).
6:17:35 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 On agreeing to the Price, Tom amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 105 – 319 (Roll no. 140).
6:26:30 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 On agreeing to the Price, Tom amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: 219 – 208 (Roll no. 141).
6:27:29 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with the final 10 minutes of general debate on H. Con. Res. 27, pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 163.
6:38:53 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H. Con. Res. 27.
6:39:46 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
6:55:52 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 228 – 199 (Roll no. 142).
6:55:52 P.M. H. Con. Res. 27 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6:55:59 P.M. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal which had been postponed earlier in the day.
6:56:27 P.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
6:56:38 P.M. Mr. Burgess filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 173.
6:57:21 P.M. H. Res. 172 Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 172 — “Electing a Member to a certain standing committee of the House of Representatives.”
6:57:47 P.M. H. Res. 172 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
6:57:53 P.M. H. Res. 172 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6:58:14 P.M. Mr. Hultgren asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9:00 a.m. on March 26. Agreed to without objection.
6:58:51 P.M. The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
6:59:05 P.M. H.R. 1527 Mr. Ryan (WI) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 1527 — “To accelerate the income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for the relief of the families of New York Police Department Detectives Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, and for other purposes.”
6:59:22 P.M. H.R. 1527 Considered under suspension of the rules.
6:59:29 P.M. H.R. 1527 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1527.
7:08:04 P.M. H.R. 1527 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
7:08:07 P.M. H.R. 1527 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:08:10 P.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:14:07 P.M. SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
8:34:26 P.M. Mr. Larson (CT) moved that the House do now adjourn.
8:34:37 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
8:34:38 P.M. The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on March 26, 2015.
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Update on “School Lunch Program: Remove Risk of SuperBugs from Children’s Lunches”


Young People Demand McDonald’s Serve Abx-Free Chicken, and They Listen!

Jennifer Amdur Spitz just posted an update on the petition you signed, School Lunch Program: Remove Risk of SuperBugs from Children’s Lunches.

Mar 07, 2015 — High school and college kids everywhere are learning more about where their food comes from and demanding change. This week, McDonald’s listened. Like it or not, but McDonald’s is… Read more

Read more
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Killed in front of her children

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Let Hotel Phones Dial 911 Easily: Help Enact Kari’s Law
  By Hank Hunt
                                                Winona, Texas

On December 1, 2013 Kari Rene Hunt was brutally murdered in front of her children ages 9, 4 and 3. She was killed by her estranged husband whom she was intending to divorce. She agreed to meet him at a local motel to leave the children with him for a short visitation.

Her estranged husband, Brad Allen Dunn, apparently ambushed her in the motel room and cornered her in the restroom. During the struggle and resulting death of Kari, her oldest daughter, age 9, (name with held for privacy) attempted to dial 911 from the motel room phone. She followed instructions as taught by her mother on the way to call for help but she was never instructed that in some hotels and motels you must first dial a “9” and then 911.

We are attempting to ensure that any person needing police, EMS or the Fire Department at any hotel or motel location may be able to dial the numbers 911 and receive emergency response. In a panic, any under age child, or for that matter anyone in an emergency situation should be able to depend on dialing 911 from any phone in the United States and receiving assistance.

We pray the lawmakers in our Congress and Senate hear the cries of Kari and her children and enact a law requiring all hotel and motel chains, including all “Mom & Pop” locations have all phone systems updated to accept 911 as an emergency call and be connected automatically to emergency dispatch and to begin using the number “8” for an “outside” line or update all phone systems to the e911 systems.

We also would like to ask that Wyndham Hotels, which is the parent company of Baymont Inns and Suites where this incident occured, lead the way in the industry by updating the antiquated phone systems still used in some of their hotels. Seconds count and when a 9 year old little girl is mature and brave enough to attempt to dial for help, she should be answered. We understand the cost implications and know that E911 has been a requirement for a few years, but only a handful of states require it.

We ask the United States Congress to make it a requirement for all hotel and motels operating the United States and offer conversion assistance where needed. Please help make this “Kari’s Law”.
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Transcendence (Orchestral)- Lindsey Stirling


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Strengthening Our Children’s Futures


By

Principles To Guide The Reauthorization Of Federal Education Policy

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) into law to ensure all kids, no matter their family’s income level, zip code, or background, receive an education that gives them an opportunity for success. Since then the legislation has gone through changes, but at its core it maintained a federal role in education that focuses on promoting equity and ensuring that disadvantaged students receive the resources needed for a quality education.

The latest version of the ESEA, more commonly known as No Child Left Behind, has been long overdue for reauthorization, and it looks like this year Congress may actually take action. There is no question that NCLB is outdated and broken, but it must be changed in a way that puts students first. In that light, the Center for American Progress has joined with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to highlight key principles that should be included in the new version of the law.

Far from outlining a complete set of recommendations for the reauthorization of this critical legislation, these share principles are rather a statement of what good education policy should be in some of the core — and controversial — areas of debate. They are intended to encourage Congress to work together on a bipartisan basis to improve the legislation. And the hope is that, with these shared principles in mind, new federal policy will ensure that all students — and especially those who have traditionally been the most disadvantaged — are prepared to compete in a global economy.

Below is a summary of the shared principles that CAP and AFT have released, and click here to check out the full statement.

  • Address funding inequities to improve teaching and learning;
  • Give parents and communities useful information about whether students are working at grade level or are struggling, and allow teachers to diagnose and help their students. This means maintaining the federal requirement for annual statewide testing in grades 3 through 8 and once in high school;
  • Disaggregate assessment results by subgroups, including race and income level, and use these assessment results to identify where learning gaps exist;
  • Provide a system of multiple measures for accountability and relieve some of the unintended pressure of tests on students;
  • Design accountability systems intended to identify and target interventions for schools with large achievement gaps or large numbers of low-performing disadvantaged kids;
  • Raise the bar for entry to and through the teacher pipeline including at least doubling the investments for states and districts to elevate the teaching profession and support educators.

BOTTOM LINE: The goal of federal education policy should be to prepare future generations for success and ensure that disadvantaged students have access to the resources they need. With the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind under consideration, now is a critical time to make necessary changes to strengthen our education system. These shared principles should serve as a guide to doing so — our children deserve no less.

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