Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS ~~ the House


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The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, June 3, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 11:00am with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.

 

At 11:00am, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council, post-cloture, with the time until noon equally divided and controlled in the usual form.

 

At noon, all post-cloture time on the Harper nomination will be considered expired and there will be 2 roll call votes:

–        Confirmation of the Harper nomination and

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

 

Following the cloture vote on the Bowen nomination, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

 

Additional roll call votes on nominations are expected during Tuesday’s session.

At 12:00 noon today, there will be 2 roll call votes related to the following nominations:

 

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council; and
  2. Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

 

If cloture is invoked on the Bowen nomination, there would be up to 8 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. We hope to reach an agreement that would allow us to vote on confirmation of the Bowen nomination this afternoon, potentially around 4:00pm.

Further, cloture was also filed on the below listed nominations and we will work on an agreement for consideration of those nominations.

–        Executive Calendar #691, Mark G. Mastroianni, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts (up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided);

–        Executive Calendar #692,Bruce Howe Hendricks, of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina (up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided);

–        Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia (up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided); and

–        Executive Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services (up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate).

12:01pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council;

Confirmed: 52-42

 

Next:

Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

12:28pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission;

Invoked: 50-44

Cloture was invoked on the Bowen nomination 50-44. The Senate then reached an agreement to vote at 4:00pm on confirmation of the Bowen nomination and to vote on cloture on the 3 district court nominations. Also under the agreement, at 11:00am tomorrow, Wednesday, June 4, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the district court nominations and then cloture on the Burwell nomination.

 

The Senate stands in recess until 2:15pm for the caucus meetings.

 

The vote schedule is as follows:

 

4:00pm today, Tuesday, June 3—up to 4 roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #691, Mark G. Mastroianni, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts
  3. Cloture on  Executive Calendar #692,Bruce Howe Hendricks, of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina
  4. Cloture on Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia

 

11:00am tomorrow, Wednesday, June 4—up to 4 roll call votes:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #691, Mark G. Mastroianni, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts
  2. Confirmation of  Executive Calendar #692,Bruce Howe Hendricks, of South Carolina, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of South Carolina
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia
  4. Cloture on Executive Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services (up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate)

WRAP UP

Roll Call Vote

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #633, 113th Congress, 2nd Session” Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council; Confirmed: 52-42
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #755, 113th Congress, 2nd SessionExecutive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; Invoked: 50-44
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #755, 113th Congress, 2nd SessionExecutive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; Confirmed: 48-46
  4. Cloture on Executive Calendar #691, 113th Congress, 2nd SessionExecutive Calendar #691, Mark G. Mastroianni, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Invoked: 56-39
  5. Cloture on  Executive Calendar #692, 113th Congress, 2nd Session”Executive Calendar #692, Bruce Howe Hendricks, of South Carolina, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of South Carolina; Invoked: 59-35
  6. Cloture on Executive Calendar #733, 113th Congress, 2nd Session”Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Invoked: 54-40

 

Legislative items

Passed S.2270, Insurance Capital Standards Clarification Act of 2014, as amended by the Collins substitute amendment

Adopted S.Res.453, Condemning the death sentence against Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, a Sudanese Christian woman accused of apostasy

Adopted S.Res.464, National Aphasia Awareness Month

Adopted S.Res.465, Commemorating the centennial of Webster University

 

The Senate began the Rule 14 process to place S.2422, a bill to improve the access of veterans to medical services from the Department

of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, on the Calendar of Business.

 

Executive items

The Senate confirmed the following nominations by vote votes:

 

Executive Calendar #752 Timothy G. Massad, of Connecticut, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission;

Executive Calendar #753 Timothy G. Massad, of Connecticut, to be Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and

Executive Calendar #754 J. Christopher Giancarlo, of New Jersey, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

 

By unanimous consent, the Senate discharged the Agriculture Committee and confirmed PN #1642, the nomination of J. Christopher Giancarlo, of New Jersey, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for a term expiring April 13, 2019

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Last Floor Action:
12:04:20 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 604.

The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on June 5, 2014.

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The Results (GOOD NEWS!)


When we heard the Koch brothers were spending $125 million to kill our chances of winning a Democratic Congress, we knew we’d need a major response.

But we never thought we’d see anything like this:

And that’s just counting donations THIS year!

The Tea Party is no match for our grassroots supporters!

That’s bad news for Speaker Boehner and the obstructionist Republicans:

From all of us at the DCCC — we just can’t thank you enough!

P.S. The numbers are pretty clear. This year, the grassroots momentum is behind President Obama and the Democrats! Could you imagine what we could accomplish if we didn’t have Big Oil billionaires and right-wing SuperPACs in our way?

Click here to sign your name to the petition calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United >>

 

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Supreme Court Could Kill Collective Bargaining Rights


Anti-worker forces are at it again. In 2011, they worked alongside right-wing governors to push through sneak attacks on our collective bargaining rights. In 2012, they passed destructive “right to work” bills. Now they’re poised to eradicate the rights of home care workers to band together for a voice on the job.

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, a group with a political agenda to weaken the power of working people, is challenging the right of public home care providers to collectively bargain. This extremist right-wing group with ties to the ultra-conservative Koch Brothers and ALEC has brought the case (Harris v. Quinn) all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the Roberts court – which has ruled in favor of corporations time and time again – we’re hoping for the best, but we’re bracing for the worst.

The timing is urgent. The Supreme Court will issue a decision in the coming weeks – and possibly as early as this Monday! Sign our petition to stand with care workers now!

If the right wing has no shame about attacking teachers and firefighters, we shouldn’t be surprised they’re trying to strip hardworking care workers of their rights. Home care workers are truly everyday heroes. From administering medicine to preparing meals, they allow millions of seniors and people with disabilities to live independently at home with dignity and respect. If a bad ruling comes down, it will make it easier for home care workers to lose hard-won gains in hours, benefits, training opportunities and wages – and compromise their ability to provide the life-changing care that our loved ones deserve.

These frontline care providers, who are predominantly women, have been fighting to improve their insufficient job standards through years of campaigning. Hundreds of thousands of these caregivers have now earned collective bargaining rights, and nearly two million home care workers finally secured the right to earn a minimum wage and overtime just last year. Now is the moment to raise these workers up – not cut them down.

We all need the freedom to have a voice at work, to speak up for decent jobs and good services. We can’t afford to stay silent.



Join us – and show care workers you’re with them. We will deliver your petition to the workers who could be hit hardest by this ruling.



Everything is at stake. A bad decision could not only hurt care workers directly but will end up negatively impacting families and communities nationwide, compromising care standards at the moment our aging nation needs it most. And if our friends and neighbors can’t join together in strong unions, it will become harder for all workers to gain better wages and benefits, more job security and safer workplaces. This fight belongs to all of us now.

Make your voice heard: Stand with care workers – and against the right wing – today.

Thanks for fighting for what’s right,
Hilary and the entire Jobs With Justice team

Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 6/2 ~~ the House


War_of_wealth_bank_run_poster

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, June 2, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

 At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #633, the nomination of Keith M. Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council.  There will be 2 minutes of debate prior a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Harper nomination.

 During Thursday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on the following items in the order listed:

–        Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council (up to 8 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided);

–        Executive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (up to 8 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided);

–        Executive Calendar #691, Mark G. Mastroianni, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts (up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided);

–        Executive Calendar #692,Bruce Howe Hendricks, of South Carolina, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of South Carolina (up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided);

–        Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia (up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided); and

–        Executive Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services (up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate).

At 5:33pm, the Senate began a 15-minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council.

Invoked: 51-37

WRAP UP

Roll Call Vote

1)     Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council; Invoked: 51-37

 

No Legislative items

 

No Executive items

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Last Floor Action:5/30
12:02:05 P.M. – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

12:00:16 P.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:35 P.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Mac Thornberry to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:54 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Loren Lasch, St. Patricks Episcopal Church, Washington, DC.
12:01:55 P.M. The Chair announced that pursuant to section 3(a) of H. Res. 604, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
12:02:05 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

12:03:06 P.M. The House received a communication from Jim Renacci, Member of Congress. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Congressman Renacci notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena, issued by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, for both documents and testimony in a criminal case, and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he will determine whether compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.
12:04:20 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 604.The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on June 5, 2014.

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