the Senate considered &passed HR4275 ~~ CONGRESS ~~ the House considers HR1459 ~~


2ebe4-gulfwindsunset

The Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Thursday, March 27, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 10:30am with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.

 Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of H.R.4152, the Ukraine bill. The time until noon will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

 At noon, there will be up to 3 roll call votes:

–        Adoption of the Menendez-Corker substitute amendment #2867

–        Passage of H.R.4152, as amended, if amended, and

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #689 Maria Contreras-Sweet, to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration.

 During Wednesday’s session, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance Compensation Extension and on Executive Calendar #573, John B. Owens, of CA, to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. Under the rule, the first cloture vote would occur Friday morning; it is possible one or both could be moved to Thursday.

At 12:00pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Menendez-Corker substitute amendment to H.R.4152, Ukraine;

Agreed to: 98-2

The Senate passed H.R.4152, as amended, if amended (Ukraine) by voice vote.

The Senate confirmed Executive Calendar #689 Maria Contreras-Sweet, to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration, by voice vote.

By consent, at 1:45pm today, the Senate will proceed to a cloture vote on Executive Calendar #573, John B. Owens, of CA, to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit that and then, notwithstanding rule 22, the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.3979.

 

Further, if cloture is invoked on the Owens nomination, all post cloture time will be considered expired at 5:30pm, Monday, March 31st, and the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the Owens nomination. Upon disposition of the Owens nomination, the Senate resume Legislative Session and, if cloture is invoked on the motion to proceed to H.R.3979, then all post-cloture time be considered expired and the Senate proceed to consideration of the  bill.

 

Following the cloture vote on motion to proceed to H.R.3979 today, there will be 2 minutes for debate equally divided prior to a vote on confirmation of Confirmation of Executive Calendar #700, Mathew H. Tueller, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen.

 

There is still hope that we reach an agreement on the SGR legislation today. Another message will be sent if and when any agreement is reached.

 

1:45pm Thursday:

–          Cloture on Cloture on Executive Calendar #573, John B. Owens, of CA, to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit

–          Cloture on motion to proceed to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance extension

–          Confirmation of Executive Calendar #700, Mathew H. Tueller, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen (expect a voice vote)

 

5:30pm Monday:

–          Confirmation of Owens nomination

–          Adoption of MTP to H.R.3979, UI

2:10pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance extension;

1:48pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #573, John B. Owens, of CA, to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit;

Invoked: 54-44

Executive Calendar #700, the nomination of Mathew H. Tueller, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen, was confirmed by voice vote.

 

The Senate has reached an agreement to vote on passage of the SGR bill on Monday, March 31, with a 60-affirmative vote point of order. We expect a Republican to raise a Budget point of order against the bill prior to the vote on passage.

 

As a result of this agreement beginning at 5:30pm on Monday, March 31, there would be 3 roll call votes and 1 voice vote. Those would be on the following:

 

–          Confirmation of Executive Calendar #573, John B. Owens, of CA, to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit (majority vote threshold);

–          Motion to waive applicable budget points of order with respect to H.R.4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (SGR/Doc Fix) (60-vote threshold);

–          Passage of H.R.4302,  Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (SGR/Doc Fix) (60-vote threshold); and

–          Adoption of the motion to proceed to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance extension (voice vote expected)

The agreement is as follows:

Following Leader remarks on Monday, March 31st, the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R.4302, which was received from the House and is at the desk; that there be no amendments or motions in order to the bill with the exception of budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive; that the time until 5pm be equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees, for debate on the bill; that notwithstanding the previous order, following the vote on confirmation of the Owens nomination on Monday, March 31st, the Senate resume consideration of H.R.4302, the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill; that the bill be subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold; finally, that upon disposition of H.R.4302, the Senate proceed to vote on the motion to proceed to H.R.3979, as provided under the previous order.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Adoption of the Menendez-Corker substitute amendment #2867 to H.R.4152, the Ukraine bill; Agreed to: 98-2

2)     Cloture on Executive Calendar #573, John B. Owens, of CA, to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Invoked: 54-44

3)     Cloture on motion to proceed to H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance extension; Invoked: 65-34

 

Additional Legislative items

Passed H.R.4152, the Ukraine bill, as amended by voice vote.

 

Adopted S.Res.400, recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Great Alaska Earthquake, which struck the State of Alaska at 5:36pm on Good Friday, March 27, 1964, honoring those who lost their lives in the Great Alaska Earthquake and associated tsunamis, and expressing continued support for research on earthquake and tsunami prediction and mitigation strategies.

 

Passed S.2183, U.S. international news programming to Ukraine and neighboring regions.

 

Discharged the Judiciary committee and adopted S.Res.395, designating the month of April 2014 as “Military and Veterans Caregiver Month.”

 

Additional Executive items

Confirmed Executive Calendar #689 Maria Contreras-Sweet to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration by voice vote.

 

Confirmed Executive Calendar #700, Mathew H. Tueller to be Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen by voice vote.

 

Discharged the Commerce committee and confirmed PN1059, Kathryn B. Thomson to be General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

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Last Floor Action:
9:20:04 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

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4 Big Reasons to Celebrate the Affordable Care Act Turning 4


Dept. of Health & Human Services

March 23rd, marks the fourth anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act.  Since its enactment, millions of Americans have benefited from the law. Here are just four of the reasons we have to celebrate today.

1. 5 million people covered: Since October 1, more than 5 million people have signed up for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

2. Bending the cost curve: We’ve held down national spending growth in health care to the slowest rate in a half century.

3. Free preventive care: Today, most health plans have to cover recommended preventive services free of charge, benefiting 71 million Americans.

4. Strengthening Medicare: Today, the Medicare program is stronger than ever. Since enactment of the Affordable Care Act, 7.9 million seniors and people with disabilities have saved $9.9 billion on prescription drugs, or an average of $1,265 per beneficiary.

Four Year Anniversary Graphic

Let’s celebrate millions more covered in 2014. If you know someone who’s uninsured, tell them to sign up today, before the March 31 deadline.

Go to HealthCare.gov (which is working smoothly), or call 1-800-318-2596 (open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). You can even get in-person help in your own community (just visit localhelp.healthcare.gov and punch in your zip code).

Sofia’s nightmare


Approve request for Humanitarian Parole for Anastasiya “Sofia” Petrova (Case #MSC1499990791)

By Bring Sofia Home
Freeport, Maine

At age 15, Anastasiya “Sofia” Petrova was banished to Siberia by her mother and step-father.  Not only was she deceived into traveling to Siberia, she was mislead into thinking she would return in a couple of weeks.  Upon arriving there, her nightmare began.  She was told there were no travel papers to return to the US and she needed to live with her biological father who did not speak English and whom she had never met before.  It turns out her biological father was not equipped to care for her – and given Sofia has limited Russian language skills and no permanent residence, she is at great risk.  Sofia dreams of completing her education in the US where she lived from age 2-15 and where she attended high school.  Sofia needs to return home.  With USCIS’ approval of her application for Humanitarian Parole, Sofia can at least travel to the US temporarily.  Your support of this petition will let USCIS know that Sofia has so many supporters in the US who care about her future.

Announcing NMAAHC’s new Welcome Center


NMAAHC -- National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Come Visit the New Welcome Center at the

The hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM, and on Wednesday from 1:00- 4:00 PM.

    National Museum of African American History and Culture
  Welcome Center Img

Dear Charter Members and friends,
For those of you who may not know, we have a Welcome Center located at the corner of 14th street and Constitution Avenue NW!

It is beautifully designed space displaying panels about the museum which include a statement from our director Lonnie Bunch, information about the design and collections, and information on future exhibitions and programs. In the middle of the Welcome Center there is a scaled down model of the museum and the space it will occupy on the National Mall.

You will also see a media presentation about our February 2012 ground breaking ceremony and a short public service announcement.
Visitors will be able to sign up to become a Charter Member, and engage in a fun audience evaluation game on two interactive computer kiosks. You can even check out our construction progress through a window that looks out upon the construction site! Highly trained volunteers will be onsite to greet Charter Members and visitors, give a brief tour of the space, and answer any questions.

The hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM, and on Wednesday from 1:00- 4:00 PM.

In addition to the Welcome Center, our current exhibition, Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 and The March on Washington, 1963 is on view through September 7, 2014 across the street at the American History museum.

The exhibition explores two events that changed the course of the nation—the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and the 1963 March on Washington.

Separated by 100 years, they are linked together in a larger story of freedom and the American experience.
Sincerely,
Edison R. Wato, Jr.
Membership Program Manager

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 3/26 ~~ the House


capitolsnowclosed

 

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Wednesday, March 26, 2014.

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

 Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session.  At 11:00am, there will be up to 4 roll call votes:

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #581 Christopher Reid Cooper – to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #582 M. Douglas Harpool – to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #583 Gerald Austin McHugh, Jr. – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #584 Edward G. Smith – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

There will be 2 minutes of debate prior to each vote and all after the first vote will be 10 minutes in duration.

 If cloture is invoked on any of the nominations (which is expected for each of the nominations), the time until 2:30pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.  At 2:30pm, there will be up to 5 roll call votes in relation to the following (assuming cloture was invoked on all nominations at 11am):

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #581 Christopher Reid Cooper – to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #582 M. Douglas Harpool – to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #583 Gerald Austin McHugh, Jr. – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #584 Edward G. Smith – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #694 Joseph William Westphal – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

There will be 2 minutes of debate prior to each vote and all after the first vote will be 10 minutes in duration.

11:02am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #581, Christopher Reid Cooper, of the District of Columbia, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia.

The remaining votes in this series will be 10 minute votes; Invoked: 56-43

11:30am The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #582 M. Douglas Harpool – to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri. Invoked: 56-43

At 11:48am , the Senate began a 10-minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #583 Gerald Austin McHugh, Jr. – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Invoked: 56-43

At 12:09pm, the Senate began a 10-minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #584 Edward G. Smith – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Invoked: 75-23

Senator Vitter asked unanimous consent the Veterans Affairs’ committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R.3521 and pass H.R.3521, Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013, as amended by a Vitter amendment (pay-for through price controls for prescription drugs in the Department of Defense). Senator Sanders objected.

Senator Sanders then asked the Senate take up and pass S.1950, as amended by the Sanders substitute amendment, which is the text of S.1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act. Senator Vitter objected.

At 2:33pm, the Senate began a 15-minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #581 Christopher Reid Cooper – to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia

Confirmed: 100-0

At 3:02pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #582 M. Douglas Harpool – to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri;

Confirmed: 93-5

3:21pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Calendar #583 Gerald Austin McHugh, Jr. – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania;

Confirmed: 59-41

3:41pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #584 Edward G. Smith – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania;

Confirmed: 69-31

By a voice vote, the Senate confirmed Executive Calendar #694 Joseph William Westphal – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

There will be no further roll call votes during Wednesday’s session of the Senate. The next votes are expected to occur around 12:15pm tomorrow.

This evening Senator Reid filed cloture on Executive Calendar #573, the nomination of John B. Owens, of California, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, He then filed cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #333, H.R.3979, which will be the legislative vehicle used for the Unemployment Insurance extension legislation. Under Rule 22, the first cloture vote would occur on Friday; we hope to be able to reach an agreement to move the votes up. Senators will be notified when the votes are scheduled.

That Senate has reached an agreement to vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #689, the nomination of Maria Contreras-Sweet, to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration, following disposition of H.R.4152, Ukraine.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #581 Christopher Reid Cooper – to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Invoked: 56-43

2)     Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #582 M. Douglas Harpool – to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri; Invoked: 56-43

3)     Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #583 Gerald Austin McHugh, Jr. – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Invoked: 56-43

4)     Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #584 Edward G. Smith – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Invoked: 75-23

5)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #581 Christopher Reid Cooper – to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Confirmed: 100-0

6)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #582 M. Douglas Harpool – to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri; Confirmed: 93-5

7)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #583 Gerald Austin McHugh, Jr. – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Confirmed: 59-41

8)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #584 Edward G. Smith – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Confirmed: 69-31

 

Legislative items

Discharged the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee and passed S.1827, to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the American Fighter Aces, collectively, in recognition of their heroic military service and defense of our country’s freedom throughout the history of aviation warfare.

 

Discharged the Commerce committee and adopted S.Res.387, celebrating the 2014 Arctic Winter Games in Fairbanks, Alaska.

 

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.2157, the Commonsense Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Access Improvement Act (Wyden) in order to place the bill on the Legislative Calendar.

 

Additional Executive items

Confirmed Confirmation of Executive Calendar #694 Joseph William Westphal to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by voice vote. 

 

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Last Floor Action:3/26
10:00:47 A.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate.

At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

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