Black History Month -pictures from NMAAHC

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, February 24, 2014.

Following the prayer and pledge, Senator King will be recognized to deliver Washington’s Farewell Address.

 Upon conclusion of the reading, the Majority Leader will be recognized and then the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

 On Wednesday, February 12^th, cloture was filed on the following items in the order listed:

–        Executive Calendar #564 Jeffrey Alker Meyer -to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut

–        Executive Calendar #564 #570 James Maxwell Moody, Jr. – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas

–        Executive Calendar #564 #566 James Donato – to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California

–        Executive Calendar #564 #567 Beth Labson Freeman – to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California and

–        Motion to proceed to S.1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014.

At 5:00pm on Monday, February 24^th, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #564, the nomination of Jeffrey Alker Meyer to be US District Judge for the District of Connecticut with up to 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form.  Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Meyer nomination.

If cloture is invoked on the Meyer nomination, there would be up to 2 hours for post-cloture debate. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate would proceed to a vote confirmation of the nomination, then proceed to the next cloture vote and repeat the process for the remaining nominations in the list above. Following disposition of the Freeman nomination, there will be a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S.1982.

While up to 9 roll call votes (5 cloture votes and 4 confirmation votes) are possible Monday evening, we anticipate that after three votes, the remaining will resume sometime Tuesday morning.

Likely votes Monday at 5:30pm:

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #564 Jeffrey Alker Meyer -to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut

• (up to 2 hours of equally divided debate, likely one hour)

–        Confirmation of Meyer nomination

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #564 #570 James Maxwell Moody, Jr. – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

At 5:30pm, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #564, Jeffrey Alker Meyer to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut.

If cloture is invoked on the Meyer nomination, there will be up to 2 hours of equally divided debate. The Majority expects to yield back their hour. If Republicans use their full hour, at approximately 6:50pm, there will be 2 roll call votes:

–          Confirmation of the Meyer nomination and

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #570 James Maxwell Moody, Jr. to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

We expect to reach an agreement to delay the remainder of the votes until tomorrow morning.  The remaining votes are listed below.

–          Confirmation of the Moody nomination

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #566 James Donato to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California

–          Confirmation of the Donato nomination

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #567 Beth Labson Freeman to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California

–          Confirmation of the Freeman nomination and

–          Motion to proceed to S.1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014.

This afternoon, Senator Reid asked unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration to Calendar #251, S.1752, the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 (Gillibrand) and that if a cloture motion is filed on the bill, there be two hours of debate on S.1752 and S.1917, the Victims Protection Act of 2014 (McCaskill) equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees and there immediately be a vote on the motion to invoke cloture;

That if cloture is invoked, all post-cloture time be yielded back and the Senate immediately proceed to vote on passage on the bill; that no amendments, points of order or motions be in order to the bill prior to the vote on passage; that if the motion to invoke cloture on S.1752 is not agreed to, the bill be returned to the calendar; that upon disposition of S.1752, the Senate immediately proceed to the consideration of Calendar #293, S.1917; that if a cloture motion is filed on the bill, the Senate immediately proceed to the vote on the motion to invoke cloture; that if cloture is invoked, all post-cloture time be yielded back and the Senate immediately proceed to vote on passage on the bill; that no amendments, points of order or motions be in order to the bill prior to the vote on passage; that if the motion to invoke cloture on S.1917 is not agreed to, the bill be returned to the calendar.

Senator Moran asked the Leader to modify his request to include the Kirk amendment #2295 regarding Iran Sanctions (filed to the National Defense Authorization Act).  Senator Reid did not agree to modify his request and Senator Moran objected to the original request. The unofficial transcript of the exchange is below.

{16:04:10 NSP} (MR. REID) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT AT A TIME

TO BE DETERMINED BY ME, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH SENATOR

McCONNELL, THE SENATE PROCEED TO CALENDAR NUMBER 251, THAT IF

CLOTURE — THAT IF A CLOTURE MOTION IS FILED, THERE BE TWO

HOURS OF DEBATE ON S.1752 AND S.1917 EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN

THE TWO LEADERS OR THEIR DESIGNEES. THAT UPON THE USE OR

YIELDING BACK OF THAT TIME, THE SENATE PROCEED TO VOTE ON THE

MOTION TO INVOKE CLOTURE. THAT IF CLOTURE IS INVOKED, ALL TIME

BE YEEMEDDED BACK AND THE SENATE — YIELDED BACK AND THE SENATE

IMMEDIATELY MOVE TO VOTE ON THE BILL. THAT NO MOTIONS OR POINTS

OF ORDER BE ALLOWED PRIOR TO THE FINAL VOTE. THE BILL BE RETURN

TO THE CALENDAR, THAT UPON THE DISPOSITION OF S.1752, THE

SENATE IMMEDIATELY PROCEED TO THE CONSIDERATION OF CALENDAR

NUMBER 293, S.1917, THAT IF CLOTURE — THAT IF A CLOTURE

MOTION IS FILED ON THE BILL, THE SENATE PROCEED TO VOTE ON THE

MOTION TO INVOKE CLOTURE. THAT IF CLOTURE IS INVOKED, ALL

POSTCLOTURE TIME BE YIELDED BACK AND THE SENATE PROCEED TO VOTE

ON PASSAGE OF THE BILL. THAT NO AMENDMENTS, POINTS OF ORDER OR

MOTIONS BE IN ORDER TO THE BILL PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON PASSAGE

THAT. IF A MOTION TO INVOKE CLOTURE ON S.1917 IS NOT AGREED

TO, THE BILL BE RETURNED TO THE CALENDAR.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?

A SENATOR: RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM KANSAS.

A SENATOR: THE AMENDMENTS WERE FILED TO THE DEFENSE

AUTHORIZATION BILL THAT THE SENATE PASSED IN DECEMBER OF LAST

YEAR.

MR. MORAN: THEY EACH HAVE SIGNIFICANT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. THE

MAJORITY LEADER FILLED THE TREE ON THAT BILL AND BLOCKED OUT

AMENDMENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND, THEREFORE, THE

SENATE DID NOT VOTE ON THESE BILLS LAST YEAR. THERE ARE

HUNDREDS OF OTHER AMENDMENTS THAT WERE ALSO BLOCKED. WOULD THE

SENATOR MODIFY THIS REQUEST TO INCLUDE A VOTE AT A 60-VOTE

THRESHOLD ON ANOTHER PROPOSAL THAT WAS BLOCKED FROM

CONSIDERATION?

THE KIRK AMENDMENT, 2295, WAS FILED TO THE DEFENSE BILL. IT

WOULD IMPOSE ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF

IRAN IF IT VIOLATES THE INTERIM AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED

STATES. WILL THE SENATOR INCLUDE A VOTE ON THE KIRK AMENDMENT

AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT?

MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT?

I WOULD RESERVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: DOES THE MAJORITY LEADER AGREE TO THE

MODIFICATION?

MR. REID: I WOULD RESERVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT. MR. PRESIDENT,

THERE’S NO MORE IMPORTANT NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERN TODAY THAN

KEEPING IRAN FROM GETTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAPABILITY. FOR ONE,

NATIONAL SECURITY, AND FOR THAT OF ISRAEL, OUR ALLY. WE’RE

COMMITTED TO STOPPING IRAN FROM GETTING THAT CAPABILITY. THAT’S

WHY PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ENTERED INTO INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS

WITH IRAN. THE SENATE HAS A LONG TRADITION OF BIPARTISANSHIP ON

THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING NUMEROUS STRONG, BIPARTISAN VOTES THAT WE

PUT IN PLACE TO INITIATE THE VERY SANCTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN

BROUGHT IRAN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. SO, MR. PRESIDENT, IN

SUMMATION, I’M TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED THAT MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS

ARE TRYING TO TURN THIS VITAL NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERN INTO A

PARTISAN ISSUE BY TRYING TO INJECT INTO IT A SETTING WHERE IT’S

CLEARLY NOT RELEVANT. I OBJECT.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD. IS THERE OBJECTION

TO THE ORIGINAL REQUEST?

MR. MORAN: I OBJECT.

5:42pm The Senate began a 15-minute roll call vote on the invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #564, Jeffrey Alker Meyer to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut

Invoked: 55-37-1 present

7:05pm The Senate began a 15-minute roll call vote on the invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #564, Jeffrey Alker Meyer to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut

Confirmed: 91-2

7:33pm The Senate began a 15-minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #570 James Maxwell Moody, Jr. to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas

Invoked: 58-34

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #564, Jeffrey Alker Meyer to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut; Invoked: 55-37-1 present

2)      Confirmation of the Meyer nomination; Confirmed: 91-2

3)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #570 James Maxwell Moody, Jr. to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas; Invoked: 58-34

Legislative items

Adopted S.Res.360, to authorize testimony and representation in United States v. Onstad.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.2024, to amend chapter 1 of title 1, United States Code, with regard to the definition of ‘‘marriage’’ and ‘‘spouse’’ for Federal purposes and to ensure respect for State regulation of marriage (Senators Cruz and Lee) in order to place the bill on the Legislative Calendar.

No additional Executive items

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Last Floor Action:2/21
11:05:02 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 2(b) of H. Res. 475.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on February 25, 2014.