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$1,500

07/24/2013 Nativegrl77

Compromise Set to Lower Student Loan Interest Rates

Student loan rates for undergraduates doubled on July 1 from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, threatening to further increase college costs for millions of already-strained students.

Fortunately, a bipartisan deal has emerged in the Senate that looks set to lower interest rates before students head back to campus. Here are the main elements of this compromise:

It immediately and significantly lowers interest rates, giving students the certainty they need to make borrowing decisions.
It ties student loan interest rates to the market, allowing students to immediately take advantage of today’s low rates.
It caps overall rates to help protect students from interest rate increases in the years to come.
It sets the interest rate at a fixed rate for the entire life of the loan in contrast to a GOP proposal that would’ve allowed the rate to change every single year the loan remained outstanding.

You can find out more details about this plan and why it matters HERE.

This can all be a little confusing, but the immediate impact is pretty simple. Here’s what will happen as soon as this compromise becomes law:

BOTTOM LINE: 11 MILLION students will save an average of $1,500 as a result of the student loan compromise the Senate is going to vote on tomorrow. Young people need Congress to act right away to pass this deal.

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Black History

the Senate S.1234 CONGRESS the House HR2397 & HR2610

07/24/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene at 9:30am on Wednesday, July 24, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for one hour with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. The Republicans will control the first half and the Majority will control the final half.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1234, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Senator Portman will be recognized to call up his amendment #1749 (bridges in critical corridor program). We hope to vote in relation to the Portman amendment Wednesday morning.
At 3:40pm, there will be a moment of silence in memory of Officer Jacob J. Chestnut and Detective John M. Gibson of the U.S. Capitol Police, who were killed 15 years ago in the line of duty defending the Capitol, the people who work there, and its visitors against an armed intruder.
We also expect to consider the Student Loan legislation during Wednesday’s session.

The following amendments are pending to S.1243, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill:

Cardin amendment #1760 (report on lane miles and highway bridge deck)
Coburn amendment #1750 (Federal tax liability – Federal employees)
Coburn amendment #1751 (Federal funding of union activities)
Coburn amendment #1754 (Federal funds – matching programs)

The following amendment have been considered to S.1243, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill:

Vitter amendment #1744 (sexual abuse – housing aid); Agreed to: 99-1
Portman #1749, as modified (bridged in critical corridor program); Agreed to by voice vote

Senator Portman called up his amendment #1749, as modified (bridges in critical corridors program). The amendment, as modified, was then agreed to by a voice vote.

Senator Murray then called up Cardin amendment #1760 (report on condition of lane miles and highway bridge decks).

Senator Murray encouraged senators with amendments to reach out to the managers in order to call up their amendments. Senator Reid would like to complete action on the bill in the next 24 hours.

We will also execute the order on the Student Loan bill potentially around noon today. Under the order, there will be up to 6 hours for debate prior to a series of 4 votes in relation to the following amendments and on passage of the bill.

– Reed (RI)-Warren second degree amendment to Manchin-Burr amendment;

– Sanders second degree amendment to Manchin-Burr amendment;

– Manchin-Burr amendment, as amended, if amended; and

– Passage of H.R.1911, as amended, if amended.

The Senate is now considering H.R.1911, the student loans interest rate bill, as provided under the previous order.

At 5:15pm the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Reed (RI)-Warren second degree amendment #1778 to Manchin-Burr amendment #1773 to S.1243, Student Loan Interest Rate (60-vote threshold)

Not Agreed to: 46-53

5:43pm The Senate began a 10-minute roll call vote on the Sanders amendment # 1774 to Manchin-Burr amendment #1773 to S.1243, Student Loans Interest Rates (60-vote threshold)

Not Agreed to: 34-65

6:11pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on passage of S.1243, Student Loan Interest Rates, as amended (60-vote threshold)

Passed: 81-18

The Senate is now in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no further roll call votes during today’s session of the Senate.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Reed (RI)-Warren second degree amendment #1778 (caps) to Manchin-Burr amendment #1773 (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed to: 46-53

2) Sanders second degree amendment #1773 (sunset) to Manchin-Burr amendment #1773 (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed to: 34-65

3) Passage of H.R.1911, the Smarter Solutions for Students Act, as amended (60-vote threshold); Passed: 81-18

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed H.R.1092, a bill to designate the air route traffic control center located in Nashua, New Hampshire, as the “Patricia Clark Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center”.

Discharged the Energy committee of further consideration of S.1294 and referred it to the Agriculture committee. S.1294, to designate as wilderness certain public land in the Cherokee National Forest in the State of Tennessee, and for other purposes.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Last Floor Action: 7/23
1:15:32 A.M. – The House adjourned. The
next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on July 24, 2013

10:00:30 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:34 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Daniel Webster to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:01:04 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.
11:01:28 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:00 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of July 24.
12:01:00 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend John Reynolds, Volusia County Baptist Church, Orange City, Florida.
12:02:57 P.M.		POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Speaker announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Daines demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Speaker announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Daines objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Speaker postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the approval of the Journal until a time to be announced.
12:03:32 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Duncan of SC to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:04:00 P.M.		The Chair reminded the House that it will observe a moment of silence at 3:40 p.m. today in memory of Officer Jacob J. Chestnut and Detective John M. Gibson of the United States Capitol Police.
12:04:41 P.M.		The House received a communication from Representative Bonner wherein he will resign as a member of the House of Representatives effective at 11:59 p.m. on August 2, 2013.
12:05:59 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
1:00:17 P.M.	H. Res. 315	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 315 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2218) to amend subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal Act to encourage recovery and beneficial use of coal combustion residuals and establish requirements for the proper management and disposal of coal combustion residuals that are protective of human health and the environment, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1582) to protect consumers by prohibiting the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating as final certain energy-related rules that are estimated to cost more than $1 billion and will cause significant adverse effects to the economy.”
1:00:53 P.M.	H. Res. 315	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 315.

1:00:53 P.M.	H. Res. 315	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 315.
2:14:29 P.M.	H. Res. 315	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 224 – 191 (Roll no. 399).
2:23:57 P.M.	H. Res. 315	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 232 – 188 (Roll no. 400).
2:23:58 P.M.	H. Res. 315	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:24:10 P.M.	H.R. 2397	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2397 — “Making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes.”
2:24:21 P.M.	H.R. 2397	The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
2:31:08 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Jones amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 401).
2:35:09 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the LaMalfa amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll no. 402).
2:39:56 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Mulvaney amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll no. 403).
2:44:40 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Stockman amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 404).
2:49:20 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Walorski amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll no. 405).
2:59:05 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Bonamici amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll no. 406).
3:01:26 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Kilmer, numbered 67 printed in House Report 113-170 to protect DoD civilians’ security clearances.
3:01:42 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kilmer amendment No. 67.
3:08:52 P.M.	H.R. 2397	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Kilmer amendment No. 67, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Kilmer demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
3:09:29 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Nadler, numbered 69 printed in House Report 113-170 to prevent the further detention of Guantanamo Bay detainees that have already been cleared for release.
3:09:49 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Nadler amendment No. 69.
3:20:35 P.M.	H.R. 2397	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Nadler amendment No. 69, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Nadler demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
3:21:05 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Nadler, numbered 70 printed in House Report 113-170 to prevent further construction or expansion of existing facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
3:21:51 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Nadler amendment No. 70.
3:30:47 P.M.	H.R. 2397	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Nadler amendment No. 70, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Nadler demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
3:31:36 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Pierluisi, numbered 71 printed in House Report 113-170 to enable the Department of Defense to respond to significant public safety hazards and fulfill its environmental restoration responsibilities under CERCLA by removing unexploded ordnance from the Northwest Peninsula of the island of Culebra in Puerto Rico, which is a formerly used defense site where U.S. Navy ship-to-shore bombing and weapons training occurred from 1903 until 1975.
3:32:01 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pierluisi amendment No. 71.
3:39:03 P.M.	H.R. 2397	By unanimous consent, the Pierluisi amendment was withdrawn.
3:40:00 P.M.	H.R. 2397	MOMENT OF SILENCE – The House observed a moment of silence in memory of Officer Jacob J. Chestnut and Detective John M. Gibson of the United States Capitol Police.
3:41:18 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Brooks (AL), numbered 72 printed in House Report 113-170 to prohibit funds from this Act to be used to implement or execute any agreement with the Russian Federation concerning the missile defenses of the United States.
3:41:39 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Brooks (Al) amendment No. 72.
3:49:36 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Brooks (AL) amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
3:50:02 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Schiff, numbered 73 printed in House Report 113-170 to prohibit funding the use of force pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF, PL 107-40) effective on December 31, 2014–concurrent with the end of our combat role in Afghanistan.
3:50:10 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Schiff amendment No. 73.
4:01:08 P.M.	H.R. 2397	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Schiff amendment No. 73, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Schiff demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
4:01:33 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Ms. Speier, numbered 74 printed in House Report 113-170 to provide funds to identify individuals who were separated from the military on the grounds of a disorder subsequent to reporting a sexual assault and, if appropriate, correcting their record.
4:01:36 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Speier amendment No. 74.
4:07:29 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Speier amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
4:08:21 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Ms. Speier, numbered 75 printed in House Report 113-170 to provide $10 million in additional funds to increase training for investigators to properly investigate sexual assault related offenses.
4:08:23 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Speier amendment No. 75.
4:15:41 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Speier amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
4:16:28 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Radel, numbered 97 printed in House Report 113-170 to prohibit the use of any funds with respect to military action in Syria to the extent such action would be inconsistent with the War Powers Resolution.
4:16:32 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Radel amendment No. 97.
4:40:20 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Radel amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
4:40:39 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Massie, numbered 98 printed in House Report 113-170 to provide that no funds made available by this Act may be used to fund military or paramilitary operations in Egypt.
4:40:41 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Massie amendment No. 98.
4:53:45 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Massie amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
4:53:54 P.M.	H.R. 2397	UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on adoption of amendments which had been debated and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
4:55:09 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Kilmer amendment (A059) Roll Call 407 – Recorded vote pending.

5:23:51 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Kilmer amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll no. 407).
5:28:56 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Nadler amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 408).
5:34:15 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Nadler amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 409).
5:38:47 P.M.	H.R. 2397	>On agreeing to the Schiff amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 410).
5:41:21 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Pompeo, numbered 99 printed in House Report 113-170 to ensure none of the funds may be used by the NSA to target a U.S. person or acquire and store the content of a U.S. person’s communications, including phone calls and e-mails.
5:41:22 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 15 minutes of debate on the Pompeo amendment No. 99.
5:57:28 P.M.	H.R. 2397	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Pompeo amendment No. 99, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Pompeo demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
5:58:22 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Amash, numbered 100 printed in House Report 113-170 to end authority for the blanket collection of records under the Patriot Act. It would also bar the NSA and other agencies from using Section 215 of the Patriot Act to collect records, including telephone call records, that pertain to persons who are not subject to an investigation under Section 215.
5:58:24 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 15 minutes of debate on the Amash amendment No. 100.
6:21:43 P.M.	H.R. 2397	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Amash amendment No. 100, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Amash demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
6:21:59 P.M.	H.R. 2397	UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:23:21 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Terry amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
6:23:54 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Pompeo amendment (A069) Roll Call 411 – Recorded vote pending.

6:23:21 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Terry amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
6:48:56 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Pompeo amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll no. 411).
6:53:20 P.M.	H.R. 2397	Amash amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 412).
6:54:17 P.M.	H.R. 2397	GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with ten minutes of general debate on H.R. 2397.

205 – 217 the House Rejects Amdt to kill NSA Survellance Program

7:02:22 P.M.	H.R. 2397	The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2397.
7:03:37 P.M.	H.R. 2397	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
7:03:50 P.M.	H.R. 2397	The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
7:04:20 P.M.	H.R. 2397	Ms. Frankel (FL) moved to recommit with instructions to Appropriations.
7:04:38 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Frankel (FL) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment to set aside an additional $25 million for US-Israeli Cooperative Programs, including a $20 million increase for Iron Dome and a $5 million increase for the Arrow System Improvement Program.
7:10:19 P.M.	H.R. 2397	The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
7:16:09 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 192 – 231 (Roll no. 413).
7:31:50 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 315 – 109 (Roll no. 414).
7:31:51 P.M.	H.R. 2397	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:31:58 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 today.
7:32:28 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
7:32:39 P.M.		The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 1911, with an amendment.
7:33:00 P.M.	H.R. 2397	The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 2397.
7:34:24 P.M.		Mr. Young (FL) asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9:00 a.m. on July 25. Agreed to without objection.
7:35:00 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:44:11 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

A deal reached

07/23/2013 Nativegrl77

The White House, Washington

Hi, everyone —

We’ve got some good news to share! Senators from both parties have come up with a plan to reduce the interest rates on student loans. Once it becomes law, rates on every single new college loan will come down before the start of the school year.

Because of this agreement, 11 million borrowers will save money, and we need help to make sure that everyone gets the details. The graphic below breaks down all the facts, and gives parents, undergrads, and grad students the information they need to know what they can expect in the years ahead.

Check it out, then share it to help spread the message.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/share/big-news-student-loans

Thanks!

Cecilia

Cecilia Muñoz Director, Domestic Policy Council The White House @Cecilia44

Black History

the Senate considers S.1243 CONGRESS the House considers HR2397&HR2610

07/23/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene at 10:00am on Tuesday, July 23, 2013.

Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized. It is expected he will renew his motion to proceed to S.1243, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The time until 12:00pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
The next roll call vote will be at 12:00pm on Tuesday, July 23^rd on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1243. Cloture was filed on that motion during Thursday’s session of the Senate. If cloture is invoked, all post-cloture time will be yielded back and the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to proceed to S.1243 (likely a voice vote). If the motion to proceed to S.1243 is adopted, the text of H.R.2610, as reported by the House Appropriations, will be deemed House passed text for the purposes of rule 16.
The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings

At 12:00 noon today, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1243, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014. Under the previous order, if cloture is invoked, all post-cloture time will be yielded back and the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to proceed to S.1243 (likely a voice vote). If the motion to proceed to S.1243 is adopted, the text of H.R.2610, as reported by the House Appropriations, will be deemed House passed text for the purposes of Rule 16.

The Senate will recess for the weekly caucus meetings from 12:30 until 2:15pm. At 2:15pm Senator Chiesa will deliver his maiden speech for up to 15 minutes. Following Senator Chiesa’s remarks, the Senate will begin consideration of the THUD appropriations bill, that is assuming cloture is invoked on the motion to proceed. Additional votes in relation to amendments to the THUD appropriations bill are possible this afternoon.

12:01pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1243, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014;

Invoked: 73-26

The Senate then adopted the motion to proceed by voice vote.

The Senate is considering S.1243, THUD Appropriations. Senator Vitter has offered amendment #1744, prohibit housing assistance benefits for individuals convicted of aggravated sexual abuse.

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July 2013

S M T W T F S

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7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

0:00:16 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:31 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Thomas Massie to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:00:48 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.
10:37:57 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:56 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of July 23.
12:01:02 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Dr. Shane Alexander, Northcrest Church of Christ, Mexia, Texas
12:02:21 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:02:25 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Titus to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:04:16 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
12:24:58 P.M.	H. Res. 312	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 312 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2397) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2610) making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes.”
12:30:15 P.M.	H. Res. 312	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 312.

1:23:16 P.M.	H. Res. 312	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At conclusion of debate on H. Res. 312, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question, and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. McGovern demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of ordering the previous question until later in the legislative day.
1:24:18 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
1:40:53 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of July 23.
1:41:24 P.M.	H. Res. 312	Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 312 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2397) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2610) making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes.”
1:41:38 P.M.	H. Res. 312	UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on ordering the previous question.
2:08:14 P.M.	H. Res. 312	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll no. 377).
2:16:08 P.M.	H. Res. 312	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll no. 378).
2:16:10 P.M.	H. Res. 312	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:16:36 P.M.		Mr. Wolf filed a report from the Committee on Appropriations on H.R. 2787.
2:17:26 P.M.		Mr. Crenshaw filed a report from the Committee on Appropriations on H.R. 2786.
2:18:48 P.M.	H.R. 2397	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 312. H.R. 2397 — “Making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes.”
2:18:53 P.M.	H.R. 2397	The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2397, under a structured rule, and consideration of H.R. 2610, under an open rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate on both bills. Additionally, the resolution provides for one motion to recommit with or without instructions for both bills.
2:19:19 P.M.	H.R. 2397	House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 312 and Rule XVIII.
2:19:20 P.M.	H.R. 2397	The Speaker designated the Honorable Candice S. Miller to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.

2:19:29 P.M.	H.R. 2397	GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2397.
2:59:34 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Walberg, numbered 1 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase funding for the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response by $10 million and reduce funding to the Operations and Maintenance, Defense-Wide account by $11 million.
2:59:37 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Walberg amendment No. 1.
3:03:16 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Walberg amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
3:03:55 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Delaney, numbered 2 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase the Fisher House Account by $16 million and decrease the Operation and Maintenance Account Defense-Wide by $25 million.
3:03:59 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Delaney amendment No. 2.
3:10:19 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Delaney amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
3:10:45 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Ms. Gabbard, numbered 3 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase funding for the Navy Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare weapon and Air-Launched Long Range Anti-Ship Missile program by $104,000,000, and reduce Operations and Maintenance, Defense-wide by the same amount.
3:10:47 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gabbard amendment No. 3.
3:17:44 P.M.	H.R. 2397	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Gabbard amendment No. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Gabbard demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
3:18:09 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Grayson, numbered 4 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase the Defense Health Program Account by $10 million to specifically target finding a cure for Gulf War Illness.
3:18:12 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Grayson amendment No. 4.
3:22:32 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Grayson amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
3:24:01 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Israel, numbered 5 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase by $10 million the Defense Human Resources Activity account for the purpose of enhancing Department of Defense efforts in mental health research, treatment, education, and outreach and reduce the Office of the Secretary of Defense account by the same amount.
3:24:03 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Israel amendment No. 5.
3:28:20 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Israel amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
3:28:56 P.M.	H.R. 2397	Amendments en bloc offered by Mr. Young (FL), comprised of amendments Nos. 6, 32, and 76 through 82 printed in House Report 113-170.
3:29:03 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Young of Florida amendments en bloc No. 1.
3:34:36 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Young (FL) amendments; Agreed to by voice vote.
3:34:45 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Langevin, numbered 8 printed in House Report 113-170 to reduce the appropriation for Operations and Maintenance, Defense-Wide by $22 million and transfer this amount to Research, Development, Technology, and Engineering, Navy for the purpose of supporting development, demonstration, evaluation and fielding of promising undersea technologies in Research, Development, Technology, and Engineering Project Number 2033, for Advanced Submarine Systems Development.
3:34:47 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Langevin amendment No. 8.
3:41:17 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Langevin amendment Failed by voice vote.
3:41:38 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, numbered 9 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase funding for the Defense Health Program account (intended for PTSD) by $500,000 offset by a similar reduction in the Environment Restoration, Army account.
3:41:41 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 9.
3:47:28 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
3:48:37 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Blumenauer, numbered 10 printed in House Report 113-170 to restore funding for Environmental Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites to FY 2013 levels so that the Department of Defense can clean up and remediate Unexploded Ordnance in a timely and safe fashion.
3:48:39 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Blumenauer amendment No. 10.
3:58:04 P.M.	H.R. 2397	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Blumenauer amendment No. 10, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Blumenauer demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
3:59:06 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, numbered 12 printed in House Report 113-170 to reduce funding for Procurement, Defense-Wide, by $2 million and transfers the same amount to the Spending Reduction Account.
3:59:08 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 12.
4:04:13 P.M.	H.R. 2397	By unanimous consent, the Jackson Lee amendment was withdrawn.
4:04:19 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, numbered 13 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase the Defense Health Program’s Research and Development account by $10 million and reduces the Defense Procurement-Wide account by the same amount.
4:04:22 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 13.
4:08:09 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
4:08:50 P.M.	H.R. 2397	Amendments en bloc offered by Mr. Young (FL), consisting of numbers 83, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, and 96 printed in House Report 113-170.
4:09:34 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Young of Florida amendments en bloc No. 2.
4:12:16 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Young (FL) amendments; Agreed to by voice vote.
4:12:49 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Polis, numbered 14 printed in House Report 113-170 to strike $107,000,000 for 14 Ground-based Interceptors and reduces the deficit by the same amount.
4:12:52 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Polis amendment No. 14.
4:24:37 P.M.	H.R. 2397	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Polis amendment No. 14, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Frelinghuysen demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
4:25:15 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Blumenauer, numbered 15 printed in House Report 113-170 to reduce funding for the Ohio-class submarines by 10 percent to help prepare the Department of Defense for the sequestration.
4:25:18 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Blumenauer amendment No. 15.

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Repeal This!

07/23/2013 Nativegrl77

By CAP Action War Room

Speaker Boehner’s Do-Nothing Congress

It’s simply an objective fact that this Congress is on track to be the least productive in modern history, owing largely to the inability or unwillingness of Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to move almost even the most basic legislation through the House of Representatives. That’s right, the Senate is a font of bipartisan comity and productivity compared to the do-nothing House.

Asked about this yesterday on Face the Nation, Speaker Boehner offered up this thoroughly ridiculous defense of Congress’ historically unproductive session:

We should not be judged on how many new laws we create. We ought to be judged on how many laws we repeal. We’ve got more laws than the administration could ever enforce.

Even by Boehner’s own bizarre standard, Congress has still been spectacularly ineffective. House Republicans have not successfully repealed Obamacare or Wall Street reform, but they have wasted millions of dollars and weeks of time trying — and failing — to do so. As MSNBC’s Steve Benen noted, “In other words, by Boehner’s own standards for evaluating Congress on the merits, he’s failing.”

All that said, we’ll take the Speaker at his word. With that in mind, here’s some things we’d love for him to get to repealing as soon as possible:

The Defense of Marriage Act: While the Supreme Court threw out the part of DOMA that prohibited the federal government from recognizing legally valid same-sex marriages, the part that allows states to refuse to do so is still on the books. Congress should get rid of that part too.
Giveaways to Big Oil: Oil prices are once again creeping up, which is a good reminder that oil companies don’t need billions of dollars a year in giveaways from taxpayers. Some of these giveaways have been on the books for a century, so they definitely seem ripe for repeal at a time of sky-high oil prices and Big Oil profits to go along with them.
Restrictions on Abortion in the District of Columbia: Unable to impose their will on the nation, Republicans have used Congress’ enduring control over the affairs of the District of Columbia’s more than 600,000 disenfranchised residents to advance various pet causes. One of them has been to forbid the District from using funds generated by the taxpayers of the District themselves (i.e local, not federal funds) to pay for abortions for low-income women.
Giveaways to Hedge Fund and Private Equity Managers: The so-called “carried interest” loophole is the one that allows hedge fund and private equity managers — and hedge fund and private equity managers alone — to avoid paying their fair share in taxes on billions in income by erroneously classifying ordinary income as investment income. It has no economic justification and allows people like Mitt Romney to get away with paying a lower tax rate than many middle class workers.
Restrictions on Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention Measures: Similar to the aforementioned restrictions on abortion in Washington, D.C., Congress has also seen fit to put numerous restrictions on the ability of the federal government to take commonsense steps to reduce gun violence. These NRA-backed “riders” in annual appropriations bills, including those preventing even basic public health research on gun violence and measures meant to reduce gun trafficking, should be repealed instead of being extended for yet another year.

We could go on. In fact, there’s nearly $1 TRILLION in wasteful and unnecessary giveaways in the tax code alone that Congress could repeal today. Boehner also said yesterday that his top priority is repairing the nation’s finances. If reducing the deficit and repealing things are his top priorities, these giveaways would seem to be a good place for Boehner to start.

BOTTOM LINE: Any way you slice it, Congress is historically unproductive and historically unpopular. Instead of finding up-is-down, black-is-white excuses, Speaker Boehner should start allowing the House of Representatives — the whole House, not just the Republican caucus — to work its will and accomplish something for the American people. If Speaker Boehner is unable or unwilling to lead on issues like immigration reform with a pathway to earned citizenship, he can at least get out of the way.