the Senate led by Dems :::::::::::: S.954, the Farm bill CONGRESS :::::::::::: the Republican led House


visitors-memorials-eve

The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am on Tuesday, May 21, 2013.

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business for one hour with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.954, the Farm bill.
  • 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 observe a moment of silence to honor the victims of the tornado in Oklahoma.

Following the moment of silence at noon, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote in relation to Cantwell amendment #919 (tribal participation in soil and water conservation programs).

Following the votes Senator Gillibrand will be recognized and intends to offer amendment #931 (restore SNAP cuts with offset).

The managers of the bill are also working on a Sessions amendment #945, but there may be an additional modification. If that modification is agreeable to both sides, it is their intention to adopt that amendment, as modified, prior to the caucus meetings.

  • 12:01pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Cantwell amendment #919 (tribal participation in soil and water conservation programs);Agreed To: 87-8

Cantwell amendment #919 was agreed to 87-8.

Senator Gillibrand offered amendment #931 (SNAP funding). The Sessions amendment #945 (eligibility criteria for agriculture irrigation assistance), as modified, was agreed to.

Following Senator Gillibrand’s statement, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm. After the lunch we will continue to process amendments to the Farm bill.

Senator Sanders asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to call up amendments #963 (CFTC investigation on energy futures and swaps markets) and #964 (CFTC regulation of energy markets). Senator Stabenow said there is an objection to setting aside the pending amendment.

Senator Roberts has called up amendment #948 (SNAP). We are working on an agreement to have a couple votes this afternoon in relation to the Gillibrand and Roberts amendments. Senators will be notified when any votes are scheduled.

The following amendments are pending to S.954, the Farm bill:

The following amendments have been considered to S.954, the Farm bill:

  • Cantwell amendment #919 (Indian tribes – land and soil conservation programs) Agreed to: 87-8
  • Sessions amendment #945, as modified (eligibility criteria for agriculture irrigation assistance) Agreed to by unanimous consent
  • Roberts amendment #948 (SNAP) Not Agreed to: 40-58
  • Gillibrand amendment #931 (SNAP funding) Not Agreed to: 26-70

4:07pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Roberts amendment #948 (SNAP);

Not Agreed To: 40-58

4:35pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Gillibrand amendment #931 (SNAP);

Not Agreed To: 26-70

Senator Murray asked unanimous consent to proceed to H.Con.Res.25, that the amendment which is at the desk, the text of S.Con.Res.8, the budget resolution passed by the Senate, be inserted in lieu thereof; that H.Con.Res.25, as amended, be agreed to; the motion to reconsider be made and laid upon the table; that the Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses; and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees. This is the long way of saying she asked to go to conference on the Budget resolution.

Senator Paul asked that Murray modify her request to make it not in order to consider any conference report that includes reconciliation instructions to raise the debt limit. Senator McCain objected to Paul’s request.

Senator McCain then asked that the original Murray request be modified so that 2 motions to instruct conferees be in order, one related to the debt limit and the other related to taxes. Senator Paul  objected to the modification. Senator Paul then objected to Murray’s original request.

Following the period of morning business, the Senate resumed consideration of the Farm bill and Senator Stabenow called up Leahy amendment #998 (rural broadband).

 The Senate is now in a period of morning business until 6:30pm with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no further roll call votes tonight.

Tomorrow the Senate will resume consideration of the Farm bill and continue to process amendments.

As a reminder, at 4pm on Wednesday, May 22, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of Calendar #43, S.Res.65, resolution strongly supporting the full implementation of United States and international sanctions on Iran and urging the President to continue to strengthen enforcement of sanctions legislation.

There will be 60 minutes for debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote in relation to the resolution. If the resolution is agreed to, the preamble will be agreed to. The motions to reconsider will be considered made and laid upon the table, all with no intervening action or debate.

  • This evening Senator Reid filed cloture on Executive Calendar #95, the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. Unless an agreement can be reached, the cloture vote would occur 1 hour after the Senate convenes on Thursday.
  • WRAP UP
  • ROLL CALL VOTES1)      Roberts amendment #948 (SNAP) to S.954, the Farm bill; Not Agreed to: 40-58

    2)      Gillibrand amendment #931 (SNAP funding); Not Agreed to: 26-70

    LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

    Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.45, the Repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

    Began the Rule 14 process of S.1003, the Comprehensive Student Loan Protection Act. (Coburn)

    Began the Rule 14 process of S.1004, the Anti-Trust Freedom Act. (Paul)

    No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Watch Live House Floor Proceedings

Last Floor Action: 5/20
10:42:42 A.M. – The Speaker announced
that the House do now recess.

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 12:00 P.M.
today.

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Gov Jay Inslee & The Other Washington


English: US Congresswoman Jay Inslee
English: US Congresswoman Jay Inslee (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

by Govenor Jay Inslee

This is it. On Monday, the legislature reconvened for a special session. My priority is to ensure it passes a budget that reflects our values.

The budget touches everything that happens in Washington State — schools for our kids, health care for our seniors, and infrastructure for our businesses. Passing a budget that reflects my priorities — our priorities — by putting our obligation to students ahead of tax breaks is one of my most important goals as governor.

I’m honored that thousands of Washingtonians have already stood with me to endorse my Working Washington budget priorities and send the message that Washingtonians are insisting on a responsible budget that supports our kids and moves our state forward. But we haven’t heard from you yet.

Will you click here to endorse my Working Washington budget priorities now — as the legislature takes up the budget for debate?

I will continue to be engaged in productive discussions with legislators as we work to find consensus on a budget that reflects our values.

All of our work has been building to this. We need to pass a responsible, sustainable budget that rebuilds our economy, protects our critical services, and meets our responsibility to our children.

We can’t let up now.

Thank you for all of your tremendous support.

Very truly yours,

Jay Inslee Governor

Raped and Then Denied the Care They Need – Not on Our Watch


National Women's Law Center
NWLC supporters have already sent nearly 15,000 letters to Senators asking them to support the Peace Corps Equity Act.
Can you help us get to 20,000 letters? 

Take action now and tell your Senators today to end the extreme policy that prohibits women in the Peace Corps who become pregnant due to rape or whose life is at risk because of a pregnancy from getting an abortion.
As always — thanks for your help. 
Sincerely, 
Judy Waxman  Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights  National Women’s Law Center


End the Extreme Policy 
                Tell your Senators to support the Peace Corps Equity Act and end the extreme abortion coverage ban for Peace Corps volunteers in the case of rape, incest and life endangerment.
Take Action

No woman should ever be denied an abortion, especially in the cases of rape, incest, or when the woman’s life is at risk. Period. And yet extreme policies currently exist that deny certain women coverage for abortion services in these difficult and, sometimes, life-threatening situations.
It’s time to end the unconscionable ban on abortion coverage for Peace Corps volunteers in the cases of rape, incest and life endangerment to the woman. Tell your Senators to support the Peace Corps Equity Act to end this extreme policy. 
The Peace Corps is a federal program that sends over 8,000 American volunteers abroad each year to promote world peace and friendship. Women make up more than 60 percent of these volunteers. And though other women who receive health care coverage through the federal government have coverage of abortion in cases of rape, incest, and to protect the life of the woman, Peace Corps volunteers are prohibited from receiving the same coverage as federal employees.
The Peace Corps Equity Act will end this extreme policy by expanding access to reproductive health care in cases of rape, incest and life endangerment. Tell your Senators to support this legislation today.
Just last year, National Women’s Law Center supporters sent over 70,000 messages successfully urging lawmakers to give U.S. military women the same reproductive health coverage as their civilian counterparts. We’ve shown that, together, we can end such unconscionable and harmful policies.
Thank you for everything you do to protect women’s reproductive health.
Sincerely,

Judy Waxman Judy Waxman Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights National Women’s Law Center    

P.S. Your support allows us to continue to fight for women’s health, as well as work on many other critical issues. Please consider making a generous donation today.

the Senate considers the Farm Bill & Nominees :::::: CONGRESS :::::: the House considers the S.982, Freedom to Fish Act


capitol14

The Senate stands in adjournment until 2:00pm on Monday, May 20, 2013.

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 3:00pm.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of S.954, the Farm bill.
  • At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following items:
  • There will be up to 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled by Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.
  • Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), there will be up to 2 roll call votes on confirmation of the Chappell and McShane nominations.
  • The following amendments are pending to S.954, the Farm bill:
    • Cantwell amendment #919 (Indian tribes – land and soil conservation programs)

    The following amendments have been considered to S.954, the Farm bill:

  • The Senate has begun consideration of S.954, the Farm bill. Senator Stabenow called up Cantwell amendment #919 (tribal soil and water conservation programs).At 5pm, the Senate will turn to Executive session with 30 minutes for debate prior to votes on confirmation of the below listed nominations.-          Executive Calendar #45, the nomination of Sheri Polster Chappell, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida; and-          Executive Calendar #46, the nomination of Michael J. McShane, of Oregon, to be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon.We may be able to consider one of the nominations by voice vote, but we don’t know which one yet.
  • Senator McCain asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to call up the Feinstein-McCain amendment #923 (tobacco crop insurance). Senator Stabenow objected in order to give the committee time to group additional crop insurance amendments together, but assured Senator McCain a vote on the amendment.
  • 5:32pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #45, the nomination of Sheri Polster Chappell, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida;Confirmed: 90-0
  • Executive Calendar #46, the nomination of Michael J. McShane, of Oregon, to be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon, was confirmed by voice vote.
  • The Senate is in a period of morning business until 7pm, with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no further roll call votes today.
  • WRAP UP
  • ROLL CALL VOTE1)      Confirmation of Executive Calendar #45, the nomination of Sheri Polster Chappell, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida; Confirmed: 90-0LEGISLATIVE ITEMSDischarged the Banking Committee and passed S.309, a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol with a Harkin amendment.

    Adopted S.Res.149, Designating the week of May 19 through May 25, 2013 as “National Public Works Week.”

    EXECUTIVE ITEMS

    Confirmed Executive Calendar #46, the nomination of Michael J. McShane, of Oregon, to be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon by voice vote.

  • At 4pm on Wednesday, May 22, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of Calendar #43, S.Res.65, resolution strongly supporting the full implementation of United States and international sanctions on Iran and urging the President to continue to strengthen enforcement of sanctions legislation.There will be 60 minutes for debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will proceed to vote in relation to the resolution. If the resolution is agreed to, the preamble will be agreed to. The motions to reconsider will be considered made and laid upon the table, all with no intervening action or debate.
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  • Monday, May 20, 2013

    Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

  • The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on May 20, 2013.

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