the Senate Convenes: 9:30amET January 30, 2013

• Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for two hours with Senators permitted to speak therein for up 10 minutes each with the Majority controlling the first hour and the Republicans controlling the second hour.
• At 2:30pm, Senator Kerry will be recognized for up to 30 minutes for the purposes of delivering his farewell address.
• We hope to complete action on the debt limit legislation (H.R.325) before the end of the week.

The period for morning business has been extended until 3pm. We hope to be able to lock in an agreement to consider H.R.325, an Act to ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes (Debt Limit). Another message will be sent once an agreement is reached.

The Senate has reached an agreement to consider H.R.325, the debt limit legislation. The agreement results in up to 6 roll call votes tomorrow (4 amendments, 1 motion, and passage of the bill). We expect to have one vote at approximately 12:15pm and the remaining votes at 2:15pm. The amendments and motion are subject to 60-affirmative vote thresholds, but we expect motions to table those items, which would require a simple majority of votes to table.

The votes would be in relation to the items listed below.

12:15pm:

– Portman (dollar for dollar cuts – S.43 text);

(recess for caucus meetings)

2:15pm:

– Portman (government shutdown prevention – S.29 text);

– Toomey (full faith and credit);

– Paul (prohibition of F-16s to Egypt);

– Vitter motion to commit (spending cuts); and

– Passage of H.R.325, as amended, if amended (Debt Limit).

The text of the agreement can be found below.

Following Leader remarks on Thursday, January 31^st, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of Calendar #7, H.R.325. Following amendments, the text of which are at the desk, be the only first degree amendments in order to the bill:

– Portman (dollar for dollar cuts – S.43 text);

– Portman (government shutdown prevention – S.29 text);

– Toomey (full faith and credit); and

– Paul (prohibition of F-16s to Egypt).

The only motion to commit in order to the bill is a Vitter motion to commit regarding spending cuts. The time until 12:15pm will be for debate on the amendments, motion and the bill, to run concurrently and equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees, prior to votes in relation to the amendments and the Vitter motion in the order listed. Upon disposition of the amendments and the Vitter motion, the Senate will proceed to a vote on passage of H.R.325, as amended, if amended. The amendments and the Vitter motion are subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold. No amendments are in order to any of the amendments or the Vitter motion prior to the votes. Finally, there will be two minutes equally divided prior to each vote and that all after the first vote will ten minute votes.

After Senator Reid asked the consent, Senator Inhofe stated that he intended to seek a vote on an amendment regarding sequestration, but he would not object at this time.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Judiciary Committee and adopted S.Res.13, Congratulating the members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for 100 years of service to communities throughout the United Stated and the world, and commending Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for its promotion of sisterhood, scholarship, and service.

Adopted S.Res.22, Recognizing the goals of Catholic Schools Week and honoring the valuable contributions of Catholic schools in the United States.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.177, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 entirely. (Cruz)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on February 1, 2013.