Black History

CONGRESS: the House : : : : : the Senate


capitol21the Senate Convenes: 10:00amET December 11,2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for one hour with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.3637, the Transaction Account Guarantee (TAG) extension legislation with the time until 12:30pm equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
  • The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
  • At 2:15pm, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.3637.
  • If cloture is invoked, the motion to proceed will be agreed t0

2:17pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.3637, a bill to temporarily extend the transaction account guarantee program (TAG program);

Invoked: 76-20

Under the previous order, the motion to proceed to S.3637, TAG bill, was agreed to. Senator Reid then filled the “amendment tree” with technical amendments and filed cloture on the bill. The cloture vote is expected to occur on Thursday.

For the information of senators, at 4:00pm today, the Senate will execute the order with respect to the Dowdell and Bernal nominations. There will be up to 30 minutes for debate prior to votes on confirmation of the nominations. We expect a roll call vote on confirmation of the Dowdell nomination and a voice vote on confirmation of the Bernal nomination. As a result, senators should expect one roll call vote at approximately 4:30pm today.

At 4:00pm today, the Senate will execute the order with respect to the Dowdell and Bernal nominations. There will be up to 30 minutes for debate prior to votes on confirmation of the nominations. We expect a roll call vote on confirmation of the Dowdell nomination and a voice vote on confirmation of the Bernal nomination. As a result, senators should expect one roll call vote at approximately 4:30pm today.

4:32pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #762 John E. Dowdell, of Oklahoma, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma;

Confirmed: 95-0

The Bernal nomination was confirmed by voice vote. There will be no further roll call votes during today’s sessions of the Senate.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.3637, the transaction account guarantee (TAG) extension legislation; Invoked: 76-20

2) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #762 John E. Dowdell, of Oklahoma, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma; Confirmed: 95-0

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed H.R.4014, to amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act with respect to information provided to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

Passed H.R.4367, to amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to limit the fee disclosure requirement for an automatic teller machine to the screen of that machine.

Passed H.R.2467, a bill to take certain Federal lands in Mono County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Bridgeport Indian Colony.

Discharged the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee and passed S.3564, a bill to extend the Public Interest Declassification Act of 2000 until 2014 and for other purposes with a Lieberman substitute amendment and a Lieberman title amendment.

Discharged the Indian Affairs committee and passed H.R.3319, a bill to allow the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to determine the requirements for membership in that tribe.

Passed H.R.6328, the Clothe a Homeless Hero Act with a Gillibrand amendment.

Star printed the report to accompany S.76, the Strengthening Protections for Children and Communities From Disease Clusters Act.

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #829, Jesus G. Bernal, of California, to be U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California by voice vote.

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House Hearings …

3:00 pm Hearing: The Devastating Crisis in Eastern CongoCommittee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights
5:00 pm Hearing: CLOSED: Ongoing Intelligence ActivitiesHouse Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee
5:00 pm Hearing: H. Res. – Providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules.Committee on Rules:

 The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on December 11, 2012.

Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

12:00:19 P.M.   The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:01:36 P.M.   MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
12:31:28 P.M.   The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.
2:00:45 P.M.   The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 11.
2:00:49 P.M.   Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:02:20 P.M.   <SPEAKER’S class=hiddenSpellError pre=”Mr ” Dold demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Dold objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day.
2:02:54 P.M.   PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Wilson of SC to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:03:21 P.M.   ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:05:22 P.M.   The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h)of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on December 11, 2012, at 11:08 a.m., stating that that body had passed H.R. 3187, without amendment and agreed to S. Res. 612
2:08:17 P.M.   The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
6:30:34 P.M.   The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 11.
6:30:45 P.M.   Mr. Sessions filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 827.
6:31:21 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 from earlier in the day.
6:31:36 P.M.   On approving the Journal Roll Call 620 – Yea and Nay vote pending.
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a message from Stephanie Cutter

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Obama - Biden

Who will decide if your taxes increase in just 22 days? A few dozen members of the House of Representatives, that’s who.

Cutting taxes for the middle class shouldn’t be difficult, especially when Republicans claim they agree with the President on the issue. But some Republicans are still holding middle-class tax cuts hostage simply because they want to cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires.

Here’s what’s going on right now: President Obama is asking Congress to move forward on a plan that would prevent 98 percent of American families from paying higher taxes next year. The Senate has passed that bill, and the President is ready to sign it — but the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives won’t even bring the bill to the floor for a vote. House Democrats have filed a petition that would force a vote if it attracts 218 signatures.

If a bill has enough votes to pass, Congress should vote on it and pass it. It’s a pretty simple proposition. And every Member of Congress who hasn’t signed on to keep taxes low for the middle class needs to hear from you.

Your representative in Congress, Jim McDermott, has already done their part to help bring the bill to the floor. But there are dozens more who still need to step up and do the right thing.

Use the call tool today to reach out to fellow Obama supporters and make sure they contact their Republican representative.

Let’s get one thing straight: If your taxes go up, Republicans will have made a conscious choice to let that happen. They’ll have missed the opportunity to prevent it, just to cut taxes for the wealthy.

Republicans need to stop using the middle class as a bargaining chip. If they fail to act, a typical middle-class family of four will see a $2,200 tax hike starting in a few short weeks. Middle-class families could face some tough financial decisions simply because Republicans didn’t want to ask the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans to pay their fair share.

That’s not what President Obama and you campaigned on, and that’s not what millions of Americans voted for just one month ago.

We know we can affect change in Washington when we raise our voices together. So pick up the phone and make a few calls. Republicans in the House need to hear from their constituents. You can help:

http://my.barackobama.com/Call-Tool

Thanks,

Stephanie

Stephanie Cutter
Deputy Campaign Manager
Obama for America

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One Last Stand for Our Military Women


National Women's Law Center
 
 
     
  End the Abortion Coverage Ban Now  
     
   
     
  Tell your Members of Congress to urge congressional leadership to include an amendment to end the abortion coverage ban in a final bill the President signs into law.  
     
     
     

In the past three weeks, you’ve sent over 54,000 emails to Members of Congress asking them to end the abortion coverage ban on servicewomen who become pregnant due to rape. Just this week, the Senate affirmed our efforts by voting unanimously to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and it includes Senator Jeanne Shaheen‘s amendment that would end this extreme policy.

But we’re not there yet. Negotiations are taking place right now on the final bill for the President to sign.

Tell your Members of Congress to urge congressional leadership to include this critical amendment in the final bill.

We are closer than ever to removing the abhorrent ban on abortion coverage for servicewomen and military dependents that have experienced rape or incest. This unfair policy forces them to pay for the abortion care they need, unlike their civilian counterparts who also depend on the federal government for health insurance. The only thing in the way of ending this unjust ban is some anti-choice Members of Congress who are willing to play politics with the women that serve this nation.

Don’t let anti-choice Members of Congress negotiate away abortion coverage for servicewomen who become pregnant due to rape.

Tell your Members of Congress to urge their leaders to include the critical Shaheen amendment in a final bill for the President to sign into law.

Congressional leaders will finish their negotiations at any moment.

Make sure they hear voice today.

Thanks for all 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.

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Congress Must Extend the Middle Class Tax Cuts

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President Obama urges Congress to extend the middle class income tax cuts for 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses without delay, making it clear that a balanced approach to deficit reduction means that Republicans in Congress must agree to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay higher tax rates.

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