CONGRESS: the Republican led House : Scheduled to do only about 8days of work prior to Election2012 : the Senate led by Dems


the Senate Convened at 10:00amET September 19, 2012

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
  • Following the remarks of the two Leaders, the Senate will resume consideration of S.3457, the Veterans Jobs Corps Act. The time until 12:00pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.  It is in order for Senator McConnell or his designee to raise a budget point of order against the substitute amendment #2789.  If a budget point of order is raised, the Majority Leader, or his designee, will be recognized for a motion to waive the applicable budget points of orderAt 12:00pm, there will be a roll call voteon the motion to waive the budget act with respect to the substitute amendment.
  • Following the roll call vote, the Majority Leader will be recognized.  Following his remarks, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
  • At 2:15pm, there will be an additional roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.J.Res.117, the Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year 2013.

12:01pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to waive the Budget Act
with respect to the Murray substitute amendment #2789 to S.3457, the Veterans Jobs Corps Act: Not
Waived: 58-40

2:16pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the
motion to proceed to H.J.Res.114, the Continuing Resolution

2:16pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.J.Res.117, Continuing Resolution: Invoked: 76-22

This afternoon Senator Hatch asked unanimous consent the Finance Committee be discharged from further consideration of S.J.Res.50; that there be 2 hours for debate on the motion to proceed to the joint resolution of disapproval prior to a vote on adoption of the motion to proceed.

Senator Cardin objected to the request.

S.J.Res.50: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of Family Assistance of the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to waiver and expenditure authority under section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.1315) with respect to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass Calendar #504, S.3525, the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 (Tester).  Senator Kyl objected to Senator Reid’s request.

The unofficial transcript of their remarks is below.

16:50:32 NSP} (MR. REID) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT, WE’RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH ALL THE

ISSUES WE HAVE. THERE ARE A FEW OF THEM, NOT TOO MANY, BUT A

FEW. BUT I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE — WE CAN FINISH ALL

OF OUR WORK TOMORROW. IF WE DON’T FINISH IT TOMORROW, WE’RE NOT

GOING ANYPLACE. WE’RE STAYING HERE UNTIL

TUESDAY, PROBABLY 3:00, 3:30 BECAUSE WE HAVE YOM KIPPUR ON

WEDNESDAY, BUT WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK HERE ON THURSDAY. WE HAVE

TO FINISH OUR WORK. SO THAT MEANS IF WE CAN’T WORK THINGS OUT,

WE’RE GOING TO BE HERE FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY. I KNOW THAT WE

TALK ABOUT THIS ONCE IN A WHILE AND USUALLY WE’RE ABLE TO WORK

THINGS OUT, AND I’M GLAD THAT WE ARE, BUT JUST IN CASE WE

CAN’T, NO ONE SHOULD THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CATCH

AN AIRPLANE OUT OF HERE TOMORROW — I MEAN FRIDAY, I’M SORRY.

MR. PRESIDENT, I’LL BE VERY QUICK. I KNOW THAT THE ASSISTANT

LEADER FOR THE MINORITY IS HERE, AND I DON’T WANT TO TAKE A LOT

OF TIME OF HIS. THE SENATOR FROM MONTANA, SENATOR TEFER –

TESTER, HAS ASSEMBLED A BROAD PACKAGE OF LEGISLATION THAT IS

BIPARTISAN IN NATURE TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF SPORTSMEN

THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. HE HAS WORKED WITH THESE GROUPS AND I

HAVE BEEN IN MEETINGS WITH HIM WHERE HE HAS TRIED TO GET THE

DEMOCRATIC SENATORS TO BACK OFF AND LET THIS PACKAGE GO FORWARD

AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME ADJUSTMENTS MADE BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS

THAT REPUBLICANS HAD AND DEMOCRATS HAD. SO I APPRECIATE VERY

MUCH HIS WORK. WHAT HIS BILL DOES, IT COMBINES ABOUT 20 BILLS

THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE SPORTSMEN COMMUNITIES AROUND THIS

COUNTRY. THEY WOULD FOSTER HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH

VOLUNTARY PROGRAMS. MORE THAN 50 NATIONAL GROUPS SUPPORT THIS.

THESE ARE SPORTSMEN AND CONSERVATION GROUPS. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE

OF LEADERSHIP THAT IS IMPORTANT IN THIS BODY, THAT WORK ON

SOMETHING THAT BRINGS TOGETHER A DISPARATE GROUP OF BILLS AND

ARE BIPARTISAN IN NATURE AND TRY TO MOVE FORWARD. WE OUGHT TO

PASS THIS PACKAGE TODAY. MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT

THAT THE SENATE PROCEED TO CALENDAR NUMBER 504, S.3525, THE

SPORTSMAN ACT OF 2012, THAT IT BE READ A THIRD TIME, PASSED,

THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID ON THE TABLE WITH NO

INTERVENING ACTION OR DEBATE AND ANY STATEMENTS RELATED TO THIS

MATTER BE PLACED IN THE RECORD AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE AS IF

GIVEN.

{16:53:03 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE AN OBJECTION?

{16:53:05 NSP} (MR. KYL) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MR. KYL: MR. PRESIDENT, RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT.

{16:53:09 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA.

{16:53:11 NSP} (MR. KYL) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MR. KYL: I HAD ASKED THE DISTINGUISHED MAJORITY LEADER IF I

REQUESTED AN AMENDMENT TO HIS REQUEST TO ADD A PIECE OF

LEGISLATION THAT HE AND I BOTH SUPPORT, WHETHER HE WOULD HAVE

TO OBJECT TO THAT, AND I PRESUME HIS ANSWER IS THAT HE WOULD

HAVE TO OBJECT, AND AS A RESULT, RATHER THAN DOING THAT AND

FORCING HIM TO OBJECT, I’LL SIMPLY POSE MY OBJECTION AT THIS

TIME.

{16:53:36 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD.

This evening Senator Reid asked consent to vote on passage of S.3576 (Paul Foreign Aid bill), with a 60-vote threshold; S.J.Res.41 (Iran Containment), and H.J.Res.117 (CR), with a 60-vote threshold. Senator Kyl objected on behalf of Senator McCain.

Senator Reid then asked consent to go to conference on a bill extending the 2001, 2003, and 2009 tax cuts for 98% of Americans and 97% of all small businesses (H.R.8/S.3412). Senator Kyl asked Senator Reid to modify his request to take up and pass H.R.8, extends all of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. Senator Reid declined to modify his request and Senator Kyl objected to the Leader’s request.

Senator Reid then asked consent to pass H.R.9, as amended by S.3521, the Family and Business Tax Cut Certainty Act of 2012. Senator Kyl asked Senator Reid to modify his request to add the text of H.R.8 to the Leader’s request. Senator Reid declined to modify his request and Senator Kyl objected to Senator Reid’s request.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      Motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Murray substitute amendment #2789 to S.3457, the Veterans Jobs Corps Act: Not Waived: 58-40

2)      Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.J.Res.117, Continuing Resolution: Invoked: 76-22

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.562, designating the week beginning September 10, 2012 and ending on September 14, 2012 as “National Health Information Technology Week” to recognize the value of health information technology in improving health quality.

Adopted S.Res.563, Designating December 3, 2012, as “National Phenylketonuria Awareness Day”.

Adopted S.Res.564, designating the month of October 2012 as “National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month”.

Adopted S.Res.565, expressing support for the designation of October 20, 2012, as the “National Day on Writing”.

Adopted S.Res.566, designating September 29, 2012, as “National Estuaries Day”.

Adopted S.Res.567, Honoring the life and career of George Hickman.

Adopted S.Res.568, designating the week of September 16, 2012, as “National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week”.

Adopted S.Res.569, Designating the week beginning October 21, 2012, as “National Character Counts Week”.

Adopted S.Res.570, Designating November 8, 2012, as “National Parents as Teachers Day”.

Discharged the Foreign Relations Committee and adopted S.Res.557, a resolution honoring the contributions of Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari as Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and in promoting the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Tibetan people.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.3576, Limitation on Foreign Assistance. (Paul)

Completed the Rule 14 process of H.R.5949, the FISA Amendments Extension Act.  (Republican request)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

————————————————————————————————–

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on September 19, 2012.

http://www.houselive.gov/

House hearings …below

10:00 am Hearing: Examining the Role of Rwanda in the DRC InsurgencyCommittee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights
11:00 am Hearing: Trade Adjustment Assistance for U.S. Firms: Evaluating Program Effectiveness and RecommendationsCommittee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee
2:30 pm Hearing: The Economic Impact of Ending or Reducing Funding for the American Community Survey and other Government StatisticsJoint Economic Committee:

BREAKING: Greenpeace News …


Shell stops Arctic oil drilling for this year

For over six months, huge numbers of us have been pressuring Shell to stay out of the Arctic.

Well this morning, company bosses announced they were scrapping their oil drilling program for this year. photo from Los Angeles Times

Latest UPDATES : Click on link below

It’s a huge victory for people power.

Top 3 On ThinkProgr​ess


The tragic events in Libya this week — and the Romney campaign’s opportunistic response to them — have put national security issues back in the political spotlight. ThinkProgress has three important stories you may have missed:

1. Republicans Shake Their Heads At Romney’s Libya Attack On Obama: He ‘Stepped In It’

2. Romney Aligns Himself With Obama On Key Aspect Of Iran Policy

3. Conservatives Fault All Muslims For The Murder Of U.S. Ambassador To Libya

Dispatches From The War On Women: Red-Taping Abortion Clinics Out Of Existence


by September 17, 2012

                Dispatches From The War On Women: Red-Taping Abortion Clinics Out Of Existence
          The purpose of

Targeted regulations of abortions providers (TRAP) laws is simply to drive providers out of existence.The 2012

legislative session saw a boom TRAP laws and they are having the desired effect.

In Mississippi, for example, a controversial law passed last year required hospital admitting privileges for anyone who would provide abortions. It was designed to shut down the only public abortion provider in the state. And, as Robin Marty reports, while it hasn’t shut down the clinic yet, it’s getting close.

Mississippi’s only abortion clinic has hired two extra staff members to handle paperwork related to a new law (HB 1390) that requires doctors who provide abortion care to be board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and have admitting privileges at a local hospital, Politico Pro reports. However, every hospital that has responded to the clinic’s applications for its doctors to obtain admitting privileges has denied the requests so far: “Each application was at least 50 pages long,” Politico Pro reported, adding that the two new staffers worked on the issues “for months” (Politico Pro, 8/31).

It’s not just that they add expense, it is that they provide openings for anti-choice activists to harass providers, which of course, also adds expense. That’s the case in Indiana where an anti-abortion group claimed Monday that a Lafayette clinic that offers RU-486, is violating Indiana law by performing abortions without a license.

A spokesman for the Indiana State Department of Health would not comment on the clinic’s licensing status or whether abortions with RU-486 are treated the same as surgical abortions under state law. The drug was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2000. “The ISDH will have to investigate the specific facts before determining if this practice violates any laws of Indiana for which ISDH is responsible for enforcing,” spokesman Ken Severson said in an email.

Planned Parenthood of Indiana President Betty Cockrum said in a statement that all of the organization’s clinics comply with state law. “While we’re not shocked that these extremists would stoop to these tactics, we are disappointed that they would flat-out lie,” Cockrum said. “The fact is that our health center in Lafayette, like our other 27 health centers across the state, provides its services in accordance with Indiana law, without fail.”

The problem with TRAP laws is not just that they add expense and hurdles for providers, often in states already extremely hostile to abortion rights. It’s that they target women the most in crisis and the most in need which, of course, is so very pro-life.

Related Stories:

States Enacted 95 New Reproductive Rights Restrictions In Just 6 Months

Mississippi Abortion Clinic Stays Open For Now

Federal Judge Blocks Mississippi’s Anti-Abortion Law

CONGRESS : the Republican led House : Scheduled to do only about 8days of work prior to Election2012 : the Senate led by Dems


the Senate Convenes: 10:00amET September 19, 2012

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
  • Following the remarks of the two Leaders, the Senate will resume consideration of S.3457, the Veterans Jobs Corps Act. The time until 12:00pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.  It is in order for Senator McConnell or his designee to raise a budget point of order against the substitute amendment #2789.  If a budget point of order is raised, the Majority Leader, or his designee, will be recognized for a motion to waive the applicable budget points of orderAt 12:00pm, there will be a roll call voteon the motion to waive the budget act with respect to the substitute amendment.
  • Following the roll call vote, the Majority Leader will be recognized.  Following his remarks, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
  • At 2:15pm, there will be an additional roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.J.Res.117, the Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year 2013.

—————————————————————————————–

http://www.houselive.gov/

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on September 18, 2012.  They were in Session for about 2 minutes

The next meeting is on September 19th

House hearings schedule below

9/19 10:00 am Hearing: Examining the Role of Rwanda in the DRC InsurgencyCommittee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights
9/19 11:00 am Hearing: Trade Adjustment Assistance for U.S. Firms: Evaluating Program Effectiveness and RecommendationsCommittee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee
9/19 2:30 pm Hearing: The Economic Impact of Ending or Reducing Funding for the American Community Survey and other Government StatisticsJoint Economic Committee:
9/20 12:00 am Hearing: Sequestration: The Threat to Small Businesses, Jobs, and the Industrial BaseCommittee on Small Business: Full Committee
9/20 9:30 am Hearing: IG Report: The Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General Examines the Failures of Operation Fast and FuriousCommittee on Oversight and Government Reform:
9/20 9:30 am Hearing: A Review of Amtrak Operations, Part III: Examining 41 Years of Taxpayer SubsidiesCommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Full Committee
9/20 10:00 am Hearing: Hearing entitled “The Semi-Annual Report of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau”Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee
9/20 10:00 am Hearing: Forty Years after the Clean Water Act: Is it Time for the States to Implement Section 404 Permitting?Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
9/20 10:00 am Hearing:  The American Energy Initiative: A Focus on H.R. 6172Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power
9/20 10:00 am Hearing: Chairmen Camp and Baucus Announce Joint Hearing on Tax Reform and the Tax Treatment of Capital GainsCommittee on Ways and Means:
9/20 10:00 am Hearing: Regulation Nation: The Obama Administration’s Regulatory Expansion vs. Jobs and Economic RecoveryCommittee on the Judiciary: Full Committee
9/20 10:00 am Hearing: The Department of Homeland Security: An Assessment of the Department and a Roadmap for its FutureCommittee on Homeland Security:
9/20 10:00 am Hearing: Hearing – Department of Homeland Security – Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) ProgramCommittee on Appropriations: Homeland Security
9/20 10:00 am Hearing: Hearing – United States Army – Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat OrganizationCommittee on Appropriations: Defense
9/20 10:00 am Hearing: Department of Defense Plans for Sequestration: The Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012 Report and the Way ForwardCommittee on Armed Services: Full Committee
9/20 10:15 am Hearing: Veterans Affairs in the 112th Congress: Reviewing VA’s Performance and AccountabilityCommittee on Veterans’ Affairs: Full Committee
9/20 10:30 am Hearing: The Future of U.S.-Egypt RelationsCommittee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee
9/20 12:00 pm Business Meeting: Full Oversight Committee MarkupCommittee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee
9/20 2:00 pm Hearing: SIGAR Report: Document Destruction and Millions of Dollars Unaccounted for at the Department of Defense. Part IICommittee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee
9/20 2:00 pm Hearing: The Impact of International Technology Transfer on American Research and DevelopmentCommittee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
9/20 2:00 pm Hearing: International IP Enforcement: Opening Markets Abroad and Protecting InnovationCommittee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet
9/20 2:00 pm Hearing: Examining the Administration’s Failure to Prevent and End Medicaid OverpaymentsCommittee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee
9/20 2:00 pm Hearing: Brady Announces Hearing on the Benefits of  Expanding U.S. Services Trade Through  an International Services AgreementCommittee on Ways and Means: Trade
9/20 2:00 pm Hearing: A Review of the Challenges Maintaining Legacy Assets Pose to United States Coast Guard Mission PerformanceCommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
9/20 2:00 pm Hearing: Examining the Re-Design of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
9/20 2:00 pm Hearing: Safeguarding Israel’s Security in a Volatile RegionCommittee on Foreign Affairs: Select…
9/21 9:00 am Hearing: DHS Acquisition Management Challenges: Solutions for Saving Taxpayer DollarsCommittee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management
9/21 9:30 am Hearing: Chairman Herger Announces Hearing on  Medicare Health PlansCommittee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health
9/21 9:30 am Hearing: The LightSquared Network: An Investigation of the FCC’s RoleCommittee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
9/21 9:30 am Hearing: Hearing entitled “The Price of Money: Consequences of the Federal Reserve’s Zero Interest Rate Policy” Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology
9/21 10:00 am Hearing: Breaking Through the Backlog: Evaluating the Effectiveness of the New State Strike Force TeamCommittee on Veterans’ Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs

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