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the Senate Convened at 10amET February 7, 2012

• • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 12:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the Majority controlling the second 30 minutes.
  • The Senate will recess from 12:30pm to 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
  • We hope to begin consideration of S.1525, the surface transportation bill during Tuesday’s session of the Senate.

Morning business has been extended until 7:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the Republicans controlling the time from 4:00-5:00pm and the Majority controlling the time from 5:00-6:00pm

During Tuesday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to Calendar #311, S.1813, the Surface Transportation bill.

By unanimous consent, there will be a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1813 at 2:00pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.369, congratulating the New York Giants for winning Super Bowl XLVI.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.2079, a bill to extend the pay limitation for Members of Congress and Federal employees (Heller).

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Calendar #545, Colonel Bradley D. Spacy to Brigadier General in the Air Force.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF FEBRUARY  7, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

— -SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.4:46:17 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.4:45:33 P.M. -H.R. 2606Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.4:45:29 P.M. -H.R. 2606On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.4:44:57 P.M. -H.R. 2606Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2606 — “To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the Gateway National Recreation Area, and for other purposes.”4:44:44 P.M. -UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of a motion to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.4:44:43 P.M. -NOTICE OF INTENT TO OFFER MOTION – Mr. Bishop (NY) notified the House of his intent to offer a motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 3630. The Chair announced that the text of the proposed motion would be printed in the Congressional Record of today.4:43:42 P.M. -Mr. Woodall filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 540.4:43:25 P.M. -H.R. 3581Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.4:43:24 P.M. -H.R. 3581On passage Passed by recorded vote: 245 – 180 (Roll no. 42).4:36:22 P.M. -H.R. 3581On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 190 – 238 (Roll no. 41).4:19:32 P.M. -H.R. 3581The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.4:14:03 P.M. -H.R. 3581DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Walz (MN) motion to recommit. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add a provision which would specify that the risk component for loans for students or veterans is zero.4:12:52 P.M. -H.R. 3581Mr. Walz (MN) moved to recommit with instructions to The Budget.4:12:17 P.M. -H.R. 3581The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.4:12:02 P.M. -H.R. 3581The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.4:11:10 P.M. -H.R. 3581The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3581.4:10:54 P.M. -H.R. 3581On agreeing to the Tonko amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 187 – 238 (Roll no. 40).3:39:54 P.M. -H.R. 3581DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 539, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tonko amendment No. 3.3:39:51 P.M. -H.R. 3581An amendment, offered by Mr. Tonko,  numbered 3 printed in House Report 112-388 to establish a Commission of budgeting and accounting experts to provide recommendations to Congress regarding the best measure to accurately account for the costs of Federal credit programs. The amendment also allows the Commission to delay and or supersede the provisions of the bill.3:39:44 P.M. -H.R. 3581By unanimous consent, the Dold amendment was withdrawn.3:35:56 P.M. -H.R. 3581DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 539, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Dold amendment No. 2.3:35:53 P.M. -H.R. 3581An amendment, offered by Mr. Dold,  numbered 2 printed in House Report 112-388 to require the OMB Director to prepare all budgets submitted to the President according to both accrual-basis and cash-basis GAAP accounting standards.3:34:47 P.M. -H.R. 3581The Chair announced its understanding that amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 112-388 would not be offered.2:49:59 P.M. -H.R. 3581GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3581.2:49:48 P.M. -H.R. 3581The Speaker designated the Honorable Candice S. Miller to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.2:49:47 P.M. -H.R. 3581House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 539 and Rule XVIII.2:49:05 P.M. -H.R. 3581Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3581 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. In lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Budget now printed in the bill, it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 112-13.2:49:00 P.M. -H.R. 3581Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 539. H.R. 3581 — “To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to increase transparency in Federal budgeting, and for other purposes.”2:48:35 P.M. -H. Res. 539Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.2:48:35 P.M. -H. Res. 539On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 239 – 181 (Roll no. 39).2:40:08 P.M. -H. Res. 539Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 539 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3581) to amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to increase transparency in Federal budgeting, and for other purposes.”2:40:00 P.M. -UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of H. Res. 539 which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.2:39:38 P.M. -H.R. 1734Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.2:39:36 P.M. -H.R. 1734On passage Passed by recorded vote: 259 – 164 (Roll no. 38).2:31:59 P.M. -H.R. 1734On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 186 – 238 (Roll no. 37).2:12:55 P.M. -H.R. 1734The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.2:05:06 P.M. -H.R. 1734DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Michaud motion to recommit. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add a provision which states “Properties owned by the Department of Veterans Affairs or other properties used in connection with providing services for veterans, including hospitals, clinics, and facilities that provide job training, post traumatic stress disorder treatment, housing assistance, homeless services, and rehabilitative care.”.2:04:47 P.M. -H.R. 1734Mr. Michaud moved to recommit with instructions to Transportation.2:04:07 P.M. -H.R. 1734Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1734 — “To decrease the deficit by realigning, consolidating, selling, disposing, and improving the efficiency of federal buildings and other civilian real property, and for other purposes.”2:03:27 P.M. -ADJUSTMENT OF WHOLE HOUSE – Under Clause 5(d) of Rule XX, the Chair announced to the House that, in light of the administration of the Oath of Office to the Gentlewoman from Oregon, the whole number of the House is 434.1:56:18 P.M. -OATH OF OFFICE – Representative-Elect Suzanne Bonamici, First District, State of Oregon, presented herself in the well of the House for the purpose of taking the Oath of Office which was administered by the Speaker of the House.1:54:57 P.M. -The House received a message from the Clerk. The Clerk transmitted to the House a facsimile copy of a letter received from Mr. Steve Trout, Director of Elections, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Oregon, indicating that, according to the unofficial returns of the Special Election held January 31, 2012, the Honorable Suzanne Bonamici was elected Representative to Congress for the First Congressional District, State of Oregon.1:53:49 P.M. -H.R. 1734POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair announced that further proceedings on H.R. 1734 would be postponed.1:53:14 P.M. -H.R. 1734The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.1:53:04 P.M. -H.R. 1734The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.1:52:22 P.M. -H.R. 1734The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1734.1:52:11 P.M. -H.R. 1734On agreeing to the Connolly (VA) amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 191 – 230 (Roll no. 36).1:26:01 P.M. -H.R. 1734UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the adoption of the Connolly (VA) amendment numbered 3 which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings were postponed.1:25:18 P.M. -H.R. 1734The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.1:24:58 P.M. -H.R. 1734Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1734 — “To decrease the deficit by realigning, consolidating, selling, disposing, and improving the efficiency of federal buildings and other civilian real property, and for other purposes.”1:24:20 P.M. -H. Res. 539POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H. Res. 539, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the resolution and by voice vote announced that the yeas had prevailed. Mr. McGovern demanded the yeas and nays and further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the resolution were postponed.1:24:11 P.M. -H. Res. 539The previous question was ordered without objection.12:42:24 P.M. -H. Res. 539DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 539.12:39:40 P.M. -H. Res. 539Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 539 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3581) to amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to increase transparency in Federal budgeting, and for other purposes.”12:05:23 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House continued with further one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.12:05:17 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 February 7, 2012 at 10:40 a.m. stating that that body had passed H.R. 347 with an amendment and S. 1794.12:02:34 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.12:02:15 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Turner of NY to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.12:02:13 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal.  Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.12:00:25 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Rabbi Jeffrey Astrachan, Temple Beth Israel, York, Pennsylvania.12:00:08 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 7.10:24:00 A.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.10:00:56 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 the legislative day.10:00:26 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Todd C. Young to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.10:00:11 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.