The Senate Convened at 9:30amET July 20, 2011

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 time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees, with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.2055, the Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs and related agencies Appropriations bill.
At noon, Senator Johnson (SD) will be recognized to make a motion to table the Vitter amendment #586 (no funds expended at a higher rate than the budget resolution for 2012). Therefore, Senators should expect a roll call vote in relation to the Vitter amendment around noon on Wednesday.
The Senate hopes to complete action on the Military Construction Appropriations bill.

The following amendments are pending to H.R.2055, the Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs and related agencies Appropriations bill:

McCain amendment #553 (eliminates $10M for the Energy Conservation Investment Program)
Johnson-Kirk amendment #556 (Arlington Cemetery report), as modified
Vitter amendment #568 (no funds expended at a higher rate than the budget resolution for 2012)
Wyden amendment #570 (closure of Umatilla Army Chemical Depot in OR)
Coburn amendment #564 (Agent Orange)

Addtional Amendments

The Ayotte amendment #575 (next-generation technologies),

the Boxer amendment #577 (funding for DoDEA school),

Hutchison amendment #562 (US Africa Command headquarters) and Hutchison amendment #563 (milcon project in Germany) are pending to H.R.2055, the Military Construction Appropriations bill.

VOTES

5:23pm The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of H.R.2055, the Military Construction Appropriations bill, as amended; Passed: 97-2

4:52pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to table the Coburn amendment #564 (Agent Orange); tabled: 69-30

12:03 pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to table the Vitter amendment #586 (no funds expended at a higher rate than the budget resolution for 2012). Tabled: 69-30.

The Senate has entered into a unanimous consent agreement with respect to H.R.2055, the Military Construction Appropriations bill. As a result of this agreement, there will be up to 4 roll call votes at approximately 4:45pm in relation to the following:

– Ayotte amendment #575 (next-generation prosthetics) (possible voice vote)

– Boxer amendment #577 (DoDEA school funding)

– Coburn amendment #564 (Agent Orange)

– Passage of H.R.2055, as amended

There will be 2 minutes of debate prior to each vote.

The details of the consent agreement are below.

By unanimous consent, the Johnson-Kirk amendment #556, will be modified further with the changes that are at the desk; Senator Warner will be added as a cosponsor to the Johnson-Kirk amendment; the pending amendments will be set aside and two amendments from Senator Hutchison be called up — #562 and #563, en bloc, and following the reporting of the Hutchison amendments, the following pending amendments will be agreed to:

– Johnson-Kirk #556, as further modified;

– Wyden #570;

– Hutchison #562; and

– Hutchison #563.

Further, the pending McCain amendment #553 will be withdrawn; that no other amendments, motions or points of order will be in order other than motions to table or budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive; at 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to a vote in relation to the following amendments in the order listed below:

– Ayotte #575;

– Boxer #577; and

– Coburn amendment #564.

There will be up to two minutes of debate equally divided between the votes; upon disposition of the Coburn amendment, the substitute amendment, as amended, will be agreed to; the bill will be read a third time and the Senate will proceed to a vote on passage of the bill, as amended; and the motions to reconsider will be considered made and laid upon the table.

Finally, that upon passage, the Senate will insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses; and the Chair will be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate with a ratio of 9 to 8.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JULY 20, 2011
112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

3:49 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

3:47 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

H.J. Res. 66:: approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

3:24 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.J. Res. 66.Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Boustany moved to suspend the rules and pass the resolution, as amended.

3:23 P.M. – The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.

3:22 P.M. – Mr. Wolf filed a report from the Committee on Appropriations on H.R. 2596.

H.R. 2553:: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend the airport improvement program, and for other purposes

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 243 – 177 (Roll no. 611).

3:12 P.M. – On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 187 – 233 (Roll no. 610).

2:41 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rahall motion to recommit with instructions, pending reservation of a point of order. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to prohibit air carriers from charging a fee for four or fewer items of baggage checked by a member of the Armed Forces who is traveling in scheduled air transportation on official military duty. Subsequently, the point of order was withdrawn.

2:40 P.M. – Mr. Rahall moved to recommit with instructions to Transportation.

Mr. Rahall of West Virginia moved to recommit the bill, H.R. 2553, to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with the following amendment: � At the end of the bill, add the following: � SEC. 7. BAGGAGE FEES FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. ***

2:39 P.M. – The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

1:39 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2553.

1:38 P.M. – Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2553with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 357.

H. Res. 357:: providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 2553) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend the airport improvement program, and for other purposes

1:36 P.M. – On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 242 – 178 (Roll no. 609).Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

1:29 P.M. – UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of H.Res. 357 which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H. Res. 357:: providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 2553) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend the airport improvement program, and for other purposes

On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 239 – 183 (Roll no. 608).

12:26 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 357.

12:25 P.M. – Considered as privileged matter.

12:02 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.

12:01 P.M. – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Bucshon to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

12:00 P.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of July 20.

11:07 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

10:00 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 legislative business.The Speaker designated the Honorable Daniel Webster to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Urge Obama to protect our health

07/19/2011 Nativegrl77

Unchecked global warming could threaten public health and increase health costs by exacerbating ground-level ozone—the primary component of smog. Fortunately, this fall the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will announce proposed standards to curb global warming emissions from our nation’s dirtiest power plants and later this year will issue similar standards for oil refineries. These standards will help protect the public’s health and our environment from the dangerous consequences of global warming.

However, the Obama administration is under enormous pressure from the coal and oil industries to release weak standards that will do little to nothing to protect our health and environment.

The administration needs to hear from you that the oil and coal lobbyists don’t represent your interests and that you want clear air policies that are based on science—not on the disinformation of corporate lobbyists.

We know the vast majority of the public stands with us on this issue. But sometimes agreeing from the sidelines is not enough. This is a fight worth joining—a chance to step up and really make a difference.

Tell President Obama to protect the health of the American people by ensuring strong Clean Air Act standards reduce global warming emissions.

Take Action Today! 202 456 1111

Sincerely,

Chrissy Elles
Outreach Associate
UCS Climate and Energy Program

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

At Risk for Social INsecurity

07/19/2011 Nativegrl77






	Women and families depend on Social Security. Don’t let Congress cut this critical program.

You know that the budget talks in Washington are heating up. But you may not have heard that Social Security cuts are on the table.

That’s because they’re not talking openly about cutting Social Security. Instead, they’re saying that they are making a technical change in the way the cost-of-living adjustment is calculated for federal programs like Social Security.

But this is a stealth benefit cut that would mean insecurity for all Social Security recipients, especially women. And, because the cut would grow deeper the longer you receive benefits, it would especially hurt women, who live longer than men, rely more on income from Social Security, and are already more likely to be poor.

Women can’t afford cuts to Social Security benefits because:

The average Social Security benefit for women 65 and older is just $12,000 per year.
Without Social Security, half of women 65 and older would be poor.
This cut would especially hurt the oldest and poorest beneficiaries, who are overwhelmingly women.

Women and their families shouldn’t bear the brunt of deficit reduction—and time is running out. Tell your Members of Congress and the Administration that Social Security and programs vital to low-income families must be protected – and millionaires and corporations must contribute to any deficit reduction plan. Demand Fair Change, Not Spare Change™ in the budget debate.

Sincerely,

Joan Entmacher
Vice President, Family Economic Security
National Women’s Law Center

P.S. Want to know more about this stealth Social Security benefit cut? Check out our blog.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Video: Prioritizing federal spending (via Anderson Cooper 360)

07/19/2011 Nativegrl77

Editor’s note: CNN’s John King takes a close look at two scenarios for prioritizing federal dollars if the debt ceiling isn’t raised. Related: McConnell, Reid tweaking debt limit fallback plan to boost its chances … Read More

via Anderson Cooper 360

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Rape is rape … Shelby Knox, Change.org

07/19/2011 Nativegrl77

In a recent speech at the University of New Hampshire, Vice President Joe Biden recounted the story of a college freshman he called Jenny.

Jenny was raped after a party on campus. She tried to pursue a case against her rapist only to be asked if she had been drinking, what she was wearing, and whether she was dancing. The university never took action against her assailant.

As Biden said, “Rape is rape is rape.”

Yet each year the FBI omits hundreds of thousands of rapes from its Uniform Crime Report (UCR) because it’s using an 80-year-old definition of rape.

The FBI’s outdated definition of rape is limited to “the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will.”

Sign the petition to tell the FBI to update their definition to include all forms of rape.

The FBI’s flawed definition of rape excludes any form of sexual assault that falls outside of the narrowest understanding of heterosexual sex, including the rape of men and boys as well as transgender people.

The emphasis on “forcible” rape also means that the rape or assault of women with physical or mental disabilities and those who were unconscious or under the influence of drugs and alcohol – like Jenny — are often excluded.

The FBI’s 2007 Uniform Crime Report listed 91,874 “forcible rapes,” but some estimates suggest the actual number may be 24 times higher.

The FBI’s underreporting of rapes translates to less federal funding for police departments nationwide to test rape kits — and fewer investigators bringing rapists to justice.

Sign here to tell the FBI to update its definition of rape to address and end sexual assault:

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-the-fbi-rape-is-rape

Thanks for taking action,

– Shelby and the Change.org team