Tag Archives: Department of Transportation

The Senate will convene at 10:00am on Tuesday, July 23, 2013.

Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized. It is expected he will renew his motion to proceed to S.1243, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The time until 12:00pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
The next roll call vote will be at 12:00pm on Tuesday, July 23^rd on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1243. Cloture was filed on that motion during Thursday’s session of the Senate. If cloture is invoked, all post-cloture time will be yielded back and the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to proceed to S.1243 (likely a voice vote). If the motion to proceed to S.1243 is adopted, the text of H.R.2610, as reported by the House Appropriations, will be deemed House passed text for the purposes of rule 16.
The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings

At 12:00 noon today, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1243, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014. Under the previous order, if cloture is invoked, all post-cloture time will be yielded back and the Senate will proceed to vote on the motion to proceed to S.1243 (likely a voice vote). If the motion to proceed to S.1243 is adopted, the text of H.R.2610, as reported by the House Appropriations, will be deemed House passed text for the purposes of Rule 16.

The Senate will recess for the weekly caucus meetings from 12:30 until 2:15pm. At 2:15pm Senator Chiesa will deliver his maiden speech for up to 15 minutes. Following Senator Chiesa’s remarks, the Senate will begin consideration of the THUD appropriations bill, that is assuming cloture is invoked on the motion to proceed. Additional votes in relation to amendments to the THUD appropriations bill are possible this afternoon.

12:01pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1243, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014;

Invoked: 73-26

The Senate then adopted the motion to proceed by voice vote.

The Senate is considering S.1243, THUD Appropriations. Senator Vitter has offered amendment #1744, prohibit housing assistance benefits for individuals convicted of aggravated sexual abuse.

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July 2013

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0:00:16 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:31 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Thomas Massie to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:00:48 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.
10:37:57 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:56 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of July 23.
12:01:02 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Dr. Shane Alexander, Northcrest Church of Christ, Mexia, Texas
12:02:21 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:02:25 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Titus to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:04:16 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.
12:24:58 P.M.	H. Res. 312	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 312 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2397) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2610) making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes.”
12:30:15 P.M.	H. Res. 312	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 312.

1:23:16 P.M.	H. Res. 312	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At conclusion of debate on H. Res. 312, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question, and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. McGovern demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of ordering the previous question until later in the legislative day.
1:24:18 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
1:40:53 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of July 23.
1:41:24 P.M.	H. Res. 312	Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 312 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2397) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2610) making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes.”
1:41:38 P.M.	H. Res. 312	UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on ordering the previous question.
2:08:14 P.M.	H. Res. 312	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll no. 377).
2:16:08 P.M.	H. Res. 312	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll no. 378).
2:16:10 P.M.	H. Res. 312	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:16:36 P.M.		Mr. Wolf filed a report from the Committee on Appropriations on H.R. 2787.
2:17:26 P.M.		Mr. Crenshaw filed a report from the Committee on Appropriations on H.R. 2786.
2:18:48 P.M.	H.R. 2397	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 312. H.R. 2397 — “Making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes.”
2:18:53 P.M.	H.R. 2397	The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2397, under a structured rule, and consideration of H.R. 2610, under an open rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate on both bills. Additionally, the resolution provides for one motion to recommit with or without instructions for both bills.
2:19:19 P.M.	H.R. 2397	House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 312 and Rule XVIII.
2:19:20 P.M.	H.R. 2397	The Speaker designated the Honorable Candice S. Miller to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.

2:19:29 P.M.	H.R. 2397	GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2397.
2:59:34 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Walberg, numbered 1 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase funding for the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response by $10 million and reduce funding to the Operations and Maintenance, Defense-Wide account by $11 million.
2:59:37 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Walberg amendment No. 1.
3:03:16 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Walberg amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
3:03:55 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Delaney, numbered 2 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase the Fisher House Account by $16 million and decrease the Operation and Maintenance Account Defense-Wide by $25 million.
3:03:59 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Delaney amendment No. 2.
3:10:19 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Delaney amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
3:10:45 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Ms. Gabbard, numbered 3 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase funding for the Navy Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare weapon and Air-Launched Long Range Anti-Ship Missile program by $104,000,000, and reduce Operations and Maintenance, Defense-wide by the same amount.
3:10:47 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gabbard amendment No. 3.
3:17:44 P.M.	H.R. 2397	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Gabbard amendment No. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Gabbard demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
3:18:09 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Grayson, numbered 4 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase the Defense Health Program Account by $10 million to specifically target finding a cure for Gulf War Illness.
3:18:12 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Grayson amendment No. 4.
3:22:32 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Grayson amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
3:24:01 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Israel, numbered 5 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase by $10 million the Defense Human Resources Activity account for the purpose of enhancing Department of Defense efforts in mental health research, treatment, education, and outreach and reduce the Office of the Secretary of Defense account by the same amount.
3:24:03 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Israel amendment No. 5.
3:28:20 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Israel amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
3:28:56 P.M.	H.R. 2397	Amendments en bloc offered by Mr. Young (FL), comprised of amendments Nos. 6, 32, and 76 through 82 printed in House Report 113-170.
3:29:03 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Young of Florida amendments en bloc No. 1.
3:34:36 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Young (FL) amendments; Agreed to by voice vote.
3:34:45 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Langevin, numbered 8 printed in House Report 113-170 to reduce the appropriation for Operations and Maintenance, Defense-Wide by $22 million and transfer this amount to Research, Development, Technology, and Engineering, Navy for the purpose of supporting development, demonstration, evaluation and fielding of promising undersea technologies in Research, Development, Technology, and Engineering Project Number 2033, for Advanced Submarine Systems Development.
3:34:47 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Langevin amendment No. 8.
3:41:17 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Langevin amendment Failed by voice vote.
3:41:38 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, numbered 9 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase funding for the Defense Health Program account (intended for PTSD) by $500,000 offset by a similar reduction in the Environment Restoration, Army account.
3:41:41 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 9.
3:47:28 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
3:48:37 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Blumenauer, numbered 10 printed in House Report 113-170 to restore funding for Environmental Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites to FY 2013 levels so that the Department of Defense can clean up and remediate Unexploded Ordnance in a timely and safe fashion.
3:48:39 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Blumenauer amendment No. 10.
3:58:04 P.M.	H.R. 2397	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Blumenauer amendment No. 10, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Blumenauer demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
3:59:06 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, numbered 12 printed in House Report 113-170 to reduce funding for Procurement, Defense-Wide, by $2 million and transfers the same amount to the Spending Reduction Account.
3:59:08 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 12.
4:04:13 P.M.	H.R. 2397	By unanimous consent, the Jackson Lee amendment was withdrawn.
4:04:19 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, numbered 13 printed in House Report 113-170 to increase the Defense Health Program’s Research and Development account by $10 million and reduces the Defense Procurement-Wide account by the same amount.
4:04:22 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 13.
4:08:09 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
4:08:50 P.M.	H.R. 2397	Amendments en bloc offered by Mr. Young (FL), consisting of numbers 83, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, and 96 printed in House Report 113-170.
4:09:34 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Young of Florida amendments en bloc No. 2.
4:12:16 P.M.	H.R. 2397	On agreeing to the Young (FL) amendments; Agreed to by voice vote.
4:12:49 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Polis, numbered 14 printed in House Report 113-170 to strike $107,000,000 for 14 Ground-based Interceptors and reduces the deficit by the same amount.
4:12:52 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Polis amendment No. 14.
4:24:37 P.M.	H.R. 2397	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Polis amendment No. 14, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Frelinghuysen demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
4:25:15 P.M.	H.R. 2397	An amendment, offered by Mr. Blumenauer, numbered 15 printed in House Report 113-170 to reduce funding for the Ohio-class submarines by 10 percent to help prepare the Department of Defense for the sequestration.
4:25:18 P.M.	H.R. 2397	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 312, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Blumenauer amendment No. 15.

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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Burned to death

05/26/2013 Nativegrl77

Jeep Grand Cherokees have extremely high risk of catching on fire in accidents — I saw a family burn to death that way. I’m asking the US government to issue a recall and get these dangerous cars off the road.

Last fall I was out for a drive with my dad when we hit a sudden traffic jam. A tractor trailer couldn’t stop in time, so it hit a bunch of cars from behind. We spun into a guardrail, but we were okay. We got out of the car to see that another family had survived, but their car, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, was on fire.

My dad tried to help them out of the car, but he was only able to save one of the teenage boys. The other boy and the mom were trapped, and burned to death. It was the most awful thing I have ever seen.

Jeep knows the fuel tank on Grand Cherokees is in the “crush zone,” which means the car is likely to catch on fire in an accident. Only 27 people ever died in Ford Pinto fires, but the Jeep Grand Cherokee number is 287 and rising. So why are these cars still on the road?

I started a petition on Change.org calling on the Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a recall on all 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees and get these dangerous cars off the road. Will you click here to sign?

After the accident, I spent months grieving. I couldn’t get that family out of my head. Not only watching this mother and teenager burn to death, but watching her 18-year-old son watching it happen. Watching him cry, “Mom, Mom.” I’m a single mom with two teenaged boys, too, so that really hit home. When that boy was crying for his mother, he sounded like my boys.

The scariest part is this doesn’t just affect people who drive Jeeps — if you rear-end a Jeep Grand Cherokee in a collision, your car could catch on fire, too.

I’ve seen lots of Change.org petitions have success before, and I really hope mine will be one of them. The Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are supposed to keep Americans safe. I hope that if enough people sign my petition, they’ll do the right thing and protect our safety over Chrysler’s bottom line.

Click here to sign my petition calling on the Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees, which have killed 287 people so far.

Thank you,

Jenelle Embrey
Linden, Virginia

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

President Obama Opens 2012 by Advancing Pipeline Safety

01/04/2012 Nativegrl77

President Obama Opens 2012 by Advancing Pipeline Safety

Posted by Secretary Ray LaHood on January 3, 2012 at 7:04 PM EST

Ed note: This has been cross-posted from the Department of Transportation’s Fastlane blog

When we say at DOT that safety is our number one priority, we are not kidding around. And today, as part of that important goal, President Obama signed into law the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act.

Last April, following several fatal pipeline accidents, we called upon U.S. pipeline owners and operators to conduct a comprehensive review of their oil and gas pipelines to identify areas of high risk and accelerate critical repair and replacement work. We also convened a Pipeline Safety Forum with state officials, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss steps for improving the safety and efficiency of America’s pipeline infrastructure.

In one of their final actions for 2011, the House and Senate passed a pipeline safety bill consistent with the legislative proposal we submitted to Congress last year. This legislation gives the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, an important part of DOT, stronger enforcement tools and increases civil penalties for pipeline operators who do not meet safety regulations. It’s another terrific step forward for greater pipeline safety.

Not only will this legislation help keep America’s communities safer; it also helps give pipeline operators the certainty they need to run their systems more effectively.

To advance pipeline safety, the bill doubles the maximum fines that pipeline operators face for safety violations. The Bill requires PHMSA to issue new pipeline safety standards requiring operators to install automatic or remote-controlled shut-off valves and excess flow valves in new or replaced transmission pipelines. As U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller said, “Communities can rest a little easier knowing that Congress has implemented tougher safety rules.”

The bill authorizes PHMSA to award $110 million in safety-related grants each year. These include state damage prevention programs, technical assistance to local communities, emergency response training, and one-call system improvements. And PHMSA is authorized to add a number of new pipeline inspectors to support its investigation and enforcement obligations.

To promote regulatory certainty for the pipeline industry, the new bill prohibits PHMSA during a two to three year Congressional review period, from issuing regulations establishing leak-detection requirements or expanding integrity management requirements beyond high-consequence areas. However, this restriction would not apply if a condition poses any risk to public safety, property, or the environment.

As the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee observed, “By providing greater regulatory certainty, the bill will help create a better economic environment for U.S. businesses to create jobs.”

This bill is a win for safety and a win for America’s communities. And, by signing it into law on the first business day of the new year, President Obama has sent a clear message that this Administration believes we can achieve greater safety and stronger economic growth at the same time.

I can’t think of a better way to start 2012.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture, ~ Recent Post

New Years Resolution for EPA & DOT– Ship it Green!

12/16/2010 Nativegrl77

Write EPA and DOT today
Tell EPA and DOT to set strong regulations for cleaner trucks that will reduce our dependence on oil.

Urge EPA and DOT to clean up our nation’s trucks
Dear Carmen,

Thanks to UCS supporters like you, packages across the country are now spreading the word that our nation’s trucks should get a whole lot cleaner. But now it’s time to share our Ship it Green! holiday spirit with decision makers as well.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) are currently accepting public comments on the first-ever national fuel economy and emissions regulations for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

Please tell them that, from holiday packages shipped to far away friends and family, to the abundance of goods that crisscross our country daily, we deserve a truck fleet that minimizes pollution and oil use.

Trucks account for only four percent of all the vehicles on our nation’s roads, but they use 20 percent of our fuel. The technology already exists to make these vehicles cleaner, and everyone benefits when we have more efficient trucks on the roads—we get cleaner air and we can help break our dependence on oil.

So send a message to the EPA and DOT today—just think of it as a holiday card to our government telling them it’s okay to be a Scrooge when it comes to fuel consumption!
Take Action Today!

Sincerely,

Scott Nathanson
National Field Organizer
UCS Clean Vehicles Program