The Senate convened at 9:30am on Thursday, May 10, 2012. 

Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.

During Thursday’s session, it is possible the Senate will consider S.2343, the Stop Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act as well as H.R.2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act.

This afternoon Senator Reid asked unanimous consent that the Senate adopt the motion to proceed to H.R.2072, Export Import Bank Reauthorization, and there be 1 hour for debate with no amendments in order prior to vote on passage of the bill.

Senator Kyl asked the Leader to modify his request to allow the following 5 Republican amendments:

–          Corker #2102 (export credit agencies)

–          Vitter #2103 (energy development)

–          Toomey #2104 ($40 billion increase contingency)

–          Lee #2100 (phase-out)

–          Paul #2101 (limitation on Ex-Im support)

Senator Reid declined to modify his request and Senator Kyl objected to the Leader’s request.

Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2072, Export Import Bank Reauthorization. Senators should expect the cloture vote to occur Monday evening.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed H.R.4967, the Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeships Extension Act of 2012.

Discharged the Banking Committee and passed S.418, Congressional Gold Medal to Civil Air Patrol.

Adopted S.Res.456, commemorating and acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice made by the Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty.

Adopted S.Res.458, Commemorating May 15, 2012, as the sesquicentennial of the founding of the Department of Agriculture.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

This morning   … 9:41am – The Senate is now considering the motion to proceed to Calendar #396, H.R.2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act.  Senator Reid stated on the floor that he hopes we can pass this bill today.  The unofficial transcript of his remarks is below.

The unofficial transcript of his remarks is below.

MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT WE’RE NOW ON THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO

THE EX-IM BILL. I HOPE WE CAN PASS THE BILL TODAY. I HAVEN’T

HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO SPEAK TO THE REPUBLICAN LEADER, BUT

I’LL DO THAT SHORTLY AND WILL DECIDE IF THERE’S A WAY FORWARD

ON THAT. SO I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE NEXT HOUR BE

DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BETWEEN THE TWO LEADERS OR THEIR

DESIGNEES WITH THE MAJORITY CONTROLLING THE FIRST HALF AND THE

REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING THE SECOND HALF.

MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT, ON A STRONG BIPARTISAN VOTE YESTERDAY,

THE HOUSE PASSED A PIECE OF COMMONSENSE JOB-CREATING

LEGISLATION, THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE 130ER9 — OF THE

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK. FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, THIS LEGISLATION HAS

HELPED AMERICAN COMPANIES GROW AND SELL THEIR PRODUCTS

OVERSEAS, CREATING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS, AND FOR YEARS THE

BANK HAS ENJOYED BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. IT PASSED BY

UNANIMOUS CONSENT ON ONE OCCASION AND BY VOICE VOTE ON ANOTHER

OCCASION. IT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF SMART

INVESTMENTS CONGRESS SHOULD BE MAKING TO SPUR JOB GROWTH. SO I

HOPE THE SENATE WILL BE ABLE TO QUICKLY APPROVE THE

HOUSE-PASSED MEASURE TODAY AND DO IT BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. I’M

OPTIMISTIC THAT THE 330-93 VOTE IN THE HOUSE YESTERDAY WILL BE

ENOUGH TO CONVINCE SENATE REPUBLICANS THEY SHOULDN’T HOLD UP

THIS LEGISLATION ANY LONGER. 330-93. THE PROCESS OF

REAUTHORIZING THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK HAS TAKEN TOO LONG. I HOPE

WE DON’T HAVE TO FILE CLOTURE ON THIS MATTER, BUT I WILL, IF WE

MUST. LET ME REMIND YOU, MR. PRESIDENT … THE SENATE

CONSIDERED REAUTHORIZING THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION IN MARCH,

TWO MONTHS AGO. SENATE REPUBLICANS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO

SUPPORT THE MEASURE THEN. INSTEAD, ALL BUT THREE OPPOSED IT,

AND THE MEASURE FAILED. THE AMERICAN EXPORTERS HAVE ALREADY

WAITED IN LIMBO FOR TWO MONTHS TO SEE WHETHER REPUBLICANS WOULD

COME AROUND TO BACKING THIS BUSINESS FRIENDLY, JOB-CREATING

ISSUES. BUSINESSES SHOULDN’T HAVE TO WAIT LONGER. WE CAN’T

AFFORD MORE OF THE PARTISAN OBSTRUCTION WE SAW ON THIS

COMMONSENSE LEGISLATION LAST MARCH. TO GET TO THE PRESIDENT’S

DESK, THIS CONGRESS AND EVERY PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE PASS

MUST GET TO HIS DESK OR IT DOESN’T BECOME LAW. SO TO DO THAT,

WE NEED DEMOCRATIC VOTES AND REPUBLICAN VOTES. THAT’S JUST A

REALITY. AND IT MEANS WE ABSOLUTELY MUST WORK TOGETHER IF WE

WANT TO GET ANYTHING DONE.

————————————————————————————————

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MAY 10, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

–  -SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.3:13:59 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.3:12:12 P.M. -Mr. King (IA) asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns on Friday, May 11, 2012, it adjourn to meet at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.3:12:00 P.M. -Mr. King (IA) asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 11:00 a.m. on May 11. Agreed to without objection.2:56:51 P.M. -COLLOQUY ON HOUSE SCHEDULE – The Chair recognized Mr. Hoyer for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with Mr. Cantor on the expectations regarding the legislative schedule for the House during the upcoming week.2:52:39 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal.  Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.2:52:21 P.M. -UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished question was on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal.2:52:15 P.M. -H.R. 5326Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.2:52:14 P.M. -H.R. 5326On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 – 163 (Roll no. 249).2:46:13 P.M. -H.R. 5326On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 181 – 233 (Roll no. 248).2:28:52 P.M. -H.R. 5326The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.2:17:45 P.M. -H.R. 5326DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Nadler motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to increase funds for the Office of Violence Against Women by $20.5 million and decrease funds from the Department of Commerce, Department of Justice, and the Office of Science and Technology by $20.5 million.2:17:21 P.M. -H.R. 5326Mr. Nadler moved to recommit with instructions to Appropriations.2:16:53 P.M. -H.R. 5326Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 5326 — “Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes.”2:16:40 P.M. -UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the further consideration of H.R. 5326, which had earlier been postponed.2:16:16 P.M. -H.R. 5652Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.2:16:15 P.M. -H.R. 5652On passage Passed by recorded vote: 218 – 199, 1 Present (Roll no. 247).2:07:38 P.M. -H.R. 5652On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 170 – 232, 11 Present (Roll no. 246).1:42:57 P.M. -H.R. 5652The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.1:36:45 P.M. -H.R. 5652DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the on the Loebsack motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add a section to the bill prohibiting former Members of Congress who are registered lobbyists with salaries greater than $1 million from eligibility to receive benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees’ Retirement System.1:31:58 P.M. -H.R. 5652Mr. Loebsack moved to recommit with instructions to The Budget.1:31:42 P.M. -H.R. 5652The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.11:00:07 A.M. -H.R. 5652DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 648, the House proceeded with two hours of debate on H.R. 5652.10:58:35 A.M. -H.R. 5652Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5652 with 2 hours 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. Bill is closed to amendments. The resolution provides that an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 112-21 shall be considered as adopted. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived.10:58:30 A.M. -H.R. 5652Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 648. H.R. 5652 — “To provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 201 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2013.”10:55:28 A.M. -The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed S. 2224. Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 105, H. Con. Res. 106, H. Con. Res. 117, and H. Con. Res. 118.10:54:32 A.M. -H. Res. 648Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.10:54:32 A.M. -H. Res. 648On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 233 – 183 (Roll no. 245).10:47:42 A.M. -H. Res. 648On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 237 – 177 (Roll no. 244).9:17:07 A.M. -H. Res. 648DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 648.9:15:54 A.M. -H. Res. 648Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 648 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5652) to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 201 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2013.”9:03:26 A.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by the Chair, would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.9:03:08 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Coffman of CO to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.9:02:50 A.M. -POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Speaker announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mrs. Jenkins demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal, and by voice vote, the Speaker announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Jenkins 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.9:01:21 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.9:00:50 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.