The Senate CONVENES: 9:30AMET September 16, 2010

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.5297.

HR5297 passes 61-38!  Republicans stated this is a small biz bailout Democrats and a couple of Republicans truly want to help create jobs, give small biz a chance to manufacture things get the middle class and America back on track!

DADT and The Dream Act=immigration will be voted on next week

At 10:45am, the Senate will proceed to vote on the motions listed below:
– Grassley Motion to Suspend Rule 22, Paragraph 2, for the purpose of proposing and considering amendment #4433 (to extend expiring tax incentives for biodiesel and renewable diesel) (This vote is subject to an affirmative 67- vote threshold); and

– Hatch motion to Suspend Rule 22, Paragraph 2, for the purpose of proposing and considering the following Motion to Commit:

Hatch Motion to Commit H.R.5297 to the Committee on Finance of the Senate with instructions to report the same back to the Senate with changes to make permanent the research credit under section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1996 (This vote is subject to an affirmative 67-vote threshold).

The second vote in the series will be 10 minutes in duration and there will be 2 minutes for debate prior to each vote.

At 12:00 noon, the Senate will proceed to a series of up to 2 roll call votes in relation to the following items:

– Motion to invoke cloture on H.R.5297, as amended (60-vote threshold); and
– Passage of H.R.5297, as amended (majority vote threshold).

Senator Reid moved to proceed to S.3454, the Department of Defense Authorization bill, and filed cloture on the motion to proceed.

There will be no further roll call votes during today’s session of the Senate. The next vote will occur at 2:15pm on Tuesday, September 21. That vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Department of Defense Authorization bill.

Votes:
234: Grassley Motion to Suspend Rule 22, Paragraph 2, for the purpose of proposing and considering amendment #4433: (to extend expiring tax incentives for biodiesel and renewable diesel) (This vote is subject to an affirmative 67- vote threshold);
Not Agreed To: 41-58

235: Hatch Motion to Suspend Rule 22, Paragraph 2, for the purpose of proposing and considering the following Motion to Commit:

Hatch Motion to Commit H.R.5297 to the Committee on Finance of the Senate with instructions to report the same back to the Senate with changes to make permanent the research credit under section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1996 (This vote is subject to an affirmative 67-vote threshold);
Not Agreed To: 51-48

236: Motion to Invoke Cloture on H.R.5297, as amended (60-vote threshold);
Invoked: 61-38

237: Passage of H.R.5297, as amended (majority vote threshold);
Passed: 61-38

Unanimous Consent:
Passed H.R.6102, an act to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2010 to extend the authority of the Secretary of the Navy to enter into multiyear contracts for F/A-18E, F/A-18F and EA-18G aircraft.

Adopted S.Res.627, Designating September 16, 2010, as “The American Legion Day”.

Adopted S.Res.628, a resolution recognizing the 10th anniversary of the National Book Festival.

Adopted S.Res.629,a resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States and their immense contributions to the Nation.

The Senate confirmed the following nominations by unanimous consent:

• Jill Long Thompson to be a Member of the Farm Credit Administration Board
• Marilyn Brown to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority
• William Sansom to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority
• Neil McBride to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority
• Barbara Short Haskew to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority
• Joshua Gotbaum to be Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
• Carl Wieman to be an Associate Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President
• Dennis Toner to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service
• Elisabeth Ann Hagen to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety
• Sara Louise Faivre-Davis to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
• Lowell Lee Junkins to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
• Myles Watts to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
• Catherine Woteki to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics
• Francisco Sanchez to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade
• J. Patricia Wilson Smoot to be a Commissioner of the United States Parole Commission
• Robert Orr to be United States Director of the Asian Development Bank
• Richard Lobo to be Director of the International Broadcasting Bureau, Broadcasting Board of Governors
• Mimi Alemayehou to be Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
• Mark Feierstein to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
• Nisha Desai Biswal to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
• Michael Camunez to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce
• Charles Blahous, III to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, and a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund
• Robert Reischauer to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, and a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund

The Senate will convene again on Monday September 20, 2010 at 2:00pmET

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The next meeting in the House is for September 20, 2010 at 2:30pmET

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

2:42 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

2:41 P.M. –

The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification of the continuance of the national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 111-145).

2:39 P.M. –

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on September 23: himself for 5 min and Mr. Jones for 5 min.

2:34 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House continued with further one minute speeches.

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 5297 amended.

2:33 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House continued with further one minute speeches.

2:32 P.M. –

Mr. Sablan asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Monday, September 20, 2010, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 21, 2010, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.

Mr. Sablan asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Thursday, September 16, 2010, it adjourn to meet at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, September 20, 2010. Agreed to without objection.

2:31 P.M. –

Mr. Sablan asked unanimous consent that, the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Price, may be recognized on the legislative day of Wednesday, September 22, 2010, to offer the resolution that he noticed on Thursday, September 16, 2010, without further notice under clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX. Agreed to without objection.

H. Res. 1612:

expressing the support for and honoring September 17, 2010 as “Constitution Day”

2:30 P.M. –

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

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1613:

expressing condolences to and solidarity with the people of Pakistan in the aftermath of the devastating floods that began on July 22, 2010

2:29 P.M. –

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

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 396 – 2 (Roll no. 531).

2:22 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

2:21 P.M. –

MOMENT OF SILENCE – The Chair asked that the House observe a moment of silence in remembrance of our brave men and women in uniform who have given their lives in the service of our Nation in Iraq and in Afghanistan and their families, and all who serve in our Armed Forces and their families.

H.R. 4785:

to amend the miscellaneous rural development provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans to certain entities that will use the funds to make loans to consumers to implement energy efficiency measures involving structural improvements and investments in cost-effective, commercial off-the-shelf technologies to reduce home energy use

2:20 P.M. –

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

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

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 240 – 172 (Roll no. 530).

2:01 P.M. –

The previous question was ordered without objection.

On agreeing to the Butterfield amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

Amendment offered by Mr. Butterfield.

The amendment requires certain provisions be met in order for funds to be made available. The amendment also states that the provisions of the Act shall be suspended and shall not apply if the Act will have a negative effect on the national budget deficit of the United States.

2:00 P.M. –

On motion to recommit with instructions Agreed to by voice vote.

1:54 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Shadegg 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 which requires certain provisions be met in order for funds to be made available. The amendment also states that the provisions of the Act shall be suspended and shall not apply if the Act will have a negative effect on the national budget deficit of the United States.

1:51 P.M. –

Mr. Shadegg moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce.

1:50 P.M. –

The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4785.

1:49 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Holden amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 402 – 0 (Roll no. 529).

1:20 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of an amendment which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

1:19 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Butterfield amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

1:15 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1620, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Butterfield amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Butterfield.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 111-594 to require the Department of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to consider passive house retrofits when identifying qualified energy efficiency measures.

1:11 P.M. –

On agreeing to the McCarthy (NY) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

1:08 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1620, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McCarthy (NY) amendment.

Amendment offered by Mrs. McCarthy (NY).

An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 111-594 to require that lenders providing loans under this Act give priority to active duty members of the Armed Forces and to veterans.

1:07 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Cuellar amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

1:04 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1620, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cuellar amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Cuellar.

An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 111-594 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide assistance and technical advice to the qualified entities providing loans under this bill to increase the participation of economically distressed rural communities with unemployment rates above the national average.

1:03 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Holden amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Holden demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

12:59 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1620, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Holden amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Holden.

An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 111-594 to clarify that loan funds under the bill may not be used to purchase manufactured homes, makes technical corrections to a Comptroller General report, prohibits provision of funds to certain contractors and makes ineligible for loans certain Federal Employees. It also requires the Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture to take steps to prevent misuse of funds. Prohibits any additions to direct spending in regards to provisions within this Act. Does not allow an entity with an ongoing capital repayment obligation to the Treasury due to the Troubled Assets Relief Program to participate in the programs within this Act. Ensures that funds provided under this bill would supplement and not supplant other energy efficiency funding.

12:25 P.M. –

GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4785.

12:24 P.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable John T. Salazar to act as Chairman of the Committee.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1620 and Rule XVIII.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4785 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. The resolution waives all points of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI. The resolution makes in order only those amendments printed in Part B of the report. All points of order against the amendments in part B except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI are waived. The resolution provides that the Chair may not entertain a motion to strike out the enacting words of the bill.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1620.

12:12 P.M. –

NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO OFFER RESOLUTION – Mr. Price (GA) notified the House of his intent to rise to a question of the privileges of the House and to offer a resolution. Mr. Price (GA) was recognized to notice the form of his proposed resolution. The Chair subsequently announced that under rule IX, a resolution offered from the floor by a Member other than the majority leader or the minority leader as a question of the privileges of the House has immediate precedence only at a time designated by the Chair within 2 legislative days after the resolution is properly noticed. The Chair announced that it would not, at that point, make the determination required by the rule, but that the form of the resolution would appear in the Congressional Record.

H.R. 3562:

to designate the Federal building under construction at 1220 Echelon Parkway in Jackson, Mississippi, as the “Chaney, Goodman, Schwerner Federal Building”

12:11 P.M. –

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

On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 – 0 (Roll no. 528).

12:02 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.

H. Res. 1620:

providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 4785) to amend the miscellaneous rural development provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans to certain entities that will use the funds to make loans to consumers to implement energy efficiency measures involving structural improvements and investments in cost-effective, commercial off-the-shelf technologies to reduce home energy use

12:01 P.M. –

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 225 – 188 (Roll no. 527).

11:51 A.M. –

On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 226 – 186 (Roll no. 526).

10:25 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1620

10:22 A.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

10:10 A.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the chair, would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.

10:06 A.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Olson 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.

10:05 A.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day