Tag Archives: Guantanamo

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 11/19 ~~ the House


obamacapitol_300The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, November 19, 2013.  Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only 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.

 Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1197, the National Defense Authorization Act.

 The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

The following amendments are pending to S.1197, the National Defense Authorization Act:

The Senate has reached an agreement that results in a series of 2 roll call votes at 5:00pm tonight. Those votes will be in relation to the amendments listed below. Each amendment is subject to a 60-affirmative vote threshold.

–          Ayotte #2255 (Guantanamo)

–          Levin-MCain-Feinstein #2175 (Guantanamo)

Unanimous consent agreement

Reid:    Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending motion to recommit be withdrawn; that the pending Levin amendment #2123 be set aside for Senator Ayotte, or designee, to offer amendment #2255, relative to Guantanamo; that the amendment be subject to a relevant side-by-side amendment, which is #2175 from Senators Levin and McCain; that no second degree amendments be in order to either of the Guantanamo amendments; that each of these amendments be subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold; that the time until 5pm be equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees; that at 5pm, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the Ayotte amendment #2255; that upon disposition of the Ayotte amendment, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the Levin-McCain amendment #2123; that there be two minutes equally divided in between the votes; further, that no motions to recommit be in order during the consideration of S.1197.

5:01pm the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Ayotte amendment #2255 (Guantanamo).

Not Agreed to: 43-55

5:30pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Levin amendment #2175 (Guantanamo)

Not Agreed to: 52-46

There will be no further roll call votes today.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending Levin amendment #2123 and Senator Gillibrand or her designee be recognized to offer the amendment #2099 (sexual assault) and that the amendment be subject to a relevant side-by-side amendment from Senators McCaskill and Ayotte, amendment #2170. He also asked consent that no second degree amendments be in order and each of the amendments be subject to 60 affirmative votes; that when the Senate resumes consideration of the bill on Wednesday, November 20th, the time until 5:00pm be equally divided between the proponents and the opponents of the Gillibrand amendment; and that that at 5:00pm, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the Gillibrand amendment #2099; that upon disposition of the Gillibrand amendment, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the McCaskill-Ayotte amendment #2170; that there be two minutes equally divided in between the votes; and no motions to recommit be in order during the consideration of the sexual assault amendments.

Senator Inhofe asked to modify the request that following disposition of the McCaskill/Ayotte amendment #2170, all pending amendments be withdrawn and the Republican manager or his designee be recognized to offer the next amendment in order to be followed by an amendment offered by the Majority side and the two sides continue to offer amendments in alternating fashion until all amendments are disposed of.

Senator Reid did not agree to the modification and Senator Inhofe objected to the original request.

Subsequently, Senator Reid re-filled the amendment tree.

–          Motion to recommit S.1197 with instructions (amendment #2305)

–          Reid amendment #2306 (date change) to the instructions

–          Reid amendment #2307 to amendment #2308 (date change)

Senator Reid expressed his hope that Senators will come to the floor tomorrow to debate the sexual assault issue so that we can set up a vote tomorrow afternoon.

The Senate is in a period of morning business for debate only until 7:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      Ayotte amendment #2255 (Guantanamo) to S.1197, the National Defense Authorization Act; Not Agreed to: 43-55 (60 affirmative votes required)

2)      Levin amendment #2175 (Guantanamo); Not Agreed to: 52-46 (60 affirmative votes required)

Additional LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and passed S.381, to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the “Doolittle Tokyo Raiders,” for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo with a Brown amendment.

Discharged the Armed Services Committee and passed H.R.3304, to authorize and request the President to award the Medal of Honor to Bennie G. Adkins and Donald P. Sloat of the United States Army for acts of valor during the Vietnam Conflict and to authorize the award of the Medal of Honor to certain other veterans who were previously recommended for award of the Medal of Honor with a Levin amendment and a Levin title amendment.

Adopted S.Res.300, a resolution to authorize production of records by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1737, the Minimum Wage Fairness Act. (Harkin)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

===================================================

Last Floor Action:
5:12:46 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES –
The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded
to Special Order speeches.

Last Floor Action:11/18
9:46:55 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The
next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on November 19, 2013.

===========================

Gitmo


click above to sign petition
by Dalia Hashad – Avaaz.org
Avaazpix
In 24 hours, President Obama could finally move to close Guantanamo
With inmates on a 100-day hunger strike and massive calls for Obama to act, our president has been pushed to respond with a major speech about the prison. If enough of us demand a plan — he could free the prisoners already cleared for release, and appoint a White House official with one mission: close Guantanamo down!
We’re at a tipping point. Sign up to demand Obama close this shameful gulag down, and share the shocking facts below so others join this urgent call.
The facts speak for themselves:
Detainees in Guantanamo now: 166
• Detainees facing active charges: 6
• Detainees cleared for immediate release, but stuck in the camp: 86
• Guantanamo inmates on hunger strike: 103
Hunger strikers strapped down and force fed: 30
Prisoners who have died in custody: 9
• Children the US has held at Guantanamo: 21
• Detainees tried in civilian court: 1
• “Unreleasable” detainees who can’t be tried for lack of evidence or torture:50
• Prisoners released by the Bush administration: 500+
• Prisoners released by the Obama administration: 72
• Current annual cost to US taxpayers: $150 million
• Days since Obama first pledged to close Gitmo: 1579
• Time since first prisoners arrived at Guantanamo: 11 years, 4 months, 11 days
For years, Obama has blamed the US Congress for the failure to close Guantanamo. But since Congress granted the Defense Department waiver authority that allows prisoners who have been cleared to be transferred out, Obama himself can free these 86 men. And while he will need Congressional cooperation to close the prison completely, if he truly wants to shut it down, he can task someone at the White House right now to show it is a priority and make it happen.Sign now to demand Obama announce a plan to close Guantanamo, and then let’s up the pressure by flooding the White House with calls in these final hours  — it’s time we end this shame!