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Black History

Congress: the Republican led House :ends the cliff dive 257-167 for now but ignores Sandy Aid :::::: the Senate led by Dems


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the Senate Convenes: 12:00pmET January 2, 2013

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only until 1:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and confirm the nomination of David Medine, of Maryland, to be Chairman and Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.

 Senator Grassley objected.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed H.R.4606, a bill to authorize the issuance of right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines in Glacier National Park, and for other purposes.

Discharged the HELP committee, referred to the Finance committee and discharged the Finance committee of H.R.6655, Protect Our Kids Act of 2012 by voice vote.

Passed S.3716, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include vaccines against seasonal influenza within the definition of taxable vaccines.

Adopted S.Res.630, Congratulating the Navy and the current and former officers and crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN 65) on completion of the 26th and final deployment of the vessel.

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Discharged the HELP committee and confirmed PN1404 Erica Groshen to be Commissioner of Labor Statistics by voice vote.

Discharged the Foreign Relations Committee and confirmed the following:

PN1928 Deborah Ann McCarthy, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Lithuania

PN1951 Robert F. Godec, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya

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The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on January 2, 2013

 10:00:24 A.M.   The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:32 A.M.   The Speaker designated the Honorable David Rivera to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:01:05 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.

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Black History

CONGRESS: the Republican led House :::: the Senate Dems


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the Senate Convenes: 10:00amET December 27,2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will begin consideration of H.R.5949, FISA Reauthorization, at which point Senator Wyden will be recognized.
  • The next roll call vote will be at 5:30pm on Thursday, December 27th in relation to the FISA bill or the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.

The Senate has begun consideration of H.R.5949, FISA Reauthorization. Under the previous order, there will be up to 7 hours for debate on the bill and 30 minutes equally divided on each of the amendments listed below.

– Leahy (Judiciary committee reported substitute);

– Merkley (declassification of FISA court opinions);

– Paul (4th Amendment – searches/seizures); and

– Wyden (public reporting);

Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will proceed to votes in relation to the amendments in the order listed. Upon disposition of the amendments, the bill will be read a third time and the Senate will proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended.

In addition to the FISA extension, we could also consider amendments to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill today, as provided for under a previous order. As you may recall, cloture on the Supplemental was invoked last week and we reached a further agreement to limit amendments that are in order to the Supplemental.

Senators should expect a series of votes to begin at 5:30pm tonight in relation to the FISA extension and possibly amendments to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.

Senate-designate Brian Schatz will be sworn in as senator (HI) at 2:30pm today.

At 5:30pm tonight, the Senate will proceed to a series of up to 3 roll call votes in relation to the following amendments to H.R.5949, FISA:

–       Leahy #3437 (substitute);

–       Merkley #3534 (declassification of FISA court opinions); and

–       Paul #3436 (searches and seizures).

There will be 2 minutes for debate between each vote. All votes after the first vote will be 10 minutes in duration. When the Senate convenes tomorrow, there will be 30 minutes for debate prior to a vote in relation to the Wyden amendment (public reporting) and passage of H.R.5949, as amended, if amended. Under the previous order, the amendments and passage of the FISA bill are subject to 60 affirmative vote thresholds.

Senator Reid has asked senators with amendments to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill to call up and debate their amendments tonight so that we can begin voting on the amendments tomorrow.

5:34pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Leahy amendment #3427 (substitute);

Not Agreed To: 38-52

6:07pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Merkley amendment #3435 (declassification of FISA reports);

Not Agreed To: 37-54

6:27pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Paul amendment #3436 (searches-seizures);

Not Agreed To: 12-79

The Senate has resumed consideration of H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.

The Cardin amendment #3393 and the Tester amendment #3350 are pending.

Senator Mikulski announced her intention to have the following additional amendments made pending this evening:

– Senator Landrieu to be recognized for up to two minutes to call up her amendment #3415;

– Senator Coburn to be recognized for up to 30 minutes to call up his amendments #3368, #3369, #3370, as modified, #3371, #3382 and #3383;

– Senator Merkley to be recognized for up to five minutes to call up his amendment #3367;

– Senator Mikulski to be recognized for up to two minutes to call up on behalf of Senator Leahy amendment #3403 and on behalf of Senator Harkin amendment #3426.

The following amendments are pending to H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill:

The following amendments have been considered to H.R.1:

On Friday, December 28, when the Senate resumes consideration of H.R.1, the Emergency Supplemental (upon disposition of FISA bill), the Senate will proceed to votes in relation to the amendments to the bill, under the previous order. All remaining time under the previous order with respect to the amendments will be yielded back. There will be two minutes equally divided prior to each vote with the exception of the following:

– 4 minutes equally divided prior to each of the votes in relation to the Coburn amendments and divisions;

– 10 minutes equally divided prior to the votes in relation to each of the Paul amendments;

– 8 minutes equally divided prior to the vote in relation to the McCain amendment #3355; and

– 10 minutes equally divided prior to the vote in relation to the Lee amendment.

That all other provisions of the previous order remain in effect.

As a reminder, under the previous order the following amendments are in order to the Supplemental:

– Cardin #3393 (surety bonds);

– Grassley #3348 (DOJ – vehicles);

– Feinstein #3421 (Army Corps projects), as modified with changes at the desk;

– Harkin #3426 (technical – grants);

– Landrieu #3415 (emergency reimbursement);

– Leahy #3403 (U.S. embassy security);

– McCain #3384 (Amtrak), as modified with changes at the desk;

– Bingaman #3344 (Palau);

– Coburn #3368 (cost sharing – Army Corps);

– Coburn #3369 (notification triggers);

– Coburn #3370, as modified and with two divisions – delinquent tax debts and fisheries);

– Coburn #3371 (severe disasters);

– Coburn #3382 (Merit based recovery contracts);

– Coburn #3383 (strike certain studies – Army Corps);

– Tester #3350 (Fire management);

– Paul #3376 (Non-application of Davis-Bacon);

– Paul #3410 (Offset)

– McCain #3355 (strike emergency forest restoration);

– Merkley #3367 (extend Agriculture disaster assistance programs), as modified;

– Lee #3373, as modified (special rules – retirement funds); and

– Coats #3391 (Republican alternative).

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Adoption of the Leahy amendment #3437 to H.R.5949, the FISA Reauthorization Act; NOT ADOPTED: 38-52

2) Adoption of the Merkley amendment #3534; NOT ADOPTED: 37-54

3) Adoption of the Paul amendment #3436; NOT ADOPTED: 12-79

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee and passed the following:

–          H.R.2338, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa, Florida, as the “Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post Office”.

–          H.R.3892, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8771 Auburn Folsom Road in Roseville, California, as the “Lance Corporal Victor A. Dew Post Office.”

Passed the following postal naming bills, en bloc:

–          H.R.3869, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 600 East Capitol Avenue in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the “Sidney ‘Sid’ Sanders McMath Post Office Building”.

–          H.R.4389, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 19 East Merced Street in Fowler, California, as the “Cecil E. Bolt Post Office”.

–          H.R.6260, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 211 Hope Street in Mountain View, California, as the “Lieutenant Kenneth M. Ballard Memorial Post Office”.

–          H.R.6379, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6239 Savannah Highway in Ravenel, South Carolina, as the “Representative Curtis B. Inabinett, Sr. Post Office”.

–          H.R.6587, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 225 Simi Village Drive in Simi Valley, California, as the “Postal Inspector Terry Asbury Post Office Building”.

Discharged the Finance committee and Passed S.3667, A bill to rename section 219(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as the Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA.

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on December 27, 2012.

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CONGRESS: House Republicans ::: Senate Dems


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The Senate will convene at 12:00pm on Monday, December 24, 2012 for a pro forma session only with no business conducted.

The next roll call vote will be at 5:30pm on Thursday, December 27th in relation to the FISA bill or the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.

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Black History

CONGRESS:


capitol33the Senate Convenes: 1:00pmET December 21,2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will begin consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R.4310, the National Defense Authorization Act with up to one hour of debate equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
  • The filing deadline for all 2nd degree amendments to the substitute amendment and to H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill is 1:30pm.
  • At approximately 2:00pm, there will be at least one roll call vote on adoption of the conference report to accompany H.R.4310, NDAA.
  • We are working on an agreement on the Supplemental Appropriations bill.  If no agreement is reached prior to 2pm, following disposition of the conference report to accompany H.R.4310, the Senate will then conduct up to 2 roll call votes: the first vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on the Reid substitute amendment #3395 and if cloture is not invoked, there will be a 2nd cloture vote on H.R.1.
  • Additional votes are expected Friday.  We hope to reach an agreement on the Supplemental and FISA tomorrow

At approximately 2:20pm today the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to adopt the conference report to accompany H.R.4310, the National Defense Authorization Act.

Following the vote, the Senate will resume consideration of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill. We are working on an agreement to consider amendments to Supplemental. Senators should expect a cloture vote on the Reid substitute amendment #3395 this afternoon, as well as additional roll call votes.

We are also working on an agreement to consider the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) extension.

Another message will be sent when any agreement is reached or additional votes are scheduled.

2:06pm The Senate began a roll call vote on adoption of the conference report to accompany H.R.4310, the National Defense Authorization Act;

Adopted: 81-14

3:34pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Reid substitute amendment #3395 (Supplemental) to H.R.1;

Invoked: 91-1

The Senate has reached an agreement on amendments to the Supplemental Appropriations that results in up to 2 roll call votes now. The first vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on Reid substitute amendment #3395 (Supplemental Appropriations). If cloture is invoked and Senator Toomey raises a point of order, the next vote would be on a motion to waive the budget point of order with respect to Reid substitute amendment #3395 (Supplemental).The first vote is a 10 minute roll call vote.

The agreement is as follows:

H.R.1, Supplemental for Sandy

Leader:            I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate proceed to the cloture vote with respect to the substitute amendment to H.R.1; that if cloture is not invoked, the Majority Leader be recognized; that if cloture is invoked, Senator Toomey, or designee, be recognized for the purpose of raising a budget point of order against the pending substitute amendment; that if the point of order is raised, Senator Leahy, or designee, be recognized to move to waive the budget point of order; that there be up to ten minutes of debate prior to a vote in relation to the motion to waive;  that no other budget points of order be in order to the substitute or the underlying bill; further, that notwithstanding rule 22, the following amendments be in order:

– Cardin #3393 (surety bonds);

– Grassley #3348 (DOJ – vehicles);

– Feinstein #3421 (Army Corps projects), as modified with changes at the desk;

– Harkin #3426 (technical – grants);

– Landrieu #3415 (emergency reimbursement);

– Leahy #3403 (U.S. embassy security);

– McCain #3384 (Amtrak), as modified with changes at the desk;

– Bingaman #3344 (Palau);

– Coburn #3368 (cost sharing – Army Corps);

– Coburn #3369 (notification triggers);

– Coburn #3370, as modified and with two divisions – delinquent tax debts and fisheries);

– Coburn #3371 (severe disasters);

– Coburn #3382 (Merit based recovery contracts);

– Coburn #3383 (strike certain studies – Army Corps);

– Tester #3350 (Fire management);

– Paul #3376 (Non-application of Davis-Bacon);

– Paul #3410 (Offset)

– McCain #3355 (strike emergency forest restoration);

– Merkley #3367 (extend Agriculture disaster assistance programs), as modified;

– Lee #3373, as modified (special rules – retirement funds); and

– Coats #3391 (Republican alternative).

That no amendments be in order to any of these amendments prior to votes in relation to the amendments; that the amendments be subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold; that there will be 30 minutes of debate equally divided in the usual form on each amendment with the exception of the following:

– 20 minutes equally divided on each of the Coburn amendments or divisions and the Lee amendment;

– 40 minutes equally divided on each of the Paul amendments; and

– one hour equally divided on the Coats amendment.

That upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to votes in relation to the amendments in the order listed; that there be two minutes of debate, equally divided, between the votes; that all after the first vote, be ten minute votes; further, that upon disposition of the pending amendments listed, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the pending substitute amendment, as amended, if amended; that upon disposition of the substitute, the cloture motion on the underlying bill be withdrawn, the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of H.R.1, as amended, if amended.

4:03pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Mikulski motion to waive the Toomey point of order.

Not Waived: 57-34

This will be the last vote of the week. Senator should expect the next roll call vote to occur as early as noon on Thursday, December 27.

The Senate has reached an agreement that notwithstanding cloture having been invoked and at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republicans Leader, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of Calendar #510, J.R.5949. The only first degree amendments in order to the bill are the following:

–          Leahy (Judiciary committee reported substitute);

–          Merkley (declassificiation of FISA court opinions);

–          Paul (4th Amendment-searches/seizures); and

–          Wyden (public reporting)

There will be 30 minutes for debate equally divided between the proponents and opponents on each amendment and 5 hours of debate equally divided on the bill. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to votes in relation to the amendments in the order listed. No second degree amendments are in order prior to the votes. Upon disposition of the amendments, the bill will be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended.

Prior to consenting to the agreement listed above, Senator McConnell objected to Senator Reid’s request and asked that the amendments and passage of the bill be subject to 60 affirmative vote thresholds. Senator Reid agreed to McConnell’s request for 60 vote thresholds.

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      Adoption of the conference report to accompany H.R.4310, the National Defense Authorization Act; adopted: 81-14

2)      Motion to invoke cloture on the Reid amendment #3395 (substitute) to H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill; invoked: 91-1

3)      Motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Reid substitute amendment #3395; not waived: 57-34

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed H.R.1339, To designate the City of Salem, Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United States.

Passed H.R.4212, the Drywall Safety Act of 2012 with a Vitter substitute amendment.

Passed H.R.5859, to repeal an obsolete provision in title 49, United States Code, requiring motor vehicle insurance cost reporting.

Passed H.R.6364, the World War I Centennial Commission Act with a McCaskill-Blunt amendment.

Passed S.3709, to require a Government Accountability Office examination of transactions between large financial institutions and the  Federal Government, and for other purposes, with the Vitter/Brown (OH) substitute amendment.

Discharged the Foreign Relations committee and adopted S.Res.613, urging the governments of Europe and the European Union to designate Hizballah as a terrorist organization and impose sanctions, and urging the President to provide information about Hizballah to the European allies of the United States and to support the Government of Bulgaria in investigating the July 18,2012, terrorist attack in Burgas.

Passed H.R.1845, the Medicare IVIG Access Act.

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed the following:

Executive Calendar #834 Matthew W. Brann, of PA, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Executive Calendar #835 Malachy Edward Mannion, of PA, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Executive Calendar #877 Jon S. Tigar, of CA, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California

Discharged the Veterans’ Affairs committee and confirmed PN2024, William S. Greenberg, of New Jersey, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims for the term of fifteen years.

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on December 21, 2012.

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CONGRESS: the Republican led House ::::: the Senate led by Democrats


obamacapitol_300

the Senate Convenes: 2:00pmET December 17,2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 3:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will begin consideration of H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the emergency supplemental appropriations bill.
  • At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations:

At 2pm today, there will be a moment of silence to honor the victims and their families of the tragic shooting in Newtown, CT.

At 5:30pm today, the Senate will proceed to a series of 2 votes on confirmation of the nominations listed below. We expect a voice vote on confirmation of the Olguin nomination and a roll call vote on confirmation of the Durkin nomination. – Executive Calendar #833 Fernando M. Olguin, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; and – Executive Calendar #875 Thomas M. Durkin, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.

The Senate has begun consideration of H.R.1, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2011. Senator Leahy, for Senator Inouye, offered a substitute amendment #3338 (the text of the Hurricane Sandy Emergency Supplemental Appropriations). Text and a summary of the amendment can be found on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s website (http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/). Senator Leahy, for Senator Inouye, then offered amendment #3339 (technical).

The Senate confirmed the nominations of Executive Calendar #833, Fernando M. Olguin, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California, and Executive Calendar #875 Thomas M. Durkin, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, by voice vote.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed S.1792, the Strengthening Investigations of Sex Offenders and Missing Children Act of 2011.

Passed S.1793, to amend title 28, United States Code, to clarify the statutory authority for the longstanding practice of the Department of Justice providing investigatory assistance on request of State and local authorities with respect to certain serious violent crimes, and for other purposes with a Whitehouse substitute amendment.

Passed H.R.2076, to amend title 28, United States Code, to clarify the statutory authority for the longstanding practice of the Department of Justice of providing investigatory assistance on request of State and local authorities with respect to certain serious violent crimes, and for other purposes with a committee-reported substitute amendment and a Whitehouse amendment.

Passed H.R.6223, To amend section 1059(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 to clarify that a period of employment abroad by the Chief of Mission or United States Armed Forces as a translator, interpreter, or in a security –related position in an executive or managerial capacity is to be counted as a period of residence and physical presence in the United States for purposes of qualifying for naturalization, and for other purposes.

Passed S.3687, To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program, to designate certain Federal buildings, and for other purposes.

Adopted S.Res.619, a resolution relative to the appointment of President pro tem – Senator Leahy.

Adopted S.Res.620, a resolution authorizing Senator Reid to administer the oath of office of President pro tem to Senator Leahy.

Adopted S.Res.621, a resolution condemning the horrific attacks in Newtown, Connecticut and expressing support and prayers for all those impacted by that tragedy.

Discharged the HELP committee and passed S.3472, a bill to amend the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 to provide improvements to such Act with a Landrieu substitute amendment.

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #833, Fernando M. Olguin, of CA, to be U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California by voice vote.

Confirmed Executive Calendar #875, Thomas M. Durkin, of IL, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois by voice vote.

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on December 17, 2012.