The Senate Convenes: 10:00amET June 8, 2010

Today on the floor of Senate… Extending Tax Breaks and Unemployment Benefits/Speeches all continue Wednesday

When it is available, it is the Majority Leader’s intention to ask the Chair to lay before the Senate the House Message with respect to HR4213, the Tax Extenders legislation.

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

Roll call votes are expected to occur throughout the day in relation to amendments to the Tax Extenders legislation.

The following amendments are pending to the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment with an amendment to the house  Message with respect to HR4213:

Baucus #4301 (Substitute)
Sessions #4303 (Discretionary Spending Caps)
Cardin #4304 (FEHB)
Cornyn #4302 (Foreign Held Debt)

The next meeting in the  House is at 2pmET June 8, 2010

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JUNE 8, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

6:49 P.M. –

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

6:48 P.M. –

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on June 15: himself for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, and Mr. Moran of KS for 5 min. Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on June 14: himself for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, and Mr. Moran of KS for 5 min.

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on June 11: Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, himself for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, and Mr. Moran of KS for 5 min.

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on June 10: Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, himself for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, Mr. Moran of KS for 5 min, and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for 5 min.

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on June 9: Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, himself for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, Mr. Moran of KS for 5 min, and Mr. Latta for 5 min.

6:39 P.M. –

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

6:37 P.M. –

The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a copy of a notice filed earlier with the Federal Register continuing the emergency with respect to Belarus first declared in Executive Order 13405 of June 16, 2006 – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 111-119).

6:36 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a sealed envelope from the White House on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 3:08 p.m., which is said to contain a message from the President whereby he submits a copy of a notice filed earlier with the Federal Register continuing the emergency with respect to Belarus first declared in Executive Order 13405 of June 16, 2006. The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting copy of a notice filed earlier with the Federal Register continuing the emergency with respect to Western Balkans first declared in Executive Order 13219 of June 26, 2001 – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 111-118).

6:35 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a sealed envelope from the White House on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 3:08 p.m., which is said to contain a message from the President whereby he submits a copy of a notice filed earlier with the Federal Register continuing the emergency with respect to Western Balkans first declared in Executive Order 13219 of June 26, 2001.

H. Res. 518:

honoring the life of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, explorer, researcher, and pioneer in the field of marine conservation

6:34 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): 354 – 0 (Roll no. 338).

6:27 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 1061:

to transfer certain land to the United States to be held in trust for the Hoh Indian Tribe, to place land into trust for the Hoh Indian Tribe, and for other purposes

6:26 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 347 – 0 (Roll no. 337).

6:03 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

6:02 P.M. –

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

6:01 P.M. –

Mr. Perlmutter filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 1424.

6:00 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of June 8.

2:48 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:00 P.M. today.

H. Res. 518:

honoring the life of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, explorer, researcher, and pioneer in the field of marine conservation

2:47 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

2:39 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 518. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Bordallo moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H.R. 1061:

to transfer certain land to the United States to be held in trust for the Hoh Indian Tribe, to place land into trust for the Hoh Indian Tribe, and for other purposes

2:38 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

2:27 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1061. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Bordallo moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 2008:

to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to facilitate the development of hydroelectric power on the Diamond Fork System of the Central Utah Project

2:26 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

2:22 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2008. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mrs. Napolitano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 4349:

to further allocate and expand the availability of hydroelectric power generated at Hoover Dam, and for other purposes

2:21 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

2:16 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4349. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mrs. Napolitano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:00 p.m. today.

2:04 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

H.R. 5136:

to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes

2:03 P.M. –

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. The House received a communication from Sarah Gerber, Chamber Support Services. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Ms. Gerber notified the House that she had been served with a trial subpoena issued by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for testimony in a criminal case and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, she determined that compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the precedents and privileges of the House.

2:02 P.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Foxx 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.

2:01 P.M. –

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

2:00 P.M. –

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

The Afghanistan War is now the longest war in U.S. history. If an end-date isn’t set, we could be there forever. We want a responsible withdrawal that’s complete no later than December 2011. Can you contribute $15 to help us send a strong message that politicians will understand?

As Pentagon Papers whistle-blower Daniel Ellsberg says in our new video, “It was always a bad year to get out of Vietnam.” We need to make sure the same doesn’t happen with Afghanistan.

If we can raise $10,000.00 by Wednesday, Rethink Afghanistan and our partners at TrueMajority.org will buy a full-page in Politico telling Congress and the President that we want our combat troops out of Afghanistan by December 2011.

Can you contribute $15 to send a strong message to our elected officials that this war has gone on long enough? We’re spending $1 million per troop, per year, and we’ve already lost 1,000 people in Afghanistan. Please donate today, and watch our latest video showing why we need to end this war next year.

Sincerely,
Robert Greenwald & Derrick Crowe
and the Brave New Foundation Team

Keep Families and States Out of the Red Tell your Senators to support struggling families.

The last time we checked, our economy hasn’t fully rebounded, state budgets are still in dire straits, too many families are living from paycheck to paycheck ― if they are lucky enough to have a paycheck at all ― and the health of too many families is at risk.

So we must ensure that our Senators support legislation that extends a lifeline to struggling families. We need legislation that allows jobless workers to continue their health insurance coverage through COBRA, supports funding for states to prevent families from losing Medicaid, and extends vital unemployment insurance benefits and cash assistance to low-income families through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

Make sure your Senators get it. Tell them to support critical extensions for at-risk families today.

States are running in the red. Without these funds, many states will make deeper cuts to health care, emergency assistance and other vital services for children and families. Don’t let our Senators short-change our country ― tell your Senators to pass legislation that helps America grow and families thrive.

Thank you for continuing to fight for women and families during these hard times.

Sincerely,

National Women’s Law Center

P.S. Women and families need help now more than ever. Please donate today to support our fight for real solutions for the unemployed.

RADICAL RIGHT — ARTISTS ASKED TO LIGHTEN SKIN COLOR ON ARIZONA MURAL AFTER COUNCILMAN STOKES RACIAL FEARS: “Nearly 500 people turned out Saturday to protest” changes to the skin color of a mural at an elementary school in Prescott, AZ. School officials recently asked the artists to “lighten the faces of the mural’s main subject,” a Hispanic boy. The school’s principal denied that his request has anything to do with race, saying he just wanted the artists to make the students “look happier and more excited,” and to “remove some shadowing that made the faces darker than they are.” But the mural, which depicts students using various forms of energy efficient transportation, attracted heated, racially based opposition early on in the mostly white town. R.E. Wall, the artist who heads the group that created the mural, told the Prescott Daily Courier that passersby regularly shouted racial slurs at his group as they worked, such as, “Get the ni—– off the wall,” “Get the sp– off the wall,” and, “You’re desecrating our school.” An article on the Courier’s website about the unveiling of the mural in late May attracted dozens of comments with racial undertones. Wall “attributes the start of the racial controversy to recent comments that Prescott City Councilman Steve Blair made” on his radio show. “I am not a racist,” Blair said last month in one of many segments on the mural, “but I will tell you depicting a black guy in the middle of that mural, based upon who’s President of the United States today and based upon the history of this community, when I grew up we had four black families. … I would have to ask the question, ‘Why?'” A school official said the “black guy” in the mural is actually a Hispanic student. Blair was fired last week from his radio show over the comments but he said he has no immediate plans to resign from the city council. Arizona recently passed a harsh new immigration law, which many believe will lead to racial profiling.