the Senate Convenes: 10:00amET March 6, 2012

• Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business for one hour with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
• Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1813, the Surface Transportation bill.  The filing deadline for all second degree amendments to the Reid amendment #1761 is 11:30am on Tuesday.
• At approximately 12:00pm, the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Reid amendment #1761 to S.1813.
• The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
• At 2:15pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and conduct two roll call votes on confirmation of the following:

• Calendar #439, Mary Elizabeth Phillips, of MO, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri and
• Calendar #440, Thomas Owen Rice, of WA, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington.

At approximately 12:00pm today, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Reid amendment #1761 to S.1813, the Surface Transportation bill.

Additionally, there will be 2 roll call votes at approximately 2:15pm on confirmation of the following Executive Calendar items:

–          Calendar #439, Mary Elizabeth Phillips, of MO, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri and

–          Calendar #440, Thomas Owen Rice, of WA, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington.

12:21pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Reid amendment #1761 to S.1813, the Surface Transportation bill; Not Invoked: 52-44

2:17pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Mary Elizabeth Phillips, of MO, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri; Confirmed: 95-2

2:43pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Thomas Owen Rice, of WA, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington; Confirmed: 93-4

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      Motion to invoke cloture on the Reid amendment #1761 to S.1813; Not Invoked: 52-44

2)      Confirmation of the nomination of Mary Elizabeth Phillips, of MO, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri; Confirmed: 95-2

3)      Confirmation of the nomination of Thomas Owen Rice, of WA, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington; Confirmed: 93-4

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.389, designating the first week of April 2012 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”.

Passed Calendar #253, S.1886, the Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act of 2011 with a Leahy-Grassley amendment by voice vote.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH  6, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

-SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.3:45:48 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.3:45:12 P.M. -H.R. 2842Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2842 as unfinished business.3:44:57 P.M. -H.R. 2842On motion to rise Agreed to by voice vote.3:44:44 P.M. -H.R. 2842Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to rise.3:43:29 P.M. -H.R. 2842On agreeing to the Ellison amendment; Failed by voice vote.3:29:58 P.M. -H.R. 2842DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 570, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Ellison amendment No. 3 under the five-minute rule.3:29:56 P.M. -H.R. 2842An amendment, offered by Mr. Ellison,  numbered 3 printed in the Congressional Record to add a section to H.R. 2842 which states that section 2 of the bill and the amendments made by section 2 shall not take effect unless the Secretary finds that such section and amendments, if in effect, shall not result in a net loss of jobs.3:28:16 P.M. -H.R. 2842POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Napolitano amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Napolitano demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.3:17:13 P.M. -H.R. 2842DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 570, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Napolitano amendment No. 1 under the five-minute rule.3:17:10 P.M. -H.R. 2842An amendment, offered by Mrs. Napolitano,  numbered 1 printed in the Congressional Record to strike the exemption for small conduit hydropower development from the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.3:16:47 P.M. -H.R. 2842On agreeing to the Tipton amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.3:16:16 P.M. -H.R. 2842DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 570, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Tipton amendment No. 2 under the five-minute rule.3:16:13 P.M. -H.R. 2842An amendment, offered by Mr. Tipton,  numbered 2 printed in the Congressional Record to strike “2011” and insert “2012” in section 1.2:34:41 P.M. -H.R. 2842GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2842.2:34:30 P.M. -H.R. 2842The Speaker designated the Honorable Jason Chaffetz to act as Chairman of the Committee.2:34:29 P.M. -H.R. 2842House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 570 and Rule XVIII.2:34:04 P.M. -H.R. 2842Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2842 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 read by section. Specified amendments are in order. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed in the bill. All points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute are waived.2:33:59 P.M. -H.R. 2842Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 570. H.R. 2842 — “To authorize all Bureau of Reclamation conduit facilities for hydropower development under Federal Reclamation law, and for other purposes.”2:33:35 P.M. -H. Res. 570Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.2:33:19 P.M. -H. Res. 570On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.2:33:17 P.M. -H. Res. 570On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 232 – 177 (Roll no. 97).2:14:04 P.M. -H. Res. 570Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 570 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2842) to authorize all Bureau of Reclamation conduit facilities for hydropower development under Federal Reclamation law, and for other purposes.”2:13:20 P.M. -UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on ordering the previous question for H. Res. 570, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.2:13:19 P.M. -ADJUSTMENT OF WHOLE HOUSE – Under clause 5(d) of rule XX, the Chair announced to the House that, in light of the passing of the gentleman from the State of New Jersey, Mr. Payne, the whole number of the House is 433.2:13:18 P.M. -H. Res. 571Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.2:13:09 P.M. -H. Res. 571On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.2:11:36 P.M. -H. Res. 571Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 571 — “Expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives on the death of the Honorable Donald M. Payne, a Representative from the State of New Jersey.”2:08:08 P.M. -MOMENT OF SILENCE – The House observed a moment of silence in honor of the life of Honorable Donald M. Payne, a Representative from the State of New Jersey.2:06:51 P.M. -H.R. 4105Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.2:06:49 P.M. -H.R. 4105On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 370 – 39 (Roll no. 96).1:38:09 P.M. -H.R. 4105Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 4105 — “To apply the countervailing duty provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 to nonmarket economy countries, and for other purposes.”1:37:32 P.M. -UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on a motion to suspend the rules, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.1:37:31 P.M. -H. Res. 570POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H. Res. 570, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Slaughter demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on ordering the previous question until later in the legislative day.1:08:00 P.M. -H. Res. 570DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 570.1:05:59 P.M. -H. Res. 570Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 570 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2842) to authorize all Bureau of Reclamation conduit facilities for hydropower development under Federal Reclamation law, and for other purposes.”1:04:39 P.M. -H.R. 4105At 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.12:32:40 P.M. -H.R. 4105DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4105.12:32:38 P.M. -H.R. 4105Considered under suspension of the rules.12:32:24 P.M. -H.R. 4105Mr. Camp moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 4105 — “To apply the countervailing duty provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 to nonmarket economy countries, and for other purposes.”12:31:36 P.M. -The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until later in the legislative day.12:03:13 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.12:03:04 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Higgins to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.12:03:00 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal.  Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.12:01:02 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.12:00:59 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 6.11:01:25 A.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.10:01:04 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.10:00:27 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Lynn Jenkins to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.10:00:10 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.