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the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 6/12 ~~ the House


UScapitoltakenfromkenschramstoryThe Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Thursday, June 12, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 11:30am with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the Majority controlling the next 30 minutes.

 

At 11:30am, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #523 Crystal Nix-Hines, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization with 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form. Upon the use or yielding back of time (approximately 12noon), there will be up to 4 roll call votes on the following:

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #523 Crystal Nix-Hines – for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #710  Michael J. McCord, of Ohio, to be Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller),

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #782 R. Jane Chu, of Missouri, to be Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts for a term of four years, and

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #776 Todd A. Batta, of Iowa, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture.

 

Following disposition of the Batta nomination, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 1:45pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

 

At 1:45pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and proceed to up to 3 roll call votes on the following:

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

12:00 noon The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #523 Crystal Nix-Hines, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization;

Confirmed: 52-41

Senator Levin asked unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the Majority leader, in consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate vote on ratification of Executive Calendar #9, 113th Congress, 2nd Session” href=”http://democrats.senate.gov/execlookup.php?nomination=calendar+no.+9&congress=113″ target=”_blank”>Executive Calendar #9 treaty document 112-1, Protocol Amending Tax Convention with Swiss Confederation. Senator Paul objected.

The Senate confirmed the following nominations by voice vote:

 

  1. Executive Calendar #710  Michael J. McCord, of Ohio, to be Under Secretary of Defense;
  2. Executive Calendar #782 R. Jane Chu, Missouri, to be Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts for a term of four years; and
  3. Executive Calendar #776 Todd A. Batta, of Iowa, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture

 

1:46pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

Confirmed: 61-31

 

Next:

  1. Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and
  2. Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

2:12pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

Confirmed: 67-24

 

2:29pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

Confirmed: 63-24.

The Fischer nominations was confirmed 63-24. The Senate is now considering the motion to proceed to H.R.4660, the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill.

 

Today Senator Reid filed cloture on the following nominations and on the motion to proceed to H.R.4660, the CJS Appropriations bill:

 

  1. Executive Calendar #740, Salvador Mendoza, Jr., of Washington, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington;
  2. Executive Calendar #741, Staci Michelle Yandle, of Illinois, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois;
  3. Executive Calendar #778, Darrin P. Gayles, of Florida, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida;
  4. Executive Calendar #572, Peter Joseph Kadzik, of New York, to be an Assistant Attorney General; and
  5. MTP to Calendar #428, H.R.4660, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015

 

On Monday, June 16, at 5:30pm there will be up to 3 roll call votes:

 

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #740, Salvador Mendoza, Jr., of Washington, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington;
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #741, Staci Michelle Yandle, of Illinois, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois;
  3. Cloture on Executive Calendar #778, Darrin P. Gayles, of Florida, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida;

 

If cloture is invoked on any of the nominations, on Tuesday, June 17th at 11:00am, all post-cloture time will be considered expired and the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed above followed by a cloture vote on  Executive Calendar #572 Peter Joseph Kadzik – to be an Assistant Attorney General.

 

On Tuesday, June 17 at 11:00am—up to 4 roll call votes:

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #740 Salvador Mendoza, Jr. – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington,

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #741 Staci Michelle Yandle – to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois,

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #778 Darrin P. Gayles – to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida, and

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #572 Peter Joseph Kadzik – to be an Assistant Attorney General (up to 8 hours of post-cloture debate).

 

At a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, in consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations:

 

  1. Executive Calendar #538 Brian A. Nichols – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Peru;
  2. Executive Calendar #770  Gustavo Velasquez Aguilar – to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
  3. Executive Calendar #766  J. Mark McWatters – to be a Member of the National Credit Union Administration Board for a term expiring August 2, 2019 and
  4. Executive Calendar #712 Christine E. Wormuth – to be Under Secretary of Defense.

 

There will be 2 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form on each nomination; that upon the use or yielding back of time the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations in the order listed. All roll call votes after the first be 10 minutes in length. Senators will be notified when the votes are scheduled.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #523 Crystal Nix-Hines, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization; Confirmed: 52-41

2)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Confirmed: 61-31

3)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Confirmed: 67-24

4)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Confirmed: 63-24

 

Legislative items

Adopted S.Res.473, Celebrating the 20th anniversary of National Men’s Health Week.

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Adopted S.Res.474, Designating June 19, 2014, as “Juneteenth Independence Day” in recognition of June 19, 1865, the day on which slavery legally came to an end in the United States

 

Adopted S.Res.475, Congratulating the Alaska Aces hockey team on winning the 2014 Kelly Cup as champions of the East Coast Hockey League.

 

Adopted S.Res.476, Recognizing the 350th anniversary of the founding of the State of New Jersey and honoring the valuable contributions of people of the Garden State.

 

Additional Executive items

Confirmed the following by voice vote:

–        Executive Calendar #710  Michael J. McCord, of Ohio, to be Under Secretary of Defense.

–        Executive Calendar #782 R. Jane Chu, Missouri, to be Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts for a term of four years.

–        Executive Calendar #776 Todd A. Batta, of Iowa, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture.

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Have you heard about Moral Monday?


 

I support the Moral Monday protesters.

President Obama announced TWO pieces of GREAT news


Sign on to support President Obama’s call to action:

Moments ago, President Obama endorsed the Elizabeth Warren-John Tierney plan to effectively lower student loan debt by allowing people to refinance their loans. Add your name to support the plan:

President Obama just announced TWO pieces of GREAT news:

1. President Obama is taking executive action to expand his “Pay As You Earn” student loan program to up to five million more Americans. That means millions of college graduates won’t be forced to pay more than 10% of their monthly income on student loan bills.

2. President Obama went one step further — he called on Congress to pass the Elizabeth Warren-John Tierney bill allowing graduates to refinance their student loans, and get cheaper rates. The measure is paid for by making millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share of taxes.

You can bet Republicans in Congress aren’t eager to support raising taxes on their billionaire backers — even if it helps college graduates struggling under crushing student loan debt.

That’s why we need to put the pressure on today — a vote could come as soon as this week.

Join President Obama: Help us reach 50,000 strong calling on Congress to pass the Elizabeth Warren-John Tierney Student Loan Reform Bill.

Carmen, click here to add your name >>

Thanks,

DCCC Breaking News

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 6/10 ~~ the House


voter-suppression_petition

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, June 10, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Following the vote, the time until 12:00noon will be equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees.

 

At 12:00noon, there will be 2 roll call votes on the following nominations:

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; and

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada.

Following the vote on the Boulware nomination, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm for the weekly caucus meetings.

 

At 2:15pm, the time until 2:30pm will be equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees.

At 2:30pm, there will be 3 roll call votes on the following motions:

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors.

10:13am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #734, M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia;

Confirmed: 90-0

12:01pm The Senate began a 15minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts.

Confirmed: 91-0

 

Next:

– Confirmation of Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada

At 12:32pm, the Senate began a 10-minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada.

Confirmed: 58-35

At 12:32pm, the Senate began a 10-minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada.

Confirmed: 58-35

2:30pm The Senate began a 5 minute roll call vote on Cloture on Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

Invoked: 59-35

 

Next:

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors  of the Federal Reserve System

2:58pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on cloture on Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

Invoked: 58-36

 

Next:

Cloture on Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

3:16pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on cloture on Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

Invoked: 56-38

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia; Confirmed: 90-0

2)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Confirmed: 91-0

3)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada; Confirmed: 58-35

4)     Cloture on Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Invoked: 59-31

5)     Cloture on Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Invoked: 58-36

6)     Cloture on Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Invoked: 56-38

 

Legislative items

Adopted H.Con.Res.100, a` concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

 

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.2450, Veterans’ Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 (Sanders and McCain) in order to place the bill on the Legislative Calendar of Business.

 

No Additional Executive items

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Last Floor Action:
10:30:30 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

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the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 6/9 ~~ the House


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The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, June 9, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

 

At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and proceed to a series of 3 roll call votes on the following:

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia;

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; and

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada.

 

If cloture is invoked on any of the nominations, on Tuesday, June 10th at 10:00am, all post-cloture time will be considered expired and the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed above.

 

For the information of all Senators, during Thursday’s session of the Senate, Senator Reid filed cloture on the following nominations in the following order:

–        Executive Calendar #734, M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia;

–        Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts;

–        Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada;

–        Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (8 hours of post-cloture debate);

–        Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (8 hours of post-cloture debate); and

–        Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors (8 hours of post-cloture debate).

After the Senate convened today, Senator Reid moved to proceed to S.2432, a bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans. The Senate is now in a period of morning business until 5:30pm with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

 

At 5:30pm today, there will be a series of 3 roll call votes on the following motions:

 

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia;

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; and

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada.

Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2432, a bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans. The cloture vote is expected to occur on Wednesday, June 11. Another message will be sent once the vote time is scheduled.

5:32pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia;

Invoked: 52-32

 

Next:

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; and

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada.

6:04pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts;

Invoked: 52-33

 

Next:

Cloture on Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada (10 minute vote)

At 6:20, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada

Invoked: 53-34

The Senate has reached an agreement that results in several series of votes tomorrow and Thursday, June 12. As a reminder, cloture was also filed on the motion to proceed to the College Affordability bill and that vote will occur at a time to be determined on Wednesday.  Additional votes are possible this week, but the current schedule is as follows:

 

Tuesday, June 10:

10:00am—1 roll call vote:

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia

 

12:00noon — 2 roll call votes:

 

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada

 

2:30pm,–3 roll call votes:

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors

 

Wednesday, June 11:

TBD-cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2432, College Affordability

 

Thursday, June 12:

1:45pm—3 roll call votes—(if cloture is invoked on the Federal Reserve nominations on Tuesday)

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #769, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #771, Jerome H. Powell, of Maryland, to be  Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #767, Stanley Fischer, of New York, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors

At a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, with the concurrence of the Republican Leader, there will be up to 30 minutes for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #523, Crystal Nix-Hines, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

 

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #734, the nomination of M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia; invoked: 52-32

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #736, Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Invoked: 52-33

–        Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #739, Richard Franklin Boulware II, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada; Invoked: 53-34

 

No Legislative items

The Senate began the Rule 14 process to place S.2450, Veterans’ Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 (Sanders and McCain), on the Legislative Calendar of Business.

 

No additional Executive items       

Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2432, a bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans

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Last Floor Action:
11:15:15 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on June 10, 2014.

Last Floor Action:6/5
3:04:46 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 604.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on June 9, 2014.

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