Tag Archives: Osama Bin Laden

Bin Laden Justice a Testament to our Troops and Veterans


To get the complete articles go to: www.murray.senate.gov

Applauding our Service members and Veterans for Bringing Osama bin Laden to Justice

This week, I spoke on the floor of the Senate to applaud the most significant victory to date in our war on terrorism and to pay tribute to our service members, veterans, and intelligence operatives who worked so diligently to ensure that Osama bin Laden was brought to justice.

Read More

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Getting Critical Benefits for Family Caregivers of Veterans

Thisweek, I was very pleased to see that the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs listened to my concerns and reversed their decision to restrict financial and health care support to familymembers caring for severely wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The change will allow more caregivers of more veterans to be eligible for the long-overdue benefit. I felt sostrongly about this issue that I personally brought it up with President Obama in the Oval Office. I’m pleased the he showed real leadership and worked to ensure the VA made this right.Going forward, I will monitor how the VA implements this program, looking closely at how caregivers of veterans with the invisible wounds of war are considered for this benefit.

Read More

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Training our Workforce

Last week, I toured the Pacific Fisherman Shipyard in Seattle with local workersand business owners to discuss legislation that would make sure workers have the skills and training they need to fill local jobs. According to a recent report released by the Washington StateEmployment Security Department, statewide job openings were up 31% last fall compared to a year earlier. This is great news; however, often employers can’t find local workers with theskills needed to fill those jobs. That’s why I’m working to pass my CareerPathways legislation which would help young people leaving high school get the skills and training they need to enter the workforce. I’m also working to reform and reauthorize the WorkforceInvestment Act which offers critical retraining to workers, including those who have recently been laid off

Read More

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ensuring Workplace Safety

Last week, I honored Workers Memorial Day and the 40 thanniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the effective date of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. In the past 40 years, we have made greatprogress in reducing workplace tragedies, but we still have a long way to go. Every worker, in every industry, deserves to be confident that while they are working hard and doing their jobs, theiremployers are doing everything they can to protect them. That’s why I joined so many others last week in recommitting to our efforts to make sure that workplaces are safe in everyindustry across America.

Read More

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Urging President Obama to Fill Vacancies on Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, DecreaseWaiting Time for Veterans Seeking Answers on their Benefits

This week, I sent a letter to President Obama urging him to quickly fill threevacant judicial positions on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. This court has the huge responsibility of reviewing rejected disability and health care benefit claims for veterans, anincreasingly large burden with a claims backlog that has doubled in recent years. Without the quick nomination of judges to fill these seats, veterans will continue waiting far too longto get answers on their benefits. Once President Obama announces his nominees, I will work with my colleagues to move them quickly through the Senate confirmation process.

making Monday &some News


Unless you live under a rock, much has happened in the news lately. While “the media” continues its quest for more info about OBL or have decided to put that special Media spin on the OBL story most seem to be having on and off camera tantrums. There are few reports on what Republicans Governors are doing, flooding in the South,Vermont’s quest for Single Payer, abortion, that family values platform, more oil spill news, Marches against discrimination and legislation that take away rights from our fellow Americans seemingly all led by Republicans are getting promoted on shows like fox and definitely take over real valuable news time. I am offended by and somewhat curious to know what the people from Right Wing Media tell family, friends and neighbors or others with diverse backgrounds that they know or kids know about the offensive platform and racist positions they push to millions. I do not understand allowing racism, discrimination and or lack of tolerance be a part of the news spot, segment unless of course the agency is private and then why would we subscribe to allowing a private entity promote discrimination, fear monger advocate or campaign for people who are racists or who fear the unknown. I wonder just how these people played or worked with others in school and were they mostly in private school or had vouchers.

Congress is back in Session with plenty to do and plenty of complaints about another recession or worse only a month ago or as talking heads and Republicans refer to it as a double dip. The fact is things look better than even “the Media” will allow us all to hear. The weekend panel shows swiped past the number of jobs gained by the private sector so quickly it seemed like bad news. Yes, the unemployment rate went up and just so, folks know … that was because more people jumped into the fray of looking for work again and unfortunately the Republican effort to squash Public Service jobs is succeeding . However, it is obvious that most if not all the JOBs BS could be avoided if folks in Congress would just work for the best interest of the people instead of what will keep them employed on the Hill. We all know Republicans voted against the unemployed, women, gays, children, first responders, people of colour and every social service that should be handled by our government or at the very least reformed to work better or is moved into the 21st Century. There are many, mostly those in “the media” who feel the vote for President Obama hangs on the employment numbers. I have to disagree with the idea that using polls and or jobs numbers to decide President Obama’s fate are legitimate. However, if you are having issues deciding whom to vote for President in 2012, which is odd because it seems obvious no one on the right is doing a thing to help we the people. I say use your vote for President Obama in 2012 to voice and or say how those NO votes made our Teachers, Police, First Responders and 99ers feel and vote out Republicans.

The party of no is living on borrowed time as more and more constituents probably have family, friends and neighbors directly affected or are now experiencing hard times with Republicans putting Profits before the People. It is hard to believe Republicans still think the outcome of the November midterms is still valid and unless they turned off their hearing aids, those comments and challenges from their constituents should put some fear into their moves between now and the 2012 elections. I can only hope that voters will continue to seek the truth, question and challenge what words Republicans seem to be leaving out of their speeches, seminars, and or town halls. If more people would just stop and listen more people would definitely see the light and stop supporting and or putting up with the Republican Tea Party lies let alone side with Wall Street waging a war on Main Street and those on The Street looking for work who might not have money but definitely have a vote .

Yes, the public is finally noticing the verbal conflicts, manipulation, and avoidance, lack of facts and truths having started calling out Republicans during that long break at town halls. It is upon us all to continue the push for more accurate information more truths to get the rest of those doubters to lean left.

Other News

 **Floods in Mississippi , Missouri

**Vermont continues it quest for Single Payer -insurance

CTV.ca

Hundreds Reported Arrested as Syria’s Crackdown Widens

Paula Abdul Joins Simon Cowell’s ‘X Factor’ as Judge – It’s Official

$2B for rail projects, speed upgrades announced

Newt Gingrich to launch presidential bid Wednesday

Yemen Security Forces Kill Two Protesters

EGYPT: Religious conflict becomes the revolution’s biggest enemy

CSPAN

U.S.-China Meet on Strategic and Economic Issues

http://c-span.org/Events/US-China-Meet-on-Strategic-and-Economic-Issues/10737421393/

Oil, Gas Prices and Budget Debate in Congress This Week

http://c-span.org/Events/Oil-Gas-Prices-and-Budget-Debate-in-Congress-This-Week/10737421391/

Tea Party Activists Take on GOP on Deficit

Address need for leadership http://c-span.org/Events/Tea-Party-Activists-Take-on-GOP-on-Deficit/10737421394/

Joel Lane was born in the colony of North Carolina in 1739 and lived there till his death in 1795. He was involved in North Carolina’s transition from colony to state and with Raleigh being chosen as the state’s capital.

http://c-span.org/Events/Joel-Lane-and-His-Slaves/10737421319/

Terrorism: The End of an Era of Fear


Nearly ten years ago, on September 11, 2001, the United States suffered the worst terror attack in our history, as terrorists hijacked commercial airliners and used them to attack several targets, including the World Trade Center in New York City. Since that day, the primary suspected mastermind of those attacks, al Qaeda‘s Osama Bin Laden, had been at large. Despite promises by former President George W. Bush to capture or kill this terrorist leader, Bin Laden successfully evaded the United States and its allies. Last night, during a well-executed covert operation, the United States killed Bin Laden in a mansion he was housed in located right outside the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. The death of the terrorist leader marks the end of a decade-long search for the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. Additionally, it should serve as a bookend to the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, both of which were launched at least partly with the stated goal of rooting out Bin Laden and his al Qaeda allies. With the proper leadership, Bin Laden’s death could mark the end of an era where the threat of terrorism was viewed anachronistically as the all-consuming threat used to justify unnecessary conflict and the degradation of civil liberties.

A LONG SEARCH: Although Bin Laden gained most of his notoriety from the 9/11 attacks, he actually had been sought even before those events for his role in the bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa, the attack on the U.S.S. Cole, and the first attack on the World Trade Center. Following the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush failed to capture him in Afghanistan — as even his administration conceded that they failed to capture Bin Laden at the battle of Tora Bora — and later started a war in Iraq that mis-directed U.S. resources to an unnecessary and disastrous war. Just six months after 9/11, Bush was already telling people that he “doesn’t spend that much time” on seeking Bin Laden. The Weekly’s Standard’s Fred Barnes reported in 2006 that the president told him “Bin Laden doesn’t fit with the administration’s strategy for combating terrorism.” Yet yesterday a number of major conservatives gave Bush praise anyway. Former Bush advisor Karl Rove said that “the tools that President Bush put into place — GITMO, rendition, enhanced interrogation, the vast effort to collect and collate this information — obviously served his successor quite well.” Heritage Foundation President Edwin Feulner wrote that “Bin Laden’s elimination vindicates U.S. strategy in the region, started under President George W. Bush.” On September 10, 2010, President Obama told a reporter at a news conference that “capturing or killing bin Laden and Zawahiri would be extremely important to our national security.”

HIDING IN A MANSION: While many expected the terrorist leader to be hiding out in a cave in Afghanistan or in the northwest provinces of Pakistan, U.S. forces and intelligence assets actually found Bin Laden to be residing in a mansion compound in Abbotabad, Pakistan, which is located approximately 75 miles from the capital city of Islamabad. The United States had been scoping out the location since 2010, and on April 29, it used a special operations team as a part of a “kill mission” that resulted in the death of the al Qaeda leader, his brother, one of his sons, and perhaps an unidentified woman. President Obama announced the news of Bin Laden’s killing at a press conference on Sunday night, saying, “The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.” The fact that Bin Laden was hiding so close to the Pakistani capital and a short drive from Pakistani military headquarters has raised eyebrows among many, with some analysts wondering how the terrorist could’ve avoided the eyes of the Pakistani intelligence services. White House counterterror adviser John Brennan said during a news conference yesterday that we shouldn’t forget that “Pakistan has been responsible for capturing and killing more terrorists inside of Pakistan than any country and it’s by a wide margin and there have been many, many brave Pakistani soldiers, security officials, as well as citizens who have given their lives because of the terrorism scourge in that country.” Soon after the death of the terrorist leader’s killing was reported, a bomb exploded at a mosque in northwestern Pakistan, killing a woman and three kids, perhaps the first retaliation from terrorists. The news of Bin Laden’s death served to bring closure to many Americans, with a large group of people converging outside the White House to sing the National Anthem, massive cheering taking place at the Mets-Phillys game, and Arab and Muslim Americans celebrating in Dearborn, Michigan. The reaction among many 9/11 survivors was also recorded in the media. “If this means there is one less death in the future, then I’m glad for that,” said Harry Waizer, who suffered third-degree burns while escaping from one of the Twin Towers. “But I just can’t find it in me to be glad one more person is dead, even if it is Osama Bin Laden.”

TORTURED CONCLUSIONS: Shortly after the death of Bin Laden, many right-wing commentators began crediting torture for the intelligence that led to finding the terrorist leader. Bush torture program architect John Yoo said that Bin Laden’s death was “yet another sign of the success of the Bush administration’s war on terror policies” and that the Al Qaeda courier who gave the intelligence was subjected to “enhanced interrogation methods.” Former Bush speechwriter Marc Thiessen also said that the intelligence came from the CIA’s “enhanced interrogation program.” The National Review’s Dan Foster wrote that “it’s clear that we couldn’t have had this outcome without Bush-era counter-terror policies…Obama was wrong about the usefulness of…the interrogation methods they pursued.” Yet yesterday, in an interview with Newsmax, Bush Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said that the courier was not subjected to waterboarding or other torture methods. Additionally, the Associated Press reports that Al Qaeda “number three” Khalid Sheik Mohammed “did not reveal” information that led to Bin Laden’s location “while being subjected to the simulated drowning technique known as waterboarding, former officials said.” He identified them many months later under standard interrogation.”

A BOOKEND TO THE WARS: Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, the United States invaded Afghanistan along with a larger international coalition, seeking to uproot Al Qaeda and capture or kill Bin Laden. With Bin Laden’s death, the U.S. has now achieved one of its major war aim, and the killing of the terrorist leader should serve as a symbolic bookend to the conflict, smoothing the way for the U.S. and international community to draw down their forces from both Afghanistan, where Al Qaeda did have a major presence, and Iraq, where they did not. In fact, the Al Qaeda presence in Afghanistan has slowly dwindled to where the group has almost no active fighters in the country. As Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) said during a conference call with bloggers last year, “I think about how much we spend, a billion dollars per year per Al-Qaeda member to defeat them. It’s not making ourselves safer.” And the irony that Bin Laden was found in Pakistan, an ally with whom the United States cooperates with on military and intelligence operations, and not in Afghanistan, where it has well over a hundred thousand troops, was not lost on Afghan leadership. “Osama was not in Afghanistan: they found him in Pakistan,” said Afghan President Hamid Karzai. “The war on terror is not in Afghan villages…but in the safe havens of terrorism outside Afghanistan.” As Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) told ThinkProgress in an interview yesterday, “We went there to get Osama bin Laden. And we have now gotten Osama bin laden … So yes, I think this does strengthen the case [for withdrawal].” Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT), Rep. Jarold Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), and Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) echoed similar sentiments. Last night, 9/11 responder Kenny Specht told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that he hopes Bin Laden’s death could finally signal a coming peace after ten years of nonstop war: “I mean, we’re in a quagmire, for lack of a better term, in Afghanistan. I hope to God that tonight is one large step to maybe wrapping up operations in Afghanistan.”

what’s happening on the floor of Congress: -the Republican led House -the Senate


the Senate Convenes at 10:00amET May 3, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 5:00 pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The Republicans will control the first 30 minutes and the Majority will control the next 30 minutes.

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

The filing deadline for all first degree amendments to S.493, the Small Business Jobs bill is at 2:30pm today. If your Senator has a germane first degree amendment and would like to preserve his or her right to offer, please send a signed copy of the amendment to the cloakroom prior to 2:30pm today. If you have already filed, there is no need to re-file.

At 2:15pm, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of S.Res.159, a resolution honoring the members of the military and intelligence community who carried out the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, and for other purposes, with up to 90 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. The final 10 minutes of debate will be reserved for the two Leaders, with the Republican Leader controlling five minutes and the Majority Leader controlling the final five minutes.

Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 3:45pm), the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on adoption of the resolution. Senator Reid encourages Senators to vote from their desks.

The Senate is currently in a period of morning business until 5:00pm for debate only with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

There will be no further roll call votes today.

Votes:

63: Adoption of S.Res.159, honoring the members of the military and intelligence community who carried out the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, and for other purposes; Adopted: 97-0

Unanimous Consent:

S.Res.160, designating May 6, 2011, as “Military Spouse Appreciation Day”.

S.Res.161, designating May 2011 as “National Inventors Month”.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MAY 3, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

6:45 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

6:44 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

H.R. 1214: to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction

6:43 P.M. – Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1214 as unfinished business.

On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

Mr. Burgess moved that the Committee rise.

6:42 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Pallone amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

6:39 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Pallone amendment numbered 2 under the five-minute rule.

6:38 P.M. – Amendment offered by Mr. Pallone. An amendment numbered 2 printed in the Congressional Record to require a GAO study to determine school districts most in need of constructing or renovating school-based health centers.

6:37 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

6:28 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment No.1 under the five-minute rule.

6:27 P.M. – Amendment offered by Ms. Jackson Lee (TX). An amendment numbered 1 printed in the Congressional Record to insert a new paragraph requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to post a notice of recission of unobligated funds made available by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act not later than 10 days after the date of enactment of this Act on the Department’s public website.

6:26 P.M. – The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

6:25 P.M. – Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 1213: to repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges

6:21 P.M. – Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 238 – 183 (Roll no. 285).

6:14 P.M. – On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 190 – 233 (Roll no. 284).

5:48 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment inserting a provision that would require health insurance issuers to disclose the extent to which coverage has been denied or premiums have been increased for an individual. A point of order was reserved, but was subsequently withdrawn.

5:47 P.M. – Mr. Boswell moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce. Mr. Boswell moves to recommit the bill H.R. 1213 to the Committee on Energy and Commerce with instructions to report the same to the House forthwith with the following amendment: � In section 1, add at the end the following: � (c) CANCER OR OTHER PREEXISTING CONDITION NON-DISCRIMINATION DISCLOSURE CONDITION. — ***

5:46 P.M. – The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1213.

5:45 P.M. – On agreeing to the Ellison amendment Failed by recorded vote: 180 – 242 (Roll no. 283).

5:37 P.M. – On agreeing to the Waters amendment Failed by recorded vote: 178 – 242 (Roll no. 282).

5:30 P.M. – On agreeing to the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment Failed by recorded vote: 177 – 239 (Roll no. 281).

5:07 P.M. – UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings were postponed.

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 1214: to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction

5:06 P.M. – Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1214 as unfinished business.

On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

5:05 P.M. – Mr. Burgess moved that the Committee rise.

3:55 P.M. – GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1214.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Steven C. LaTourette to act as Chairman of the Committee.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 236 and Rule XVIII.

3:54 P.M. – Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1213 and H.R. 1214 with 1 hour of general debate for each bill. In both cases, the previous question shall be considered as ordered except motion to recommit with or without instructions. The measures will be considered read. In the case of H.R. 1213, specified amendments are in order. In the case of H.R. 1214, the resolution makes in order only those amendments that are received for printing in the portion of the Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 8 of rule XVIII in a daily issue dated May 2, 2011, and pro forma amendments for the purpose of debate.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 236.

H.R. 1213: to repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1213 as unfinished business.

On motion that the Committee now rise Agreed to by voice vote.

Mr. Burgess moved that the Committee now rise.

3:53 P.M. – On agreeing to the Welch amendment Failed by voice vote.

3:43 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Welch (VT) substitute amendment No. 5.

Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Welch.

A substitute amendment numbered 5 printed in House Report 112-70 to preserve funding for establishment of Health Benefit Exchanges for states that apply for early innovator grants before 2012. The funds used shall be subject to availability of appropriations up to $1.9 billion.

On agreeing to the Pallone amendment Failed by voice vote.

3:31 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pallone amendment No. 4.

Amendment offered by Mr. Pallone.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 112-70 to require GAO to report on benefits of funding in setting up state run exchanges that reflect that state’s marketplace, as opposed to state exchanges established and operated by the federal government.

3:30 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Ellison amendment no. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Ellison demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

3:19 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ellison amendment No. 3.

Amendment offered by Mr. Ellison.

An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 112-70 to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to Congress a report on the impact of H.R. 1213 on the possible delays and potential enrollment reductions to Health Benefit Exchanges.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Waters amendment no. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Waters demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

3:12 P.M. – DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waters amendment No. 2.

Amendment offered by Ms. Waters.

An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 112-70 to require, within 6 months after enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to Congress a report on the extent to which states are expected to have difficulties establishing Health Benefit Exchanges without the federal assistance repealed and rescinded under this bill.

3:11 P.M. – POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment no. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Jackson Lee (TX) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

3:00 P.M. – Amendment offered by Ms. Jackson Lee (TX). An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 112-70 to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to post notice of rescission of funds and the amount rescinded on the public website of the Department of Health and Human Services.

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 236, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment No. 1.

1:49 P.M. – GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1213.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Steven C. LaTourette to act as Chairman of the Committee.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 236 and Rule XVIII.

1:48 P.M. – Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1213 and H.R. 1214 with 1 hour of general debate for each bill. In both cases, the previous question shall be considered as ordered except motion to recommit with or without instructions. The measures will be considered read. In the case of H.R. 1213, specified amendments are in order. In the case of H.R. 1214, the resolution makes in order only those amendments that are received for printing in the portion of the Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 8 of rule XVIII in a daily issue dated May 2, 2011, and pro forma amendments for the purpose of debate.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 236.

H.R. 1425: to reauthorize and improve the SBIR and STTR programs, and for other purposes

1:46 P.M. – RE-REFERRAL OF H.R. 1425 – Mr. Hall(TX) asked unanimous consent the H.R. 1425 be re-referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition, to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology and Armed Services. Agreed to without objection.

H. Res. 236: providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 1213) to repeal mandatory funding provided to States in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish American Health Benefit Exchanges, and providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 1214) to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 237 – 185 (Roll no. 280).

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

1:39 P.M. – On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 234 – 185 (Roll no. 279).

12:16 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 236.

12:13 P.M. – Considered as privileged matter.

12:02 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.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Payne to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

12:01 P.M. – The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

12:00 P.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Alan Kieran, Office of the U.S. Senate Chaplain, Washington DC.

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of May 3.

10:43 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

10:02 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.

10:01 A.M. – The Speaker designated the Honorable Tom McClintock to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

10:00 A.M. – The House convened, starting a new legislative day.