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Congress — the House/Senate …

04/20/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes: 10:00am

Morning Business for 1 hour with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The Republicans will control the first 30 minutes and the Majority will control the final 30 minutes.

Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session with the time until 12:00 noon equally divided and controlled between Senators Baucus and Grassley or their designees, with Senator Bunning in control of 15 minutes of the Republican time.

At 12:00 noon, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination of Lael Brainard to be Under Secretary of the Treasury.

Following the vote, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm for the weekly caucus luncheons

When the Senate reconvenes at 2:15pm, there will be up to 6 hours for debate with respect to the nomination of Marisa Demeo to be an Associate Judge for the DC Superior Court prior to a vote on confirmation. Upon disposition of the Demeo nomination, the Senate will then proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination of Stuart Nash to be an Associate Judge of the DC Superior Court.

Votes:
119: Confirmation of Lael Brainard to be Under Secretary of the Treasury;
Confirmed: 78-19

120: Confirmation of Marisa Demeo to be an Associate Judge for the DC Superior Court;
Confirmed: 66-32

Unanimous Consent:
Confirmed Executive Calendar #333, Stuart Gordon Nash, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Adopted S.Res.492, a resolution honoring the life and achievements of Dr. Dorothy I. Height.

Adopted S.Res.493, a resolution designating April 23-25 as “Global Youth Service Days”.

Adopted S.REs. 494, a resolution honoring Ida B. Wells for her activism in the civil rights and woman’s rights movements and for her influential and inspirational leadership.

The House meeting starts at 12:30pmET

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF APRIL 20, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

7:28 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches. Mr. Poe of TX requested that Mr. Moran of KS be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on April 27.

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on April 27: Mr. Jones for 5 min.

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on April 26: Mr. Jones for 5 min, and Mr. Moran of KS for 5 min.

Mr. Poe of TX requested that Mr. Burton of IN be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on April 23.

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on April 22: Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min.

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on April 21: Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for 5 min.

7:15 P.M. –: ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:11 P.M. –: NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO OFFER RESOLUTION – Mr. Flake notified the House of his intent to rise to a question of the privileges of the House and to offer a resolution. Mr. Flake was recognized to notice the form of his proposed resolution. The Chair subsequently announced that under rule IX, a resolution offered from the floor by a Member other than the majority leader or the minority leader as a question of the privileges of the House has immediate precedence only at a time designated by the Chair within 2 legislative days after the resolution is properly noticed. The Chair announced that it would not, at that point, make the determination required by the rule, but that the form of the resolution would appear in the Congressional Record.

7:08 P.M. –

H. Res. 1271:: honoring the life and achievements of Rev. Benjamin Lawson Hooks

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 – 0 (Roll no. 213).

6:59 P.M. –
: Considered as unfinished business.
H. Res. 1257:: supporting the goals and ideals of National Financial Literacy Month, 2010, and for other purposes

6:58 P.M. –

6:31 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.
6:30 P.M. –: UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the question of adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier, and on which further proceedings were postponed. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 20.
3:40 P.M. –: The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.

H.Res 1104: supporting the mission and goals of 2010 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to increase public awareness of the rights, needs, and concerns of victims and survivors of crime in the United States, no matter their country of origin or their creed, and to commemorate the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week theme of “Crime Victims’ Rights: Fairness. Dignity. Respect.”

3:12 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1104. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Cohen moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1271:: honoring the life and achievements of Rev. Benjamin Lawson Hooks

3:11 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.

2:56 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1271. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Cohen moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1257:: supporting the goals and ideals of National Financial Literacy Month, 2010, and for other purposes

2:54 P.M. –

H. Res. 1257:: supporting the goals and ideals of National Financial Literacy Month, 2010, and for other purposes

2:35 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1257. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Hinojosa moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H.R. 3553:: to exclude from consideration as income under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 amounts received by a family from the Department of Veterans Affairs for service-related disabilities of a member of the family

2:34 P.M. –

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

2:22 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3553. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Cleaver moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H.R. 4178:: to amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to provide for deposit restricted qualified tuition programs, and for other purposes

2:10 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4178. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Cleaver moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. today.

2:09 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 message from the Secretary of the Senate on April 20, 2010 at 10:12 a.m. stating that that body had passed H.R. 4360 and agreed to H. Con. Res. 243.

2:02 P.M. –

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

12:55 P.M. –: The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

12:31 P.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

12:30 P.M. – The Speaker designated the Honorable Rick Larsen to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

Black History

Congress schedule … C-SPAN.org radio/live stream

04/19/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes: 2:00pm updates as needed

Morning Business until 3:00pm with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to debate the nomination of Lael Brainard to be Under Secretary of the Treasury. At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Brainard nomination.

As a reminder, Senator Reid filed cloture on the following nominations:

– Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury;
– Marisa J. Demeo, of the district of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia;
– Christopher H. Schroeder, of North Carolina, to be an Assistant Attorney General;
– Thomas I. Vanaskie, of Pennsylvania, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit; and
– Denny Chin, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit.

118: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the nomination of Lael Brainard to be Under Secretary of the Treasury:
Invoked: 84-10

Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S.Res.489, a resolution honoring the life and achievements of Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks.

Adopted H.Con.Res.243, a concurrent resolution authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for a June 6, 2010 event to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha.

Passed HR4360, a bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs blind rehabilitation center in Long Beach, California as the “Major Charles Robert Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center.”

The House Convenes 4/20/2010

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Monday mashup … c-span.org

04/19/2010 Nativegrl77

Word that all 41 GOP Senators oppose financial reform is not a surprise; hoping it shines a big light on the deception, dirty partisan behavior from McConnell; it is disappointing that Susan Collins has decided to use a completely bogus reason to vote against the financial reform that shoved our economy into a ditch by saying that financial reform should be done with bipartisanship… WHAT!

Now, it’s obvious that even a good bill means nothing to Senator Susan Collins or the rest of the Republicans.

With all the rhetoric … the good, bad and the really ugly by people who distrust government, mad that Republicans are not in power anymore, are anti-Obama and or are racists. It’s my contention that the Media and the guests they invite into the fray are by far the number one vehicle of people feeling this so-called palpable tension being felt all over the country. The rhetoric is admittedly from the right and left stirring up trouble. The problem is not freedom of speech it’s when talking heads or public servants such as Michelle Bachmann- lose sight of their responsibility when on the airwaves get emotional and start saying things that upset and rile their audiences up; that includes all of Fox news as well as some people on the left who feel our President has betrayed them or consider the President to be Wall Street controlled. All talkingheads on the airwaves need to be reminded continually … Words Matter and some of those words have unintended consequences.

April 19th has become a day in which people remember as a warning of what can happen when a person desperate or a group of people use desperation to behave extreme use violent rhetoric openly and wage war against our government and its people.

We the People mourn all those victims in Oklahoma as well as other victims of terrorism.

Today, we must remember the past and pledge to all do our best to see the signs hear the rhetoric and report any suspicious behavior by people who resemble the men and women who practice hate, exclusion in its most extreme way includes violence.

In good news … it’s nice to know that financial reform will be dealt with before the end of the month and clearly Wall Street will finally get it’s due, and it’s not a permanent bailout like the Republicans are trying to get the public to believe; it’s dishonest and the American people are much smarter than they think. All Americans must ask ourselves why would Republicans say one thing and do another? Republicans need to pick … are they on the side of big Banks or are they for the people even Justice Roberts has helped big money big greed corps with infinite amounts of money get into the game of politics by making corporations equal to individuals … which makes no sense.

Is it me or does the obvious disrespect for the effort of bipartisan on the part of the Democrats offer Republicans is way beyond offensive. Republicans keep saying no to reforming all aspects of the government but not because the government is broken and needs to be fixed but because they are not the governing party in charge and all those statements of taking their country back definitely have to be because the President is a person of colour.

I know that there are smart people out there who might be misguided misinformed by the right and need to hear the truth see it for yourself by listening to c-span live stream listen to the rhetoric on tv by Republicans who refuse to be bipartisan and fix our economy.

In the eight years that the house of Bush was in office he managed to get us into 2Wars give tax cuts…huge tax cuts to the rich and while informed of financial problems the Bush administration apparently did nothing. And as reported; the only Republican that has waved an alarm is ron paul and the man is definitely not even accepted into his own party. The Political Party of No remains on the side of Wall Street and greed or why would Mitch Mcconnell or Cornyn visit major Financial Fund consultants and ask for not only money but talking points to fool the public. Apparently, the public are fools; to believe that the current administration is at fault is beyond me; again, change takes time and for those to feel the President betrayed them is absurd

Again, people are either stupid, have forgotten or didn’t believe we were close to having our whole economy system derailed by folks who dabbled in financial products that were set to fail. The last minute announcement by the house of Bush right before the new President was going to be voted into place should not only remind people who was in charge and did nothing; ask yourself at what point in the months prior to the Presidential vote did the house of Bush know the economy was moving toward a depression.

Other News …

**Talks with Waste Management and Seattle garbage workers are at an impasse;with no meetings scheduled

**2top alqae da leaders in Iraq were eliminated via a rocket fire

**The President will be campaigning for Sen B.Boxer in California

**Vice President Joe Biden is facing the ladies of ‘The View‘ this week.

**Reports that the mistress of jjames got a tv gig …how disrespectful to the wife, marriage and what tv producers won’t do for money;hopefully the public will choose the wife, what is right and wrong behavior over the mistress and boycott the show

**The President will be in New York Thursday

The talk show announced Monday that Biden will be its featured guest on Thursday’s show.

**Massey Energy CEO paid Don Blankenship $17.8 million last year, “a $6.8 million raise over 2008 and almost double his compensation package in 2007. Blankenship also has a deferred compensation package valued at $27.2 million at the end of last year.”TP

**On Friday, Obama promised to veto the financial reform bill if it doesn’t regulate the market for derivatives, which contributed to the nation’s economic problems after their value plummeted during the housing crisis.AP

C-span.org live stream

Pres. Obama’s Weekly Address 4/17

Ceremony Commemorates the 15th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing

Today

Marking the 15th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing, a remembrance ceremony will be held on the grounds of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. In a speech last week, former Pres. Bill Clinton warned about the possible effects of incendiary language from antigovernment activists.

Ceremony on C-SPAN at 9:55am ET

Bill Clinton on Oklahoma City bombing (4/16)

AP: Clinton alludes to 1995 bombing

Rep. Levin to speak about tax cuts and the economy

Today

Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), the new chairman of the House Ways & Means Cmte., will likely discuss the fate of billions of dollars in tax cuts when he speaks about the economy at the National Press Club today. The Bush-era tax cuts are set to expire at the end of this year. In March, Rep. Levin replaced Cmte. chair Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), who stepped aside due to an ethics investigation.

NPC: C-SPAN at 1pm ET

NPC Website

Rep. Levin Website

Commission Questions Armys Oversight of Service Contracts

Today

Defense contracts are estimated to total $80 billion over the past five years in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Wartime contracting commission will investigate what Co-Chairman Shays calls, “a serious gap in reviewing contracts between $100 million and $1 billion in value.” The commission is concerned that the Army lacks adequate resources for planning, managing, and overseeing services contracts that are critical to the success of military operations. Currently, those contracts account for nearly two-thirds of contracts in Southwest Asia, and are mostly managed by the U.S. Army.

Hearing Begins: C-SPAN2 at 9:30am ET

Commission on Wartime Contracting

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Pentagon decides it’s time to clamp down on the right-wing extremists infiltrating ranks of U.S. military

04/16/2010 Nativegrl77

By David Neiwert

Crooks and Liars

Janet Napolitano is probably getting some satisfaction from the fact that reality has proven the bulletin issued by her Homeland Security department last year — warning that the nation was about to be hit by a fresh wave of right-wing extremism and its attendant violence — all too prescient.

Especially the part where it warned that these extremists were working hard to recruit military veterans:

Returning veterans possess combat skills and experience that are attractive to rightwing extremists. DHS/I&A is concerned that rightwing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to boost their violent capabilities.

At the time the bulletin was issued, the right-wing media put up a hue and cry claiming that DHS was smearing veterans as potential terrorist threats, and demanding Napolitano’s head. And even though Napolitano rebutted their nonsense, the conventional-wisdom talking point out of the affair was that DHS had unfairly smeared folks in the military.

Now it’s clear that the Pentagon is aware that it has a problem: From Stars and Stripes:

The Pentagon is cracking down on extremism in its ranks with a new set of rules restricting servicemembers from participating on the Web sites of supremacist groups.

A new Defense Department directive on dissident and political activity issued on November 27 — the first since 1996 — says servicemembers “must not actively advocate supremacist doctrine, ideology, or causes.” This includes writing blogs or posting on Web sites.

… Last July, Stars and Stripes reported that 130 members of newsaxon.org, a social networking Web site affiliated with the National Socialist Movement, had listed “military” as their job in “Facebook”-style user profiles. Swatsikas, Nazi symbolism and militant imagery emblazon the site.

…

Army and Defense Department officials said at the time that extremist activity was not considered “an Army-wide issue.” And there was confusion, Potok said, about what defined “active participation.” Previously, membership alone in an extremist group was not enough for disciplinary action, though banned activities included distributing materials and demonstrating.

“The one worry here is that enforcement of these regulations may be very uneven. It leaves the decision up to local commanders and we’ve really yet to see how that’s going to work,” Potok said. “The hope is that this clarifies that even advocacy of these kinds of ideas is not consistent with being in the military.”

The arrests of the Hutaree militia made clear that the concern was full grounded in reality. As Newsweek observed in its report on the rise of right-wing extremists:

The rambling rants of the Hutaree might seem funny, in a sick sort of way, but they are far from harmless. The FBI busted nine members last month for allegedly plotting to trigger an “uprising” against the government by assassinating a local police officer and then ambushing colleagues who attended the funeral by blowing up improvised explosive devices. They may have had some professional instruction: one of the men in the group, Michael Meeks, is a Persian Gulf War veteran who served four years in the Marines and was a decorated rifle expert, according to Marine Corps records. Another member, Kristopher Sickles, is an Army vet (discharged “under other than honorable conditions,” according to prosecutors).

After all, as we explained at the time, the DHS report’s assessment of the situation vis a vis veterans was if anything understated:

This is, in fact, precisely accurate — and as we pointed out White Supremacist Recruitment of Military Personnel Since 9/11) found that the numbers of identifiable neo-Nazis within the ranks was quite small (only a little over 200), but warned:

Military experience—ranging from failure at basic training to success in special operations forces—is found throughout the white supremacist extremist movement. FBI reporting indicates extremist leaders have historically favored recruiting active and former military personnel for their knowledge of firearms, explosives, and tactical skills and their access to weapons and intelligence in preparation for an anticipated war against the federal government, Jews, and people of color.

… The prestige which the extremist movement bestows upon members with military experience grants them the potential for influence beyond their numbers. Most extremist groups have some members with military experience, and those with military experience often hold positions of authority within the groups to which they belong.

… Military experience—often regardless of its length or type—distinguishes one within the extremist movement. While those with military backgrounds constitute a small percentage of white supremacist extremists, FBI investigations indicate they frequently have higher profiles within the movement, including recruitment and leadership roles.

… New groups led or significantly populated by military veterans could very likely pursue more operationally minded agendas with greater tactical confidence. In addition, the military training veterans bring to the movement and their potential to pass this training on to others can increase the ability of lone offenders to carry out violence from the movement’s fringes.

This is underscored by a Wall Street Journal story today outlining the FBI work that both produced this assessment and the operation that followed:

The FBI said in the memo that its conclusion about a surge in such activities was based on confidential sources, undercover operations, reporting from other law-enforcement agencies and publicly available information. The memo said the main goal of the multipronged operation was to get a better handle on “the scope of this emerging threat.” The operation also seeks to identify gaps in intelligence efforts surrounding these groups and their leaders.

The aim of the FBI’s effort with the Defense Department, which was rolled into the Vigilant Eagle program, is to “share information regarding Iraqi and Afghanistan war veterans whose involvement in white supremacy and/or militia sovereign citizen extremist groups poses a domestic terrorism threat,” according to the Feb. 23 FBI memo.

Michael Ward, FBI deputy assistant director for counterterrorism, said in an interview Thursday that the portion of the operation focusing on the military related only to veterans who draw the attention of Defense Department officials for joining white-supremacist or other extremist groups.

“We’re not doing an investigation into the military, we’re not looking at former military members,” he said. “It would have to be something they were concerned about, or someone they’re concerned is involved” with extremist groups.

It’s important to understand how FBI investigations into these kinds of activities take place: The FBI is constrained by DOJ guidelines that do not allow them to investigate organizations merely because of incendiary rhetoric or politically worrisome beliefs. They only open investigations into the activities of members of such groups when there is evidence of actual criminal activity.

And it’s at that time that the presence of an extremist with a military background becomes not merely relevant, but potentially important. This is especially so considering one of the realities of the extremist right — namely, that the vast majority of its members are incapable of anything remotely resembling a terrorist act; what they actually specialize in is the Verbose Bellyache. Yet simultaneously they have developed over recent years a decidedly militaristic culture that prizes actual military background.

So when investigators begin dealing with potential criminal or terrorist activity by right-wing extremists, the presence and involvement of people with military backgrounds — particularly with skill at armaments — is a huge red flag. Because these kinds of people transform these groups from Verbose Bellyachers to potentially competent — lethally competent — extremist cells.

The most famous example of this, of course, is Timothy McVeigh. But — contrary to what the right-wing talkers have been saying this week — McVeigh is hardly the only example of what happens when an alienated veteran is radicalized by these kinds of belief systems — he’s just the most famous. There have, in fact, been a number of veterans who have played significant roles in the radical right in recent years, including acting as terrorists. Besides McVeigh, for instance, there is also Eric Rudolph, who spent two years in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, attending the Air Assault School there, and earning the rank of Specialist/E-4.

Then there was our old friend Col. James “Bo” Gritz, ex-Green Beret and Special Forces veteran:

Though he adamantly denied harboring such beliefs much of the time he was promoting militias back in the 1990s, Gritz is now a full-fledged adherent of Christian Identity.

More recently — and certainly more relevant to the point here — there’s the case of Kody Brittingham, recently of the U.S. Marines:

Brittingham, 20, was with Headquarters and Support Battalion, 2nd Tank Battalion, when he allegedly made the threats against Obama, president-elect at the time. Brittingham was administratively separated from the Corps on Jan. 3.

Brittingham’s legal troubles began in mid-December, when he and three other Lejeune Marines were arrested by Jacksonville police in connection with attempted robbery. He was charged Dec. 16 with attempted robbery, breaking and entering, and conspiracy. His bond was set at that time.

After his arrest, Naval investigators found a journal allegedly written by Brittingham in his barracks room, containing plans on how to kill the president and white supremacist material, a federal law enforcement official told The Daily News of Jacksonville.

This points to a significant dimension of the problem: The recruitment of young men into the military who already harbor white-supremacist beliefs.

It’s been long reported that hate groups and other extremists, including neo-Nazis, have been making actual inroads into the ranks of the military in recent years. A July 2006 report by the SPLC found this infiltration occurring at an alarming rate. Neo-Nazis “stretch across all branches of service, they are linking up across the branches once they’re inside, and they are hard-core,” Department of Defense gang detective Scott Barfield told the SPLC. “We’ve got Aryan Nations graffiti in Baghdad,” he added. “That’s a problem.”

The source of the problem, as the report explained, was the extreme pressure military recruiters were under to fill their recruitment quotas. “Recruiters are knowingly allowing neo-Nazis and white supremacists to join the armed forces,” said Barfield, “and commanders don’t remove them . . . even after we positively identify them as extremists or gang members.” The military downplayed a neo-Nazi presence in the ranks, Barfield added, “because then parents who are already worried about their kids signing up and dying in Iraq are going to be even more reluctant about their kids enlisting if they feel they’ll be exposed to gangs and white supremacists.”

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What’s going on in Congress … c-span.org live-stream

04/15/2010 Nativegrl77

In a vote of 59-38 the Senate passes HR4851 thus restoring the 18billion in jobless benefits and several other programs that also expired, including federal flood insurance, higher Medicare payment rates for doctors and generous health insurance subsidies for people who have lost their jobs. The President signed HR4851 tonight as well.

if you want good political news good civics information stay away from Fox news and tune into C-SPAN … watch Congress in action …listen and get the facts … hear Political leaders for yourself ..the President your Senator or Representative instead of what Fox news tells you they said

The Senate Convenes: 9:30amET

Morning Business for 1 hour with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The Majority will control the first 30 minutes and the Republicans will control the final 30 minutes.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.4851, Continuing Extension Act.

As a reminder, cloture motions were filed on the substitute and the bill. The filing deadline for first degree amendments is 1:00pm.

The following amendments are pending to HR4851:
– Baucus #3721, as modified (substitute)
-McCain #3724, as modified (Sense of the Senate re: value added tax)

Prior to adjourning, Senator Reid filed cloture on the following Executive nominations:

By unanimous consent, the cloture vote on the Brainard nomination will occur at 5:30pm on Monday, April 19.

Votes:

12:10pm votes in relation to the following amendments:

113: Baucus motion to table Coburn #3726 (pay for by rescinding $20 billion of unspent Federal funds and revenue raisers);
Tabled: 50-48

114: on Baucus motion to table Coburn #3727 (pay for with revenue raisers and rescissions of certain programs); tabled: 53-45

115: McCain amendment #3724: , as modified (Sense of the Senate re: Value Added Tax);
Agreed To: 85-13

116: on the motion to invoke Cloture on the Baucus amendment #3721: , as modified and amended (Substitute); Invoked: 60-38

117: Passage of HR4851, Continuing Extension Act of 2010, as amended;
Passed: 59-38

Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S.Res.484, a resolution designating the week of May 16 through May 22, 2010, as “National Public Works Week”

Adopted S.Res.485, a resolution designating April 2010, as “Financial Literacy Month”

Adopted S.Res.486, a resolution supporting the mission and goals of the 2010 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

Adopted S.Res.487, a resolution honoring the coal miners who parished in teh Upper Big Branch Mine–South in Ralaigh County, West Virginia, extending the condolences of the United States Senate to the families of the fallen coal miners, and recognizing the valiant efforts of the emergency response workers.

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF APRIL 15, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

11:00 P.M. –

On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote. The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on April 16, 2010.

Mr. King (IA) moved that the House do now adjourn.

8:16 P.M. –

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

8:15 P.M. –

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on April 22: himself for 5 min, and Mr. Jones for 5 min. Mr. Poe of TX requested that Mr. Posey be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on April 20.

8:10 P.M. –

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

8:09 P.M. –

Mr. Polis (CO) asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Friday, April 16, 2010, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection. Mr. Polis (CO) asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 1:00 p.m. on April 16. Agreed to without objection.

H.R. 4851:: to provide a temporary extension of certain programs, and for other purposes

HR4851:

to provide a temporary extension of certain programs, and for other purposes

8:08 P.M. –: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 289 – 112 (Roll no. 211).
7:12 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion to agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 4851. Pursuant to a previous special order the House moved to agree to the Senate amendment.
7:11 P.M. –: ORDER OF PROCEDURE – Mr. Levin asked unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to take from the Speaker’s table H.R. 4851, with the Senate amendment thereto, and to consider in the House, without intervention of any point of order or question of consideration, a motion offered by the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means or his designee that the House agree to the Senate amendment; that the Senate amendment be considered as read; the motion be debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means; and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the motion to final adoption without intervening motion.
7:10 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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on April 15, 2010 at 6:46 p.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 4851, with an amendment. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 15.

5:25 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

H. Res. 1242:: congratulating the Duke University men’s basketball team for winning the 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 390 – 0, 12 Present (Roll no. 210).

5:18 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

5:17 P.M. –

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

H.R. 4715:: to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 278 – 128 (Roll no. 209).

5:08 P.M. –

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 192 – 214 (Roll no. 208).

4:49 P.M. –

The previous question on the motion was ordered without objection.

4:38 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Jordan 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 which provides that authorization levels in the bill would be reduced under specified conditions.

4:37 P.M. –

Mr. Jordan (OH) moved to recommit with instructions to Transportation.

The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

4:36 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. 4715.

On agreeing to the Shea-Porter amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 294 – 109 (Roll no. 207).

4:17 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed. The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

4:16 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1255:: raising a question of the privileges of the House

On motion to refer the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 385 – 0, 18 Present (Roll no. 206).

3:45 P.M. –

The previous question was ordered without objection. DEBATE – The Chair recognized Mr. Oberstar to proceed with up to one hour of debate on the motion to refer H.Res. 1255 to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Mr. Oberstar moved to refer to Standards of Official Conduct.

Considered as privileged matter.

QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE – Mr. Flake rose to a question of the privileges of the House and offered a previously noticed privileged resolution. The Chair announced that the resolution qualified and directed the Clerk to report the resolution to the House.

H.R. 4715:: to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes

3:41 P.M. –

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 4715 as unfinished business. On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

3:40 P.M. –

Mr. Oberstar moved that the Committee rise.

3:38 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Kratovil amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

3:33 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kratovil amendment. Amendment offered by Mr. Kratovil.

: An amendment numbered 7 printed in House Report 111-463 to make explicit that collaborative processes should be used to develop the management plan. It would call for the equitable inclusion of all relevant estuary stakeholders; the use of neutral facilitators and processes to resolve conflicts; and the inclusion and use of up-to-date information, among other considerations.

3:32 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Shea-Porter amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Shea-Porter demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

3:28 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Shea-Porter amendment. Amendment offered by Ms. Shea-Porter.

: An amendment numbered 6 printed in House Report 111-463 to ensure that comprehensive conservation and management plans address the impacts and potential effects of sea level change.

3:27 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Moore (WI) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

3:24 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Moore (WI) amendment. Amendment offered by Ms. Moore (WI).

: An amendment numbered 5 printed in House Report 111-463 to add trend monitoring of the introduction and establishment of nonnative species, including their pathways for introduction in estuarine zones to the list of research programs the Administrator can carry out.

3:23 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Schauer amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

3:10 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Schauer amendment. Amendment offered by Mr. Schauer.

: An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 111-463 to define “estuary” under the Clean Water Act to include Great Lakes waters and wetlands that are similar to traditional estuaries covered by the National Estuary Program.

3:09 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Kagen amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

3:08 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kagen amendment. Amendment offered by Mr. Kagen.

: An amendment numbered 3, printed in House Report 111-463 to require estuary programs to include in their comprehensive conservation and management plans a coordinated monitoring strategy between federal, state, and local entities.

3:07 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Oberstar amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

2:56 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Oberstar amendment.

2:55 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Oberstar.

: An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 111-463 to require the administrator to evaluate the effectiveness of the program; identify and disseminate best practices for positive outcomes; and identify and limit redundant rules, regulations and reporting requirements.

2:53 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Oberstar amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

2:49 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Oberstar amendment.

2:48 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Oberstar.

: An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 111-463 to ensure that program evaluations assess whether the implementation of a comprehensive conservation and management plan is achieving its stated goals; (2) enhance public education on the connections between air, land, and water and the potential impacts on estuarine health; (3) strike the existing statutory priority list for estuaries to clarify that existing and proposed management conferences enter or remain in the program on a competitive basis, and (4) remove individuals from the list of approved recipients for grants under this program.

2:04 P.M. –

GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4715. The Speaker designated the Honorable Henry Cuellar 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. 1248 and Rule XVIII.

1:59 P.M. –

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4715 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 considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. Notwithstanding clause 11 of rule XVIII, no amendment to the bill shall be in order except those printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1248.

H. Con. Res. 222:: recognizing the leadership and historical contributions of Dr. Hector Garcia to the Hispanic community and his remarkable efforts to combat racial and ethnic discrimination in the United States of America

1:57 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

1:56 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1062:: recognizing the Coast Guard Group Astoria’s more than 60 years of service to the Pacific Northwest, and for other purposes

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): 401 – 0 (Roll no. 205).

1:48 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

1:47 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. ADJUSTMENT OF THE WHOLE NUMBER OF THE HOUSE – Under clause 5(d) of rule 20, the Chair announces to the House that, in light of the administration of the oath to the gentleman from Florida, the whole number of the House is 431.

1:40 P.M. –

OATH OF OFFICE – Representative-Elect Theodore E. Deutch, Nineteenth District, State of Florida, presented himself in the well of the House for the purpose of taking the Oath of Office which was administered by the Speaker of the House.

1:38 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Clerk. The Clerk transmitted to the House a facsimile copy of a letter received from the Honorable Kurt S. Browning, Secretary of State, State of Florida, indicating that, according to the unofficial returns of the Special Election held April 13, 2010, the Honorable Theodore E. Deutch was elected Representative to Congress for the Nineteenth Congressional District, State of Florida.

H. Res. 1248:: providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 4715) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules

1:37 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 235 – 171 (Roll no. 204).

1:05 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

1:04 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 15.

11:38 A.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

H. Res. 1248:: providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 4715) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules

11:37 A.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H.Res. 1248, the Chair put the question on adoption of the resolution and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the resolution until a time to be announced.

10:29 A.M. –