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::::::: CONGRESS :::::::


April 2013
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The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:30am on Wednesday, April 10, 2013.

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Legislative Calendar #32, S.649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013.
  • The first hour will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.
  • During Tuesday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013. Senators should expect that vote on Thursday morning.

On April 9, 2013 – Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the consideration of S.649, Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of
2013. The cloture vote on the motion to proceed will occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Thursday, April 11.

The Senate has reached an agreement to consider Executive Calendar #59, the nomination of Sarah “Sally”
Jewell, of Washington, to be Secretary of the Interior. At 4pm today there will
be up to 2 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.
If all time is used, the vote would occur at approximately 6:00pm today.

5:00pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #59, the nomination of Sarah “Sally” Jewell, of Washington, to be Secretary of the Interior

Confirmed: 87-11

The Senate then resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to S.649, Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013.

There will be no further roll call votes during today’s session of the Senate.

The cloture vote on the motion to proceed will occur around 11:00am tomorrow, Thursday, April 11. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 30 hours for debate on the motion to proceed. Once we are on the bill, the first amendment that will be considered to the gun safety bill will be a Manchin-Toomey amendment on background checks. If we don’t get cloture, we will have votes on capacity clips, assault weapons, background checks and some mental health items or item.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1)      Confirmation of Executive Calendar #59, Sarah “Sally” Jewell, of WA, to be Secretary of the Interior; Confirmed: 87-11

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.95, designating April 18, 2013, as National Lineman Appreciation Day.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.691, a bill to regulate large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.680, a bill to rescind the amounts appropriated for FY2013 for the Department of Defense MEADS and for other purposes.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

 The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on April 10, 2013.

« Previous Day

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6 Republicans put “On Notice” ~ Emily’s List


Can you help us out real quick? EMILY's List just put six extreme House Republicans

Can you help us out real quick?  EMILY’s List just put six extreme House Republicans “On Notice” and we’d like to get the word out about their appalling record — voting against women and families at every opportunity.
We’ve created a graphic for sharing on Facebook. Would you take a moment and share it with your friends and family?

If your policies are bad for women and families, consider yourself...On Notice.

Republicans “On Notice” meet two special criteria. First, they’ve amassed appallingly anti-woman, anti-family records. And second, there is major Democratic female talent waiting in the wings. Help us get the word out that the EMILY’s List community is ready to send these guys packing!
Thanks so much,

Melissa Ryan
Digital Director, EMILY’s List

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Pelosi – House Dems and the Headlines ~ April 2013


nancypelosi

Pelosi Hosts Roundtable with Veterans Groups to Address Disability Claims Backlog

“Here in Congress, every day is an opportunity to honor the sacrifices of our service members and their families and to ensure we serve them as well as they served us,” Leader Pelosi said. “We have a solemn responsibility to care for our men and women in uniform, on the battlefield and at home. We must act on the proposals of our Democratic colleagues to strengthen the VA, speed up the claims process, and extend economic opportunity to our veterans. It’s the least we can do for those who sacrifice so much on behalf of our security and our freedom.”
Thursday, April 25, 2013
“Today, we take the opportunity to honor our 43rd President, George W. Bush, for his service to our country. No matter whether you agreed with his policies, there was never any doubt that he was a leader of conviction, dedication to duty, and faith in American ideals.”
Thursday, April 25, 2013
“The regular order is something that the Republicans have requested over and over again, except when it is time for the regular order, they walk away from it. Perhaps it is lack of confidence in the power of their ideas. Perhaps they can’t take the scrutiny of the American people seeing the difference in our budget priorities, a budget much like what President Obama has put forth, and the Senate Democratic budget bill, which is about investing in jobs and reducing the deficit in a fiscally sound way, a very, very positive budget, which is a statement of our national values, which a budget is supposed to be.”
Thursday, April 25, 2013
“On this solemn anniversary of the Armenian genocide, we pause to remember the victims and honor the survivors of one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century. Too often, the truth of these horrific events has been denied, yet the historical record is clear: from 1915 to 1923, the leaders of the Ottoman Empire conceived and carried out a genocide against the Armenian people.”
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
“The names Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley remain seared in the hearts and minds of us today as painful reminders of a dark moment in our history. For their families, for their friends, for their loved ones, their loss in a bombing at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church would change their world forever. Yet, even at the time of great change across the country, little did we know that their deaths would change our world forever.”
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
“Congressman Edgar is an extraordinary example of how the strength of one voice can empower millions to call for change. His memory and legacy will inspire his colleagues and everyone who seeks a more open, just, and perfect union. We only hope it is a comfort to his wife Merle, his sons, Andrew, David, and Rob, and their families that so many mourn their loss at this sad time.”
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
“On Earth Day, Democrats and Republicans must no longer treat our environment as a point of partisan political debate. We must work side-by-side with the American people to create a future of sustainability for our children and grandchildren, prosperity and opportunity for our families and communities, security and energy independence for generations to come.”
Monday, April 22, 2013
“Today, our country owes our deepest sense of gratitude to the courageous and dedicated law enforcement teams who brought a swift end to this terrible act of terror. Thanks to their tireless efforts the victims, their families, and the people of Boston can begin to recover from this tragedy.”
Saturday, April 20, 2013
“As our hearts are still in Boston, our concerns across the country for those who are in pain, our work continues here in Washington, D.C. Right now we are focused on adopting a budget that reflects our country’s values, creates jobs, and strengthens the middle class. Republicans have repeatedly called for regular order. They have called it in sessions of – the leader – of the House and Senate with the President and the Vice President that said ‘we want regular order.’ They call for regular order all of the time. They’ve repeatedly chastised the Senate for not passing a budget bill. “
Thursday, April 18, 2013
“The courage of our men and women in uniform is what makes our democracy possible, and the Distinguished Public Service Award is truly a tribute to the work of Congress to honor the service and sacrifice of our Navy and all of our service members,” Leader Pelosi said. “This award will hold a place of pride and prominence in my heart, and it will inspire me to always stand with Secretary Mabus, our officers, our sailors and Marines to ensure the security of our country and the strength of our military.”
Thursday, April 18, 2013

Pelosi, House Democratic Leaders in Letter to Boehner: Appoint House Conferees Without Further Delay

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra, and House Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Joe Crowley today sent a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner calling on the Speaker to appoint House conferees without further delay and follow regular order to reach an agreement on a budget focused on jobs, economic growth, balanced deficit reduction, and a strong, thriving middle class.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
“A minority of Senators failed to summon the courage to do what’s right on behalf of the safety and security of our children and families. Their shameful votes prevented commonsense steps to expand background checks and keep dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands. Their indefensible actions broke our promise to every community struck by gun violence.”
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
“Dr. Yunus understands that women are the caretakers and breadwinners in many families; that women are innovators and entrepreneurs; that women can be the ones to lead their families and communities out of poverty. He recognizes that women have spent too long a time living in the shadows – and that shining a light on their abilities could provide a pathway to prosperity for hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
“This week, a bipartisan coalition in the Senate moved our country one step closer to achieving common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform. Under the leadership of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, House Democrats have spent years working to bring about legislation that preserves our values, strengthens our democracy, and reflects who we are as a nation.”
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
“By dedicating this room, we do more than simply remember; we honor the highest ideals of service. Because that’s what Gabe Zimmerman’s life was about: his values and his service. A real tribute to his family as a son and grandson they raised. As his mother, Emily, has said, ‘it’s not his death, but his work and his ideals that should be recognized here.’ Gabe had gone to work that day for the same reason he went to work every day: to help the people of Tucson, to reach out to Congresswoman Giffords’ constituents, to serve the public and strengthen the community…”
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
“Congresswoman Kelly has brought progressive values and a firm commitment to the middle class to the halls of Congress, and she will place those same principles and priorities front and center in her work to support science, invest in innovation, and conduct strong oversight on behalf of the American people,” Leader Pelosi said. “These committee assignments reflect the faith of the Democratic Caucus in Congresswoman Kelly’s abilities and leadership, and we look forward to working together to create jobs, grow our economy, and build a brighter future.”
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
“Words are inadequate to console the loved ones of those lost at the Boston Marathon. But we will do what we can to care for them. We will ensure that justice will be done.”
Monday, April 15, 2013
“Through it all, the United States has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Jewish state – bound by our common ideals, strengthened by our common interests, devoted to a common future of peace and security. Our friendship is unbreakable, our bonds unshakable. Our partnership will endure as it has from the start: with a firm, unyielding commitment to the safety and security of the Israeli people.”
Monday, April 15, 2013
“Charlie never hesitated to do what was right for his district or our country. He stood firm for the economic security of retired auto workers when a faltering auto industry threatened to leave them without the pensions they had earned through a lifetime of work. He had the courage to take tough votes even when that courage came at a great political cost – whether voting to stem a recession with the Recovery Act or to provide quality health insurance to all with the Affordable Care Act.”
Sunday, April 14, 2013
“On the 100th day of the Republican Congress, it seems only fitting that House Republicans would cast votes to weaken our economy, undermine our recovery, and jeopardize the economic security of the middle class. Attempting to shut down the National Labor Relations Board is bad for business, bad for workers, and bad for our economic growth.”
Friday, April 12, 2013

Pelosi Statement on Passing of Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

“She was a relentless force and a steady hand in our fight to win the Cold War, helping to bring down the Berlin Wall brick by brick.  She led her country with poise, grace, and an unmistakable iron will that will forever stand as a true testament to her unwavering commitment to public service.  We only hope it is a comfort to her daughter Carol, her son Mark, and the entire Thatcher family that so many share in their grief at this sad time.”
Monday, April 8, 2013

Pelosi Statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day

“As we mark the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, this day is a reminder of all who had the courage to fight back; who refused to allow the inhumanity of the Nazis to deprive them of their own humanity. It is a reminder of the defiant spirit of the survivors, whose strength and perseverance still inspire us today. It is a reminder of the righteous among the nations who risked their own lives to protect the lives of their neighbors.”
Friday, April 5, 2013

Pelosi Statement on March Jobs Report

“Today’s jobs report makes it clear: there is no time to waste to grow our economy and put people to work. Yet in this session House Republicans have refused to hold a vote on a single jobs bill that could actually become law. Instead, Republicans prefer sequesters that undermine our economic growth and Ryan budgets that would cost jobs and threaten the economic security of seniors and working families.”
Friday, April 5, 2013
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Senators …


By  ThinkProgress War Room

10 Terrible Amendments Offered Today by Senators

The Senate has been debating the Democratic budget for the past few days. One of the quirks of Senate rules means that the amendment process on the budget is completely open, allowing senators to file and request a vote on an unlimited number of amendments. They don’t even have to say what their amendments are in advance, but many still choose to file them in advance. Since the process is so open, a rarity in the gridlocked Senate, senators often use this opportunity to file highly political message amendments. We sifted through the more than 400 amendments filed and found dozens that are terrible, ridiculous,  nonsensical, damaging, or just plain crazy. Here’s a look at ten of those proposals.

  1. BOSS IN YOUR BEDROOM: Sens. Fischer (R-NE), Cruz (R-TX), Johanns (R-NE), and Enzi (R-WY) introduced an amendment to put your boss in your bedroom by allowing them to deny you birth control coverage based on their beliefs, not yours. This is just one of numerous anti-Obamacare amendments offered by Republicans. Incidentally, the law turns three tomorrow. 42 GOP senators and 2 Democrats voted for this amendment.
  2. NRA-FUELED CONSPIRACY THEORIES: Sen. Inhofe (R-OK) offered an amendment that would prevent the U.S. from signing on to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. The NRA and other right-wing groups falsely claim that this is some backdoor gun grab, which led the Senate to fail to ratify the treaty last year. The NRA is currently making a full court press to kill or at least gut the treaty. Sen. Vitter (R-LA) offered a similar amendment that would prohibit the U.N. from registering or taxing Americans’ guns, something the organization obviously has no plans to do.
  3. HOUSE GOP BUDGET: While Republicans found time to cook up hundreds of other amendments, it seems no Republican senator wanted to vote on the House GOP budget as a substitute for the Senate Democratic plan. When Democrats offered the draconian Ryan plan that ends Medicare and raises taxes on the middle class in order to slash them on the wealthy, a measly 40 GOP senators voted for the plan from their counterparts in the House. Three GOP senators, however, voted against it because it wasn’t extreme enough.
  4. GIVEAWAY TENS OF BILLIONS TO WALL STREET BANKS: In the same so-called “reconciliation” bill that was necessary to finish passing Obamacare was a provision that stopped routing federal student loans through the big banks. Previously, the banks acted as a middleman between the federal government and borrowers, reaping billions in fees each year even though they bore no risk because the government was the one guaranteeing the loans. The banks role was eliminated in 2010 and the money was shifted to Pell grants. Earlier today, Republicans put forward an  amendment to repeal all of the Obamacare bill, including the student loan reforms. This would literally take money away from students and hand it over to the Wall Street banks. 45 Republicans backed this proposal, which also was the third time this week that GOP senators forced a vote on repealing Obamacare.
  5. OBAMAPHONE: One of the more racially-charged moments in last year’s presidential campaign came when Republican groups promoted a video of an African-American woman proclaiming her support for Obama because, she said, the government was giving out free cell phones, among other things. The Drudge Report and other right-wing media immediately dubbed this the “Obamaphone” controversy. As it turned out, the FCC’s Lifeline program offering free cell phones to low-income Americans began under President George W. Bush and is based on a Reagan-era program to provide low-income Americans with subsidized telephone service. Sen. Coburn (R-OK) offered an amendment to “reform” or, more likely, eliminate, this otherwise obscure program that is important to low-income Americans.
  6. MITT ROMNEY’S TAX PLAN:  The Democratic plan raises close to $1 TRILLION in revenue just by closing loopholes that benefit the wealthy and corporate special interests like Big Oil. Republicans wanted to replace this with revenue-neutral tax reform that used the money to pay for huge new tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations instead of using it to reduce the deficit. This is almost identical to the Romney-Ryan tax plan that raised middle class taxes and which voters soundly rejected last year. All 45 GOP senators voted for this recycled Romney plan, which Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) also included in this year’s House GOP budget.
  7. KILL WIND JOBS, SEND CLEAN ENERGY INDUSTRY TO CHINA: Sen. Alexander (R-TN) wants to repeal the vital tax credits for wind power, just as Mitt Romney proposed last year. This would kill 37,000 jobs more or less immediately and effectively cede the clean energy industry to China and our other foreign competitors.
  8. LEAVE THE UN: Sen. Paul (R-KY) proposed one measure to save a very small amount of money: withdraw from the United Nations.
  9. RACE-BAITING WELFARE LIES: You may remember that Mitt Romney and other Republicans advanced the outright lie that President Obama “removed the work requirement from welfare.” This was categorically untrue, but that didn’t stop Republicans from airing millions of dollars in ads about it. In any case, the GOP campaign of distortion around the amendment has resulted in no states taking advantage of the flexibility requested by some Republican governors that the Obama administration offered to grant. Nevertheless, Sen. Inhofe (R-OK) is still so concerned that he offered an amendment to address the non-existent problem of the work requirement having been removed from welfare. For good measure, he offered a  second mean-spirited amendment that mandates drug testing for welfare recipients.
  10. CREATE A PERMANENT IMMIGRANT UNDERCLASS: Sen. Sessions (R-AR), who has faced charges of racial prejudice in the past and was once denied a seat on the federal bench as a result, put forward a proposal to bar even those immigrants who receive legal status from receiving numerous tax breaks directed at the working poor. This would even prevent immigrants from receiving tax breaks that they are claiming on behalf of their American citizen children.

These are just a few of the dozens of terrible proposals put forward today by Republican senators.