Tag Archives: Senate

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Congress: the Republican led House back 10/18 – the Senate debates/votes on HR2112 & confirmation of nominees


the Senate Convenes at 2:00pm ET October 17, 2011

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until
    4:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will begin consideration of H.R.2112,
    the vehicle for the Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, and Science; and
    Transportation/HUD Appropriations bills.
  • At 5:15pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider
    Executive Calendar #271, Cathy Bissoon, of PA, to be United States District
    Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania with 15 minutes of debate equally
    divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.

At approximately 5:30pm today, the Senate will vote on confirmation of Executive
Calendar #271, Cathy Bissoon, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District
Judge for the Western Distric

The following amendments are pending to H.R.2112, the Agriculture, CJS, and
Transportation/HUD Appropriations bill:

  • Inouye substitute amendment #738 (text of the 3 appropriations bills)
  • Webb amendment #750 (National Criminal Justice Commission)
  • Kohl amendment #755 (spending plan)
  • Cornyn amendment #775 (Operation Fast and Furious)
  • Murray amendment #772 (reconstruction of highway facilities damaged by
    natural disasters or emergencies)

The Senate is now considering HR 2112, the Agriculture/Commerce, Justice,
Science/Transportation HUD appropriations bill.

Senator Reid called up the Inouye substitute amendment #738 (text of the 3
appropriations bills) and the Webb amendment #750 (to establish a National
Criminal Justice Commission). Senator Kohl then called up amendment #755
(spending plan).

The Cornyn amendment #775 (Operation Fast and Furious) and the Murray amendment
#772 (reconstruction of highway facilities damaged by natural disasters or
emergencies) are pending to H.R.2112, the Agriculture, CJS, and Transportation
Appropriations bill.

OO 5:31pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Cathy Bissoon to be
a United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania;
Confirmed: 82-3

WRAP UP

LEGISLATIVE
ITEMS

Passed S.1721, SSI Benefits Extension (voice vote)

Passed S.275, the Pipeline Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2011 with
the committee-reported substitute amendment, a Rockefeller amendment and a Paul
amendment.

Adopted S.Res.294, commemorating the 182nd anniversary of the
opening of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

Adopted S.Res.295, designating October 26th as “Day of the
Deployed”.

No EXECUTIVE
ITEMS

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

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on October 18, 2011

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President Obama: “I will not take no for an answer” …Jim Messina, BarackObama.com


Last night, the American Jobs Act was filibustered by Senate Republicans.  There was no vote on the actual bill.

But it would have succeeded: the American Jobs Act has at least 51 votes — a clear majority — to pass the Senate. And a new poll shows that 63 percent of Americans support it, too.

Today the President recorded a message he wants you to see, laying out where we go from here in the fight for jobs

President Obama on jobs

The Republicans who voted yesterday to block this bill weren’t thinking about middle-class families. In fact, at last night’s GOP debate, one of their leading candidates actually refused to say he’d extend a payroll tax cut that puts more than $1,000 in the pockets of everyday working Americans.

They might believe it’s in their political interest to oppose whatever the President proposes for the next 13 months, but we know that when it comes to jobs and restoring economic security, Americans can’t afford to wait.

The American Jobs Act would get to work now, providing incentives for businesses to hire unemployed veterans, helping hire tens of thousands of teachers, cops, and firefighters, and rebuilding and modernizing our schools, railways, bridges, and airports. Even though it’s fully paid for and made up of proposals both parties have supported, Republicans yesterday said no.

Now the President wants you to hear directly from him about what’s next.

Watch the video — and make sure your friends do, too:

Thanks,

Messina

Jim Messina
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Black History

Congress: – the Republican led House strikes down EPA regulations that might keep your child safe – the Senate …debates/votes on trade agreements


the Senate Convened at 10:00amET October, 12, 2011

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will begin consideration of
    H.R.3080, United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, H.R.
    3079, United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act and,
    H.R.3078, United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act,
    en bloc.
  • There will be 12 hours of debate, equally divided and controlled between the
    two Leaders or their designees.  Of the Majority time, Senator Baucus will
    control 20 minutes, Senator Brown (OH) will control 1 hour and Senator Sanders
    will control 1 hour.  Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will
    proceed to vote on passage of the bills in the following order:

    • H.R.3080, United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
    • H.R. 3079, United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation
      Act and
    • H.R.3078, United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation
      Act.
  • The Senate will recess from 12:30pm to 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus
    meetings.
  • The Senate expects to complete action on the Free Trade Agreements during
    Wednesday’s session.

By unanimous consent, all but 15 minutes of debate time has been yielded back
with respect to the Free Trade Agreements.

Therefore, at approximately 7:20pm today, the Senate will conduct 3 roll call
votes in relation to the following:

  • H.R.3080, United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act,
  • H.R. 3079, United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation
    Act, and
  • H.R.3078, United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation
    Act.

VOTES

7:17pm The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of H.R.3080, the US-Korea
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; Passed: 83-15

7:46pm The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of H.R.3079, the US-Panama
Trade Agreement Implementation Act; Passed: 77-22

8:05pm The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of H.R.3078, the US-Colombia
Trade Agreement Implementation Act; Passed: 66-33

LEGISLATIVE
ITEMS

Discharged Banking and Adopted S.Res.270, supporting the goals and ideals of
“National Life Insurance Awareness Month”.

Adopted S.Res.292, designating the week beginning October 16th as
“National Character Counts Week”.

No EXECUTIVE
ITEMS

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

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

 LEGISLATIVE DAY OF OCTOBER 12, 2011

  112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

-SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.6:47:09 P.M.

-H.R. 2250Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2250 as unfinished business.6:46:58 P.M.

-H.R. 2250On motion to rise Agreed to by voice vote.6:46:46 P.M.

-H.R. 2250Mr. Whitfield moved to rise.6:45:21 P.M. -H.R. 2250POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Cohen amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Cohen demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.6:38:46 P.M.

-H.R. 2250DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 419, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Cohen (TN) amendment No. 22 under the five-minute rule.6:38:22 P.M.

-H.R. 2250An amendment, offered by Mr. Cohen,  numbered 22 printed in the Congressional Record to take into account the potential reductions in the number of illness-related absences from work due to respiratory or other illnesses when the EPA is setting compliance deadlines.6:37:30 P.M.

-H.R. 2250The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.6:37:14 P.M.

-H.R. 2250Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2250 — “To provide additional time for the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to issue achievable standards for industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers, process heaters, and incinerators, and for other purposes.”6:34:44 P.M. -Mr. Smith (TX) asked unanimous consent That when the House adjourns on Wednesday, October 12, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 13, 2011 for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.6:34:43 P.M.

-H.R. 2944Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:34:42 P.M.

-H.R. 2944On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.6:34:20 P.M.

-H.R. 2944Mr. Smith (TX) asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.6:32:56 P.M. -H.R. 2433Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:32:55 P.M.

-H.R. 2433On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 – 6 (Roll no. 785).6:26:21 P.M. -H.R. 2433Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2433 — “To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws relating to the employment and training of veterans, and for other purposes.”6:26:13 P.M.

-H.R. 2832Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:26:12 P.M.

-H.R. 2832On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 307 – 122 (Roll no. 784).6:16:32 P.M.

-H.R. 2832Considered as unfinished business.6:16:15 P.M.

-H.R. 3080Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:16:14 P.M.

-H.R. 3080On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 278 – 151 (Roll no. 783).6:09:34 P.M. -H.R. 3080Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3080 — “To implement the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement.”6:09:33 P.M.

-H.R. 3079Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:09:32 P.M.

-H.R. 3079On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 300 – 129 (Roll no. 782).6:02:55 P.M.

-H.R. 3079Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3079 — “To implement the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement.”6:02:55 P.M.

-H.R. 3078Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.6:02:54 P.M.

-H.R. 3078On passage Passed by recorded vote: 262 – 167 (Roll no. 781).5:56:49 P.M.

-H.R. 3078On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 192 – 236 (Roll no. 780).5:30:36 P.M.

-H.R. 3078The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.5:21:45 P.M.

-H.R. 3078DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Levin motion to recommit with instructions, pending reservation of a point of order. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House with amendments to add the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act as the new title to the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act. Subsequently, the reservation of a point of order was withdrawn.5:21:31 P.M.

-H.R. 3078Mr. Levin moved to recommit with instructions to Ways and Means.5:21:14 P.M.

-H.R. 3078Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3078 — “To implement the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.”5:20:00 P.M.

-H.R. 2832POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on concuring in the Senenat amendment to H.R. 2832, the Chair put the question on passage, and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. McDermott demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2332 pursuant to clause 8(a)(1)(A) of rule 20.4:42:16 P.M.

-H.R. 2832DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 425, the House proceeded with further debate on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2832.4:41:02 P.M

. -H.R. 3080POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 3080, the Chair put the question on passage, and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Levin demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of passage until a time to be announced.4:40:39 P.M.

-H.R. 3080The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.3:17:36 P.M.

-H.R. 3080DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 425, the House proceeded with further debate on H.R. 3080.3:17:23 P.M.

-H.R. 3080Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3080 — “To implement the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement.”3:17:03 P.M.

-H.R. 3079POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 3079, the Chair put the question on passage, and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed Mr. Brady (TX) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of passage until a time to be announced.3:16:28 P.M.

-H.R. 3079The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.2:03:22 P.M.

-H.R. 3079DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 425, the House proceeded with further debate on H.R. 3079.2:03:07 P.M.

-H.R. 3079Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3079 — “To implement the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement.”2:02:47 P.M.

-H.R. 3078Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule 19, further proceedings on H.R. 3078 were postponed.2:02:37 P.M.

-H.R. 3078The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.1:32:29 P.M.

-H.R. 3078DEBATE – The House resumed debate on H.R. 3078.1:31:36 P.M. -Ms. Foxx filed reports from the Committee on Rules, H. Res. 430 and H. Res. 431.12:38:52 P.M. -H.R. 3078DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 425, the House proceeded with further debate on H.R. 3078.12:38:40 P.M.

-H.R. 3078Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3078 — “To implement the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.”12:37:35 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 October 12, 2011 at 9:11 a.m.: That the Senate passed S. 1619.12:03:23 P.M.

-ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.12:02:59 P.M.

-PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Forbes to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.12:02:56 P.M.

-The Speaker announced approval of the Journal.  Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.12:01:17 P.M.

-Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.12:00:06 P.M.

-The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of October 12.11:14:57 A.M.

-The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.10:00:44 A.M.

-MORNING-HOUR DEBATE

– The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.10:00:24 A.M.

-The Speaker designated the Honorable Kenny Marchant to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.10:00:09 A.M

. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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Tell Congress: Start Creating Jobs, Not Cutting Them …Joan Entmacher, National Women’s Law Center


It’s about jobs. You know that the most urgent deficit facing this country is the jobs deficit. It’s time for Congress to do its job and pass a plan that creates jobs for the millions of Americans who are desperately looking for work.

We expect the Senate to vote tonight on whether to allow debate to begin on President Obama’s jobs plan. It couldn’t be more timely or important. Last week, we got some news about the job market, and it’s not a pretty picture. Women gained just 4,000 of the 103,000 jobs created last month. The main reason? Cuts in funding for public services are disproportionately eliminating jobs held by women. Since the recession officially ended in June 2009, women have actually lost jobs and their unemployment rate has risen.

President Obama has introduced a plan, the American Jobs Act, to put women and men back to work. Yet some Senators may block the plan from even being considered!

You can help. Tell Congress it is time to stop cutting jobs and start creating them! Please call 1-888-659-9401 TODAY and ask your Senators to support the American Jobs Act.

Please call 1-888-659-9401 today. When connected to your Senators’ offices, please tell them:Your name, where you are from, and that you are a constituent.
That millions of Americans are desperately looking for work and need Congress to act quickly on the American Jobs Act.
That you support paying for the Act’s investments in job creation by making millionaires pay their fair share of taxes and oppose paying for them with further cuts in funding for public services that will destroy more jobs and create greater hardship.
Once you place your call, please call back to be connected to the office of your other Senator.

The American Jobs Act would keep teachers and first responders on the job, invest in rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, provide job training, create incentives to hire the long-term unemployed, provide subsidized employment for disadvantaged workers, extend emergency unemployment benefits, and prohibit discrimination against jobless workers. And it fully funds these urgently needed measures in a progressive way, by levying a surtax on incomes above $1 million.

Please call 1-888-659-9401 today and ask your Senators to support the American Jobs Act. Tell them Americans can’t afford to wait any longer.

Thank you for all you do!

Sincerely,

Joan Entmacher
Vice President, Family Economic Security
National Women’s Law Center

P.S. Please help us continue to advocate for policies that protect and improve economic security for women and their families by making a generous donation today.

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Protect the 99% …Ben Betz, People For the American Way
crowd

Does the picture above look like a MOB?

The Occupy Wall Street protests — which have now become the Occupy Everywhere protests — and the announcement by Bank of America and other banks of new banking fees, such as monthly debit card usage fees, underscore the urgent need for a working Consumer Financial Protection Bureau … and for the confirmation of the nominee to head that bureau, Richard Cordray.

After using tens of billions in taxpayer bailouts to pay executive bonuses instead of reinstituting the lending our economy needed, big banks are again choosing to pad their profits by exploiting consumers with new monthly debit card fees which would make customers shell out additional payments just to use their own money. It’s no wonder that it’s being seen a final straw by many in “The 99%” — the bulk of Americans victim to an inadequate job market, stagnating wages, disappearing benefits and consumer abuse at the hands of companies like the big banks.

Defenders of the new bank fees say that as private companies, banks have the right to make a profit, and if they are losing revenue elsewhere, they should be able to make it up by charging fees, and if consumers don’t like it they can take their business to another bank. The problem with that argument is that new fees like this are becoming the industry standard — so consumers won’t have other options. That’s what happens when you have an industry that is not only shielded from government regulation, but is shielded from the market forces which would make banks compete against each other for customers … in short, it’s what happens when the companies that make up an industry are allowed to be “too big to fail.”

In discussing the bank debit-purchase fees, President Obama noted, this is “exactly why we need somebody whose sole job it is to prevent this kind of stuff from happening.” He was referencing Richard Cordray, the president’s nominee to direct the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — an agency, created by the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill, which Americans desperately need but which remains hamstrung and ineffective as long as it does not have an official director.

The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs approved Richard Cordray’s nomination just yesterday, but the committee’s Republican members voted unanimously against him and are intent on keeping the nomination from coming to the Senate floor for confirmation. Despite the party-line vote, Republican senators are quite clear that they know Cordray is qualified for the position — it’s the position itself, the CFPB and consumer protections in general to which they are opposed.

Even though the legislation creating the CFPB was passed by Congress, Republicans are refusing to let the bureau function unless they can force structural changes which would render it wholly ineffective.  Rep. Barney Frank — the House’s chief sponsor of the bill that created the CFPB — explained:

“Forty-four Republicans have announced that in disregard of their constitutional duty to consider nominations on the merits. They will not confirm anyone until the Senate majority reverses itself to once again put bank regulators in a position to overrule virtually all of the policies that would be set by the consumer agency.”

This unconscionable obstruction shows exactly whose interests Republicans care about and are fighting for … and it’s not the 99%.

If you haven’t already, sign our petition now telling senators to CONFIRM Richard Cordray.

And check out more coverage of The 99% movement on our blog.

Thank you for your ongoing support, your activism and your commitment to fighting Government By the People (NOT the Corporations) — the American Way.

— Ben Betz, Online Strategy Manager