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Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 12/19 ~~ the House


PBO&mom

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Thursday, December 19, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act, post-cloture.

 All time during adjournment will count post-cloture on the motion to concur with respect to NDAA. Roll call votes are possible throughout the day.  Senators will be notified when they are scheduled.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass S.1859, submitted earlier today by Senator Reid. The bill includes the following provisions:

–          an extension of a provision to exclude mortgage debt forgiveness from taxable income;

–          deductions for state and local sales taxes, qualified tuition expenses for students, and classroom expenses that teachers pay for out of their own pockets;

–          a commuter benefit that helps workers who take mass transit to their jobs every day;

–          the New Markets Tax Credit and the Low Income Housing Credit;

–          tax benefits to encourage investment in our nation’s infrastructure, such as the Short Line Rail Tax Credit; provisions that encourage the development of renewable energy technology, including the production tax credit for wind, as well as credits to promote the development of biofuels, alternative fuel vehicles, and energy-efficient buildings; and

–          tax incentives for small and large businesses, including Section 179 expensing, bonus depreciation and the R&D credit;

Senator McConnell asked that the request be modified and that the pending cloture motions on Executive nominations be withdrawn; and that following disposition of the Defense Authorization bill, the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R.2668, and that the text of S.1859 be the first amendment in order, and that the Majority and Minority sides then be recognized to offer amendments in an alternating fashion.

Senator Reid objected and Senator McConnell objected to the original request.

The Senate has resumed consideration of the House Message on H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act, post-cloture. If all time is used, at approximately 11:14pm tonight the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment to H.R.3304, NDAA (passage).

As a reminder, on Monday Senator Reid filed cloture on several Executive nominations. Upon disposition of the Defense bill, there will be a live quorum prior to a cloture vote on the Mayorkas nominations. If cloture is invoked, there would  be up to 8 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. Upon disposition of the Mayorkas nomination, there will be a mandatory live quorum prior to a cloture vote on the Koskinen nomination. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 8 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

We’ll repeat the general sequence of a live quorum (unless we obtain consent to waive the quorum), a cloture vote, some debate time, and then confirmation vote until we’ve worked through the nominations listed below.

Senators will be notified if an agreement can be reached and the schedule changes, but at this time senators should be prepared for 2 votes at approximately 11:14pm. Additional procedural votes are possible today and during the voting sequence. Senators are encouraged to be on the floor for the live quorums so that a quorum can be established quickly.

11:14pm votes:

1)      Adoption of the motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment to H.R.3304, NDAA (passage)

Live quorum

2)      Cloture on Executive Calendar #456, Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security

(up to 8 hours equally divided)

3)      Confirmation of Mayorkas nomination

Live quorum

4)      Cloture on Executive Calendar #459, John Andrew Koskinen, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service.

(8 hours equally divided)

5)      Confirmation of Koskinen nomination

Live quorum

6)      Cloture on Executive Calendar #382, Brian J. Davis, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the District of Florida

(2 hours equally divided)

7)      Confirmation of Davis nomination

Live quorum

8)      Cloture on Executive Calendar #452, Janet L. Yellen, of California, to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve

(30 hours)

9)      Confirmation of Yellen nomination

Live quorum

10)  Cloture on Executive Calendar #455, Sloan D. Gibson, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs

(8 hours equally divided)

11)  Confirmation of Gibson nomination

Live quorum

12)  Cloture on Executive Calendar #445, Sarah Sewall, of Massachusetts, to be an Under Secretary of State (Civility Security, Democracy, and Human Rights)

(8 hours equally divided)

13)  Confirmation of Sewall nomination

Live quorum

14)  Cloture on Executive Calendar #371, Michael L. Connor, of New Mexico, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior

(8 hours equally divided)

15)  Confirmation of Connor nomination

Live quorum

16)  Cloture on Executive Calendar #457, Sarah Bloom Raskin, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

(8 hours equally divided)

17)  Confirmation of Raskin nomination

Live quorum

18)  Cloture on Executive Calendar #356, Jessica Garfola Wright, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

(8 hours equally divided)

19)  Confirmation of Wright nomination

Live quorum

20)  Cloture on Executive Calendar #189, Richard Engler, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

(8 hours equally divided)

21)  Confirmation of Engler nomination

The Senate will recess from 12:45pm until 2:15pm. The time will count against post-cloture debate on NDAA.

The time from 2:15 until 2:35pm will be controlled by the Majority Leader, or his designee, and the time from 2:35pm until 3:15pm will be controlled by the Republican Leader, or his designee.

At 3:15pm, we expect Senator Cornyn to make a motion to table with respect to the Defense bill in order to offer an amendment.

Expected 3:15pm vote:

–       Cornyn motion to table the Reid motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.3304, with Reid amendment #2552.

Senator Reed (RI) asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass Calendar #265, S.1845, a bill to extend unemployment insurance benefits for 3 months.

Senator Cornyn asked that the request be modified that that all pending cloture motions on Executive nominations be withdrawn, and that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S.1845, and that the Majority Leader and Minority Leader be recognized to offer amendments in an alternating fashion.

Senator Reed declined to modify his request and Senator Cornyn objected to the original request.

Senator Cornyn asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending motion to concur with Reid #2552 amendment in order to make a motion to concur with Cornyn amendment #2606 (to provide for the award of medals for members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense who were killed or wounded in an attack perpetrated by a homegrown violent extremist who was inspired or motivated by a foreign terrorist organization.

Senator Levin objected.

Cornyn parliamentary inquiry #1: is it correct that no senator is permitted to offer an amendment to the House passed Defense bill while the Majority Leader’s motion to concur with a further amendment is pending?

Chair: The senator is correct

Cornyn parliamentary inquiry #2:  If a motion to table the Reid motion to concur with a further amendment is successful, would there be an opportunity to offer my amendment #2602?

Chair: The senator is correct.

Senator Cornyn then moved to table the pending Reid motion to concur with a further amendment.

3:29pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Cornyn motion to table the Reid motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.3304, National Defense Authorization Act;

Not Tabled: 45-55

The News

Washington, D.C. –  Nevada Senator Harry Reid released the following statement today:

“Republicans owe an apology to the more than one million Americans whose unemployment insurance will expire due to Republican gridlock and obstruction. In the past, Democrats and Republicans have worked together to extend unemployment insurance for those still looking for work. Sadly, Republicans have now decided that they would rather let this program expire than cooperate with Democrats.

“With just a little cooperation, we could complete all of the work before us and vote to extend unemployment benefits before Christmas Eve. Without Republican cooperation, we cannot. I hope my Republican colleagues will change course, and put the millions of Americans who are struggling this holiday season ahead of partisan gridlock. If Republicans choose to continue their obstruction, I will ensure that extending unemployment insurance is the first thing we vote on after the holiday.

“Congress is finishing this year less popular than a cockroach, and this kind of mindless, knee-jerk obstruction from Republicans is exactly why.”

The Senate has reached an agreement with respect to several nominations.  Under the unanimous consent agreement, there will be 2 roll call votes at 11:14pm this evening, 6 roll call votes at 10:00am Friday and one roll call vote at a time to be determined on Monday, January 6th.  The details of the agreement are below.

Today, Thursday, December 19th at 11:15pm, 2 Roll Call Votes:

–          Motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act and

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #456, Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.

Following the cloture vote on the Mayorkas nomination, the Senate will be in period of morning business for debate only with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

When the Senate convenes on Friday, December 20th, all but one hour of post-cloture debate will be expired with the one remaining hour equally divided and controlled between Senators Carper and Coburn.

Friday at approximately 10:15am, 6 roll call votes:

–          Confirmation of the Mayorkas nomination,

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #459, John Koskinen, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue

–          Confirmation of the Koskinen nomination

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #382, Brian Davis, of FL, to be US District Judge for the Middle District of Florida

–          Confirmation of the Davis nomination and

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #452, Janet Yellen, of California, to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Monday, January 6th at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Republican Leader:

–          Confirmation of the Yellen nomination.

The cloture motions on the following nominations were withdrawn:

–          Executive Calendar #455, Sloan D. Gibson, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs

–          Executive Calendar #445, Sarah Sewall, of Massachusetts, to be an Under Secretary of State (Civility Security, Democracy, and Human Rights)

–          Executive Calendar #371, Michael L. Connor, of New Mexico, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior

–          Executive Calendar #457, Sarah Bloom Raskin, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

–          Executive Calendar #356, Jessica Garfola Wright, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

–          Executive Calendar #189, Richard Engler, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

11:14pm The Senate began a 15-minute roll call vote on the Motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act.

Agreed to: 84-15

11:38pm The Senate began a 15-minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #456, Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.

Invoked: 55-45

The Senate has reached an agreement with respect to several nominations.  Under the unanimous consent agreement, there will be 2 roll call votes at 11:14pm this evening, 6 roll call votes at 10:00am Friday and one roll call vote at a time to be determined on Monday, January 6th.  The details of the agreement are below.

Today, Thursday, December 19th at 11:15pm, 2 Roll Call Votes:

–          Motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act and

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #456, Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.

Following the cloture vote on the Mayorkas nomination, the Senate will be in period of morning business for debate only with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

When the Senate convenes on Friday, December 20th, all but one hour of post-cloture debate will be expired with the one remaining hour equally divided and controlled between Senators Carper and Coburn.

Friday at approximately 10:15am, 6 roll call votes:

–          Confirmation of the Mayorkas nomination,

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #459, John Koskinen, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue

–          Confirmation of the Koskinen nomination

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #382, Brian Davis, of FL, to be US District Judge for the Middle District of Florida

–          Confirmation of the Davis nomination and

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #452, Janet Yellen, of California, to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Monday, January 6th at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader in consultation with the Republican Leader:

–          Confirmation of the Yellen nomination.

The cloture motions on the following nominations were withdrawn:

–          Executive Calendar #455, Sloan D. Gibson, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs

–          Executive Calendar #445, Sarah Sewall, of Massachusetts, to be an Under Secretary of State (Civility Security, Democracy, and Human Rights)

–          Executive Calendar #371, Michael L. Connor, of New Mexico, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior

–          Executive Calendar #457, Sarah Bloom Raskin, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

–          Executive Calendar #356, Jessica Garfola Wright, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

–          Executive Calendar #189, Richard Engler, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

11:14pm The Senate began a 15-minute roll call vote on the Motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act.

Agreed to: 84-15

11:38pm The Senate began a 15-minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #456, Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.

Invoked: 55-45

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)      Cornyn motion to table the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.3304, NDAA, with an amendment; Not Tabled: 45-55

2)      Motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.3304, NDAA; Agreed to: 84-15

3)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #456, Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security; Invoked: 55-45

Legislative items

Passed H.Con.Res.71, providing for corrections to the enrollment of the bill H.R.3304.

Passed H.R.2319, to clarify certain provisions of the Native American Veterans’ Memorial Establishment Act of 1994.

Discharged the Indian Affairs committee and passed H.R.623, to provide for the conveyance of certain property located in Anchorage, Alaska, from the United States to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.

Discharged the Energy Committee and passed H.R.767, a bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to modify the Pilot Project offices of the Federal Permit Streamlining Pilot Project.

Discharged the Judiciary committee and passed S.1614, the Accuracy for Adoptees Act.

Began the Rule 14 process of:

–          S.1859, a bill to amend the internal revenue code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions and for other purposes. (Reid)

–          S.1881, a bill to expand sanctions imposed with respect to Iran and to impose additional sanctions with respect to Iran and for other purposes. (Menendez)

No additional Executive items

=======================================================

Last Floor Action:12/19
11:05:00 A.M. – The Speaker announced
that the House do now adjourn pursuant to H. Res. 438. The next meeting is
scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on December 23, 2013.

Last Floor Action:12/16
11:03:15 A.M. – The Speaker announced
that the House do now adjourn pursuant to H. Res. 438.

The next meeting is
scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on December 19, 2013.

====================================================

Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 12/18 ~~ the House


matthew 25

The Senate stands in adjourned until 10:00am on Wednesday, December 18, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the bipartisan budget act, post-cloture.

 All time during adjournment will count post-cloture on the motion to concur with respect to the bipartisan budget act. Roll call vote are possible throughout the day.  Senators will be notified when they are scheduled.

The Senate has resumed consideration of H.J.Res.59, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Budget Act. Post-cloture debate time expires at 4:27pm today. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will dispose of the motion to concur with an amendment (either by consent or vote). Then the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.J.Res.59.

 Upon disposition of the Bipartisan Budget Act, the Senate will proceed immediately to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.3404, the legislative vehicle for the National Defense Authorization Act.

 Additional procedural votes are possible prior to these votes.

Senator Reed (RI) asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass Calendar #259, S.1797, a bill to extend unemployment insurance benefits for 1 year.

 Senator Cornyn asked that the request be modified that that all pending cloture motions on Executive nominations be withdrawn, and that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S.1797, and that the Majority Leader and Minority Leader be recognized to offer amendments in an alternating fashion.

 Senator Reed declined to modify his request and Senator Cornyn objected to the original request.

Senator Sanders asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass Calendar #258, S.944, with the committee-reported substitute amendment and an amendment to the title. Senator Coburn objected.

 Senator Sanders asked if Senator Coburn would agree to having a roll call vote on the bill. Senator Coburn said he would object to a vote without the opportunity to offer amendments.

 S.944, is a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require courses of education provided by public institutions of higher education that are approved for purposes of the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program and Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to charge veterans tuition and fees at the in-State tuition rate, and for other purposes.

4:28pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on adoption of the Reid motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.J.Res.59, Bipartisan Budget Act;

Agreed to: 64-36

Senator Sessions asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending motion to concur with an amendment in order to make a motion to concur with Sessions amendment #2573 (the amendment would eliminate a wide variety of deficit-neutral reserve funds that could be used to facilitate future consideration of legislation that would address certain high priorities).

This is the same request he made yesterday.

 Senator Murray made a brief statement and objected.

4:56pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.3304, National Defense Authorization Act;

Invoked: 71-29

At 5:15pm Wednesday, the Senate invoked cloture on National Defense Authorization Act 71-29. There will now be up to 30 hours for debate before a vote on adoption of the motion to concur of the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.3304, NDAA (passage). There will be no further roll call votes tonight.

At 6:12pm The Senate has passed H.R.1402, the VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2013 by unanimous consent. The Senate is now in a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the time counting post-cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)      Motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the bipartisan budget agreement; Agreed to: 64-36

2)      Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act; Invoked: 71-29

Legislative items

Passed H.R.1402, the VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2013.

Discharged the HELP committee and adopted S.Res.316, supporting the goals and ideals of American Diabetes Month.

Adopted S.Res.324, Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the tragic shooting at Los Angeles International Airport on November 1, 2013, of employees of the Transportation Security Administration.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.1845, Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. (Reed)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.1846, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. (Menendez)

No Executive items

———————————————————————————–

Last Floor Action:
11:03:15 A.M. – The Speaker announced
that the House do now adjourn pursuant to H. Res. 438.

The next meeting is
scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on December 19, 2013.

============================================================

Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 12/17 ~~ the House


12daysofCongress

The Senate stands in adjourned until 9:00am on Tuesday, December 17, 2013.

At 10:00am, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House message with respect to H.J.Res.59, the budget resolution.

 Under the rule, the filing deadline for second degree amendments to the motion to concur in the House message with respect to H.J.Res.59 is 9:00am on Tuesday.

 As a reminder to all Senators, on Sunday, December 15th, Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the budget resolution and the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the Defense Authorization bill.

 During Monday’s session, Senator Reid filed cloture on the following nominations, in the following order. The number of hours of post-cloture debate is in parenthesis next to each nomination.

–          Executive Calendar #456, Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (8 hours equally divided)

–          Executive Calendar #459, John Andrew Koskinen, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service (8 hours equally divided)

–          Executive Calendar #382, Brian J. Davis, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the District of Florida (2 hours equally divided)

–          Executive Calendar #452, Janet L. Yellen, of Callifornia, to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve (30 hours)

–          Executive Calendar #455, Sloan D. Gibson, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs (8 hours equally divided)

–          Executive Calendar #445, Sarah Sewall, of Massachusetts, to be an Under Secretary of State (Civility Security, Democracy, and Human Rights) (8 hours equally divided)

–          Executive Calendar #371, Michael L. Connor, of New Mexico, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior

–          Executive Calendar #457, Sarah Bloom Raskin, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury (8 hours equally divided)

–          Executive Calendar #356, Jessica Garfola Wright, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (8 hours equally divided)

–          Executive Calendar #189, Richard Engler, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (8 hours equally divided).

At 10:00am, there will be roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Budget Act.

At 10:00am, there will be roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Budget Act.

10:04am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.J.Res.59, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Budget Act;

Invoked 67-33

There will now be up to 30 hours for debate of post-cloture debate on H.J.Res.59, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Budget Act.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings. The time during the recess will count post-cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.J.Res.59, the Bipartisan Budget Act.

Senator Sessions asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending motion to concur with a amendment #2547 (date change) in order to make a motion to concur with Sessions amendment #2573 (the amendment would eliminate a wide variety of deficit-neutral reserve funds that could be used to facilitate future consideration of legislation that would address certain high priorities)

Senator Murray made a brief statement and objected.

Senator Sessions then made the following parliamentary inquiry: Is it correct that while the majority leader’s motion to concur in the house amendment with an amendment to which the majority leader has also offered a second degree amendment is pending, no senator is permitted to offer an amendment to the House-passed Budget bill?

Chair: the senator is correct.

Senator Sessions made a further parliamentary inquire: if a motion to table the majority leader’s motion to concur with an amendment is successful, would there be an opportunity for me to offer a motion to concur with my amendment #2573?

 Chair: that is correct

 Senator Sessions then moved to table the motion to concur with an amendment, offered by the majority leader.

At 5:24pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.J.Res.59, with amendment #2547 (date change);

Not tabled: 46-54

The Sessions motion to table the motion to concur with amendment was not agreed to 46-54. The Senate is now in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the exception of Senator Grassley for up to 20 minutes. The time will count post-cloture. There will be no further roll call votes.

By unanimous consent, the Senate passed H.R.3588, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to exempt fire hydrants from the prohibition on the use of lead pipes, fittings, fixtures, solder, and flux.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)      Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the bipartisan budget act; Invoked: 67-33

2)      Sessions motion to table the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59 with an amendment; Not Tabled: 46-54

Additional Legislative items

Passed H.R.3588, the Community Fire Safety Act.

Discharged the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee and passed S.947, to ensure access to certain information for financial service industry regulators, and for other purposes.

Passed S.1847, to provide for the redesignation of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies as the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

Passed H.R.185, to designate the United States courthouse located at 101 East Pecan Street in Sherman, Texas, as the “Paul Brown United States Courthouse”.

Discharged the Environment and Public Works Committee and passed H.R.2251, to designate the United States courthouse and Federal building located at 118 South Mill Street, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, as the “Edward J. Devitt United States Courthouse and Federal Building”.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1845, Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. (Reed)

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1846, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. (Menendez)

No Executive items

===================================================

Last Floor Action:12/16
11:03:15 A.M. – The Speaker announced
that the House do now adjourn pursuant to H. Res. 438.

The next meeting is
scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on December 19, 2013.

Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 12/16 ~~ the House


12daysofCongress

Schedule for Monday, December 16, 2013

The Senate will convene at 3:00pm on Monday, December 16, 2013. Following Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 5:30pm, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

 The filing deadline for first degree amendments to the motions to concur with respect to H.J.Res.59, the Budget Resolution, and H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act, is 4:00pm on Monday.

 At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to a series of roll call votes on the following items:

 –          Confirmation of Executive Calendar #406, Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Ambassador, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs);

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #450, Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security; and

–          Confirmation of Johnson nomination.

Additional procedural votes are possible following the 5:30pm series of votes.

As a reminder, at 5:30pm today, the Senate will proceed to a series of roll call votes on the following Executive items:

–          Confirmation of Executive Calendar #406, Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Ambassador, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs);

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #450, Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security; and

–          Confirmation of Johnson nomination.

Additional procedural votes are expected following these votes.

5:30pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #406, Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Ambassador, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs);

Confirmed: 78-16

There will then be a live quorum. Senators are encouraged to remain on the floor in order to quickly establish a quorum. Once a quorum is established, there will be a cloture vote on Executive Calendar #450, Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security. If cloture is invoked, the Senate would proceed immediately to a vote on confirmation of the Johnson nomination.

5:59pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #450, Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security;

Invoked: 57-37

6:20pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #450, Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security;

Confirmed: 78-16

The remaining votes tonight will be 10 minute votes.

6:35pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #456, the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security;

Agreed To: 53-38

At 6:52pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #459, the nomination of John Andrew Koskinen, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service;

Agreed to: 55-37

6:57pm Senator Reid filed cloture on Executive Calendar #456, the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security;

By consent, the Senate resumed Legislative Session and Senator Reid moved to proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #459.

7:28pm The Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to the Koskinen nomination 55-37.

Senator Reid the filed cloture on the nomination. There will be no further roll call votes tonight.

The Next roll call vote is expected to occur at 10:00am tomorrow. Tuesday, December 17.

That vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur with respect to H.J.Res.59, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Budget Act.

We were able to go in and out of Executive Session by voice vote and Senator Reid filed cloture on the following nominations, with the number of post-cloture hours listed in parenthesis:

Executive Calendar #456, Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (8 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #459, John Andrew Koskinen, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service.

(8 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #382, Brian J. Davis, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the District of Florida (2 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #452, Janet L. Yellen, of Callifornia, to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve (30 hours)

Executive Calendar #455, Sloan D. Gibson, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs (8 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #445, Sarah Sewall, of Massachusetts, to be an Under Secretary of State (Civility Security, Democracy, and Human Rights) (8 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #371, Michael L. Connor, of New Mexico, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior

Executive Calendar #457, Sarah Bloom Raskin, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury (8 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #356, Jessica Garfola Wright, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (8 hours equally divided)

Executive Calendar #189, Richard Engler, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (8 hours equally divided)

WRAP  UP

Roll Call Votes

1)      Confirmation of Executive Calendar #406, Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Ambassador, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs); Confirmed: 78-16

2)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #450, Jeh Charles Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security; Invoked: 57-37

3)      Confirmation of Johnson nomination; Confirmed: 78-16

4)      Motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #456, the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas, of the District of Columbia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security; Agreed to: 58-38

5)      Motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider to consider Executive Calendar #459, the nomination of John Andrew Koskinen, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service; Agreed to: 55-37

Legislative items

Adopted S.Res.322, authorizing the printing of a collection of the rules of the committees of the Senate.

No additional Executive items

===================================================

Last Floor Action:
11:03:15 A.M. – The Speaker announced
that the House do now adjourn pursuant to H. Res. 438. The next meeting is
scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on December 19, 2013.

Last Floor Action:12/12
9:33:30 P.M. – The House adjourned
pursuant to H. Res. 434.

The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on
December 16, 2013.

Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 12/15 ~~ the House


matthew 25

The Senate will convene at 1:00pm on Sunday, December 15, 2013.

The Senate will meet for legislative business only.  Majority Leader Reid is expected to file cloture on the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the bipartisan budget agreement and the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the Defense Authorization bill. There will be no roll call votes on Sunday.

The next roll call votes will be at 5:30pm on Monday, December 16th:

–          Confirmation of the Patterson nomination

–          Motion to invoke cloture on the Johnson nomination

–          Confirmation of the Johnson nomination

–          Additional procedural votes are possible.  Senator Reid is expected to file additional cloture motions on several nominations.

Senator Reid moved to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.J.Res.59, the legislative vehicle for the Bipartisan Budget Act, and filed cloture on the motion to concur. He then filled the amendment tree.

He then moved to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.3304, the legislative vehicle for the National Defense Authorization Act, and filed cloture on that motion.

The filing deadline for first degree amendments to the motions to concur re: H.J.Res.59, and H.R.3405 is 4:00pm on Monday, December 16.

WRAP UP

No Roll Call Votes

Legislative items

Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to concur in H.J.Res.59, the Budget Resolution, and H.R.3304, the National Defense Authorization Act.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.1824, Drinking Water Supply Assistance Act.

No additional Executive items 

=========================================================

Last Floor Action:12/12
9:33:30 P.M. – The House adjourned
pursuant to H. Res. 434.

The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on
December 16, 2013.