Tag Archives: United States Senate

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

An Oval Office Chat

01/09/2013 Nativegrl77

President Barack Obama meets with senior advisors in the Oval Office, Jan. 8, 2013. Attending, from left, are: Kathryn Ruemmler, Counsel to the President; Mike Froman, Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics; Chief of Staff Jack Lew; Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett; Counselor to the President Pete Rouse; Nancy-Ann DeParle, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy; Senior Advisor David Plouffe; and Director of Communications Dan Pfeiffer. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Credit Cards and Debit Cards Still Not Allowed at the Vatican

01/09/2013 Nativegrl77

by: Conde’ Nast Traveler

I’m sitting here at the Condé Nast Traveler Travel Specialists Summit with Patrice Salezze of Papavero Villa Rentals (one of our top travel specialists). Her area of travel expertise is Rome, so we were just discussing the news that the central bank of Italy has blocked the Vatican City’s ability to accept credit cards or debit cards because of some questions about the holy city’s compliance with anti-money-laundering controls. The ban went into effect January 1 (happy new year, tourists!), but still hasn’t been fixed. So in the meantime, if you’re waiting in line for, say, the Vatican Museum, make sure you have cash on hand. Of course, the Vatican is scrambling to get this fixed and shake off doubts about its financial transparency. Maybe a higher power can help with this one? What do you think of the news—were the banks right to cut off the Vatican?

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Indefensible-romney bs

01/09/2013 Nativegrl77

By ThinkProgress War Room

The Mitt Romney Loophole

The basic principle underlying progressive taxation is that, generally speaking, the more you make, the higher your tax rate. The fiscal cliff deal passed last week made the tax code more progressive in one way by raising income tax rates on the wealthiest Americans, but unfortunately there remain numerous egregious examples of how our tax code is rigged in favor of the privileged few at the expense of middle-class workers.

Exhibit A in this rigged game is what we’ll call the Mitt Romney Loophole, a special giveaway that exclusively benefits private equity and hedge fund managers. In wonk speak, it’s called the “carried interest” loophole. We’ll let our Center for American Progress colleagues explain:

The carried interest loophole allows people who manage investment funds—such as private equity funds and hedge funds—to convert their income into lower-taxed capital gains.

Here’s how it works: The partners in businesses that manage pools of money on behalf of investors are paid in two ways. One part of their income is a “management fee” for managing the investments. This fee is generally taxed as ordinary income, according to progressive tax rates that currently top out at 39.6 percent. The other part of the fund managers’ income is their cut of the fund’s profits. The fund managers treat their part of the fund’s earnings as a capital gain, subject only to a top rate of 20 percent.

Investment managers, who include some of the world’s richest people, typically take a management fee equal to just 2 percent of the assets they manage—plus a 20 percent cut of their investors’ profits. In doing so, they are able to shield the bulk of their income from ordinary tax rates.

(You can find a more detailed explanation HERE.)

Lower tax rates on capital gains and dividends already disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Americans, but the Mitt Romney Loophole goes above and beyond that by allowing a narrow category of often extremely wealthy individuals to unfairly avoid paying their fair share.

This loophole is one of the main reasons that Mitt Romney paid a tax rate of just 13.9 percent on income of more than $20 MILLION. Meanwhile, millions of middle-class workers pay a much higher rate on their much, much lower salaries.

Closing this loophole would not only make our tax code fairer and more progressive, it would help raise the revenue that we need in order to protect vital programs and leave room in the budget for investments to grow the middle class. Closing just this one loophole that often benefits the ultra-wealthy would raise $21 BILLION over ten years.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

Since 2011, 3/4 of deficit reduction has been spending cuts.

2012 was officially the warmest year on record.

Americans prefer cockroaches, root canals, Nickelback to Congress.

Mexican restaurant defends racist t-shirt as “witty and comical.”

On two-year anniversary of the Tucson shooting, Gabby Giffords launches new group to end gun violence.

Neocons promote Iranian propaganda in their anti-Hagel campaign.

GOP Congressmen says Saddam Hussein may have had something to do with 9/11.

Brett Musberger, Katherine Webb, and football’s culture toward women.

AIG might thank America for its $205 BILLION bailout by suing America.

Black History

CONGRESS: Republican led House :::: the Senate led by Democrats

01/03/2013 Nativegrl77

The 113^th Congress will convene at 12:00noon on Thursday, January 3, 2013.

Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will be presented with the certificates of election and subsequently swear-in elected Members.
Following the swearing-in, the Senate will conduct a required live quorum. Senators are requested to be on the floor at this time.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.1, a resolution notifying the President that a quorum of each House has assembled.

Adopted S.Res.2, a resolution notifying the House that a quorum of the Senate has assembled.

Adopted S.Con.Res.1, a concurrent resolution to provide for the counting on January 4, 2013, of the electoral votes for President and Vice President of the United States.

Adopted S.Con.Res.2, a concurrent resolution extending the life of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Adopted S.Res.3, a resolution fixing the hour of daily meeting of the Senate.

Adopted S.Con.Res.3, a concurrent resolution providing for an adjournment or recess of the Senate.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

—————————————————

Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

11:00:05 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:00:18 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
11:01:24 A.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
11:01:28 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Culberson to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:03:59 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

12:00:00 P.M.		<ACTION_DESCRIPTION>House convened, starting a new legislative day, pursuant to the 20th amendment to the Constitution, for the meeting of the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress of the United States.
12:01:01 P.M.		<ACTION_DESCRIPTION>Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
12:02:34 P.M.		<ACTION_DESCRIPTION>PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Clerk led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:03:31 P.M.		<ACTION_DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATION OF ELECTION – The Clerk announced that Certificates of Election covering 435 seats in the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress had been received and the names of those persons whose credentials show that they were regularly elected as Representatives in accordance with the laws of their respective States of the United States would be called. Without objection, the Representatives-elect were directed to record their presence by electronic device in order to determine whether a quorum was present.
12:27:27 P.M.		Call of the States Quorum responded: 429 present (Roll no. 1).
12:28:42 P.M.		ELECTION CREDENTIALS FOR DELEGATES – The Clerk notified the House that election credentials for all Delegates and Resident Commissioners had been received.
12:28:43 P.M.		The Clerk notified the House that she received letters from the Honorable Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. of Illinois and the Honorable Tim Scott of South Carolina indicating that they will not serve in the House in the 113th Congress.
12:29:01 P.M.		NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICE OF SPEAKER – Pursuant to law and precedent, the Clerk announced that the next order of business was the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 113th Congress and that nominations would now be in order. Accordingly, the Honorable Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington placed the name of the Honorable John Boehner into nomination for the Office of Speaker and the Honorable Xavier Becerra of California placed the name of the Honorable Nancy Pelosi into nomination for the Office of Speaker. No other nominations were put forward.
12:34:38 P.M.		APPOINTMENT OF TELLERS – The Clerk announced the appointment of the following Members-elect to act as Tellers during the Roll Call for Election of Speaker: Mrs. Miller of Michigan; Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania; Ms. Kaptur; and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen.
1:41:52 P.M.		Roll call 2 – Election of the Speaker Mr. Boehner: 220, Ms. Pelosi: 192, Cantor: 3, West: 2, Cooper of Tennessee: 2, Lewis of Georgia: 1, Powell: 1, Labrador: 1, Jordan: 1, Walker: 1, Amash: 1, Dingell: 1, and Present: 1. Mr. Boehner was elected Speaker of the House.
1:42:04 P.M.		COMMITTEE TO ESCORT THE SPEAKER-ELECT – The Clerk appointed a Committee of Members-elect to escort the Speaker-elect into the Chamber and to the Chair.
1:50:24 P.M.		>The Speaker-elect was escorted into the Chamber by the Escort Committee and introduced by Representative-elect Pelosi, Democratic Leader, before assuming the Chair.
2:00:33 P.M.		ADDRESS BY THE SPEAKER-ELECT – The Speaker-elect addressed the House prior to taking the Oath of Office which will be administered by the Dean of the House, Representative-elect John Dingell of Michigan.
2:08:24 P.M.		ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE – The Dean of the House administered the Oath of Office to the Speaker-elect.
2:09:38 P.M.		ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE – The Speaker administered the Oath of Office to the Members-elect of the 113th Congress.
2:11:31 P.M.		ANNOUNCEMENT OF LEADERSHIP POSTS – Mrs. McMorris Rodgers notified the House that, at the direction of the Republican Conference, Mr. Cantor of Virginia had been elected as Majority Leader and Mr. McCarthy of California had been elected as Majority Whip.
2:11:32 P.M.		ANNOUNCEMENT OF LEADERSHIP POSTS – Mr. Becerra notified the House that, at the direction of the Democratic Caucus, Ms. Pelosi of California had been elected as Minority leader, Mr. Hoyer of Maryland had been elected as Minority Whip, and Mr. Clyburn had been elected as Assistant Democratic Leader.
2:14:53 P.M.	H. Res. 1	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 1 — “Electing officers of the House of Representatives.”
2:14:56 P.M.	H. Res. 1	>Mr. Becerra demanded that the question be divided on the adoption of the resolution so as to have a separate vote on the election of the Chaplain. Agreed to without objection.
2:15:45 P.M.	H. Res. 1	portion of the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
2:15:46 P.M.	H. Res. 1	On agreeing to the remainder of the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
2:17:00 P.M.	H. Res. 1	Amendment offered by Mr. Becerra.
2:17:02 P.M.	H. Res. 1	On agreeing to the Becerra amendment; Failed by voice vote.
2:17:13 P.M.	H. Res. 1	>On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
2:17:22 P.M.	H. Res. 1	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:18:18 P.M.	H. Res. 2	>Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 2 — “To inform the Senate that a quorum of the House has assembled and of the election of the Speaker and the Clerk.”
2:18:46 P.M.	H. Res. 2	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
2:18:52 P.M.	H. Res. 2	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:18:53 P.M.	H. Res. 3	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 3 — “Authorizing the Speaker to appoint a committee to notify the President of the assembly of the Congress.”
2:19:24 P.M.	H. Res. 3	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
2:19:31 P.M.	H. Res. 3	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:20:25 P.M.	H. Res. 4	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 4 — “Authorizing the Clerk to inform the President of the election of the Speaker and the Clerk.”
2:20:45 P.M.	H. Res. 4	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
2:20:51 P.M.	H. Res. 4	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:21:26 P.M.	H. Res. 5	>Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 5 — “Adopting rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress.”
2:23:30 P.M.	H. Res. 5	to be appointed by the Speaker, not more than three of whom shall be from the same political party, with instructions not to report back the same until it has conducted a full and complete study of, and made a determination on, whether there is any reason to deny Delegates voting right in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
2:24:39 P.M.	H. Res. 5	Mr. Cantor moved to table the motion to refer.
3:00:46 P.M.	H. Res. 5	On motion to table the motion to refer Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 224 – 187 (Roll no. 3).
3:00:58 P.M.	H. Res. 5	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 5.
4:24:31 P.M.	H. Res. 5	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 227 – 191 (Roll no. 4).
4:25:25 P.M.	H. Res. 5	Mr. Miller, George moved to commit with instructions
4:25:26 P.M.	H. Res. 5	DEBATE – The House proceeded with debate on the George Miller (CA) motion to commit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion direct that the resolution be committed to a select committee composed of the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader with instructions to report it forthwith back to the House with an amendment. The amendment would amend the Republican Rules Package to include legislation that would require that all Federal elections offer early voting for 10 hours per day for a period of 15 days, and ensure that no voter waits more than one hour to cast a ballot by providing sufficient voting systems, poll workers, and other necessary resources. The bill would also implement uniform standards for the counting of provisional ballots to ensure all voters have the opportunity to cast a ballot. Additionally, it would grant the Attorney General authority to enforce new requirements and grant private
4:25:46 P.M.	H. Res. 5	The previous question on the motion to commit with instructions was ordered without objection.
4:42:50 P.M.	H. Res. 5	On motion to commit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 194 – 229 (Roll no. 5).
4:43:06 P.M.		The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate agreed to S. Res. 2, S. Con. Res. 1, S. Con. Res. 2, and S. Con. Res. 3.
4:48:00 P.M.	H. Res. 5	>On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 228 – 196 (Roll no. 6).
4:48:01 P.M.	H. Res. 5	Subsequent to the adoption of the resolution, the Chair announced that, without objection, the word “General” in section 3(j)(1) is changed to “Government”.
4:49:01 P.M.	H. Res. 5	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:50:47 P.M.		Pursuant to H. Res. 3, the Chair announced the Speaker’s appointment of Mr. Cantor of Virginia and Ms. Pelosi of California to the committee on the part of the House to join a committee on the part of the Senate to notify the President of the United States that a quorum of each house has assembled and that Congress is ready to receive any communication that he may be pleased to make. Agreed to without objection.
5:01:08 P.M.	H. Res. 6	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 6 — “Electing Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives.”
5:01:41 P.M.	H. Res. 6	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:02:00 P.M.	H. Res. 6	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:02:21 P.M.	H. Res. 7	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 7 — “Electing Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives.”
5:02:31 P.M.	H. Res. 7	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:02:35 P.M.	H. Res. 7	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:02:40 P.M.	H. Res. 8	Becerra asked unanimous consent to consider as introduced.
5:02:40 P.M.	H. Res. 8	Considered by unanimous consent. H. Res. 8 — “Providing for the designation of certain minority employees.”
5:03:05 P.M.	H. Res. 8	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:03:20 P.M.	H. Res. 8	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:03:27 P.M.	H. Res. 9	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 9 — “Fixing the daily hour of meeting of the First Session of the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress.”
5:03:42 P.M.	H. Res. 9	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:03:46 P.M.	H. Res. 9	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:04:22 P.M.		<ACTION_DESCRIPTION>Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent that during the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, the Speaker, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader be authorized to accept resignations and to make appointments authorized by law or by the House. Agreed to without objection.
5:04:40 P.M.		Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent that during the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, all Members be permitted to extend their remarks and to include extraneous material within the permitted limit in that section of the record entitled “Extension of Remarks”. Agreed to without objection.
5:07:09 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 1	Considered as privileged matter. H. Con. Res. 1 — “Regarding consent to assemble outside the seat of government.”
5:07:44 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 1	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:07:51 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 1	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:08:22 P.M.		Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10:00 a.m. on January 4. Agreed to without objection.
5:08:55 P.M.		House Office Building Commission – Pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 2001, and the Order of the House of Today the Speaker appointed the following members of the House to the House Office Building Commission: Mr. Cantor and Ms. Pelosi .
5:09:14 P.M.		Appointment to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence – Pursuant to Clause 11 of Rule X, Clause 11 of Rule I and the Order of the House Today the Speaker appointed the following members of the House to the Appointment to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Mr. Rogers of MI and Mr. Ruppersberger .
5:09:44 P.M.		Joint Economic Committee – Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1024(a), and the Order of the House of Today the Speaker appointed the following members of the House to the Joint Economic Committee: Mr. Brady of TX and Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney.
5:10:03 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 1	Considered as privileged matter. S. Con. Res. 1 — “To provide for the counting on January 4, 2013, of the electoral votes for President and Vice President of the United States.”
5:11:07 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 1	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:13:03 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 1	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:13:28 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 2	Considered as privileged matter. S. Con. Res. 2 — “Extending the life of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.”
5:13:39 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 2	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:13:42 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 2	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:14:00 P.M.		The Chair announced the Speaker’s policies with respect to particular aspects of the legislative process and inserted in the Congressional Record announcements concerning: first, privileges of the floor; second, introduction of bills and resolutions; third, unanimous-consent requests for the consideration of legislation; fourth, recognition for 1-minute speeches; fifth, recognition for special-order speeches; sixth, decorum in debate; seventh, conduct of votes by electronic device; eighth, use of handouts on the House floor; ninth, use of electronic equipment on the House floor; and tenth, use of the Chamber. The Chair further announced that these announcements will reiterate the origins of the stated policies and that the Chair intends to continue in the 113th Congress the policies reflected in those statements and that the policy announced in the 102nd Congress with respect to jurisdictional concepts
5:15:08 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Under clause 2(g) of rule II of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had designated Robert Reeves, Deputy Clerk, and Kirk D. Boyle, Legal Counsel, to sign any and all papers and do all other acts for her under the name of the Clerk of the House that they would be authorized to do by virtue of this designation, except such as are provided by statute, in case of her temporary absence or disability. This designation shall remain in effect for the 113th Congress or until modified by the Clerk.
5:15:32 P.M.		The House received a communication from The Honorable John A. Boehner, Speaker. Pursuant to H. Con. Res. 1, and also for purposes of such concurrent resolutions of the current Congress as may contemplate my designation of Members to act in similar circumstances, the Speaker notified the Clerk of his designation of Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia to act jointly with the Majority Leader of the Senate or his designee, in the event of his death or inability, to notify the Members of the House and the Senate, respectively, or any reassembly under any such concurrent resolution. In the event of the death or inability of that designee, alternate Members of the House are listed in the letter from the Speaker bearing the date of January 3, 2012 for the same purposes.
5:16:35 P.M.		The Chair announced that the Speaker has delivered to the Clerk a letter dated January 3, 2013, listing Members in the order in which each shall act as Speaker pro tempore under clause 8(b)(3) of rule I.
5:17:01 P.M.		SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE – the Speaker appointed the Honorable Jeff Denham, the Honorable Mac Thornberry, the Honorable Fred Upton, the Honorable Andy Harris, and the Honorable Frank R. Wolf to act as Speaker pro tempore to sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions through the remainder of the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress.
5:17:31 P.M.		ADJUSTMENT OF WHOLE HOUSE – Under clause 5(d) of rule 20, the Chair annnounced to the House that the whole number of the House is 429.
5:17:32 P.M.	H. Res. 1	Subsequent to the adoption of the resolution, the Chair announced that, without objection, H. Res. 1 is amended by striking “Florida” in the second place it appears and inserting “Oregon”.
5:18:14 P.M.		Mr. McHenry moved that the House do now adjourn.
5:18:25 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
5:18:26 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on January 4, 2013.

Black History

Congress: the Republican led House :ends the cliff dive 257-167 for now but ignores Sandy Aid :::::: the Senate led by Dems

01/02/2013 Nativegrl77

the Senate Convenes: 12:00pmET January 2, 2013

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only until 1:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and confirm the nomination of David Medine, of Maryland, to be Chairman and Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.

Senator Grassley objected.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed H.R.4606, a bill to authorize the issuance of right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines in Glacier National Park, and for other purposes.

Discharged the HELP committee, referred to the Finance committee and discharged the Finance committee of H.R.6655, Protect Our Kids Act of 2012 by voice vote.

Passed S.3716, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include vaccines against seasonal influenza within the definition of taxable vaccines.

Adopted S.Res.630, Congratulating the Navy and the current and former officers and crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN 65) on completion of the 26^th and final deployment of the vessel.

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Discharged the HELP committee and confirmed PN1404 Erica Groshen to be Commissioner of Labor Statistics by voice vote.

Discharged the Foreign Relations Committee and confirmed the following:

PN1928 Deborah Ann McCarthy, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Lithuania

PN1951 Robert F. Godec, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya

—————————————————————-

Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on January 2, 2013

10:00:24 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:32 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable David Rivera to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:01:05 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.

11:50:39 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:25 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of January 2.
12:05:22 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
12:06:27 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:06:30 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Crowley to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:06:53 P.M.		ADJUSTMENT OF WHOLE HOUSE – Under clause 5(d) of rule 20, the Chair announced to the House that, in light of the resignation of the gentleman from South Carolina, Mr. Scott, the whole number of the House is 431.
12:07:27 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 2 per side of the aisle.
12:12:23 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
12:35:25 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of January 2.
12:35:31 P.M.	S. 3250	Mr. Smith (TX) asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker’s table and consider.
12:36:39 P.M.	S. 3250	Considered by unanimous consent. S. 3250 — “To amend the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to provide for Debbie Smith grants for auditing sexual assault evidence backlogs and to establish a Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Registry, and for other purposes.”
12:36:53 P.M.	S. 3250	An amendment, offered by Mr. Smith (TX), Amendment inserts a complete new text and amends the title.
12:36:56 P.M.	S. 3250	On agreeing to the Smith (TX) amendment; Agreed to without objection.
12:37:06 P.M.	S. 3250	On passage Passed without objection.
12:37:15 P.M.	S. 3250	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:37:17 P.M.	S. 3250	The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
12:37:31 P.M.	H.R. 6586	Mr. Smith (TX) asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
12:38:00 P.M.	H.R. 6586	On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
12:38:01 P.M.	H.R. 6586	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:38:02 P.M.		Mr. Dold asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 11:00 a.m. on January 3. Agreed to without objection.
12:38:19 P.M.		Mr. Dold moved that the House do now adjourn.
12:38:33 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
12:38:34 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on January 3, 2013.