Tag Archives: United States Senate

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Can you call Senator Cantwell?


Please call Senator Cantwell and tell her…  “Don’t vote for a budget that makes cuts to education, health care, and Social Security, and puts corporations and millionaires above hardworking Americans.”

I never wanted a handout.

I just wanted to get my nursing degree and build the life I’ve dreamed of. I wanted to provide my daughter with the opportunities that my mother couldn’t give me when I was growing up.

That’s my dream, but I’m afraid my dream is about to die.

Republicans are trying to cut the financial aid I rely on to pay my tuition. Last year, as a student, I couldn’t find steady work and earned less than $4,500. If my financial aid is taken away from me, I won’t be able to afford to get my nursing degree.

Once again I’m going to have to choose between paying rent or buying diapers, between having heat or having enough food for my family to eat. Can you imagine the pain involved in making those choices?

Can you help save my dream? The Senate is on recess, and Senator Maria Cantwell is home in Washington. Can you call her in her district office in Everett, and ask her to vote against any budget that makes cuts to education, health care, and Social Security, and puts corporations and millionaires above hardworking Americans like me?

Here’s where to call:

Senator Maria Cantwell

Everett office: 425-303-0114

I recently got a part-time job at Walmart and with that money, along with my student aid, I’m now able to cover all my expenses. I even had enough money to get new glasses for the first time in six years. I’ve struggled to get this far, but I finally feel like I’m going to be able to make a good life for myself and my daughter.

Please, don’t let the Republicans take all this away from me. You see, the cuts they want to make aren’t abstract. And they aren’t limited to student aid, either. They’re trying to cut job training, food aid to women and children, and more. Congress doesn’t seem to understand the consequences to people like me all across the country if these programs are cut.

Can you call Senator Maria Cantwell, and ask her to vote against any budget that makes cuts to education, health care, and Social Security, and puts corporations and millionaires above hardworking Americans like me?

Senator Maria Cantwell

Everett office: 425-303-0114

Thank you.

–Katryna Wade, Arkansas

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It’s simply not right … a message from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand


Last year I helped lead the effort to overturn “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and I’m thrilled that very soon, LGBT Americans will be able to serve openly in our armed forces. This is a big victory for equality, but there’s still so far we have yet to go.

I believe every American should be able to marry the person they love. Yet in 1996, the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (or DOMA) codified the discriminatory notion that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

DOMA denies same-sex couples the basic privileges enjoyed by straight couples, and prevents state-approved legal marriages from being recognized across the country.

This is wrong.

If we are to achieve full marriage equality for all, Congress must repeal DOMA now.

That’s why I’m proud to partner with Democracy for America to make sure the repeal of DOMA becomes a reality.

http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/561?akid=577.1480546.tmfy-d&t=1

Recently, President Obama ordered the Justice Department to stop defending DOMA in federal court. This is a huge first step, but the fact is that as long as DOMA remains on the books it will continue to be enforced until Congress repeals it legislatively.

Tomorrow, I will join Senator Feinstein as we introduce DOMA repeal legislation in the U.S. Senate.

Can I count on you to join us on the frontlines of this fight?

Please sign here to join the fight for marriage equality by urging Congress to repeal this discriminatory and unconstitutional law. >> http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/561?akid=577.1480546.tmfy-d&t=2

It’s simply not right that my husband and I should be able to enjoy rights and privileges that LGBT Americans are denied.

Thank you for everything you do to ensure marriage equality for all Americans,

– Kirsten

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

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Economy: A Sensible Budget Alternative


Yesterday, the Senate nixed two budget-cutting proposals — the House GOP budget bill and the Senate Democratic alternative — and exposed “the fault lines within the Republican and Democratic parties over fiscal issues.” Three Tea Party Republicans “who want deeper cuts” joined all Democrats in a 44-56 vote against the GOP bill. But 11 Democrats joined all Republicans in a 42-58 vote the Democratic plan, with some arguing it cut too little and others arguing it cut too much. The government is currently funded until March 18, after which most federal services will cease if a new funding bill for the remaining six months isn’t passed. White House budget director Jacob Lew said the rejection of the two bills “made it abundantly clear that we are going to need to work together on a bipartisan basis.” But a look at the GOP’s idea of compromise reveals an aggressive need to balance the budget on the backs of the disadvantaged while simultaneously impairing economic recovery. At the Center for American Progress yesterday, Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY) advocated an “all of the above” approach that “incorporate[s] mandatory cuts and revenue raisers into the mix” rather than “continuing the fixation on domestic discretionary cuts” in order to reign in the deficit responsibly. While recognizing there are tough decisions ahead to reach budgetary goals, Americans are signaling support for a progressive proposal that can responsibly avoid stymieing economic growth and hurting middle-class families at the same time.

THE SLASH AND BURN: Intent on fulfilling their pledge, House Republicans plowed through the federal budget to reach $57 billion in spending cuts in H.R. 1, their continuing resolution to fund the government through 2011. Bypassing pragmatic cuts to outdated programs and subsidies, the House GOP took their ax to vital public investments and our nation’s most vulnerable populations. It would leave 10,000 low-income military veterans and 10,000 long-term disabled people without housing assistance, nearly one million low-income students without academic support, numerous pregnant women and mothers without food and health care assistance, 11 million patients without health care received at Community Health Centers, and at least 5 million children without access to anti-poverty services when the number of children in poverty is at a record high. While leaving the Pentagon’s record-high budget request intact, Republicans still jeopardized national safety by cutting funding to food safety regulators, local law enforcement, and air transportation safety. And despite making job creation their top priority, the House GOP turned H.R. 1 into a job-killer out to kneecap economic competitiveness by drastically reducing investment in public infrastructure, cutting nearly 50 percent of federal job training funding and potentially driving the unemployment rate “up to 9.7-10 percent.” Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and numerous economists have stated that the GOP bill could “cost about 700,000 jobs through 2012.” H.R. 1 ended up being so detrimental to “the drivers of long-term economic growth and job creation” that President Obama promised to veto the bill if passed. “This is a highly politicized slash-and-burn budget,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said after it failed. “This debate is about more than dollars and sense. It’s about real people with real lives.”

THE RESET: The Democratic budget proposal “coalesced around a spending bill that cuts government funding by $6 billion in 2011” — a far less damaging alternative. However, as The Washington Post’s Ezra Klein indicates, the Democratic baseline still fails to “accelerate our economy” because it focuses solely on deficit reduction without offering any spending on economic investments. In a speech at the Center for American Progress yesterday, Schumer called on Congress to “reset” its approach to deficit reduction. “We need to stop falling into the trap of measuring fiscal responsibility in terms of willingness to cut government, and instead focus on what matters — reining in the deficit,” he said and proceeded to offer a more responsible way to do so. First, Schumer revived his proposal from last year to institute a surtax on millionaires and billionaires — a proposal, he noted, that was “the most popular proposal” among Americans in a recent poll. He also advocated for closing the tax gap by going after tax dodging and income sheltering by big corporations, a gap that “has gotten as high as over $300 billion a year this past decade.” Pointing to mandatory spending as “the largest contributor to the deficit,” Schumer also suggested Congress reduce unnecessary subsidies handed out to industries that don’t need them every year. In an interview with ThinkProgress‘s Pat Garofalo, Schumer said oil and gas subsidies “stick[] out like a sore thumb” because “the entire rationale for it is gone.” With the price of oil at $100 a barrel, “the subsidy, in economic terms, doesn’t mean anything other than to make some people wealthy who are already wealthy,” he said. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) agreed, advocating similar millionaire surtaxes and elimination of tax breaks for oil companies to address the deficit. Schumer pushed back hard against cuts to Social Security. “Social Security doesn’t have any problems until 20 years from now,” he said, adding that the deficit needs to be reduced long before then.

THE MAIN STREET VIEW: While House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) might think “Americans don’t have a clue” about the problems facing our economy, the perspective from outside the beltway is pretty clear. Most Americans want to see a compromise on the federal budget to avoid a government shutdown, but 56 percent of Americans chose creating jobs over cutting spending as the more important government priority. Fifty-nine percent of Americans favored repealing the Bush tax cuts, and 49 percent thought defense spending should be a top priority for cuts, “even if it means eliminating programs that bring jobs to your state.” However, Americans “across all ages groups and ideologies said by large margins that it was ‘unacceptable’ to make significant cuts to entitlement programs in order to reduce the federal deficit.” What’s more, a sizable majority supported making wealthier Americans share more of the sacrifice — be it through reduced Social Security and Medicare payments or, the most popular option, a surtax on millionaires. Overall, Americans overwhelmingly rejected cuts to social programs. The progressive plan outlined by the Center For American Progress’s Michael Ettlinger, Michael Linden, and Reece Rushing “brings the budget into primary balance by 2015 and brings our deficits to sustainable levels” through pragmatic cuts in 2015, including “eliminating roughly $35 billion in corporate subsidies” and “targeting $60 billion in specific defense cuts for a 7 percent overall reduction.” Coupling responsible cuts at a more economically viable time while raising revenues — such as “applying a new 2 percent surtax to adjusted gross income above $1 million” — will help achieve important budget goals “while protecting middle-class families, continuing vital economic investments, and adequately funding other national priorities.” While tough choices must be made, “proposing to balance the budget only on tax increases or only on spending cuts” while the economy is still fragile “is both unrealistic and bad public policy.” Any feasible deficit reduction plan will balance both the budget and the sacrifice to avoid crippling the economy and hurting struggling middle-class families.

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Congress on 3/10/2011 – the Republican led House:trying to eliminate FHA prg – the Senate


CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 10, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

4:40 P.M. –

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

H.R. 830:

to rescind the unobligated funding for the FHA Refinance Program and to terminate the program

4:36 P.M. –

The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 830.

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 256 – 171 (Roll no. 171).

4:30 P.M. –

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 185 – 243 (Roll no. 170).

4:12 P.M. –

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

4:03 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Deutch motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with amendments which provide a continuation of the provisions of the program for senior homeowners.

4:02 P.M. –

Mr. Deutch moved to recommit with instructions to Financial Services.

4:00 P.M. –

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 830.

3:59 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Waters amendment as modified Agreed to by recorded vote: 278 – 147 (Roll no. 169).

3:52 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Lynch amendment Failed by recorded vote: 184 – 243 (Roll no. 168).

3:28 P.M. –

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

3:27 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair put the question on adoption of the Waters amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Biggert demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

3:21 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Waters amendment number 6, as modified, under the five-minute rule.

3:20 P.M. –

Waters amendment modified by unanimous consent.

3:19 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Ms. Waters.

An amendment numbered 6 printed in the Congressional Record to add a new section requiring the Secretary to post a statement prominently on the web which explains that the FHA Short Refinance Program has been terminated and includes a contact for borrowers who are uncertain as to how to proceed.

3:04 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on pro forma amendments under the five-minute rule.

3:02 P.M. –

Mrs. Biggert raised a point of order against the Garamendi amendment Mrs. Biggert stated that the amendment was not germane and violated clause 7 of rule 16. The Chair sustained the point of order.

2:56 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Garamendi amendment number 7 under the five-minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Mr. Garamendi.

An amendment numbered 7 printed in the Congressional Record to add a new section regarding treatment of bonuses for finacial sector employees.

2:55 P.M. –

Mrs. Biggert raised a point of order against the Holt amendment Mrs. Biggert stated that the amendment was not germane and violated clause 7 of rule 16. The Chair sustained the point of order.

2:52 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Holt amendment number 8 under the five-minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Mr. Holt.

An amendment numbered 8 printed in the Congressional Record to add a new section detailing modifications of real property standard deduction.

2:45 P.M. –

Mrs. Biggert raised a point of order against the Inslee amendment Mrs. Biggert stated that the amendment was not germane and violated clause 7 of rule 16. The Chair sustained the point of order.

2:42 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Inslee amendment number 14 under the five-minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Mr. Inslee.

An amendment numbered 14 printed in the Congressional Record to add a new section directing the Attorney General to pursue criminal prosecution of those who have failed to comply with State laws relating to foreclosure of mortgages on residential real property.

2:41 P.M. –

Mrs. Biggert raised a point of order against the Sanchez, Loretta amendment Mrs. Biggert stated that the amendment had the effect of increasing mandatory spending over a specified period of time and violated clause 10 of rule 21. The Chair sustained the point of order.

2:37 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Loretta Sanchez amendment in the nature of a substitute number 15 under the five minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Ms. Sanchez, Loretta.

An amendment in the nature of a substitute numbered 15 printed in the Congressional Record to insert a complete new text detailing use of funding for an FHA Refinancing Program.

2:35 P.M. –

Mrs. Biggert raised a point of order against the Waters amendment Mrs. Biggert stated that the amendment was not germane and violated clause 7 of Rule XVI. The Chair sustained the point of order.

2:29 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Waters amendment number 5 under the five minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Ms. Waters.

An amendment numbered 5 printed in the Congressional Record to direct the Housing and Urban Development Department, in consultation with the Treasury Department, to conduct a study on the negative impacts of underwater mortgage loans on the housing market and economy of the United States and to report on the findings.

2:24 P.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on pro forma amendments under the five-minute rule.

2:23 P.M. –

Mrs. Biggert raised a point of order against the Inslee amendment Mrs. Biggert stated that the amendment was not germane. The Chair sustained the point of order.

2:19 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Inslee amendment number 12 under the five minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Mr. Inslee.

An amendment numbered 12 printed in the Congressional Record to modify the bill’s required study by the Housing and Urban Development Department on the FHA Refinance Program’s use by, and effects on, certain homeowners to include a study on the need and appropriate guidelines for a replacement mortgage insurance program.

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

2:15 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Paulsen amendment number 4 under the five minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Paulsen.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in the Congressional Record to include military servicemembers and veterans who have service-connected injuries, as well as survivors and dependents of such individuals, in a study on use of the FHA Refinance program.

2:14 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Lynch amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Frank (MA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

2:00 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Lynch amendment number 3 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Lynch.

An amendment numbered 3 printed in the Congressional Record to strike language in the bill terminating the Mortgagee Letter 2010-23, which provided guidance for the FHA Refinance Program. The amendment also strikes language which prohibits the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from issuing any regulation, order, or notice that is based on or substantially similar to such Mortgagee Letter.

1:59 P.M. –

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

1:56 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Fitzpatrick amendment number 11 under the five minute rule.

1:55 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Fitzpatrick.

An amendment numbered 11 printed in the Congressional Record to require any unexpected balances for the FHA Refinance Program that are rescinded and canceled under the bill to be retained in the general fund of the Treasury for reducing the debt of the federal government.

1:40 P.M. –

Mr. Bachus raised a point of order against the Maloney amendment Mr. Bachus stated that the amendment was not germane and violated clause 7 of Rule XVI. The Chair sustained the point of order.

1:33 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 150, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Maloney amendment number 9 under the five minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

Amendment offered by Mrs. Maloney.

An amendment numbered 9 printed in the Congressional Record to add a section which lists the number of underwater mortgages in 43 states and the District of Columbia.

12:26 P.M. –

GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 830.

12:25 P.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Charles F. Bass to act as Chairman of the Committee.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 150 and Rule XVIII.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 830 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be read by section. Specified amendments are in order. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now printed in the bill.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 150.

12:03 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 P.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Wilson of SC to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

12:01 P.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Raymond Bowman, Spruce Street Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee.

12:00 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 10.

10:51 A.M. –

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

10:01 A.M. –

MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debates. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

10:00 A.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Robert E. Latta to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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

Convenes: 10:00am

Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 2:15pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 10:30am, Senator Moran will deliver his maiden speech to the Senate.

At 2:15pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive session to consider the nomination of Max Oliver, Jr., of North Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina. There will be up to 15 minutes for debate on the nomination prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

Senators should expect the vote on confirmation of the Oliver nomination to begin around 2:30pm.

The Senate is in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

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

The Senate reached an agreement to consider Executive calendar #10, the nomination of James Boasberg, of the District of Columbia, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia, at 4:30pm on Monday, March 14.

Under the agreement, there will be up to 1 hour for debate equally divided prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

Senators should the vote on confirmation to begin at approximately 5:30pm on Monday, March 14.

Today we were unable to reach an agreement to begin consideration of the Small Business Committee’s bill, S.493, the SBIR and STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011.

As a result, Senator Reid moved to proceed to the bill and filed cloture on the motion.

The cloture vote will occur Monday evening. There will be 2 votes at 5:30pm on Monday. The first vote will be on confirmation of James Boasberg (DC District Judge) and the second vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.493, the SBIR and STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011.

Votes:

38: Confirmation of Max Oliver, Jr., of North Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina;

Confirmed: 96-0

Unanimous Consent:

Confirmed Timothy J. Feighery, of New York, to be Chairman of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the US.

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Congress at work -Republican led House back on 3/8 -The Senate will deal with S.23 today


The Senate Convenes at  2:00pmET March 7, 2011

Morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations:

At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations:

-Calendar #4, Anthony Battaglia, of CA, to be US District Judge for the Southern District of CA

-Calendar #32, Sue Myerscough, of IL, to be US District Judge for the Central District of IL

-Calendar #33, James Shadid, of IL, to be US District Judge for the Central District of IL

There will be one hour for debate equally divided between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.

Upon the use or yielding back of time, Calendar #32, Sue Myerscough, of IL, to be US District Judge for the Central District of IL will be confirmed.

The Senate will then proceed to a series of 3 roll call votes on the following:

–confirmation of Executive Calendar #33, James Shadid, of IL, to be US District Judge for the Central District of IL

-confirmation of Executive Calendar #4, Anthony Battaglia, of CA, to be US District Judge for the Southern District of CA

-motion to invoke cloture on S.23, the America Invents Act

5:00pm Filing deadline for all 2nd degree amendments to S.23, the America Invents Act.

There will be no further roll call votes today.

Cloture on S.23, the America Invents Act, was invoked by a vote of 87-3.

Following the vote, the pending Leahy and Bennet amendments were withdrawn. The Baucus amendment #141, as modified, was agreed to. Senator Reid then called up amendment #143 (to include public higher education in EPSCOR jurisdictions in definition of micro entity) and Reid #152 (effective date).

The Senate is now in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Votes:

32: Confirmation of Executive Calendar #33, James Shadid, of IL, to be US District Judge for the Central District of IL;

Confirmed: 89-0

33: Confirmation of Executive Calendar #4, Anthony Battaglia, of CA, to be US District Judge for the Southern District of CA;

Confirmed: 89-0

34: Motion to invoke cloture on S.23, the America Invents Act;

Invoked: 87-3

Unanimous Consent:

Adopted S.Res.55, a resolution expressing support for designation of a “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day

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

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on March 8, 2011 for Morning-Hour Debate.