In a vote of 59-38 the Senate passes HR4851 thus restoring the 18billion in jobless benefits and several other programs that also expired, including federal flood insurance, higher Medicare payment rates for doctors and generous health insurance subsidies for people who have lost their jobs. The President signed HR4851 tonight as well.

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The Senate Convenes: 9:30amET

Morning Business for 1 hour with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The Majority will control the first 30 minutes and the Republicans will control the final 30 minutes.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.4851, Continuing Extension Act.

As a reminder, cloture motions were filed on the substitute and the bill. The filing deadline for first degree amendments is 1:00pm.

The following amendments are pending to HR4851:
– Baucus #3721, as modified (substitute)
-McCain #3724, as modified (Sense of the Senate re: value added tax)

Prior to adjourning, Senator Reid filed cloture on the following Executive nominations:

– Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury;
– Marisa J. Demeo, of the district of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia;
– Christopher H. Schroeder, of North Carolina, to be an Assistant Attorney General;
– Thomas I. Vanaskie, of Pennsylvania, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit; and
– Denny Chin, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit.

By unanimous consent, the cloture vote on the Brainard nomination will occur at 5:30pm on Monday, April 19.

Votes:

12:10pm votes in relation to the following amendments:

113: Baucus motion to table Coburn #3726 (pay for by rescinding $20 billion of unspent Federal funds and revenue raisers);
Tabled: 50-48

114: on Baucus motion to table Coburn #3727 (pay for with revenue raisers and rescissions of certain programs); tabled: 53-45

115: McCain amendment #3724: , as modified (Sense of the Senate re: Value Added Tax);
Agreed To: 85-13

116: on the motion to invoke Cloture on the Baucus amendment #3721: , as modified and amended (Substitute); Invoked: 60-38

117: Passage of HR4851, Continuing Extension Act of 2010, as amended;
Passed: 59-38

Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S.Res.484, a resolution designating the week of May 16 through May 22, 2010, as “National Public Works Week”

Adopted S.Res.485, a resolution designating April 2010, as “Financial Literacy Month”

Adopted S.Res.486, a resolution supporting the mission and goals of the 2010 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

Adopted S.Res.487, a resolution honoring the coal miners who parished in teh Upper Big Branch Mine–South in Ralaigh County, West Virginia, extending the condolences of the United States Senate to the families of the fallen coal miners, and recognizing the valiant efforts of the emergency response workers.

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LEGISLATIVE DAY OF APRIL 15, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

11:00 P.M. –

On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote. The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on April 16, 2010.

Mr. King (IA) moved that the House do now adjourn.

8:16 P.M. –

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

8:15 P.M. –

Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on April 22: himself for 5 min, and Mr. Jones for 5 min. Mr. Poe of TX requested that Mr. Posey be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on April 20.

8:10 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded further with one minute speeches.

8:09 P.M. –

Mr. Polis (CO) asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Friday, April 16, 2010, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection. Mr. Polis (CO) asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 1:00 p.m. on April 16. Agreed to without objection.

H.R. 4851:

to provide a temporary extension of certain programs, and for other purposes

HR4851:

to provide a temporary extension of certain programs, and for other purposes

8:08 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 289 – 112 (Roll no. 211).

7:12 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion to agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 4851. Pursuant to a previous special order the House moved to agree to the Senate amendment.

7:11 P.M. –

ORDER OF PROCEDURE – Mr. Levin asked unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to take from the Speaker’s table H.R. 4851, with the Senate amendment thereto, and to consider in the House, without intervention of any point of order or question of consideration, a motion offered by the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means or his designee that the House agree to the Senate amendment; that the Senate amendment be considered as read; the motion be debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means; and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the motion to final adoption without intervening motion.

7:10 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on April 15, 2010 at 6:46 p.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 4851, with an amendment. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 15.

5:25 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

H. Res. 1242:

congratulating the Duke University men’s basketball team for winning the 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 390 – 0, 12 Present (Roll no. 210).

5:18 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

5:17 P.M. –

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

H.R. 4715:

to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 278 – 128 (Roll no. 209).

5:08 P.M. –

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 192 – 214 (Roll no. 208).

4:49 P.M. –

The previous question on the motion was ordered without objection.

4:38 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Jordan motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment which provides that authorization levels in the bill would be reduced under specified conditions.

4:37 P.M. –

Mr. Jordan (OH) moved to recommit with instructions to Transportation.

The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

4:36 P.M. –

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. 4715.

On agreeing to the Shea-Porter amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 294 – 109 (Roll no. 207).

4:17 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. The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

4:16 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1255:

raising a question of the privileges of the House

On motion to refer the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 385 – 0, 18 Present (Roll no. 206).

3:45 P.M. –

The previous question was ordered without objection. DEBATE – The Chair recognized Mr. Oberstar to proceed with up to one hour of debate on the motion to refer H.Res. 1255 to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Mr. Oberstar moved to refer to Standards of Official Conduct.

Considered as privileged matter.

QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE – Mr. Flake rose to a question of the privileges of the House and offered a previously noticed privileged resolution. The Chair announced that the resolution qualified and directed the Clerk to report the resolution to the House.

H.R. 4715:

to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes

3:41 P.M. –

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 4715 as unfinished business. On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

3:40 P.M. –

Mr. Oberstar moved that the Committee rise.

3:38 P.M. –

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

3:33 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kratovil amendment. Amendment offered by Mr. Kratovil.

An amendment numbered 7 printed in House Report 111-463 to make explicit that collaborative processes should be used to develop the management plan. It would call for the equitable inclusion of all relevant estuary stakeholders; the use of neutral facilitators and processes to resolve conflicts; and the inclusion and use of up-to-date information, among other considerations.

3:32 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Shea-Porter amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Shea-Porter demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

3:28 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Shea-Porter amendment. Amendment offered by Ms. Shea-Porter.

An amendment numbered 6 printed in House Report 111-463 to ensure that comprehensive conservation and management plans address the impacts and potential effects of sea level change.

3:27 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Moore (WI) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

3:24 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Moore (WI) amendment. Amendment offered by Ms. Moore (WI).

An amendment numbered 5 printed in House Report 111-463 to add trend monitoring of the introduction and establishment of nonnative species, including their pathways for introduction in estuarine zones to the list of research programs the Administrator can carry out.

3:23 P.M. –

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

3:10 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Schauer amendment. Amendment offered by Mr. Schauer.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 111-463 to define “estuary” under the Clean Water Act to include Great Lakes waters and wetlands that are similar to traditional estuaries covered by the National Estuary Program.

3:09 P.M. –

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

3:08 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kagen amendment. Amendment offered by Mr. Kagen.

An amendment numbered 3, printed in House Report 111-463 to require estuary programs to include in their comprehensive conservation and management plans a coordinated monitoring strategy between federal, state, and local entities.

3:07 P.M. –

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

2:56 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Oberstar amendment.

2:55 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Oberstar.

An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 111-463 to require the administrator to evaluate the effectiveness of the program; identify and disseminate best practices for positive outcomes; and identify and limit redundant rules, regulations and reporting requirements.

2:53 P.M. –

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

2:49 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1248, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Oberstar amendment.

2:48 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Oberstar.

An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 111-463 to ensure that program evaluations assess whether the implementation of a comprehensive conservation and management plan is achieving its stated goals; (2) enhance public education on the connections between air, land, and water and the potential impacts on estuarine health; (3) strike the existing statutory priority list for estuaries to clarify that existing and proposed management conferences enter or remain in the program on a competitive basis, and (4) remove individuals from the list of approved recipients for grants under this program.

2:04 P.M. –

GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4715. The Speaker designated the Honorable Henry Cuellar 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. 1248 and Rule XVIII.

1:59 P.M. –

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4715 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 considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. Notwithstanding clause 11 of rule XVIII, no amendment to the bill shall be in order except those printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1248.

H. Con. Res. 222:

recognizing the leadership and historical contributions of Dr. Hector Garcia to the Hispanic community and his remarkable efforts to combat racial and ethnic discrimination in the United States of America

1:57 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

1:56 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1062:

recognizing the Coast Guard Group Astoria’s more than 60 years of service to the Pacific Northwest, and for other purposes

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 401 – 0 (Roll no. 205).

1:48 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

1:47 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed. ADJUSTMENT OF THE WHOLE NUMBER OF THE HOUSE – Under clause 5(d) of rule 20, the Chair announces to the House that, in light of the administration of the oath to the gentleman from Florida, the whole number of the House is 431.

1:40 P.M. –

OATH OF OFFICE – Representative-Elect Theodore E. Deutch, Nineteenth District, State of Florida, presented himself in the well of the House for the purpose of taking the Oath of Office which was administered by the Speaker of the House.

1:38 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Clerk. The Clerk transmitted to the House a facsimile copy of a letter received from the Honorable Kurt S. Browning, Secretary of State, State of Florida, indicating that, according to the unofficial returns of the Special Election held April 13, 2010, the Honorable Theodore E. Deutch was elected Representative to Congress for the Nineteenth Congressional District, State of Florida.

H. Res. 1248:

providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 4715) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules

1:37 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 235 – 171 (Roll no. 204).

1:05 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

1:04 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 15.

11:38 A.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

H. Res. 1248:

providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 4715) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules

11:37 A.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H.Res. 1248, the Chair put the question on adoption of the resolution and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the resolution until a time to be announced.

10:29 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1248

10:28 A.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

10:03 A.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 10 per side of the aisle.