Help Your Student Win…

Help Your Students to Win a Chance to Get a Patent on an Invention The Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation has partnered with ePals Global Community to sponsor the second annual invention challenge!

Get your students’ creativity flowing. Help them become inventors by choosing a problem and inventing something to solve it. You can use the power point template to submit their ideas. Four lucky winners will have the chance to get a patent filed for their invention! This year, there are chances for students to win across multiple categories and age groups. Entries are due January 4th, 2013. Finalists will be announced on Kid Inventor Day (Jan. 17th 2012) and the winners will be announced on February 4th! Visit ePals Invent-It Challenge Contest Page for more details!

Five Sensible Steps

By ThinkProgress War Room

A Sensible Path Forward on Gun Safety

Last night, President Obama once again committed himself and the nation to meaningful action to reduce gun violence in our society:

This is our first task — caring for our children. It’s our first job. If we don’t get that right, we don’t get anything right. That’s how, as a society, we will be judged.

And by that measure, can we truly say, as a nation, that we are meeting our obligations? Can we honestly say that we’re doing enough to keep our children — all of them — safe from harm? Can we claim, as a nation, that we’re all together there, letting them know that they are loved, and teaching them to love in return? Can we say that we’re truly doing enough to give all the children of this country the chance they deserve to live out their lives in happiness and with purpose?

I’ve been reflecting on this the last few days, and if we’re honest with ourselves, the answer is no. We’re not doing enough. And we will have to change.

Since I’ve been President, this is the fourth time we have come together to comfort a grieving community torn apart by a mass shooting. The fourth time we’ve hugged survivors. The fourth time we’ve consoled the families of victims. And in between, there have been an endless series of deadly shootings across the country, almost daily reports of victims, many of them children, in small towns and big cities all across America — victims whose — much of the time, their only fault was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

We can’t tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change. We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law — no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world, or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society.

But that can’t be an excuse for inaction. Surely, we can do better than this. If there is even one step we can take to save another child, or another parent, or another town, from the grief that has visited Tucson, and Aurora, and Oak Creek, and Newtown, and communities from Columbine to Blacksburg before that — then surely we have an obligation to try.

In the coming weeks, I will use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens — from law enforcement to mental health professionals to parents and educators — in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this. Because what choice do we have? We can’t accept events like this as routine. Are we really prepared to say that we’re powerless in the face of such carnage, that the politics are too hard? Are we prepared to say that such violence visited on our children year after year after year is somehow the price of our freedom?

As policymakers look for a way forward, ThinkProgress’ Igor Volsky rounds up five sensible steps President Obama, Congress, federal agencies, and the states can take in response to the nation’s high rate of gun violence:

1) States should submit their mental health records. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 established the in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), a database to collect data from state governments and federal agencies of individuals who are banned from purchasing firearms. These include: felons, fugitives, persons convinced of misdemeanor crime for domestic violence, unlawful users of or those addicted to drugs, the mentally incompetent, undocumented immigrants, dishonorably discharged veterans, people who have renounced citizenship, domestic violence abusers, among others. Despite this improvement, the database is still far from complete. A report from Mayors Against Illegal Guns finds “major failure by 23 states in submitting mental health records to the system, with 17 states reporting fewer than 10 records and four submitting none at all.” States can do a better job of complying with the mandate and the federal government should establish clear reporting guidelines and fund the requirement.

2) Federal agencies should submit mental records into the NICS. Following the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in January 2011, the Justice Department developed a list of “steps the government could take to expand the background-check system in order to reduce the risk of guns falling into the hands of mentally ill people and criminals,” including using “information on file at other federal agencies” to bolster the database. Currently, “52 of 61 federal agencies that are required to submit records have not done so.” President Obama should issue an executive order directing agencies to submit their records to the NICS.

3) Full background check on all gun transactions. Since the passage of the Brady Act, gun purchasers buying firearms from federally licensed dealers are subject to background checks. As a result, more than 2 million applicants have been prohibited from purchasing guns. Unfortunately, 40 percent of firearm acquisitions are from individuals who are not licensed gun dealers and do not undergo any background checks. Congress should consider legislation likeThe Fix Gun Check Act, which expands background checks to include guns purchased at: “gun shows, flea markets, private sales, through newspaper advertisements, and online purchasers.” Individuals on the federal government’s watch list of terror suspects should also be prohibited from purchasing firearms.

4) Ban assault weapons and ammunition magazines that hold 10 or more rounds. In 1994, Congress passed a ban against high-capacity magazines and banned the manufacture, transfer, and possession of certain assault weapons. The law wasn’t perfect — for instance, it grandfathered existing assault weapons and ammunition magazines and manufacturers could bypass the ban with minor modifications — but studies did find a drop in use of assault weapons and high capacity magazines following passage. The law was allowed to expire in 2004, but Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has pledged to introduce a new ban that would cover the sale and importation of assault weapons, certain kinds of bullets, big drums and extended magazines.

5) Improve treatment of mental illness. It’s currently easier for a poor person to obtain a gun than it is for them to receive treatment for mental health issues, as state governments continue to cut services to balance budgets. States have slashed “at least $4.35 billion in public mental health spending from 2009 to 2012″ — representing the “largest reduction in funding since de-institutionalization in the 1960s and ’70s. In 2012, 31 states cut more than $840 million. Obamacare will require health plans on statewide exchanges to cover mental health services as one of its “essential health benefit” categories, though states ultimately carry most of the discretion when it comes to defining what these services are and how much funding they will receive.

BOTTOM LINE: The time is now and we can no longer let politics get in the way of protecting everyone in our society from senseless gun violence.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

Polls find strong support for stricter gun regulations.

The heroes of Sandy Hook.

The real truth about the NRA.

Gun safety advocates protest outside the NRA’s DC lobbying office.

Top conservative magazine: Newtown massacre is just the price we pay for the Second Amendment.

Newly-appointed South Carolina U.S. senator says we should “never” have “any” gun regulation.

Five states where it’s harder to get an abortion than a gun.

Gun-related violence costs every taxpayer hundreds of dollars per year.

Top social conservative says marriage equality and abortion is to blame for Newtown massacre.

CARE2

 

6 Worst Reactions to the Newtown Massacre The horror of the massacre in Newtown, Conn. is still fresh, and yet already, there are people out making fools of themselves in its wake. read more

Senator Feinstein Promises Action on Gun Control. Can Congress Deliver? Feinstein (D-Calif) announced she would introduce a bill re-instating the federal ban on assault weapons on the first day of the new Congress in January. read more

5 Reasons Raising the Medicare Eligibility Age Would Be A Disaster Medicare has been providing health coverage for older adults and disabled Americans since 1965, and it’s a bit of a triumph of social insurance. The… read more

Success! EPA Finalizes Tougher Air Quality Standards Late last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new air quality standards for fine particulate matter, or soot. This decision… read more

In the Library … The Hobbit by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

 1937 cover – drawing done by Tolkien

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE (3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973), whose surname is pronounced /?t?lki?n/ (in General American also /?to?lki?n/), was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University from 1925 to 1945 and Merton Professor of English Language and Literature there from 1945 to 1959. He was a close friend of C. S. Lewis—they were both members of the informal literary discussion group known as the Inklings. Tolkien was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II on 28 March 1972. After his death, Tolkien’s son, Christopher, published a series of works based on his father’s extensive notes and unpublished manuscripts, including The Silmarillion. These, together with The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, form a connected body of tales, poems, fictional histories, invented languages, and literary essays about an imagined world called Arda, and Middle-earth within it. Between 1951 and 1955 Tolkien applied the word legendarium to the larger part of these writings. While many other authors had published works of fantasy before Tolkien, the great success of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings when they were published in paperback in the United States led directly to a popular resurgence of the genre. This has caused Tolkien to be popularly identified as the “father” of modern fantasy literature—or, more precisely, of high fantasy. Tolkien’s writings have inspired many other works of fantasy and have had a lasting effect on the entire field. In 2008, The Times ranked him sixth on a list of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945″.

http://www.readanybook.com/ebook/the-hobbit-17

CBO : Mission Indians

S. 3193, the Barona Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Clarification Act of 2012

cost estimate

As ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on December 5, 2012

Got maternity care?

 

All Women Need Maternity Care                                     Tell the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that insurance companies provide maternity care for all women.                     Millions of young women get health insurance coverage through their parents’ plans — but even though their parents’ policies include maternity benefits, not all of these daughters have access to maternity coverage. This means many pregnant women are without the care they need, when they need it the most. Your voice is needed. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is creating rules for insurance companies in the individual and small group markets under the new health care law. As part of this effort, they will take comments from the public about what services insurance companies must cover. Tell HHS to ensure insurance companies provide maternity coverage to women who get their health care coverage through their policy. Maternity care leads to healthier moms and healthier babies. And health insurance coverage for these services provides financial security and peace of mind to women and their families. On average, a woman without maternity coverage will spend at least $10,000 on maternity care, a huge financial burden at the time when she’s bringing a child into the world. We’ve made a lot of progress — but there’s still more to be done. Send in your comments and ensure that insurance companies are required to provide maternity coverage for all individuals. The National Women’s Law Center shined a spotlight on the fact that when women buy health coverage directly from insurance companies, only twelve percent of those health plans cover maternity care. With your help, we’ll continue the important fight to ensure all women have maternity coverage when they need it. Thank you for all you do to ensure women have access to quality, affordable health care. Sincerely,     Judy Waxman Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights National Women’s Law Center

Check your Gift Card …

 Ever get a gift card that lost its value? One day, it promised you $50 or $100, then when you went to use it, the card had been drained.

Maybe there were unexpected fees. Some cards charge you if you don’t use them in a certain period. Others expire.

Maybe the store went belly up. Your cash money went to pay their creditors and you got nothing.

If the card was a “rewards” card purchased with credit card, airline, or other “points” — well then, all bets are off. The card could have been loaded with fees and expire at any time.

Tell us your own gift card story — and we’ll use it to make sure your card is worth what you paid for it.

This holiday season, lawmakers are working on a bill to eliminate fees and expiration dates. Money doesn’t expire. Neither should money stored on a gift card.

The bill would also require companies to treat cards purchased with rewards points the same as cards purchased with cash.

But this bill isn’t a slam dunk. Retailers and banks benefit when you give them cash but then they don’t have to honor that cash amount in goods or services. To pass this bill, in the face of opposition from industry, lawmakers need the stories of real people.

Tell us your story, and we will put it in front of lawmakers and news outlets!

Share your story, or forward this email to a friend, co-worker or family member who may have gotten less than their money’s worth from a gift card.

Sincerely,
Pam Banks, DefendYourDollars.org
A project of Consumers Union

CONGRESS: the Republican led House :::::: the Democratic led Senate

the Senate Convened 10:00amET December 18,2012

• Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for one hour with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
• Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.
• The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

The Senate has resumed consideration of H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Hurricane Sandy Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill. Senator Merkley called up the Merkley-Stabenow amendment #3367 (crop insurance).

The McCain amendment #3355 (strike emergency funding for forest restoration program) and the Tester amendment #3350 (additional funds for wildland fire management) are now pending to H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the emergency supplemental appropriations bill.

Senator Reid made the following unanimous consent request for consideration of S.3276, the FAA Sunsets Extension Act of 2012 .  Senator Chambliss objected to the request.

The text of the request and the unofficial transcript of their remarks are below.

At time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar #463, S.3276 and the only first degree amendments in order be the following:

- Judiciary committee reported substitute;

- Leahy (sunset);

- Leahy (oversight);

- Wyden (public reporting);

- Wyden (back-door searches);

- Tester (reverse targeting); and

- Merkley (declassification of FISA Court opinions)

And that there be one hour of debate equally divided between the proponents and opponents on each amendment, and up to two hours of debate on the bill equally divided between the proponents and opponents.  Further, that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to votes in relation to the amendments in the order listed; and that there be no amendments in order to any of the amendments prior to the votes; and upon disposition of the amendments, the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended.

MR. REID: THE SENATE HAS BEEN CONSIDERING THE SUPPLEMENTAL

APPROPRIATION BILL FOR TWO DAYS NOW. THE REPUBLICANS, I’M TOLD,

ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. WE

HAVE OTHER CONCERNS, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE TRAGEDY IN

CONNECTICUT, THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF OUR FRIEND, SENATOR INOUYE,

BUT TIME DOESN’T STOP FOR ANYTHING. IT KEEPS MARCHING ON.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING. WE HAVE A FISCAL CLIFF THAT’S IN THE

HORIZON. SO I HOPE WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS ON THIS BILL IN THE

MORNING. IF NOT, I’LL BE FORCED TO FILE CLOTURE TO TRY TO

FIGURE OUT A PATH FORWARD ON THIS BILL. IT’S BEEN OPEN FOR

AMENDMENT, THAT’S WHAT MY FRIENDS SAID THEY WANTED, THAT’S WHAT

THEY HAVE. WE HAVE THE D.O.D. AUTHORIZATION. WE NEED TO

COMPLETE ACTION ON THAT CONFERENCE REPORT THAT’S BEEN COMPLETED

NOW. WE EXPECT THAT THEY WILL FILE TONIGHT OR TOMORROW SO WE

NEED TO COMPLETE THAT BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK. CHRISTMAS IS

SEVEN DAYS FROM TODAY. WE HAVE JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS, WE’VE BEEN

MAKING SOME PROGRESS WITH THE DISTRICT COURT NOMINATIONS. WE

HAVE TO DO THREE MORE BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK. WE HAVE

EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS WE NEED TO CONSIDER BEFORE THE END OF THE

WEEK. FISA, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF

LEGISLATION. IMPERFECT AS IT IS, IT IS WHAT IS NECESSARY TO

HELP US BE PROTECTED FROM THE EVIL THAT’S IN THE WORLD. WE HAVE

TO COMPLETE THIS BEFORE WE LEAVE HERE THIS WEEK. TODAY’S

TUESDAY. SO EVERYONE ELSE CAN DO THE MATH JUST AS WELL AS I CAN

ABOUT HOW MANY DAYS ARE LEFT. SO I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT

AT A TIME TO BE DETERMINED BY ME AFTER CONSULTATION WITH

SENATOR McCONNELL, THE SENATE PROCEED TO THE CONSIDERATION OF

CALENDAR NUMBER 463, S.3276, THAT THE ONLY FIRST-DEGREE

AMENDMENTS IN ORDER TO THE BILL BE THE FOLLOWING, JUDICIARY

COMMITTEE REPORTED SUBSTITUTE, LEAHY SUNSET, LEAHY OVERSIGHT,

WYDEN PUBLIC REPORT,, WIENDZ BACK DOOR SEARCHES, AND MERKLEY

WHICH IS ABOUT DECLASSIFICATION OF FISA COURT OPINIONS. THAT

THERE BE AN HOUR OF DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED

BETWEEN THE OPPONENTS AND PROPONENTS ON EACH AMENDMENT, THAT

THERE BE UP TWO TWO HOURS OF DEBATE ON THE BILL EQUALLY DIVIDED

BETWEEN THE PROPONENTS AND OPPONENTS, UPON THE USE OR YIELDING

BACK OF THAT TIME, THE SENATE PROCEED TO VOTE IN RELATION TO

THE AMENDMENTS IN THE ORDER LISTED, THAT THERE BE NO AMENDMENTS

IN ORDER TO ANY OF THE AMENDMENTS PRIOR TO THE VOTES, THAT UPON

DISPOSITION OF THE AMENDMENTS THE BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME AND

THE SENATE PROCEED TO VOTE ON PASSAGE OF THE BILL IF AMENDED.

BEFORE THE CHAIR RULES ON THIS, MR. PRESIDENT, IT’S PRETTY EASY

TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH TIME THIS INCLUDES. THIS IS THE BETTER

PART OF A DAY, THE BETTER PART OF A DAY IF WE GOT THIS CONSENT

DONE. SO I ASK THAT CHAIR APPROVE THE CONSENT AGREEMENT.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?

MR. CHAMBLISS: RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT, AND I DO INTEND TO OBJECT.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY TO THE LEADER THANKS FOR MOVING

TOWARDS THE FISA BILL.

YOU’RE EXAMINING RIGHT, THIS IS A BILL THAT MUST

BE DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR SO WE CAN BE SURE THE

INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO GATHER IN A LAWFUL AND LEGAL

WAY THE KIND OF INTELLIGENCE THAT KEEPS AMERICANS SAFE AND

SECURE. THERE ARE TWO DOCUMENTS, ONE A STATEMENT OF

ADMINISTRATION POLICY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE WHERE THEY HAVE

AGREED TO THE BILL THAT HAS ALREADY PASSED THE HOUSE, AND

SECONDLY, A LETTER FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE INTELLIGENCE

COMMUNITY, NAMELY, THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS

WELL AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DIRECTED TO THE LEADERSHIP BOTH OF

WHICH LETTERS AND STATEMENTS SUPPORT THE HOUSE BILL. AND IT’S

BECAUSE OF THAT AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IF THE HOUSE BILL

COMES THROUGH HERE AND I UNDERSTAND WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE DEBATE,

MAY HAVE TO HAVE AMENDMENTS DEBATED, WHATEVER THE LEADER

DECIDES, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET

THAT BILL PASSED AND ACCEPTED IT DIRECTLY TO THE PRESIDENT’S

DESK. SO I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE LETTER FROM THE

D.N.I. AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DATED FEBRUARY 8 AS WELL AS THE

STATEMENT OF MPTION POLICY DATED SEPTEMBER 10 BE INCLUDED IN

THE RECORD AND, MR. PRESIDENT, I DO OBJECT.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD. AND WITHOUT

OBJECTION THE LETTERS WILL BE INCLUDED.

MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY LEADER.

MR. REID: I’LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON PATH FORWARD IF ANYONE HAS

ANY IDEAS HOW TO HELP ME WITH THAT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LISTEN

TO THEM BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE MUST DO BEFORE WE LEAVE HERE.

CHRISTMAS IS NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS LEGISLATION. I’M

SORRY, I HOPE I’M NOT OFFENDING ANYONE, BUT THAT’S THE WAY IT

IS. WE HAVE TO GET SOMETHING DONE ON THIS BEFORE THE END OF THE

YEAR AND I THINK WE WOULD BE WALKING ON VERY, VERY THIN ICE TO

TRY TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS TO TRY TO DO THIS

LEGISLATION. I DON’T — IT’S HARD FOR ME TO COMPREHEND THE

POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO OUR COUNTRY IF WE DID NOT EXTEND THIS

LEGISLATION.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.622, notifying the House of Representatives of the election of a President pro tempore.

Adopted S.Res.623, notifying the President of the United States of the election of a President pro tempore.

Adopted S.Con.Res.63, a concurrent resolution to correct the enrollment of S.2367 the 21^st Century Language Act of 2012.

Adopted S.Con.Res.64, a concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for the lying in state of the remains of the late Honorable Daniel K. Inouye.

Adopted S.Res.624, a resolution relative to the death of the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, United States Senator from the State of Hawaii.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

————————————————————-

Watch Live House Floor Proceedings

10:00:00 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:01:18 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Nan A. S. Hayworth to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:01:39 A.M.		The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed S. 1792 and S. 1793. Additionally, the Senate passed H.R. 6223, without amendment, and H.R. 2076, with an amendment.
10:02:04 A.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
10:58:24 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today. 12:00:42 P.M. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 18. 12:00:52 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy. 12:02:30 P.M. SPEAKER’S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Altmire demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Altmire objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day. 12:02:47 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Walden to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 12:02:57 P.M. CALL OF THE PRIVATE CALENDAR – Pursuant to clause 1(a) of rule XIII, the Chair announced that the call of the Private Calendar was in order on this day and would be considered after one minute speeches. 12:03:19 P.M. <action_description>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. 12:29:23 P.M. S. 285 Called up from the Private Calendar for consideration. 12:29:43 P.M. S. 285 Considered from the Private Calendar. S. 285 — “For the relief of Sopuruchi Chukwueke.” 12:29:48 P.M. S. 285 On passage Passed without objection. 12:29:55 P.M. S. 285 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 12:30:04 P.M. The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced. 12:30:28 P.M. H.R. 6504 Mr. Chabot moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 6504 — “To amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to provide for increased limitations on leverage for multiple licenses under common control, and for other purposes.” 12:30:48 P.M. H.R. 6504 Considered under suspension of the rules. 12:30:50 P.M. H.R. 6504 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6504. 12:41:48 P.M. H.R. 6504 At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Chabot objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn. 12:43:57 P.M. H.R. 3783 Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. 12:44:17 P.M. H.R. 3783 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on agreeing to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3783. 1:00:55 P.M. H.R. 3783 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. 1:02:17 P.M. H.R. 6621 Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 6621 — “To correct and improve certain provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act and title 35, United States Code.” 1:02:30 P.M. H.R. 6621 Considered under suspension of the rules. 1:02:32 P.M. H.R. 6621 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6621. 1:15:25 P.M. H.R. 6621 At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. 1:16:16 P.M. H.R. 6014 Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 6014 — “To authorize the Attorney General to award grants for States to implement minimum and enhanced DNA collection processes.” 1:16:34 P.M. H.R. 6014 Considered under suspension of the rules. 1:16:39 P.M. H.R. 6014 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6014. 1:42:37 P.M. H.R. 6014 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. 1:42:41 P.M. H.R. 6014 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 1:42:45 P.M. H.R. 6014 <action_description>The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. 1:42:49 P.M. S. 3642 <action_description>Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 3642 — “To clarify the scope of the Economic Espionage Act of 1996.” 1:43:06 P.M. S. 3642 <action_description>Considered under suspension of the rules. 1:43:10 P.M. S. 3642 <action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3642. 1:47:59 P.M. S. 3642 <action_description>At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. 1:48:07 P.M. H.R. 6671 <action_description>Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 6671 — “To amend section 2710 of title 18, United States Code, to clarify that a video tape service provider may obtain a consumer’s informed, written consent on an ongoing basis and that consent may be obtained through the Internet.” 1:48:29 P.M. H.R. 6671 Considered under suspension of the rules. 1:48:32 P.M. H.R. 6671 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6671. 2:05:37 P.M. H.R. 6671 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. 2:05:40 P.M. H.R. 6671 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 2:05:59 P.M. >The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair. « Previous Day 6:15:09 P.M. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 18. 6:15:15 P.M. <action_description>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 December 18, 2012 at 2:19 p.m.: That the Senate passed S. Res. 622. 6:15:20 P.M. H.R. 4310 <action_description>Mr. Rigell asked unanimous consent that managers on the part of the House have until midnight on Dec. 18 to file a conference report on H.R. 4310. Agreed to without objection. 6:16:00 P.M. <action_description>UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed. 6:16:37 P.M. H.R. 6504 Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 6504 — “To amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to provide for increased limitations on leverage for multiple licenses under common control, and for other purposes.” 6:54:15 P.M. H.R. 6504 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 359 – 36, 1 Present (Roll no. 629). 6:54:16 P.M. H.R. 6504 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 6:54:45 P.M. H.R. 3783 >Considered as unfinished business. 7:01:14 P.M. H.R. 3783 On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 386 – 6 (Roll no. 630). 7:01:15 P.M. H.R. 3783 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 7:06:11 P.M. H.R. 6621 >Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 6621 — “To correct and improve certain provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act and title 35, United States Code.” 7:13:01 P.M. H.R. 6621 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 308 – 89 (Roll no. 631). 7:13:02 P.M. H.R. 6621 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 7:13:06 P.M. S. 3642 Considered as unfinished business. S. 3642 — “To clarify the scope of the Economic Espionage Act of 1996.” 7:19:51 P.M. S. 3642 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 388 – 4 (Roll no. 632). 7:19:52 P.M. S. 3642 >Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 7:20:34 P.M. S. 3687 <action_description>Mr. Denham asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider. 7:20:37 P.M. S. 3687 <action_description>Considered by unanimous consent. S. 3687 — “To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program, to designate certain Federal buildings, and for other purposes.” 7:20:57 P.M. S. 3687 On passage Passed without objection. 7:20:58 P.M. S. 3687 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 7:21:02 P.M. H.J. Res. 122 Mr. Denham asked unanimous consent to consider as introduced. 7:21:02 P.M. H.J. Res. 122 Considered by unanimous consent. H.J. Res. 122 — “Establishing the date for the counting of the electoral votes for President and Vice President cast by the electors in December 2012.” 7:21:34 P.M. H.J. Res. 122 <action_description>On passage Passed without objection. 7:21:36 P.M. H.J. Res. 122 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 7:21:59 P.M. Mr. Smith (TX) filed a report from the Committee on Judiciary on H. Res. 819. 7:22:56 P.M. On approving the Journal Agreed to by voice vote. 7:23:00 P.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches. 7:26:00 P.M. SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches. 9:22:50 P.M. Mr. Altmire moved that the House do now adjourn. 9:22:55 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote. 9:22:55 P.M. The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on December 19, 2012.