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the Senate debate*votes S.954,Farm bill GMOs Nominees :::::: CONGRESS :::::: The House considers H.Res232 or HR1911 Student Loan rates


  • UScapitoltakenfromkenschramstory
  • The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:30am on Thursday, May 23, 2013
  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 10:30am with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
  • At 10:30am, there will be 2 roll call votes. The first vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #95, the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan, Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Senate will then resume Legislative Session and consideration of S.954, the Farm bill.  There will then be a roll call vote on the Sanders amendment #965 (GMO foods)(60 affirmative-vote threshold).
  • If cloture is invoked on the Srinivasan nomination, the time during consideration of S.954, the Farm bill, will count post-cloture on the nomination.
  • As a reminder, there will be 2 roll call votes at 10:30am:-          motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #95, the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan, Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia; and-          Sanders amendment #965 (GMO foods)(60 affirmative-vote threshold).Today we will work towards a finite list of amendments to the Farm bill. We hope we can work something out so we can finish our work today. If we don’t then we’ll have to be here tomorrow in the afternoon to finish the  Srinivasan nomination.
  • The cloture vote on Executive Calendar #95, the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan, Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia, has been vitiated. At 1pm today, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and debate the Srinivasan nomination for one hour, with the time equally divided and controlled in the usual form. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination.Now that the Circuit Court nomination vote has been scheduled for later this afternoon, we will shortly lock in an agreement to resume consideration of S.954, the Farm bill, at 10:30am and have 2 minutes for debate equally divided prior to a vote in relation to the Sanders amendment #965 (GMO food labels) (60-affirmative vote threshold) at 10:30am.10:30am Vote:-          Sanders amendment #965 (GMO food labels) (60-affirmative vote threshold) 2:00pm Vote:-          Confirmation of Executive Calendar #95, the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan, Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia
  • 10:38am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Sanders amendment #965 (GMO food labels) (60-affirmative vote threshold);Not Agreed To: 27-71
  • The Sanders amendment #965 (GMO food labeling) was not agreed to 27-71. We are working on an agreement to have additional votes after the 2pm vote on the Srinivasan nomination. Another message will be sent if an when an agreement is reached.
  • Senator McCaskill asked unanimous consent to go to conference on the Budget resolution and that 2 motions to instruct conferees on each side relative to the debt limit and taxes/revenue be in order.Senator Lee asked that she modify her request to prohibit consideration of a conference report that includes reconciliation instructions to increase the debt limit. Senator McCain urged Senator Lee to allow the Senate to vote on motions to instruct conferees to go to conference. Senator McCaskill objected to modifying her request. Senator Lee objected to McCaskill’s request.Senator Rubio asked consent to go to conference on the Budget resolution and to prohibit consideration of a conference report that includes reconciliation instructions on the debt limit. Senator McCain objected
  • The time until 1pm is equally divided on the Feinstein-McCain amendment #923 (crop insurance-tobacco). Following the 2pm vote on the Srinivasan nomination, the Senate will proceed to vote in relation to the Feinstein amendment.
  • The Feinstein-McCain amendment is subject to a 60-vote threshold. There will be 2 minutes for debate prior to the vote.2pm votes:-          Confirmation of Executive Calendar #95, the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan, Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia; and-          Feinstein-McCain amendment #923 (crop insurance-tobacco) (60-vote threshold)
  • The following amendments are pending to S.954, the Farm bill:

    The following amendments have been considered to S.954, the Farm bill:

    • Cantwell amendment #919 (Indian tribes – land and soil conservation programs) Agreed to: 87-8
    • Sessions amendment #945, as modified (eligibility criteria for agriculture irrigation assistance) Agreed to by unanimous consent
    • Roberts amendment #948 (SNAP) Not Agreed to: 40-58
    • Gillibrand amendment #931 (SNAP funding) Not Agreed to: 26-70
    • Inhofe amendment #960 (repeal SNAP and establish nutrition assistance block program) Not Agreed to: 36-60
    • Franken amendment #992 (access to grocery delivery for homebound seniors and persons with disabilities) Agreed to by unanimous consent
    • Vitter amendment #1056 (end food stamp eligibility for convicted violent rapists, pedophiles, and murderers) Agreed to by unanimous consent
    • Shaheen amendment #925 (Federal sugar program) Not Agreed to: 45-54
    • Sanders amendment #965 (GMO foods) Not Agreed to: 27-71 (60 vote threshold)
    • Feinstein amendment #923 (crop insurance – tobacco) Not Agreed to: 44-52 (60 vote threshold)
    • Hagan amendment #1031 (crop insurance fraud) Agreed to: 94-0
    • Durbin-Coburn amendment #953 (crop insurance premiums) Agreed to: 59-33
    • 2:00pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #93, the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit;Confirmed: 97-0
    • 2:28pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Feinstein amendment #Feinstein-McCain amendment #923 (crop insurance-tobacco) (60-vote threshold);Not Agreed To: 44-52The managers of the Farm bill would like to have additional votes this afternoon. Senator Reid said that if we are able to get consent to have the votes today, it would be before 5pm. The managers are trying to get a finite list of amendments to the Farm bill. Senator Reid is talking to members about proceeding the Immigration bill the week we get back or wait a week.
    • There will be a vote Monday, June 3 around 5:30pm.
    • At 3:15pm, the Senate will proceed to a series of 2 roll call votes in relation to the following amendments:-
    • Hagan #1031 (crop insurance fraud)
    • Durbin-Coburn #953 (premium subsidy)No amendments are in order prior to the vote. There will be 2 minutes for debate equally divided. Upon disposition of the amendments Senator Merkley will be recognized.
    • 3:14pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Hagan amendment #1031 (crop insurance fraud)Agreed to: 94-0
    • 3:41pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Durbin-Coburn amendment #953 (premium subsidy)Agreed to: 59-33
    • Senator Merkley asked unanimous consent to call up amendment #978 (Plant Protection Act) and Senator Cochran objected.
    • At 5:30pm on Monday, June 3, the Senate will proceed to a series of 2 roll call votes in relation to the following amendments to S.954, the Farm bill:
    • -          Moran #987 (alfalfa); and-          Coons-Johanns #1079 (food aid).No amendments to either amendment are in order prior to the votes. There will be 2 minutes for debate equally divided between the votes.

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

    • WRAP UP
    • ROLL CALL VOTES1)      Sanders amendment #965 (GMO food labels) to S.954, the Farm bill; Not Agreed to: 27-71 (60 affirmative-vote threshold)

      2)      Confirmation of Executive Calendar #95, the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit; Confirmed: 97-0

      3)      Feinstein amendment #923 (crop insurance – tobacco); Not Agreed to: 44-52 (60 affirmative-vote threshold)

      4)      Hagan amendment #1031 (crop insurance fraud); Agreed to: 94-0

      5)      Durbin amendment #953 (crop insurance premiums); Agreed to: 59-33

      LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

      Discharged the Judiciary committee and adopted S.Res.129, S.Res.129, a resolution recognizing the significance of May 2013 as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States with a Hirono amendment to the preamble.

      Adopted S.Res.158, to authorize the production of records by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.

      Adopted S.Con.Res.17, the adjournment resolution.

      Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.3, to approve the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Keystone XL pipeline, and for other purposes. (Republican request)

      Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.271, the Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act. (Republican resquest)

      EXECUTIVE ITEMS

      Confirmed the following items by voice vote:

      THE JUDICIARY

      Executive Calendar #11 Mark A. Barnett- to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade

      Executive Calendar #12 Claire R. Kelly- to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade

      Confirmed the following items by unanimous consent:

      All nominations on the Secretary’s desk in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy

      DEPARTMENT OF STATE

      Executive Calendar #93 Deborah Kay Jones – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Libya

      Executive Calendar #94 James Knight – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Chad

      THE JUDICIARY

      Executive Calendar #105 Michael Kenny O’Keefe – to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years

      Executive Calendar #106 Robert D. Okun – to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years

      AIR FORCE

      Executive Calendar #107 Col. James E. McClain – to be Brigadier General

      Executive Calendar #108 Lt. Gen. David L. Goldfein – to be Lieutenant General

      Executive Calendar #109 Col. Robert C. Bolton – to be Brigadier General

      Executive Calendar #110 Col. Andrew P. Armacost – to be Brigadier General

      ARMY

      Executive Calendar #111 Brig. Gen. John F. Wharton – to be Major General

      Executive Calendar #112 Col. Gabriel Troiano – to be Brigadier General

      Executive Calendar #113 Col. Jeffrey B. Clark – to be Brigadier General

      Executive Calendar #114 Brig. Gen. James A. Adkins – to be Major General

      Col. James D. Campbell – to be Brigadier General

      Executive Calendar #115 to be Brigadier General-

      Colonel Wayne L. Black

      Colonel Michael K. Hanifan

      Colonel Daniel M. Krumrei

      Colonel Robert E. Windham, Jr.

      Executive Calendar #116 to be Major General-

      Brigadier General Mark E. Anderson

      Brigadier General Julie A. Bentz

      Brigadier General Courtney P. Carr

      Brigadier General Daniel R. Hokanson

      Brigadier General Francis S. Laudano, III

      Brigadier General Scott D. Legwold

      Brigadier General Roger L. McClellan

      Brigadier General Timothy M. McKeithen

      Brigadier General Michael D. Navrkal

      Brigadier General Bruce E. Oliveira

      Brigadier General Charles E. Petrarca, Jr.

      Brigadier General Kenneth C. Roberts

      Brigadier General William F. Roy

      Brigadier General William L. Smith

      Executive Calendar #117 to be Brigadier General-

      Colonel Steven R. Beach

      Colonel Kenneth A. Beard

      Colonel Fred C. Bolton

      Colonel Michael J. Bouchard

      Colonel Gregory S. Bowen

      Colonel Mark D. Brackney

      Colonel John E. Burk

      Colonel Christopher M. Burns

      Colonel Sean M. Casey

      Colonel Russell A. Crane

      Colonel Richard H. Dahlman

      Colonel Marc Ferraro

      Colonel Robert A. Fode

      Colonel Christopher J. Fowler

      Colonel Paul F. Griffin

      Colonel Gerald E. Hadley

      Colonel Patrick M. Hamilton

      Colonel William M. Hart

      Colonel Robert T. Herbert

      Colonel Marvin T. Hunt

      Colonel Charles T. Jones

      Colonel Hunt W. Kerrigan

      Colonel John F. King

      Colonel Dirk R. Kloss

      Colonel Jeffery P. Kramer

      Colonel Gordon D. Kuntz

      Colonel Masaki G. Kuwana, Jr.

      Colonel Donald P. Laucirica

      Colonel Mark S. Lovejoy

      Colonel Mark A. Lumpkin

      Colonel Robert K. Lytle

      Colonel Tammy J. Maas

      Colonel Francis B. Magurn, II

      Colonel Mark G. Malanka

      Colonel Thomas R. McCune

      Colonel Francis M. McGinn

      Colonel Michael D. Merritt

      Colonel Richard J. Noriega

      Colonel Robert D. Pasqualucci

      Colonel Val L. Peterson

      Colonel Christopher J. Petty

      Colonel John M. Rhodes

      Colonel Scott H. Schofield

      Colonel Linda L. Singh

      Colonel Danny K. Speigner

      Colonel Bryan E. Suntheimer

      Colonel Michael A. Sutton

      Colonel Steven A. Tabor

      Colonel Gregory A. Thingvold

      Colonel Michael C. Thompson

      Colonel Kirk E. Vanpelt

      Colonel William A. Ward

      Colonel Steven R. Watt

      Colonel Ronald P. Welch

      Colonel David B. Wiles

      Colonel Giselle M. Wilz

      Colonel James P. Wong

      Colonel Jerry L. Wood

      Colonel Gary S. Yaple

      Executive Calendar #118 to be Major General-

      Brigadier General Louis H. Guernsey, Jr.

      Brigadier General Kenneth L. Reiner

      to be Brigadier General-

      Colonel Stephen G. Kent

      Colonel Juan A. Rivera

      Executive Calendar #119 Col. Richard J. Torres – to be Brigadier General

      Executive Calendar #120 Col. Michael Dillard – to be Brigadier General

      Executive Calendar #121 Col. Donald E. Jackson, Jr. – to be Brigadier General

      Executive Calendar #122 Lt. Gen. William T. Grisoli – to be Lieutenant General

      Executive Calendar #123 Col. John M. Cho – to be Brigadier General

      Executive Calendar #124 Col. Brian E. Alvin – to be Brigadier General

      Executive Calendar #125 to be Major General-

      Brigadier General William F. Duffy

      Brigadier General Ronald E. Dziedzicki

      Brigadier General Mark T. McQueen

      Brigadier General Lucas N. Polakowski

      Brigadier General Ricky L. Waddell

      to be Brigadier General

      Colonel Steven W. Ainsworth

      Colonel Ronald A. Bassford

      Colonel Jose R. Burgos

      Colonel John E. Cardwell

      Colonel Daniel J. Christian

      Colonel John J. Elam

      Colonel Bruce E. Hackett

                     With the exception of  Colonel Joseph J. Heck

      Colonel Thomas J. Kallman

      Colonel William B. Mason

      Colonel Kenneth H. Moore

      Colonel Thomas T. Murray

      Colonel Michael C. O’Guinn

      Colonel Miyako N. Schanely

      NAVY

      Executive Calendar #126 Rear Adm. Terry J. Benedict – to be Vice Admiral

      Executive Calendar #127 Rear Adm. (lh) Joseph W. Rixey – to be Vice Admiral

      Executive Calendar #128 to be Rear Admiral (Lower Half)-

      Captain John W. V. Ailes

      Captain Babette Bolivar

      Captain Daryl L. Caudle

      Captain Kyle J. Cozad

      Captain Randy B Crites

      Captain Daniel H. Fillion

      Captain Lisa M. Franchetti

      Captain Marcus A. Hitchcock

      Captain Thomas J. Kearney

      Captain Roy J. Kelley

      Captain James T. Loeblein

      Captain Brian E. Luther

      Captain William R. Merz

      Captain Michael T. Moran

      Captain Christopher J. Murray

      Captain John B. Nowell, Jr.

      Captain Timothy G. Szymanski

      Captain Richard L. Williams, Jr.

      Executive Calendar #129 Capt. Timothy J. White – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #130 Capt. Nancy A. Norton – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #131 Capt. Robert D. Sharp – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #132 Capt. Louis V. Cariello – to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

      Executive Calendar #133 Mark I. Fox – to be Vice Admiral

      Executive Calendar #134 Vice Adm. Michelle J. Howard – to be Vice Admiral

      Executive Calendar #135 Rear Adm. Ted N. Branch – to be Vice Admiral

      Executive Calendar #136 Rear Adm. Sean A. Pybus – to be Vice Admiral

      Executive Calendar #137 Rear Adm. Paul A. Grosklags – to be Vice Admiral

      Executive Calendar #138 Vice Adm. Scott H. Swift – to be Vice Admiral

      MARINE CORPS

      Executive Calendar #139 Maj. Gen. Robert R. Ruark – to be Lieutenant General

      Executive Calendar #140 Maj. Gen. Glenn M. Walters – to be Lieutenant General

    • At 5:30pm on Monday, June 3, the Senate will proceed to a series of 2 roll call votes in relation to the following amendments to S.954, the Farm bill:-

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the Senate debates/votes S.954 Nominees S.Res65 :::::: CONGRES :::::: the House debates


capitolphonelines

The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:30am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business for one hour with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.954, the Farm bill. We will continue to work through amendments to the Farm bill during Wednesday’s session of the Senate.
  • At 4:00pm, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of Calendar #43, S.Res.65, resolution strongly supporting the full implementation of United States and international sanctions on Iran and urging the President to continue to strengthen enforcement of sanctions legislation.
    • There will be 60 minutes for debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form.
    • Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:00pm), there will be a roll call vote in relation to the resolution. If the resolution is agreed to, the preamble will be agreed to.
  • During Tuesday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on Executive Calendar #95, the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan, Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit.  Unless an agreement is reached, Senators should expect that cloture vote on Thursday morning.
  • This morning Senator McConnell asked unanimous consent that the Senate vote on Tuesday, June 4, at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, following consultation with the Republican Leader, on confirmation of Executive Calendar #95, the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. Senator Reid objected and explained some of his frustrations over continued Republican delay on nominations. As a reminder, Senator Reid filed cloture on the Srinivasan nomination last night and the cloture vote will occur tomorrow.Senator McConnell noted that there is another circuit judge on the calendar that was reported prior to the Srinivasan nomination that the Wyoming senators would like to confirm. Senator Reid then suggested we confirm that nomination today and again asked consent to vote today on the Srinivasan today.
  • Senator McConnell objected and said he would continue working on nominations off the floor.
  • The Senate is in a period of morning business for 1 hour, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. Following morning business (approx 11:35am), the Senate will resume consideration of S.954, the Farm bill. Today we will continue to process amendments to the bill. Currently the Leahy amendment #998 (rural broadband) is pending.As a reminder, at 5pm today, the Senate will vote on adoption of S.Res.65, a resolution strongly supporting the full implementation of United States and international sanctions on Iran and urging the President to continue to strengthen enforcement of sanctions legislation.
  • For the information of senators, there is a chance that when we resume consideration of the Farm bill Senator Inhofe will offer amendment #960 (repeal nutrition entitlements programs and establish nutrition assistance block grants) and we vote in relation to the amendment as early as 12:00 noon.
  • At 12:00 noon the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Inhofe amendment #960 (nutrition block grants);Not Agreed To: 36-60
  • The following amendments to S.954, the Farm bill, were agreed to by unanimous consent:-       Franken #992 (access to grocery delivery for homebound seniors and persons with disabilities); and-       Vitter #1056 (end food stamp eligibility for convicted violent rapists, pedophiles, and murders)
  • Senator Kaine asked unanimous consent to go to conference on the Budget resolution and that 2 motions to instruct conferees relative to the debt limit and taxes/revenue be in order. Senator Rubio asked that the request be modified to prohibit consideration of any conference report that includes reconciliation instructions regarding the debt limit. Senator Kaine objected to modify his request. Senator Rubio objected to the original request. Senator McCain then argued that we go through regular order and go to conference on the budget resolution, with motions to instruct conferees in order, and a debate ensued.

Senator Stabenow has called up Shaheen amendment #925 (Sugar programs ). We are working towards an agreement to vote in relation to the amendment this afternoon, perhaps around the vote on the Iran Sanctions resolution.

At 3:45pm the Senate will begin consideration of S.Res.65, Iran Sanctions. There will be up to 50 minutes for debate, with the Majority controlling 20 minutes and the Republicans controlling 30 minutes. At approximately 4:35pm, the Senate will proceed to vote on adoption of the resolution. There will then be 2 minutes for debate equally divided prior to a vote in relation to the Shaheen amendment #925 (sugar programs). No second degree amendments are in order to the Shaheen amendment prior to the vote.

4:35pm votes

-       Adoption of S.Res.65, Iran Sanctions

-       Shaheen amendment #925 (sugar programs)

The Senate has reached an agreement that tomorrow, following the cloture vote on the Srinivasan nomination and notwithstanding cloture having been invoked, if invoked, the Senate resume legislative session and consideration of S.954, the Farm bill, and the Senate then proceed to vote in relation to the pending Sanders amendment #965 (GMO food labels). No second degree amendments are in order prior to the vote. the amendment is subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold. The time consumed during consideration of the Farm bill will count post-cloture.

There will be 2 roll call votes at 10:30am:

-          motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #95, the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan, Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia; and

-          Sanders amendment #965 (GMO foods)(60 affirmative-vote threshold).

4:36pm The Senate began a roll call vote on adoption of S.Res.65, Iran Sanctions.

Adopted: 99-0

:04pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Shaheen amendment #925 (sugar programs);

Not Agreed To: 44-54

The managers of the bill will continue to work on amendments,  however, there will be no further roll call votes today.

There will be no further roll call votes during today’s session.

The following amendments are pending to S.954, the Farm bill:

The following amendments have been considered to S.954, the Farm bill:

  • Cantwell amendment #919 (Indian tribes – land and soil conservation programs) Agreed to: 87-8
  • Sessions amendment #945, as modified (eligibility criteria for agriculture irrigation assistance) Agreed to by unanimous consent
  • Roberts amendment #948 (SNAP) Not Agreed to: 40-58
  • Gillibrand amendment #931 (SNAP funding) Not Agreed to: 26-70
  • Inhofe amendment #960 (repeal SNAP and establish nutrition assistance block program) Not Agreed to: 36-60
  • Franken amendment #992 (access to grocery delivery for homebound seniors and persons with disabilities) Agreed to by unanimous consent
  • Vitter amendment #1056 (end food stamp eligibility for convicted violent rapists, pedophiles, and murderers) Agreed to by unanimous consent
  • Shaheen amendment #925 (Federal sugar program) Not Agreed to: 45-54

Senator Sanders called up amendment #965 (GMO food labels). We are working on an agreement to vote in relation to the his amendment tomorrow. As a reminder, the cloture vote on the Srinavasan will occur tomorrow, potentially in the 10:30am range. Stay tuned for a final decision on the vote time.

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

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      Inhofe amendment #960 (nutrition assistance block grants) to S.954, the Farm bill; Not Agreed to: 36-60

2)      Adoption of S.Res.65, Iran Sanctions; Adopted: 99-0

3)      Shaheen amendment #965 (federal sugar program reform) to S.954; Not Agreed to: 45-54

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed H.R.258, the Stolen Valor Act of 2013.

Completed the Rule 14 process of H.R.45, the Repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.1003, the Comprehensive Student Loan Protection Act. (Coburn)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.1004, the Anti-Trust Freedom Act. (Paul)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Last Floor Action:
5:05:58 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on May 22, 2013.

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CARE2 : Antibiotics, Plastic bags Solar and more


 

 
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the Senate led by Dems :::::::::::: S.954, the Farm bill CONGRESS :::::::::::: the Republican led House


visitors-memorials-eve

The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am on Tuesday, May 21, 2013.

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in 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 S.954, the Farm bill.
  • The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
  • At 12:00 noon today the Senate will observe a moment of silence to honor the victims of the tornado in Oklahoma.

Following the moment of silence at noon, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote in relation to Cantwell amendment #919 (tribal participation in soil and water conservation programs).

Following the votes Senator Gillibrand will be recognized and intends to offer amendment #931 (restore SNAP cuts with offset).

The managers of the bill are also working on a Sessions amendment #945, but there may be an additional modification. If that modification is agreeable to both sides, it is their intention to adopt that amendment, as modified, prior to the caucus meetings.

  • 12:01pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Cantwell amendment #919 (tribal participation in soil and water conservation programs);Agreed To: 87-8

Cantwell amendment #919 was agreed to 87-8.

Senator Gillibrand offered amendment #931 (SNAP funding). The Sessions amendment #945 (eligibility criteria for agriculture irrigation assistance), as modified, was agreed to.

Following Senator Gillibrand’s statement, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm. After the lunch we will continue to process amendments to the Farm bill.

Senator Sanders asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to call up amendments #963 (CFTC investigation on energy futures and swaps markets) and #964 (CFTC regulation of energy markets). Senator Stabenow said there is an objection to setting aside the pending amendment.

Senator Roberts has called up amendment #948 (SNAP). We are working on an agreement to have a couple votes this afternoon in relation to the Gillibrand and Roberts amendments. Senators will be notified when any votes are scheduled.

The following amendments are pending to S.954, the Farm bill:

The following amendments have been considered to S.954, the Farm bill:

  • Cantwell amendment #919 (Indian tribes – land and soil conservation programs) Agreed to: 87-8
  • Sessions amendment #945, as modified (eligibility criteria for agriculture irrigation assistance) Agreed to by unanimous consent
  • Roberts amendment #948 (SNAP) Not Agreed to: 40-58
  • Gillibrand amendment #931 (SNAP funding) Not Agreed to: 26-70

4:07pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Roberts amendment #948 (SNAP);

Not Agreed To: 40-58

4:35pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Gillibrand amendment #931 (SNAP);

Not Agreed To: 26-70

Senator Murray asked unanimous consent to proceed to H.Con.Res.25, that the amendment which is at the desk, the text of S.Con.Res.8, the budget resolution passed by the Senate, be inserted in lieu thereof; that H.Con.Res.25, as amended, be agreed to; the motion to reconsider be made and laid upon the table; that the Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses; and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees. This is the long way of saying she asked to go to conference on the Budget resolution.

Senator Paul asked that Murray modify her request to make it not in order to consider any conference report that includes reconciliation instructions to raise the debt limit. Senator McCain objected to Paul’s request.

Senator McCain then asked that the original Murray request be modified so that 2 motions to instruct conferees be in order, one related to the debt limit and the other related to taxes. Senator Paul  objected to the modification. Senator Paul then objected to Murray’s original request.

Following the period of morning business, the Senate resumed consideration of the Farm bill and Senator Stabenow called up Leahy amendment #998 (rural broadband).

 The Senate is now in a period of morning business until 6:30pm with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no further roll call votes tonight.

Tomorrow the Senate will resume consideration of the Farm bill and continue to process amendments.

As a reminder, at 4pm on Wednesday, May 22, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of Calendar #43, S.Res.65, resolution strongly supporting the full implementation of United States and international sanctions on Iran and urging the President to continue to strengthen enforcement of sanctions legislation.

There will be 60 minutes for debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote in relation to the resolution. If the resolution is agreed to, the preamble will be agreed to. The motions to reconsider will be considered made and laid upon the table, all with no intervening action or debate.

  • This evening Senator Reid filed cloture on Executive Calendar #95, the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. Unless an agreement can be reached, the cloture vote would occur 1 hour after the Senate convenes on Thursday.
  • WRAP UP
  • ROLL CALL VOTES1)      Roberts amendment #948 (SNAP) to S.954, the Farm bill; Not Agreed to: 40-58

    2)      Gillibrand amendment #931 (SNAP funding); Not Agreed to: 26-70

    LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

    Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.45, the Repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

    Began the Rule 14 process of S.1003, the Comprehensive Student Loan Protection Act. (Coburn)

    Began the Rule 14 process of S.1004, the Anti-Trust Freedom Act. (Paul)

    No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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May 2013
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Watch Live House Floor Proceedings

Last Floor Action: 5/20
10:42:42 A.M. – The Speaker announced
that the House do now recess.

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 12:00 P.M.
today.

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CARE2 : repeal, public health, landfills and more


                                    For the 37th time since 2011, House Republicans will hold a vote to repeal Obamacare on Thursday, bringing the total cost of all of their failed repeal…
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                                    A public health mantra — that Americans need to keep their salt intake as low as possible, ideally down to 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day and to…
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                                    Black voters turned out in enormous numbers, casting a higher percentage of votes than white voters for the first time on record.
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                                    Imagine being afraid of stepping outside of your apartment each and every day? Imagine being afraid to walk down the street or take the subway or bus? For…
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                                    A new scientific study suggests that the well-publicized loss of rainforests, whose clearing has occurring in developing the country’s infrastructure,…
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                                    What a beautiful story! The Mucking Landfill site in Essex, just north of London, one of the largest landfills in Europe, has been transformed into a…
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                                    I’ll admit fungus and fungi aren’t the most flattering words, so it might be best to refer to them as good old-fashioned mushrooms. Or as I…
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Friday hypocrisy


112th Congress Tea Party membership map.

112th Congress Tea Party membership map. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So, Today is a day to close your eyes breathe in through your nose slowly and deeply then release your breathe slowly exhale through your mouth … be still stay calm  repeat when needed

 just another rant …

It has been a big week for members of the tea party, getting a lot of airtime. I have to say that most of the interviews on the airwaves spewed pushed a conspiracy theory about not only who should get 501c(4) status, but also how the IRS’s association with the Affordable Care Act is now tainted. I guess this should not surprise anyone but the paper trail or digital one just seems too coincidental for me.  I want to know what if any association do these folks have to republican members of Congress if as the media states this “scandal” will bring back the tea party. Fact is, only 18% of the public identify themselves as members of the tea party, but seem to show their true colours very loudly and it’s confusing to some because they don’t seem like a legitimate organization to even get this much notice or camera time

 This is also a week, a month, no, years of Republicans coming out of the woodwork that apparently still believes or wants voters to believe the BS about the President and as the mid-terms of 2010 move into 2013-2014, these kooks who were voted into office now appear unqualified and need to be voted out.  The notion that any member of Congress received or backed the tea movement is offensive. It also makes you wonder given the information regarding how many did not meet the threshold requirements just how the Tea Party folks paid for the various rallies not to mention did TV stations help, but have not admitted to sponsoring these so-called rallies.  The Tea Party is not just angry they are misinformed about where the President was born, say, he is a socialist, he favors the poor and because he is Black, he seems to be giving them the advantage.

 My question … are all these people actually buying this or is something else going on.  I understand being upset about the IRS, policy issues and politics in general but the signs at those rallies were telling. The fact is some really are mad that 53% voted an African American into office for a 2nd term and this still upsets folks while others continue to incite fear, promote exclusion and have crossed the lines of sanity

 Yes, I will say it again …  most if not all are misinformed some are racists and then there is a small group who are violet.   There are quite a few solutions, but the best is getting out the vote , remember that the mid-term elections have always been a no big deal vote  and last…   gerrymandering has made them critically important since 2010.

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Obsessed


By ThinkProgress War Room

37th Time’s the Charm?

Tomorrow, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives will once again vote to repeal Obamacare. If this sounds familiar it is because it is the 37th time — yes, that’s 3-7 — that House Republicans have tried to repeal Obamacare.

This obsession has not come for free, either in terms of time nor money. One estimate pegs the cost to taxpayers of these 37 repeal attempts at some $55 MILLION. What could we do with that same $55 MILLION? Here’s four ideas:

1. Restore cuts from sequestration to Title X family planning programs and Title V maternal and child health services. The National Women’s Law Center calculates that a 5 percent cut to the budgets of each program will reduce them by $15 million and $32.5 million, respectively. Rather than voting to repeal a bill that expands women’s access to preventative services, the House could use the money to expand them.

2. Double the Department of Justice’s budget for sexual assault services, which has currently been authorized a $50 million budget. The program gives money to states so that they can support rape crisis centers and other nongovernmental organizations that provide direct intervention, core services, and other assistance to the victims of sexual assault. Current funding is inadequate, as some states receive less than $300,000 and many programs lack the resources to meet victims’ needs.

3. Grant a request for $50 million to train 5,000 new mental health professionals as part of a new initiative to expand mental health treatment and prevention services. This proposal came in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting to address gaps in the mental health system.

4. Help states implement paid leave policies. President Obama included a $50 million State Paid Leave Fund in his 2011 budget to provide start-up support for states that want to enact paid leave for workers. More than 40 percent of workers don’t have access to paid sick leave, heading to work when they or their family members experience an illness, but this funding could help give them a better option.

In terms of time, this calculation from the New York Times shows why this is one of the most unproductive Congresses in history:

That means that since 2011, Republicans have spent no less than 15 percent of their time on the House floor on repeal in some way.

The real cost, of course, comes in terms of the more than 100 MILLION Americans who would be harmed by the GOP’s obsession with taking away their health care benefits, including:

  • 129 MILLION Americans with pre-existing conditions who will once again be at the mercy of the insurance companies.
  • 105 MILLION Americans would see lifetime limits on what their insurance company has to cover, which Obamacare banned, put back in place.
  • 71 MILLION Americans, including 34 MILLION seniors, who are currently eligible for no-cost preventive care, including mammograms and birth control.
  • 18 MILLION middle-class Americans who will receive a tax credit averaging $4,000 a year starting next year.
  • 17 MILLION children with pre-existing conditions who today, as we speak, cannot be denied coverage.
  • 13 MILLION consumers who received more than $1 BILLION in rebates last year because of an Obamacare rule requiring insurers to spend 80 percent of premiums on actual medical care would no longer be eligible for such rebates because insurers would no longer be held to such a standard.
  • 6 MILLION young adults who are currently able to stay on their parents’ insurance — 3.1 MILLION of whom were previously uninsured.
  • 6 MILLION seniors who are receiving discounts — more than $6 BILLION worth so far — on their prescription drugs thanks to Obamacare.

In addition, repealing Obamacare would increase the deficit by more than $100 BILLION over the next ten years and eliminate new resources to fight fraud. These fraud fighting efforts have recouped $4.2 BILLION just this past fiscal year from those seeking to defraud seniors and taxpayers.

BOTTOM LINE: The GOP’s obsession with taking away health care benefits from more than 100 MILLION Americans is a waste of time, a waste of money, and harmful to the tens of millions of Americans already benefiting from Obamacare.

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Immigration Reform Update


By ThinkProgress War Room

Today’s Immigration Top 5

As we discussed last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee has begun its work on a landmark immigration reform bill including a pathway to earned citizenship. The committee continued its work today, focusing on a new guest worker program and visas for highly-skilled immigrants.

There’s real momentum behind the bill, which is expected to be voted out of committee on a bipartisan basis by the end of next week.

Here’s today’s top five reads to help catch you up on the action:

  1. GOP Senator exploits immigrant deaths. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is one of the immigration reform bill’s leading opponents. He has used his seat on the Judiciary Committee to try and insert numerous “poison pill” provisions into the bill, but thankfully those efforts have been defeated by a bipartisan group of pro-reform senators. Yesterday, Cornyn released a bizarre video that seemed to exploit the deaths of immigrants in order to attack the Obama administration.
  2. GOP’s Florida Director of Hispanic Outreach quits job, becomes a Democrat. Citing last week’s blowup over Heritage’s now ex-researcher and his racist views, the Republican National Committee’s Director of Hispanic Outreach in Florida, Pablo Pantoja, not only quit his job but also left the GOP. “It doesn’t take much to see the culture of intolerance surrounding the Republican Party today,” Pantoja said in a note announcing his decision.
  3. House Republicans’ craziest arguments against immigration reform. At the very same moment a bipartisan group of senators was formally crafting immigration legislation, several Tea Party House Republicans held a press conference to denounce the bill. Among them was Rep. Steve King (R-IA), one of the few members of Congress still willing to cite a Heritage Foundation report written by a racist researcher who has since resigned.
  4. GOP Senator wonders why border security can’t be more like Disney World. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) proposed an amendment today that would’ve thrown up a major road block on the pathway to earned citizenship: the requirement that a biometric entry and exit system be in place ports of entry before any of the 11 MILLION undocumented are allowed to earn green cards. This expensive and technologically difficult requirement could’ve delayed the pathway to citizenship for years, if not permanently. The current bill already includes a tracking exit system in the form of a “photo tool” that expands the existing E-Verify program. Biometric information also will be collected from the undocumented applying for provisional status. But Cornyn claimed that Disney World’s system uses fingerprints, and what’s “good enough for the Magic Kingdom” should be U.S. law. Thankfully, most senators realize that the 329 U.S. ports of entry are a little bit different than the entry to Disney World and they voted down the amendment 6-12.
  5. Anti-reform groups stand by racist researcher. Though he may have resigned from the Heritage Foundation, racist researcher Jason Richwine still enjoys the support of numerous anti-immigration reform groups. Not only have these groups refused to condemn Richwine’s racism, they have continued to actively promote the Heritage report he co-wrote.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

GOP’s latest Benghazi allegation completely falls apart.

Why we need real disclosure laws.

Senate committee approves major cut in food aid, House preparing even worse bill.

The deficit is shrinking rapidly.

Another new attack on Obamacare.

The Attorney General recused himself from the leak investigation involving the Associated Press.

Brazil to become 15th country to support marriage equality nationwide.

The GOP’s problem with Latinos could get much, much worse.

When the IRS went after liberals.

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