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

the Senate Convenes: 11:00amET December 20,2012

• Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.1, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.
• During Wednesday’s session, cloture was filed on the Reid substitute amendment #3395 and on H.R1.  The filing deadline for all first degree amendments is 1:00pm on Thursday.  We will continue to work on an agreement for amendments in order to complete action on the bill.
• Senator Inouye will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda on Thursday.  Senators will gather in the Senate Chamber at 9:35am in order to proceed together at 9:45am for the viewing.

The Senate has reached an agreement that at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, in consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations:

Executive Calendar # 834, 835, 877

that there be 30 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form; that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on Cal. #834, 835 and 877 in that order; the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order; that any related statements be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

#834 Matthew W. Brann—US District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

#835 Malachy Edward Mannion—US District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

#877 Jon S. Tigar –US District Judge for the Northern District of California

The Senate has reached an agreement that at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R.4310, the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 2013; that there be up to an hour of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees prior to a vote on adoption of the conference report.

We expect to begin consideration of the NDAA conference report at 1pm tomorrow.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted H.J.Res.122, a joint resolution establishing the date for the counting of the electoral votes for President and Vice President cast by the electors in December 2012 (moves the date for counting from Sunday, January 6^th to Friday, January 4^th).

Passed H.R.443, to provide for the conveyance of certain property from the United States to the Maniilaq Association in Kotzebue, Alaska with a Murkowski substitute amendment.

Passed H.R.4053, the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2012.

Passed S.2388, a bill to reauthorize and amend the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002, and for other purposes with a committee-reported substitute amendment and a Begich amendment.

Discharged the Judiciary committee and adopted S.Res.439, a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that Village Voice Media Holdings, LLC should eliminate the “adult entertainment” section of the classified advertising website Backpage.com

Discharged the Judiciary committee and adopted S.Res.617, congratulating the recipient of the 2012 Heisman Memorial Trophy.

Adopted S.Res.627, a resolution designating the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Passed H.R.6671, a bill 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.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on December 20, 2012.

12:00:10 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:43 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Robert J. Dold to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:51 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
12:01:59 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal.  Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:02:04 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Jenkins to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:02:34 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 a message from the Secretary of the Senate on December 20, 2012 at 10:02 a.m. stating that that body had passed H.R. 3477, H.R. 3870, H.R. 3912, H.R. 5738, H.R. 5837, H.R. 5954, S. 3630, S. 3662, S. 2318, S. 3202, and S. 3698. The message further stated that the Senate passed H.R. 4057 and H.R. 6029 as amended and named appointments to the United States-China Economic Security Review Commission.
12:03:38 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
12:30:43 P.M.	H. Res. 840	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 840 — “Providing for consideration of the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 4310) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2013 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.”
12:31:32 P.M.	H. Res. 840	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 840.
1:29:45 P.M.	H. Res. 840	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H. Res. 840, Mr. Bishop (UT) moved the previous question and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. McGovern demanded the yeas and nays which were ordered, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of ordering the previous question until later in the legislative day.
1:30:37 P.M.	H. Res. 841	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 841 — “Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 66) approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6684) to provide for spending reduction.”
1:32:18 P.M.	H. Res. 841	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 841. 1:32:18 P.M. H. Res. 841  DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 841. 3:01:27 P.M. H. Res. 841 On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 233 – 184 (Roll no. 639). 3:09:02 P.M. H. Res. 841 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 219 – 197 (Roll no. 640). 3:09:03 P.M. H. Res. 841 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 3:09:17 P.M. H. Res. 840 Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 840 — “Providing for consideration of the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 4310) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2013 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.” 3:15:44 P.M. H. Res. 840 On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 233 – 186 (Roll no. 641). 3:22:15 P.M. H. Res. 840 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 243 – 177 (Roll no. 642). 3:22:16 P.M. H. Res. 840 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 3:23:13 P.M. The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification to terminate the designation of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis as a beneficiary developing country under the Generalized System of Preferences program. – referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-158). 3:27:30 P.M. H.R. 4310 Mr. McKeon brought up conference report H. Rept. 112-705 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 840. 3:27:46 P.M. H.R. 4310 DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on conference report to accompany H.R. 4310. 4:39:42 P.M. H.R. 4310 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. 4:40:24 P.M. H.R. 4310 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the conference report to accompany H.R. 4310, the Chair put the question on adoption of the conference report and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Smith (WA) demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the conference report until later in the legislative day. 4:41:23 P.M. H.R. 6684 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 841. H.R. 6684 — “To provide for spending reduction.” 4:41:28 P.M. H.R. 6684 The resolution provides for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.J. Res. 66 and for consideration of H.R. 6684. The resolution makes in order a motion offered by the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means that the House concur in the Senate amendment to H.J. Res. 66 with the amendment printed in House Report 112-708. The resolution provides for one hour of debate in both instances. The Senate amendment, the motion, and H.R. 6684 shall be considered as read. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit for H.R. 6684. 4:41:48 P.M. H.R. 6684 DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 6684. 5:53:26 P.M. H.R. 6684 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. 5:53:46 P.M. H.R. 6684 Mr. Van Hollen moved to recommit with instructions to Ways and Means. 5:58:03 P.M. H.R. 6684 DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Van Hollen motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment that would add two new sections at the end of the bill. The first section is entitled “DISCLOSURE OF HIGHER BENEFICIARY COSTS AND PROVIDER CUTS UNDER MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND CHIP CUTS”. The second section is entitled “LIMITATION ON DEDUCTION FOR INTANGIBLE DRILLING AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS OF MAJOR INTEGRATED OIL COMPANIES”. 6:07:07 P.M. H.R. 6684 The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. 6:32:08 P.M. H.R. 6684 On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll no. 643). 6:40:12 P.M. H.R. 6684 On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll no. 644). 6:40:13 P.M. H.R. 6684 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 6:40:19 P.M. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on adoption of the conference report accompanying H.R. 4310 and on motions to suspend the rules, all of which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed. 6:40:44 P.M. H.R. 4310 The House proceeded to consider the conference report H. Rept. 112-705 as unfinished business. 6:46:53 P.M. H.R. 4310 On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll no. 645). 6:46:53 P.M. H.R. 4310 Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 6:46:58 P.M. H.R. 3197 Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3197 — “To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Spokane, Washington, as the “Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center”.” 6:54:10 P.M. H.R. 3197 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): (Roll no. 646). 6:54:11 P.M. H.R. 3197 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 6:54:16 P.M. H.R. 6443 Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 6443 — “To designate the facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 9800 West Commercial Boulevard in Sunrise, Florida, as the “William ‘Bill’ Kling VA Clinic”.” 6:54:47 P.M. H.R. 6443 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Roll Call 647 – 2/3 Yea and Nay vote pending. 6:54:16 P.M. H.R. 6443 Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 6443 — “To designate the facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 9800 West Commercial Boulevard in Sunrise, Florida, as the “William ‘Bill’ Kling VA Clinic”.” 7:00:48 P.M. H.R. 6443 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 – 0 (Roll no. 647). 7:00:49 P.M. H.R. 6443 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 7:00:52 P.M. S. 925 Considered as unfinished business. S. 925 — “To designate Mt. Andrea Lawrence.” 7:06:20 P.M. S. 925 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 – 7 (Roll no. 648). 7:06:23 P.M. S. 925 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 7:06:39 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair. 9:01:07 P.M. <action_description>The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 20. 9:01:15 P.M. S.J. Res. 49 <action_description>Mr. LaTourette asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider. 9:01:25 P.M. S.J. Res. 49 <action_description>Considered by unanimous consent. S.J. Res. 49 — “Providing for the appointment of Barbara Barrett as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.” 9:01:44 P.M. S.J. Res. 49 <action_description>On passage Passed without objection. 9:01:55 P.M. S.J. Res. 49 <action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 9:01:59 P.M. <action_description>Mr. LaTourette asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2:00 p.m. on December 21. Agreed to without objection. 9:02:01 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 received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on December 20, 2012 at 7:44 p.m. stating that that body had passed H.J. Res. 122 without amendment. 9:02:02 P.M. <action_description>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. 9:02:24 P.M. H.R. 1509 Considered as unfinished business. 9:02:26 P.M. H.R. 1509 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. 9:02:29 P.M. H.R. 1509 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 9:02:36 P.M. H.R. 3378 Considered as unfinished business. 9:02:38 P.M. H.R. 3378 <action_description>On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. 9:02:40 P.M. H.R. 3378 <action_description>Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 9:02:45 P.M. H.R. 3869 <action_description>Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3869 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 600 East Capitol Avenue in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the “Sidney ‘Sid’ Sanders McMath Post Office Building”.” 9:02:49 P.M. H.R. 3869 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. 9:02:55 P.M. H.R. 3869 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 9:03:01 P.M. H.R. 4389 Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 4389 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 19 East Merced Street in Fowler, California, as the “Cecil E. Bolt Post Office”.” 9:03:05 P.M. H.R. 4389 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. 9:03:12 P.M. H.R. 4389 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 9:03:21 P.M. H.R. 6260 Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 6260 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 211 Hope Street in Mountain View, California, as the “Lieutenant Kenneth M. Ballard Memorial Post Office”.” 9:03:25 P.M. H.R. 6260 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. 9:03:31 P.M. H.R. 6260 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 9:03:35 P.M. H.R. 6379 <Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 6379 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6239 Savannah Highway in Ravenel, South Carolina, as the “Representative Curtis B. Inabinett, Sr. Post Office”.” 9:03:40 P.M. H.R. 6379 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. 9:03:55 P.M. H.R. 6379 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 9:04:05 P.M. H.R. 6587 Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 6587 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 225 Simi Village Drive in Simi Valley, California, as the “Postal Inspector Terry Asbury Post Office Building”.” 9:04:11 P.M. H.R. 6587 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. 9:04:45 P.M. H.R. 6587 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 9:05:02 P.M. SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches. 9:56:49 P.M. Mrs. Blackburn moved that the House do now adjourn. 9:56:57 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote. 9:56:58 P.M. The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on December 21, 2012.

Benghazi! House Rs cut Funding for Embassy Security ! This still hasn’t been addressed!

Oct 2012 by     CNN

Just a reminder …

Rep. Chaffetz defends his criticism of the handling of Libyan consulate security despite voting to cut embassy funding.
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Or visit our site at http://www.cnn.com/video/

The President Talks About How to Build a Rising, Thriving Middle Class

Obama Cares: On the Friday before Mother’s Day, President Obama explained how the Affordable Care Act is helping women. For example, the law prevents insurance companies from charging women more than men and requires insurance companies to cover preventive services like mammograms free of charge.

Thanks to the women in this room and people all across the country, we worked really hard — and it’s now been more than three years since Congress passed the Affordable Care Act and I signed it into law. It’s been nearly a year since the Supreme Court upheld the law under the Constitution. And, by the way, six months ago, the American people went to the polls and decided to keep going in this direction. So the law is here to stay.

Review of IRS: On Wednesday, the President delivered remarks on the Treasury Department’s review of the Internal Revenue Service and said the “misconduct that it uncovered is inexcusable.” The President said he will hold the responsible parties accountable, put in place new safeguards to make sure this does not happen again, and work with Congress as it performs its oversight role.

I’ll do everything in my power to make sure nothing like this happens again by holding the responsible parties accountable, by putting in place new checks and new safeguards, and going forward, by making sure that the law is applied as it should be — in a fair and impartial way.

Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey: On Thursday, President Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan held a press conference at the Rose Garden. The leaders discussed U.S. – Turkey relations such as trade and investment, mutual security, and the conflict in Syria.

Prime Minister Cameron of Great Britain: On Tuesday, the President welcomed British Prime Minister David Cameron to the White House. The global partners spoke about the upcoming Group of Eight summit, sustaining the global economy, and the conflict in Syria.

As we’ve said before, the great alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom is rooted in shared interests and shared values, and it’s indispensable to global security and prosperity.

National Peace Officers Memorial Service: On Wednesday, the President headed to the U.S. Capitol for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service. The event paid respect to law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty the last year. The 143 fallen officers were recognized for their courage on the front lines and their dedication to our community.

They exemplified the very idea of citizenship — that with our God-given rights come responsibilities and obligations to ourselves and to others. They embodied that idea. That’s the way they died. That’s how we must remember them. And that’s how we must live.

#WeTheGeeks: On Thursday, the White House launched “We the Geeks,” a new series of Google+ Hangouts highlighting the future of science, technology, and innovation in America. The first “We the Geeks” Hangout covered Grand Challenges, which are “ambitious goals on a national or global scale that capture the imagination and demand advances in innovation and breakthroughs in science and technology.”