Recapping yesterday's action:
The Senate finally did reach an agreement on amendments to the FDA bill, which means they also finally did agree to agree to their prior agreement that they'd stop debating whether or not to start debating the bill, and start actually debating it. Awesome! Go Senate!
They also agreed to the reauthorization of the Kennedy Center, completed the Rule XIV process on the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Republican-sponsored RAISE Act (to amend federal labor law to allow employers to award merit pay in violation of existing union contracts), and passed a bill removing the word "lunatic" from all prior federal legislation. Hopefully, they have at least 100 instances of the word's appearance, so that each one of them can have one to wear on their lapels.
Looking ahead to today:
Today's Senate schedule is heavy with amendments to the FDA bill, now finally underway. And if they can move quickly through them and on to final passage, the way is clear for consideration and possibly even passage of the Stop Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act, and the Republican substitute version.
Could be a long day! But hang on, recess is coming!
Today's floor and committee schedules appear below the fold.
The House is not in session today.
In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:
Senate Floor Schedule for Thursday, May 24, 2012
Convenes: 9:30am
Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will resume consideration of S.3187, the FDA user fees legislation.
The amendments below are the only remaining amendments in order to the bill. At 2:00pm, all debate time will be considered expired and the Senate will vote in relation to the amendments listed below and on passage of the bill, as amended. There will be 2 minutes of debate prior to each vote. All votes after the first vote will be 10 minutes in duration.
(*expected roll call vote)
Upon disposition of the FDA user fee legislation, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of S.2343, the Stop Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act with 10 minutes of debate prior to 2 roll call votes in relation to the following:
- McConnell, or his designee, amendment, which is identical to the text of S.2366, the Interest Rate Reduction Act (60-vote threshold) and
- Passage of S.2343, as amended, if amended (60-vote threshold).
Therefore, Senators should expect up to 12 roll call votes to begin at around 2:00pm on Thursday. Senator Reid announced the votes could begin earlier if debate is concluded prior to 2:00pm.
5/23 wrap-up:
Senate Floor Wrap Up for Wednesday, May 23, 2012
No ROLL CALL VOTES
LEGISLATIVE ITEMS
Discharged the Banking committee and passed S.2367, a bill to strike the word “lunatic” from Federal law, and for other purposes.
Passed H.R.4097, the John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2012.
Completed the Rule 14 process of S.3220, the Paycheck Fairness Act. (Mikulski and others)
Completed the Rule 14 process of S.3221, the Rewarding Achievement and Incentivizing Successful Employees Act. (Rubio and others)
No EXECUTIVE ITEMS
Today's Senate committee schedule:
9:00 am
Intelligence
Closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters.
SH-219
9:30 am
Armed Services
Closed business meeting to continue markup of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2013.
SR-222
10:00 am
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Hearings to examine "The Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act of 2012".
SD-538
10:00 am
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security
Hearings to examine efforts to reform information technology spending, focusing on innovating with less.
SD-342
10:00 am
Judiciary
Business meeting to consider S.2076, to improve security at State and local courthouses, S.2370, to amend title 11, United States Code, to make bankruptcy organization more efficient for small business debtors, the nominations of Robert E. Bacharach, of Oklahoma, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit, Paul William Grimm, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland, John E. Dowdell, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Mark E. Walker, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Florida, Brian J. Davis, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida, and Charles Thomas Massarone, of Kentucky, to be a Commissioner of the United States Parole Commission.
SD-226
10:30 am
Foreign Relations
Hearings to examine the global implications of poaching in Africa, focusing on ivory and insecurity.
SD-419
2:15 pm
Indian Affairs
An oversight hearing to examine programs and services for native veterans.
SD-628