Recapping yesterday's action:
A typical first day of the work week in the House: four post office namings.
In the Senate, two unanimous consent bills (National PTSD Day and the 20th anniversary of the independence of Slovenia), two successful nominations (Leon Panetta as Defense Sec., and Michael Simon to the judicial bench in the District of Oregon), and a failed cloture vote on the Economic Development Revitalization Act.
Looking ahead to today:
The House begins its work for the day with some hot patent action. I don't know that much about this bill, but I did get a press release that said Phyllis Schlafley hated it, so that may mean something. There's a long lineup of amendments on tap for this one, and it'll consume much of the day. But the schedule insists they'll move on to the next bill on tap, and you'll never guess what that's about!
More oil drilling! But they also put the word "jobs" in front of the title, so that means they're totally paying attention to the jobs issue and stuff.
The Senate, having failed yesterday to invoke cloture on the EDA bill, instead continues its consideration of the motion to proceed to the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act. Which, frankly, is friggin' unbelievable. Who could have predicted that the bill aimed at reducing the number of filibusters of presidential appointments, that arose out of the fight at the beginning of the year over reforming Senate filibuster rules, would result in... a filibuster? The answer is that No One Could Have PredictedTM it, possibly because it takes 60 votes to end debate on whether or not to begin debate on whether or not someone would be able to predict it if they had 60 votes to proceed to making a prediction.
So we're told they're working on an agreement to get to this bill. That makes it another "don't call us, we'll call you" day.
Today's floor and committee schedules appear below the fold.
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:
THE NIGHTLY WHIP: TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2011
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 9:30 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 11:30 a.m. for legislative business. This is a change from the previously announced schedule.
First votes are expected between 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Last votes are expected between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.
“One Minutes” (15 per side)
H.R. 1249 - America Invents Act (Rep. Smith (TX) – Judiciary/Budget) (Subject to a Rule)
The Rule provides for one hour of general debate and makes in order the following amendments:
Rep. Smith (TX) Manager’s Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Conyers/Rohrabacher Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Baldwin/Sensenbrenner/Kind Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Moore Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Jackson-Lee Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Lujan Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Peters/Renacci Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Polis Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Conyers/Markey/Neal/Pompeo/Garrett/Lance/Gallegly Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Speier Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Waters Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Sensenbrenner Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Manzullo Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Rohrabacher/Kaptur Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Schock/Boren/Waters/Sensenbrenner/Franks/Kaptur Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Begin Consideration of H.R. 2021 - Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011 (Rep. Gardner - Energy and Commerce) (Subject to a Rule)
The Rule provides for one hour of general debate and makes in order the following amendments:
Rep. Speier Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Hastings (FL) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Welch Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Keating Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Rush Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Quigley Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Eshoo Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Capps/Carney/Castor Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Hochul Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Schrader/DeFazio/Wu Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Postponed Suspension Vote (1):
H.R. 672 - Election Support Consolidation and Efficiency Act (Rep. Harper - House Administration/Science, Space, and Technology)
HOUSE FLOOR WRAP-UP FOR JUNE 21, 2011
Bills Adopted Under Suspension of the Rules (4):
- H.R. 1632 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5014 Gary Avenue in Lubbock, Texas, as the "Sergeant Chris Davis Post Office" (Rep. Neugebauer - Oversight and Government Reform)
- H.R. 771 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1081 Elbel Road in Schertz, Texas, as the "Schertz Veterans Post Office" (Rep. Cuellar - Oversight and Government Reform)
- S. 655 - A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 95 Dogwood Street in Cary, Mississippi, as the "Spencer Byrd Powers, Jr. Post Office" (Sen. Cochran - Oversight and Government Reform)
- S. 349 - A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4865 Tallmadge Road in Rootstown, Ohio, as the "Marine Sgt. Jeremy E. Murray Post Office" (Sen. Brown - Oversight and Government Reform)
In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:
- Convenes: 9:30am
- Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 11am with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
- Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.679, the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act.
- We are working on an agreement for consideration of the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act. Senators will be notified when votes are scheduled.
6/21 Senate wrap-up:
- Discharged Judiciary and Adopted S.Res.202, A resolution designating June 27, 2011, as “National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day”. w/ Conrad amendment
- Adopted S.Res.212, congratulating the people and Government of the Republic of Slovenia on the twentieth anniversary of the country’s independence.
6/21 Senate Roll Calls:
Roll call vote on confirmation on the Simon nomination
12:10pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Michael Simon to be US District Judge for the District of Oregon; Confirmed: 64-35
Roll call vote on confirmation of Panetta nomination
4:18pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of Leon Panetta to be Secretary of Defense; Confirmed: 100-0
Roll Call Vote on Cloture on S.782, EDA
4:52pm: The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on S.782, the Economic Development Act; Not Invoked: 49-51