Recapping yesterday's action:
Slow day in the House yesterday, during which they took up only one of the two suspension bills scheduled for they day. After using just 30 of the 40 minutes allotted for debate of the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act, they were on to the vote (388-3—go Amash, you crazy bastard!) and then done for the day. Whew!
The Senate confirmed Margo Kitsy Brodie's nomination to the United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York by a vote of 86-2 (go DeMint, you crazy bastard!).
Looking ahead to today:
The House starts today's work with the suspension bill it never got to yesterday, after spending a back-breaking thirty minutes on the day's schedule. Then, it's on to the Orwellian business of the day, the "Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act." That doesn't sound good, does it? The CRS summary of the bill says it:
Repeals certain Department of Education regulations that for purposes of determining whether a school is eligible to participate in programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA): (1) require institutions of higher education and postsecondary vocational institutions (except religious schools) to be legally authorized by the state in which they are situated, (2) delineate what such legal authorization requires of states and schools, and (3) define "credit hour."
Hmm. Wow. I'm not attuned closely enough to education policy to know exactly what that means, but it certainly sounds to me like requiring institutions of higher education to be legally authorized by the state in which they are situated is a reasonably good thing. But hey, maybe not! Maybe being legally authorized is oppressing "academic freedom" after all! I'm sure it's nothing a
transvaginal ultrasound "Female Freedom Foto" or two couldn't fix, though. But I guess we'll find out.
As for the Senate, well, the best they can manage for today is this:
The Senate may resume consideration of S.1813, the Surface Infrastructure bill, during Tuesday’s session.
May resume. Hoo boy. No need for reform here. Move along.
Today's floor and committee schedules appear below the fold.
(Are you noticing how many meetings the House Appropriations subcommittees are having? That's a hallmark of budget season.)
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:
THE NIGHTLY WHIP: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
First votes are expected between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Last votes are expected between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.
“One Minutes” (15 per side)
Suspension (1 Bill)
- H.R. 1433 - Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2012 (Rep. Sensenbrenner – Judiciary)
H.R. 2117 - Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act (Rep. Foxx - Education and the Workforce) (Subject to a Rule)
The Rule provides for one hour of general debate and makes in order the following amendments:
Rep. Grijalva Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Foxx Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Polis Amendment #3 (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Bishop (NY) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Polis Amendment #5 (10 minutes of debate)
In the Senate, courtesy of the
Office of the Majority Leader:
Senate Floor Schedule for February 28, 2012
The Senate will convene at 10am on Tuesday, February 28. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business until 12:30pm.
The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings. The Senate may resume consideration of S.1813, the Surface Infrastructure bill, during Tuesday’s session.
2/27 wrap-up:
Wrap up for Monday, February 27, 2012
WRAP UP FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2012
ROLL CALL VOTES
1) Confirmation of Calendar #409, the nomination of Margo Kitsy Brodie, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York; Confirmed: 86-2
No LEGISLATIVE ITEMS
No EXECUTIVE ITEMS
Began the Rule 14 process of HR 1173, CLASS Act, to place the bill on the Legislative Calendar of Business.
Today's House committee schedule:
APPROPRIATIONS--------------------------------------------------------9:00-Open
Commerce, Justice, and Science Subc. On the FY 2013 budget request for the Department of Justice. Eric Holder, Attorney General. 2359 RHOB.
APPROPRIATIONS--------------------------------------------------------9:30-Open
Interior and Environment Subc. On the FY 2013 budget request for the Indian Health Service. Dept. witnesses. B-308 RHOB.
APPROPRIATIONS-------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA Subc. On the FY 2013 budget request for the food, nutrition, and consumer services of the Department of Agriculture. Dept. witnesses. 2362-A RHOB.
APPROPRIATIONS-------------------------------------------------------11:00-Open
Homeland Security Subc. On the FY 2013 budget request for the Transportation Security Administration. John Pistole, Administrator, TSA. 2362-B RHOB.
APPROPRIATIONS--------------------------------------------------------1:00-Open
Interior and Environment Subc. On the FY 2013 budget request for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Dept. witnesses. B-308 RHOB.
APPROPRIATIONS--------------------------------------------------------2:00-Open
Energy and Water Development Subc. On the FY 2013 budget request for the Department of Energy. Steven Chu, Secretary, Department of Energy. 2359 RHOB.
ARMED SERVICES-------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Full Committee. On the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization budget request from the Department of the Air Force. Michael Donley, Secretary of the Air Force; Gen. Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force. 2118 RHOB.
ARMED SERVICES--------------------------------------------------------1:30-Open
Military Personnel Subc. On the FY 2013 military personnel budget request. Dept. witnesses. 2118 RHOB.
BUDGET----------------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Full Committee. On strengthening health and retirement security. Dept. witnesses. 210 CHOB.
EDUCATION & WORKFORCE----------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Full Committee. Markup of H.R. 3989 – Student Success Art, and H.R. 3990 – Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act. 2175 RHOB.
ENERGY & COMMERCE---------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Energy and Power Subc. and Environment and Economy Subc. Joint hrng. on the FY 2013 budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency. Lisa Jackson, Administrator, EPA. 2123 RHOB.
ENERGY & COMMERCE---------------------------------------------------10:15-Open
Oversight and Investigations Subc. On assessments of smart grid security. Dept. witnesses. 2322 RHOB.
FINANCIAL SERVICES----------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Insurance, Housing, and Community Opportunity Subc. On oversight of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Dept. witnesses. 2128 RHOB.
HOMELAND SECURITY---------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Counterterrorism and Intelligence Subc. On federal and local government intelligence sharing. Dept. witnesses. 311 CHOB.
JUDICIARY--------------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Full Committee. Markup of H.R. 4086 - Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act, H.R. 3992 - To allow otherwise eligible Israeli nationals to receive E-2 nonimmigrant visas if similarly situated United States nationals are eligible for similar nonimmigrant status in Israel, and H.R. 511 - To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the importation of various injurious species of constrictor snakes. 2141 RHOB.
JUDICIARY---------------------------------------------------------------2:30-Open
Full Committee. On discussing the Department of Health and Human Services mandate versus religious liberties. Public witnesses. 2141 RHOB.
NATURAL RESOURCES---------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subc. On the FY 2013 budget requests for the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. 1324 LHOB.
OVERSIGHT & GOVERNMENT REFORM--------------------------------------9:30-Open
Full Committee. On a Government Accountability Office report on duplicative federal programs. Dept. witnesses. 2154 RHOB.
RULES-------------------------------------------------------------------3:00-Open
Full Committee. On H.R. 1837 – San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act. H-313 Capitol.
SCIENCE, SPACE, & TECHNOLOGY----------------------------------------10:00-Open
Research and Science Education Subc. On the FY 2013 budget request for the National Science Foundation. Dept. and public witnesses. 2318 RHOB.
TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE-----------------------------------10:00-Open
Water Resources and Environment Subc. On a review of innovative financing approaches for community water infrastructure projects. Public witnesses. 2167 RHOB.
VETERANS’ AFFAIRS------------------------------------------------------2:30-Open
Full Committee and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Joint hrng. on a legislative presentation from the Disabled American Veterans. 345 CHOB.
WAYS & MEANS----------------------------------------------------------1:00-Open
Full Committee. On the FY 2013 budget request for the Department of Health and Human Services. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary, HHS. 1100 LHOB.
Today's Senate committee schedule:
Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012
9:30 am
Armed Services
Hearings to examine U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Transportation Command in review of the Defense Authorization request for fiscal year 2013 and the Future Years Defense Program; with the possibility of a closed session in SVC-217 following the open session.
SD-106
9:30 am
Budget
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2013 for the Department of Defense.
SD-608
10:00 am
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Hearings to examine strengthening conservation through the 2012 farm bill.
SH-216
10:00 am
Energy and Natural Resources
Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2013 for the Department of the Interior.
SD-366
2:00 pm
Foreign Relations
Hearings to examine national security and foreign policy priorities in the fiscal year 2013 International Affairs Budget.
SH-216
2:00 pm
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hearings to examine clarifying the fate of missing persons in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) region, focusing on locating and identifying persons missing as a result of conflicts, trafficking in humans and human rights violations, as well as natural or manmade disasters.
TBA
2:30 pm
Veterans' Affairs
Joint hearings to examine a legislative presentation from the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
CHOB-345
2:30 pm
Intelligence
Closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters.
SH-219