Recapping yesterday's action:
Quick recap on action in the House:
Yes, the House was in pro forma session yesterday, and nothing happened.
The Senate reported in for work yesterday, though, and went through their schedule as planned, confirming the judicial nomination of Brian C. Wimes to the federal district court in Missouri, and debating the motion to proceed to the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization, as well as a motion to proceed to the resolution of disapproval of the proposed NLRB rule.
In the course of yesterday's work, the Senate reached a unanimous consent agreement to approve the motion to proceed to the VAWA reauthorization once they've wrapped up the postal reform bill, but in any case not until tomorrow. That probably has to do with the Republican move to start a Rule XIV process (by which they can get it on the schedule without going through the committee process) for their own alternative to the bill, which won't be complete until then. So it looks like the plan is to be ready to propose their own bill, perhaps as a substitute for S. 1925. Though really, they could do that without going through the Rule XIV process. So maybe this is indicative of Republican intent to filibuster the bill, but insist that they stand ready to consider their own alternative instead. We'll see.
Looking ahead to today:
The House is looking at its normal first-day-of-the-week slate of suspension bills. Really not much to it. It's six bills dealing with adjustments to the boundaries of parklands, land swaps, and the like.
The Senate has another day of crazy, over-choreographed debate, beginning with half an hour on the motion to proceed to the VAWA reauthorization (despite the fact that they've already agreed to adopt that motion tomorrow). Then it's two hours on the NLRB resolution, followed by 20 more minutes on VAWA and a break for lunch. Then at 2:15, they return for a vote on the motion to proceed to that NLRB thing. If it succeeds, then it's on to the resolution, which now labors under a veto threat from the White House. If it fails, it's back to work on the amendments to the postal reform bill, which is still hanging out there. In years past, floating a veto threat might have been enough to convince some moderate Republican Senators not to bother voting for such a resolution, since it's ultimately doomed anyway. But since there aren't any of those around anymore, a veto threat probably just signals that voting for it can make you can look like a Freedom Kamikaze, flying straight into the teeth of the President's threat. So once again, well... we'll see.
I find myself saying that a lot, lately.
Today's floor and committee schedules appear below the fold. Except the House schedule, which for some reason was still missing as of midnight last night.
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:
THE NIGHTLY WHIP: MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2012
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for Morning Hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m.
“One Minutes”
Suspensions (6 Bills)
- H.R. 1038 – To authorize the conveyance of two small parcels of land within the boundaries of the Coconino National Forest containing private improvements that were developed based upon the reliance of the landowners in an erroneous survey conducted in May 1960 (Rep. Gosar – Natural Resources)
- H.R. 2050 – Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection Act (Rep. Simpson – Natural Resources)
- H.R. 2157 – To facilitate a land exchange involving certain National Forest System lands in the Inyo National Forest, and for other purposes (Rep. McKeon – Natural Resources)
- H.R. 2947 – To provide for the release of the reversionary interest held by the United States in certain land conveyed by the United States in 1950 for the establishment of an airport in Cook County, Minnesota (Rep. Cravaack – Natural Resources)
- H.R. 491 – To modify the boundaries of Cibola National Forest in the State of New Mexico, to transfer certain Bureau of Land Management land for inclusion in the national forest, and for other purposes (Rep. Heinrich – Natural Resources)
- H.R. 2240 – Lowell National Historical Park Land Exchange Act of 2011 (Rep. Tsongas – Natural Resources)
In the Senate, courtesy of the
Office of the Majority Leader:
Senate Floor Schedule for Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Convenes: 10:00am
Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.
At 10:30am, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.J.Res.36, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to representation election procedures with the time until 12:30pm equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
At 12:30pm, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.1925, VAWA.
The Senate will recess from 12:50pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
At 2:15pm, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.J.Res.36 and conduct a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to S.J.Res.36. If the motion is defeated, there will be several roll call votes in order to complete action on S.1789, the Postal Reform bill following the vote at 2:15pm.
4/23 wrap-up:
Senate Floor Wrap Up for Monday, April 23, 2012
ROLL CALL VOTE
1) Confirmation of the nomination of Brian C. Wimes, of MO, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri; Confirmed: 92-1
LEGISLATIVE ITEMS
Completed the Rule 14 process of S.2327, a bill to prohibit direct foreign assistance to the Government of Egypt until the President makes certain certifications related to treatment of nongovernmental organization workers, and for other purposes. (Paul)
Began the Rule 14 process of S.2338, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012. (Hutchison, Grassley and Cornyn)
No EXECUTIVE ITEMS
Today's House committee schedule:
Today's Senate committee schedule:
10:00 am
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Hearings to examine the collapse of MF Global, focusing on lessons learned and policy implications.
SD-538
10:00 am
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Hearings to examine the emergence of online video, focusing if it is the future.
SR-253
10:00 am
Finance
Hearings to examine fraud, focusing on investigation and conviction.
SD-215
10:00 am
Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on African Affairs
Hearings to examine United States policy to counter the Lord's Resistance Army.
SD-419
10:00 am
Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security
Hearings to examine the constitutionality and prudence of state and local governments enforcing immigration law.
SDG-50
10:15 am
Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife
Hearings to examine S.810, to prohibit the conducting of invasive research on great apes, S.1249, to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to facilitate the establishment of additional or expanded public target ranges in certain States, S.2071, to grant the Secretary of the Interior permanent authority to authorize States to issue electronic duck stamps, S.357, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to identify and declare wildlife disease emergencies and to coordinate rapid response to those emergencies, S.1494 to reauthorize and amend the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act, S.1266, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to build on and help coordinate funding for the restoration and protection efforts of the 4-State Delaware River Basin region, S.2156, to amend the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act to permit the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, to set prices for Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps and make limited waivers of stamp requirements for certain users, S.2282, to extend the authorization of appropriations to carry out approved wetlands conservation projects under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act through fiscal year 2017.
SD-406
2:30 pm
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies
Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2013 for the Department of Education.
SD-124
2:30 pm
Armed Services: Subcommittee on Airland
Hearings to examine tactical aircraft programs in review of the Defense Authorization request for fiscal year 2013 and the Future Years Defense Program.
SR-232A
2:30 pm
Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
Hearings to examine proliferation prevention programs at the Department of Energy and at the Department of Defense 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.
SR-222
2:30 pm
Intelligence
To receive a closed briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community.
SH-219