Recapping yesterday's action:
The Senate is the only game in town this week, and it was a relatively productive Monday. Senators reached an agreement for proceeding to the FDA bill, allowing them to vitiate the cloture motion. They were also able to get through the approval of the nomination of Paul J. Watford to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals without needing the cloture vote they were preparing for. And they were even able to clear the Iran sanctions bill that Republicans had objected to moving last week. Probably a wise move by Republicans to jump out of the way of these things following Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) expressions of frustration with their obstructionism that led to a renewed bump in filibuster reform talk. Maybe they're hoping it'll cool passions, or at least appear to remove some of the justification Democrats might have leaned on if they decided to make a move on rules changes, though no one anticipates any such moves in the immediate future.
Looking ahead to today:
Despite the progress, it's a little too early to conclude that the Senate is ready to operate under "normal" conditions, whatever those might be. Although there was an agreement struck to avoid a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to the FDA bill, they're not there yet. It seems nothing works intuitively in the Senate, and this agreement is no exception. There won't be a vote on the motion to proceed at all. The agreement is that it'll be considered adopted, but not until 2:15 p.m. today, after spending the morning on additional debate of the motion to proceed. So yes, they're going to "debate" the question of whether or not to begin debate on the FDA bill, even though there's already an agreement in place to say they've agreed to move on to that... at 2:15.
Whatever.
The reality is that they'll use the time to debate the bill itself. They almost never use debate time on motions to proceed to actually discuss whether or not they should proceed, and this is no exception. Today, they'll just basically be killing time until after the Tuesday party luncheons. That's why they're waiting until 2:15. There's nothing magical or even mildly interesting about that time of day. It's just when they're supposed to be done with lunch.
So that's "Today in Congress." The Senate will "debate" something they've already decided, until they're done with lunch. Then they'll "debate" the bill they were "debating" starting "debate" on before lunch, even though everyone already knew they were going to "debate" the bill after lunch.
Honestly, I don't know why I do this sometimes.
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 Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Convenes: 10:00am
Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized. It is his intention to resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar #400, S.3187, the FDA user fees legislation.
Following the remarks of the Majority Leader and the Republican Leader, the first hour will be equally divided and controlled between the two sides with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
At 2:15pm, the motion to proceed to S.3187 will be adopted, the Harkin-Enzi substitute amendment will be agreed to and considered original text for the purposes of further amendment. The Majority Leader will then be recognized. Senators will be notified when votes are scheduled.
5/21 wrap-up:
Senate Floor Wrap Up for Monday, May 21, 2012
ROLL CALL VOTE
1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #552, Paul J. Watford, of California, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 9th Circuit; Confirmed: 61-34
LEGISLATIVE ITEMS
Adopted S.Res.468, a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to childhood stroke and recognizing May as “National Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month.
Adopted S.Res.469, honoring the entrepreneurial spirit of small business concerns in the United States during National Small Business Week, which begins on May 20, 2012 by voice vote
No EXECUTIVE ITEMS
No House committee meetings are scheduled today.
Today's Senate committee schedule:
9:30 am
Armed Services: Subcommittee on SeaPower
Closed business meeting to markup those provisions which fall under the subcommittee's jurisdiction of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2013.
SR-232A
10:00 am
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Hearings to examine implementing derivatives reform, focusing on reducing systemic risk and improving market oversight.
SD-538
10:00 am
Energy and Natural Resources
Hearings to examine the report produced by the American Energy Innovation Council titled "Catalyzing American Ingenuity: The Role of Government in Energy Innovation" and related issues.
SD-366
11:00 am
Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
Business meeting to markup those provisions which fall under the subcommittee's jurisdiction of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2013.
SD-G50
2:00 pm
Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
Closed business meeting to markup those provisions which fall under the subcommittee's jurisdiction of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2013.
SR-232A
2:30 pm
Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
Business meeting to markup proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2013 for Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.
SD-138
2:30 pm
Intelligence
Closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters.
SH-219
3:30 pm
Armed Services: Subcommittee on Airland
Closed business meeting to markup those provisions which fall under the subcommittee's jurisdiction of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2013.
SR-232A
5:00 pm
Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel
Closed business meeting to markup those provisions which fall under the subcommittee's jurisdiction of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2013.
SR-232A