Recapping yesterday's action:
Once again, the House got through all of its announced schedule, save one curious item: the surface transportation extension bill. It was slated, as was the case on Monday, to come to the floor under suspension of the rules. And this time, at least, it did come. The bill was debated, and the vote was postponed to a later time (as is often the case with suspensions), but they never returned to the vote. It's now scheduled for today, and although postponing a vote until the next day isn't all that unusual either, you'd think they'd want to get this one over with. But instead, they decided to wait an extra day. Hmm.
Of some minor procedural interest: the House also considered and adopted by unanimous consent a resolution directing the Clerk to request that the Senate return the official papers (remember what they are?) on H.R. 5, the non-health "HEALTH" bill (the one that was mostly really just "tort reform"). No explanation was given during the brief consideration of the resolution, and no objection was raised, which leads me to believe it's a minor technical issue. But it also probably means someone screwed something up. So that's funny, and we all point and laugh.
Oh, the "substantive" business of the day was the FCC "reform" bill. They passed it.
And, uh... that's all I have to say about that. But there was something of interest in the motion to recommit the bill. Perhaps you've heard about the recent trend in hiring practices, wherein employers are demanding that job seekers surrender their Facebook passwords as part of their application process. Alarming, no? See? Having your rights violated at your place of employment (or even a prospective one) as a matter of policy isn't just for union members anymore! (At least union folks have a mechanism for fighting back.) Well anyway, the motion to recommit would have amended the FCC bill to ensure that the commission could adopt a rule prohibiting licensees from making such demands from their prospective employees.
Republicans killed it. Because of freedom.
The Senate also added a bit of procedural interest to an otherwise routine day. After invoking cloture on the motion to proceed to the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act (by 92-4) on Monday, the motion itself was adopted by unanimous consent yesterday. But rather than actually proceed to that bill, the Majority Leader moved to the other pending cloture motion, on the motion to proceed to the postal reform bill. That motion failed, however, so they returned to the oil subsidy bill long enough for the Majority Leader to fill the amendment tree (to block other, unwanted amendments) and file a cloture petition that'll come due for a vote on Thursday. In the meantime, the Senate turned to a motion to proceed to consideration of the "Paying A Fair Share Act," a bill to establish minimum effective tax rates on high income earners. The "Buffet Rule" bill, if you will. And you'll never guess what happened! Harry Reid filed for cloture on that motion to proceed, too!
Looking ahead to today:
The House kicks off its consideration of the Paul Ryan (R-WI-01) budget today, plus take care of one more suspension bill and just maybe that transportation extension, too. The budget is slated for a total of seven hours of debate, and given that the schedule sets the beginning of legislative business for the day at noon, and the last expected votes of the day from 2-3 p.m., that means debate only on the budget today, with the voting pushed into tomorrow. Gotta go until at least Thursday if you're going to break for a two-week recess afterward, you know.
The Senate will be running down the clock on pending cloture votes today, with the pending floor business being the motion to proceed to the Buffet Rule bill. Then at 5 p.m., it'll be time for another two-vote payment on the judiciary branch installment plan. You can tell how much difference it has made to the country that the 14 judges on whom there is enough agreement to move forward are having the votes on their confirmation spaced out over a period of a month and a half, can't you? I knew you could. It's so obvious. "Country first!" as that guy what's-his-name used to say.
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, MARCH 27, 2012
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
First/Last votes are expected between 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
“One Minutes” (15 per side)
Suspension (1 Bill)
- H.R. 1339 - To amend title 32, United States Code, the body of laws of the United States dealing with the National Guard, to recognize the City of Salem, Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United States, as amended (Rep. Tierney - Armed Services)
Begin Consideration of H.Con.Res. 112 - Establishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2013 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2014 through 2022 (Rep. Ryan (WI) - Budget) (Subject to a Rule)
The Rule provides for four hours of general debate with three hours controlled by the Budget Committee and one hour controlled by the Joint Economic Committee, and makes in order only those amendments printed below. In addition, the Rule provides for twenty minutes of final general debate time controlled by the Budget Committee upon the conclusion of amendment consideration.
Rep. Mulvaney Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (20 minutes of debate)
Reps. Cleaver/Scott(VA)Moore(WI)/Bass(CA) Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (30 minutes of debate)
Reps. Cooper(TN)/LaTourette/Schrader/Bass(NH)/Quigley/Reed(NY) Costa/Dold/Lipinski Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (20 minutes of debate)
Reps. Honda/Ellison/Grijalva/Woolsey/Lee(CA) Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (30 minutes of debate)
Reps. Garrett/Jordan/Mulvaney/McClintock/Huelskamp Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (30 minutes of debate)
Rep. Van Hollen Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (30 minutes of debate)
Postponed Suspension (1 Bill)
- H.R. 4239 - Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012 (Rep. Mica - Transportation and Infrastructure/Ways and Mean/Natural Resource/Science, Space, and Technology/Energy and Commerce)
In the Senate, courtesy of the
Office of the Majority Leader:
Senate Floor Schedule for Wednesday, March 28, 2012
- Convenes: 10:00am
- Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2230, the Paying A Fair Share Act, with the first hour equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.
- As a reminder to all Senators, cloture was filed on S.2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act during Tuesday’s session. The filing deadline for first degree amendments to S.2204 is 11:00am on Wednesday.
- At 5:00pm, the Senate proceed to Executive Session to consider the following:
- There will be one hour of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 6:00pm), there will be up to 2 roll call votes on confirmation of the Du and Morgan nominations.
3/27 wrap-up:
Senate Floor Wrap Up for Tuesday, March 27, 2012
ROLL CALL VOTE
1) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1789, the Postal Reform bill; Not Invoked: 51-46
LEGISLATIVE ITEMS
Adopted S.Res.407, expressing the sense of the Senate that executives of the bankrupt firm MF Global should not be rewarded with bonuses while customer money is still missing.
Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.4014, a bill to amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act with respect to information provided to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. (Republican request)
Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.2779, a bill to exempt inter-affiliate swaps from certain regulatory requirements put in place by Dodd-Frank. (Republican request)
Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.2682, a bill to provide end user exemptions from certain provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. (Republican request)
Completed the Rule 14 process of S.2237, the Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act. (Reid)
No EXECUTIVE ITEMS
Today's House committee schedule:
AGRICULTURE-----------------------------------------------------------10:30-Open
General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subc. On reviewing H.R. 3283 – Swap Jurisdiction Certainty Act, H.R. 1838 – To repeal Section 716 of Dodd-Frank, and H.R. __ - Swap Data Repository and Clearinghouse Indemnification Correction Act of 2012 . 1300 LHOB.
APPROPRIATIONS--------------------------------------------------------9:00-Open
Commerce, Justice, and Science Subc. On reviewing American manufacturing and job repatriation. Public witnesses. 2362-A RHOB.
APPROPRIATIONS--------------------------------------------------------9:30-Open
Interior and Environment Subc. On testimony from American Indians and Alaska Natives. B-308 RHOB.
APPROPRIATIONS-------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Defense Subc. On reviewing the National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve. Dept. witnesses. H-140 Capitol.
APPROPRIATIONS-------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Energy and Water Development Subc. On the FY 2013 budget request for the Bureau of Reclamation. Dept. witnesses. 2362-B RHOB.
APPROPRIATIONS-------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Financial Services and General Government Subc. On the FY 2013 budget request for the Department of the Treasury. Timothy Geithner, Secretary, Department of the Treasury. 2359 RHOB.
APPROPRIATIONS-------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subc. On the FY 2013 budget request for the Department of Labor. Hilda Solis, Secretary, Department of Labor. 2358-C RHOB.
APPROPRIATIONS-----------------------------------------------------------2:00-Ex.
Defense Subc. On reviewing the U.S. Pacific Command and the U.S. Forces Korea. Dept. witnesses. H-140 Capitol.
APPROPRIATIONS--------------------------------------------------------2:00-Open
Energy and Water Development Subc. On the FY 2013 budget requests for the Department of Energy’s Advance Research Programs Agency for Energy and the Loan Guarantee Program. Dept. witnesses. 2362-B RHOB.
APPROPRIATIONS--------------------------------------------------------2:00-Open
Financial Services and General Government Subc. On the FY 2013 budget requests for the U.S. Courts and U.S. Judicial Conference. Dept. witnesses. 2359 RHOB.
ARMED SERVICES-------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Full Committee. On the security situation in the Korean peninsula. Dept. witnesses. 2118 RHOB.
ARMED SERVICES--------------------------------------------------------2:00-Open
Readiness Subc. On Army and Marine Corps materials. Dept. witnesses. 2212 RHOB.
EDUCATION & THE WORKFORCE---------------------------------------10:00-Open
Full Committee. On the FY 2013 budget request for the Department of Education. Arne Duncan, Secretary, Department of Education. 2175 RHOB.
ENERGY & COMMERCE---------------------------------------------------9:45-Open
Energy and Power Subc. On legislative responses to rising gasoline prices and discussion drafts on H.R. __ - The Gasoline Regulations Act of 2012 and H.R. __ - The Strategic Energy Production Act of 2012. Dept. and public witnesses. 2123 RHOB.
ENERGY & COMMERCE--------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Communications and Technology Subc. On cybersecurity threats to communications networks and public-sector responses. Dept. and public witnesses. 2322 RHOB.
FINANCIAL SERVICES--------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises. On current issues facing the accounting and auditing profession. Dept. and public witnesses. 2128 RHOB.
FINANCIAL SERVICES----------------------------------------------------2:00-Open
Oversight and Investigations Subc. On the recent bankruptcy filing by the financial derivatives broker MF Global Holdings Ltd. Public witnesses. 2128 RHOB.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Full Committee. Markup of H.R. 4240 – To reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, and on investigating the Chinese threat. Public witnesses. 2172 RHOB.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS--------------------------------------------------------2:30-Open
Oversight and Investigations Subc. On price of public diplomacy with China. Public witnesses. 2172 RHOB.
HOMELAND SECURITY--------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Full Committee. Markup of H.R. 3563 - Integrated Public Alert and Public Warning System, H.R. 2764 - WMD Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2011, H.R. 3140 - Mass Transit Intelligence Prioritization Act, and H.R. 2179 - To amend title 49, U.S. Code, to direct the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security to transfer unclaimed money recovered at airport security checkpoints to United Service Organizations, Incorporated. 311 CHOB.
HOMELAND SECURITY---------------------------------------------------2:00-Open
Transportation Security Subc. On issues with workforce size at the Transportation Security Administration. Dept. witnesses. 311 CHOB.
JUDICIARY---------------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Subc. On H.R. 4223 – Safe Doses Act, H.R. 3668 – Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act of 2011, and H.R. 4216 – Foreign Counterfeit Prevention Act. Dept. and public witnesses. 2141 RHOB.
JUDICIARY----------------------------------------------------------------1:30-Open
Immigration Policy and Enforcement Subc. On reviewing the Department of Homeland Security’s new immigration detention standards. 2141 RHOB.
NATURAL RESOURCES--------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Full Committee. Markup of a motion to authorize subpoenas for documents relating to the investigations of the Secretary of the Interior’s decision to rewrite the 2008 Stream Buffer Zone Rule under the Surface Mining Reclamation and Control Act, and the process used in the preparation of a Department of the Interior report on offshore oil and natural gas operations under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act that implied that peer reviewers from the National Academy of Engineers had endorsed an offshore oil and natural gas drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico. 1324 LHOB.
SCIENCE, SPACE, & TECHNOLOGY--------------------------------------9:30-Open
Full Committee. On the challenges and opportunities to securing an international space station. Dept. witnesses. 2318 RHOB.
SCIENCE, SPACE, & TECHNOLOGY--------------------------------------2:00-Open
Energy and Environment Subc. On reviewing how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration procures data for weather forecasting. Dept. and public witnesses. 2318 RHOB.
SMALL BUSINESS--------------------------------------------------------1:00-Open
Full Committee. On reviewing how large and small business partnerships can promote job growth. Public witnesses. 2360 RHOB.
TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE-------------------------------10:00-Open
Water Resources and Environment Subc. On the FY 2013 budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency. Dept. witnesses. 2167 RHOB.
VETERANS’ AFFAIRS----------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subc. On re-evaluating the transition from service member to veteran. Dept. and public witnesses. 334 CHOB.
VETERANS’ AFFAIRS------------------------------------------------------2:00-Open
Economic Opportunity Subc. Markup of pending legislation. 334 CHOB.
WAYS & MEANS---------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open
Full Committee. Markup of H.R. 9 – Small Business Tax Cut Act. 1100 LHOB.
Today's Senate committee schedule:
9:30 am
Armed Services: Subcommittee on SeaPower
To receive a closed briefing on the Ohio-class Replacement Program in review of the Defense Authorization request for fiscal year 2013 and the Future Years Defense Program.
SVC-217
9:45 am
Veterans' Affairs
Hearings to examine the nominations of Margaret Bartley, of Maryland, and Coral Wong Pietsch, of Hawaii, both to be a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
SR-418
10:00 am
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Department of Defense
Hearings to examine Department of Defense health programs.
SD-192
10:00 am
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 National Institutes of Health.
SD-124
10:00 am
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2013 for the Department of the Navy and the Department of the Air Force.
SD-138
10:00 am
Foreign Relations
Hearings to examine United States policy on Iran.
SD-419
10:00 am
Judiciary
Hearings to examine the Special Counsel's report on the prosecution of Senator Ted Stevens.
SD-226
10:30 am
Inaugural Ceremonies - 2012
Organizational business meeting to consider an original resolution authorizing expenditures for committee operations and committee's rules and procedure for the 112th Congress.
S-216
2:00 pm
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2013 for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
SD-124
2:30 pm
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2013 for the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation.
SD-192
2:30 pm
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Service and General Government
Hearings to examine enhancing economic growth, focusing on the Department of the Treasury's responses to the foreclosure crisis and mounting student loan debt.
SD-138
2:30 pm
Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Hearings to examine Department of Defense nuclear forces and policies 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
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Policy
Hearings to examine retirement, focusing on examining the retirement savings deficit.
SD-538
2:30 pm
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Hearings to examine the science and standards of forensics.
SR-253
2:30 pm
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security
Hearings to examine assessing efforts to combat waste and fraud in Federal programs.
SD-342
2:30 pm
Judiciary
Hearings to examine certain nominations.
SD-226
