Capitol Words a project of the Sunlight Foundation

The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer: Let us pray. Lord, the Earth belongs to You, the world and everything in it. You are an awesome and ...

The Honorable Richard J. Durbin led the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which ...

Vol. 158WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012No. 16

Mr. DURBIN thereupon assumed the chair as Acting President pro tempore.

Mr. President, as the Presiding Officer and all Senators should understand, we have a new sheriff in the Senate now. And we wish Elizabeth MacDonough well. She is certainly well ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be able to enter into a colloquy with my colleagues from North Dakota and Nebraska.

Mr. President, later this morning President Obama is scheduled to speak in Virginia on the economy. I have not seen the speech, but I expect he will not be talking ...

Mr. President, I thank my colleague from South Dakota again for organizing this colloquy this morning. I thank him and the esteemed Senator from Nebraska for their support of this ...

Mr. President, I appreciate the comments that have been offered by my colleagues from South Dakota and North Dakota. They absolutely have it right in terms of the importance of ...

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Madam President, I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I thank the Senator from South Dakota for organizing the colloquy and I also thank the good Senator from Nebraska for joining us as well. I appreciate working ...

The Senator from Nebraska is recognized.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

The clerk will call the roll.

The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Mr. President, I would be happy to go on as a cosponsor to Senator Collins if she wants to take on the additional burden of moving this idea forward. I ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

The Senator from California.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside, and I call up my amendment No. 1491, which is at the desk.

Madam President, I thank the Presiding Officer, the distinguished Senator from New York, and my colleagues, Senator Lieberman, Senator Collins, and Senator Brown, for their superb leadership on this issue, ...

What I said was, when these bills were introduced, they were directed at the Congress. That is what I said. I talked about the bills. I did not talk about ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to bring up a modified version of amendment No. 1481.

I call up amendment No. 1489 and ask for its immediate consideration.

The assistant bill clerk read as follows:

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside and call up amendment No. 1500.

The clerk will call the roll.

Mr. President, I ask that the amendment be set aside, and I ask unanimous consent to call up amendment No. 1503.

Mr. President, I enjoyed that back and forth debate very much. I appreciate the spirit in which that amendment was offered. I wrote the original bill. It was my bill ...

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Thank you, Mr. President. I also enjoyed this debate. I agree with Senator Brown. It is a form they already fill out now. We just have to add one other ...

Mr. President, I thank the Senator from California for clarifying that issue and answering my question.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I am delighted to rise today in support of the STOCK Act and in support of amendment No. 1481 that my colleague from Ohio has put forward to ...

Mr. President, I wish to thank the Senator from Alaska for his explanation of what has been going on as far as executive compensation with FHFA.

The Senator from Massachusetts.

The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

The Senator from Montana.

Mr. President, today I understand Senator Toomey is going to be offering an amendment that will--it is quite an oversimplification to state it this way, but it would make permanent ...

Mr. President, we can go back and forth 100 ways to Sunday. I thought I explained exactly why Senator Isakson and I have a narrow bill. We are trying to ...

I am sure, listening to that, it is hard to understand exactly what this is all about, so let me take a moment.

The clerk will report.

Under the previous order, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 2038, which the clerk will report.

The Senator is recognized.

The amendment is as follows:

I thank my colleague for that because it was a little surprising. My understanding, and I hope to stand corrected by the Senator from Maine, if I am wrong, and ...

Madam President, I thank my friend from Alabama for coming to the floor and proposing his amendment. I agree that there should be parity between the legislative and executive branches ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business.

The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Mr. President, across the Nation, Americans wonder if Washington is working for them. Congress's approval rate, as we know so well, is an abysmal 13 percent, 12 percent--different surveys--but not ...

Pending:

The clerk will report the amendment.

Madam President, I rise today to talk about the amendment that I have offered, No. 1491, to the STOCK Act.

The Senator from Alaska.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess at this time under the previous order.

The Senator from Massachusetts.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the call of the quorum be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I know folks are riveted to their televisions. I wanted to give them an update as to where we are on the STOCK Act.

I wish to commend the leader for his forbearance and patience in this very long and extended process. But we are making great efforts to come together to work in ...

Mr. President, as we start Black History Month, I rise to discuss a national hero I have spoken about many times on the Senate floor. With this year's Black History ...

The Senator from Rhode Island.

Mr. President, I rise today to join my senior colleague, Senator Reed, in tribute to the memory of a great public servant and a great friend, Jay Joseph Garrahy, former ...

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, it is Senator Gillibrand's fault we are in all of this trouble.

Mr. President, I apologize to the Presiding Officer and staff and Senators, but we have not been able to reach an agreement yet on how to move forward on this ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize a distinguished Kentuckian who has worked tirelessly and selflessly in public service for over 25 years. I am sad to report to my ...

Mr. President, Senator Kirk and I have introduced the Visa Waiver Program Enhanced Security and Reform Act.

Today I wish to speak to the celebration of the Hawaiian language. February is designated as the ``Month of the Hawaiian Language'' by the State of Hawai`i. Speakers and students ...

Mr. President, on behalf of myself and Senator Boxer, I join my colleagues in the House of Representatives, including Mr. Costa, Mr. Lungren, Mr. Cardoza, Mr. Farr, Mr. Denham, Ms. ...

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize someone who may not be familiar to members of the Senate, but in my State is synonymous with what makes Oregon a place ...

As in executive session the Presiding Officer laid before the Senate messages from the President of the United States submitting sundry nominations and two withdrawals which were referred to the ...

The following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated: EC-4825. A communication from the Secretary of the Commission, Division ...

The following bills and joint resolutions were introduced, read the first and second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated: By Mr. BENNET (for himself and Mr. Warner): S. ...

S. 2054. A bill to suspend the current compensation packages for the senior executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and to establish compensation for all employees of such entities ...

Mr. President, we are in an age of tight budgets and tough choices, and I rise today to introduce legislation that would address some loopholes in the Tax Code that ...

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Fair Military Leave Act. This legislation fixes a problem that is preventing some of our brave servicemembers from using benefits that they ...

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Nelson of Florida, and Mr. Casey) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 366 Whereas, on Thursday, January ...

SA 1496. Mr. CORKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2038, to prohibit Members of Congress and employees of Congress from using nonpublic ...

The clerk will report the bill by title.

The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 304, S.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 1, 2012, at 10 ...

The clerk will report the resolution by title.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 365, submitted earlier today.

The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

The resolution (S. Res. 365) was agreed to.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action ...

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.

The resolution (S. Res. 366) was agreed to.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate adjourn until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2012; that following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be ...

There being no objection, the Senate, at 7:56 p.m. adjourned until Thursday, February 2, 2012, at 9:30 a.m.

The managers of the bill will continue to negotiate an agreement to complete action on the bill tomorrow. Senators will be notified when any agreement is reached.

Executive Message transmitted by the President to the Senate on February 1, 2012 withdrawing from further Senate consideration the following nominations: ALAN D. BERSIN, OF CALIFORNIA, TO BE COMMISSIONER OF ...

Vol. 158WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012No. 16

The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following communication from the Speaker: Washington, DC, February 1, 2012. I hereby appoint the Honorable Chip Cravaack to act as Speaker ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) for 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Heck) for 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, Americans know that Congress is broken, paralyzed by hyperpartisanship, fierce ideology, and unwillingness to respond to widely understood problems with broadly supported solutions.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) for 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Girl Scouts of the USA, which will be celebrating its 100th anniversary on March

Mr. Speaker, as a proud graduate of St. Symphorosa Grammar School and St. Ignatius College Prep, and as a strong supporter of Catholic education, I have again this year introduced ...

Mr. Speaker, today I rise quite saddened by the news that the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure has made a political decision--a fine nonprofit that I have been ...

Mr. Speaker, as the founder of the Congressional Out of Poverty Caucus, I rise today to continue talking about the tide of poverty sweeping across this country.

Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair declares the House in recess until noon today.

(Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

(Ms. CHU asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge the Republican leadership of the House to bring the STOCK Act to the floor. This commonsense legislation would ensure that Members of Congress ...

(Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

Madam Speaker, the numbers are in. Once again, the Federal Government is going to achieve an annual deficit of more than $1 trillion.

Madam Speaker, for those who believe in the Mayan end of days and the prophecy of the end of the world in 2012, the fact that our Republican friends have ...

Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Newport Art Museum and Art Association.

Madam Speaker, earlier this week I had the opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion in western New York on innovations in health care. Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary ...

(Ms. EDWARDS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

(Mr. HULTGREN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, with another deadline approaching, we're reminded again of the debacle that was the end of the last session when Members on the other side stood in the way ...

(Mr. RANGEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

(Mr. MORAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

You know, we've heard for many years now from the other side the notion that government is the source of all of our problems, government never does anything right, it ...

Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair will postpone further proceedings today on motions to suspend the rules on which a recorded vote or the yeas and nays ...

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution. This is an important resolution because it brings us back to the greatest cut since the 104th Congress.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in strong support of H. Res. 496, offered by my good friend, the chairman of the House Administration Committee, ...

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to House Resolution 496, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

There was no objection.

I thank the gentleman again.

The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 496.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

There was no objection.

Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from California?

Reclaiming my time, that is not my understanding, and I would hope we could work together.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question will be postponed.

I want to thank the gentlewoman for raising the concern about ensuring that TANF recipients have adequate access to their benefits in a variety of locations. That's a very important ...

The gentleman from Kentucky is recognized for the balance of the time which is 3 minutes.

I yield to the gentleman from California.

Madam Speaker, again I remind all of my colleagues that when we talk about such matters, it's helpful to focus on tone. The one thing I'm going to respond to, ...

Milk is included in the bill.

The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3567, as amended.

I yield myself 30 seconds to place into the Record a letter from the National Conference of State Legislatures as well as a letter from the American Public Human Services ...

Well, I couldn't agree with the gentleman more about the importance of preserving, in his words, ``the integrity of this program.'' That means that none of the public funds are ...

The time of the gentlewoman has again expired.

The definition is staple foods, which include milk.

Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Louisiana?

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of ...

I yield the gentlelady 1 additional minute.

I thank the chairman very much for yielding.

The text of the bill is as follows:

I am pleased to yield the remaining time to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Davis), the chairman of the subcommittee, a gentleman who has diligently worked in good faith with ...

Madam Speaker, I rise in strident opposition to the underlying bill. I think that it's fairly cynical in these tough economic times when half of all Americans are either in ...

But I say who's really working for the least of these?

If any type of food product, including milk, is sold at a store, States can except those from the provisions in this bill.

Isn't it true that in most of the liquor stores and other establishments of that type they charge no fees for cashing the checks because they want people to get ...

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

There's some confusion about what is excluded or included. As I understand it, a liquor store that just sells just juice or milk would not be considered a store that ...

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3567) to amend title IV of the Social Security Act to require States to implement policies to ...

[Roll No. 19] YEAS--309 Adams Aderholt Akin Alexander Altmire Amash Amodei Andrews Austria Bachmann Bachus Baldwin Barletta Barrow Barton (TX) Bass (NH) Benishek Berg Berkley Biggert Bilbray Bilirakis Bishop (GA) ...

The unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3835) to extend the pay limitation for Members of Congress and Federal ...

So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.

The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Ross) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 19, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

The unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3567) to amend title IV of the Social Security Act to require ...

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 20, I was away from the Capitol due to prior commitments to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on February 1, 2012, I missed rollcall votes 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 because of district business. Had I been ...

Mr. WOODALL, from the Committee on Rules, submitted a privileged report (Rept. No. 112-382) on the resolution (H. Res. 533) providing for consideration of the conference report to accompany the ...

There was no objection.

I thank the gentleman, my good friend from Colorado, for yielding.

Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 5, 2011, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Gardner) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.

I very much thank the gentleman from Colorado. I appreciate you holding this very important leadership hour tonight. And, of course, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my extreme ...

Again, to the American people, we've heard asked often by Members of this body: Where are the jobs? I think we need to start asking: Why not these jobs?

I thank the gentleman for his time tonight, and again, as we wrap up our discussion, we will just highlight the support the Keystone pipeline has across this country. Again, ...

I thank the gentleman for his leadership tonight.

The gentleman from Arizona brings up a great point about Solyndra and the Keystone pipeline. And I think there is a real question about what kind of an economy we ...

I thank my colleague from Colorado and my brother on the Energy and Commerce Committee. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I've got the same chart ...

I thank the gentleman from Colorado for allowing me to join in; and although I'm not a part of the freshman class, I hope they won't toss me out of ...

I thank the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, it's an honor to be here before you tonight. There's so much going on in this country, so many threats to our national security, and energy is one ...

By unanimous consent, leave of absence was granted to: Mr. Carson of Indiana (at the request of Ms. Pelosi) for today and the balance of the week on account of ...

Karen L. Haas, Clerk of the House, reported and found truly enrolled bills of the House of the following titles, which were thereupon signed by the Speaker: H.R. 3800. An ...

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: 4763. A letter from the Acting Administrator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the ...

Pursuant to clause 2 of rule XII the following actions were taken by the Speaker: H.R. 2586. Referral to the Committee on Agriculture extended for a period ending not later ...

Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following statements are submitted regarding the specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution ...

Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were deleted from public bills and resolutions as follows: H.R. 3784: Ms. Fudge.

Mr. Speaker, for the second consecutive year, a high school located in the Sixth District of North Carolina has captured a Class 3-AA state championship. The Northern Guilford Nighthawks won ...

Mr. Speaker, on January 31, 2012, I was absent from the House and missed rollcall vote 12.

Mr. Speaker, I submit the following proclamation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association MOFGA on their 40 year anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct privilege today to recognize an extraordinary individual from Michigan's 10th Congressional District. On February 17, 2012, family, friends and neighbors of Mr. Gordon Fuerstenau ...

Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I rise in recognition of the historic International Day of Human Rights and the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human ...

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the one hundred year anniversary of the Girl Scouts of America. Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, this organization has cultivated ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and memory of Alex Blevins, a devoted father and husband, and the Executive Director of the Kentucky Court Appointed Special Advocate or CASA ...

Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to congratulate some of the most devoted and proficient workers in Northwest Indiana. The Northwest Indiana Federation of Labor, American Federation of Labor--Congress ...

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 290, the ``War Memorial Protection Act,'' of which I am a proud cosponsor.

Mr. Speaker, I submit an article on behalf of Mallory Factor expressing his opinion regarding the need for transparency with respect to the different roles of our military.

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 12 on H. Res. 522, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yes'' when I should have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, in 1994 I was part of a delegation, organized by Christian Solidarity International, that visited Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the commitment and sacrifice of PFC Juan Meza. Mr. Meza served in Company B 399th Infantry Unit during World War II from October ...

Mr. Speaker, on January 26, 1995, when the last attempt at a balanced budget amendment passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 300-132, the national debt was

Mr. Speaker, billionaire Warren Buffett's longtime secretary has become a symbol in the current Administration's fight over the tax code and economic fairness. While she was the President's chief stage ...

Mr. Speaker, one of the most important leaders in the economy of southeastern Massachusetts is about to retire.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a founding Member of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus to recognize the importance of promoting awareness for the sight-stealing disease known as glaucoma. Glaucoma is ...

Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, agreed to by the Senate on February 4, 1977, calls for establishment of a system for a computerized schedule of all meetings and hearings ...