Today in Congress/Open Thread

post from Daily Kos on 22 July 2008 12:10:12 PM. © Daily Kos

In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:

FLOOR SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2008

House meets at 12:30 p.m.: Morning Hour, 2:00 p.m.: Legislative Business
Unlimited "One Minutes" Per Side
Last vote predicted: 7:00 p.m.
Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Suspensions (17 Bills):

H.R. 6362 - To amend title 35, United States Code, and the Trademark Act of 1946 to provide that the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, shall appoint administrative patent judges and administrative trademark judges (Rep. Berman – Judiciary)

S. 2565 - Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act of 2008 (Sen. Biden – Judiciary)

H.R. 6531 - The Vessel Hull Design Protection Amendments of 2008 (Rep. Berman – Judiciary)

H.Res. 1241 - Congratulating Ensign DeCarol Davis upon serving as the valedictorian of the Coast Guard Academy's class of 2008 and becoming the first African-American female to earn this honor (Rep. Thompson (MS) – Transportation and Infrastructure)

H.R. 6493 - The Aviation Safety Enhancement Act of 2008 (Rep. Oberstar – Transportation and Infrastructure)

H.R. 5949 - The Clean Boating Act of 2008 (Rep. LaTourette – Transportation and Infrastructure)

H.R. 6556 - To clarify the circumstances during which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and applicable States may require permits for discharges from certain vessels, and to require the Administrator to conduct a study of discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels (Transportation and Infrastructure)

S. 294 - The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007 (Sen. Lautenberg - Transportation and Infrastructure)

H.R. 4049 - Money Service Business Act of 2007 (Rep. Maloney – Financial Services)

H.Res. 1139 - Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and congratulating the men and women who provide exceptional service to our military and keep our Pacific Fleet "fit to fight". (Rep. Abercrombie – Armed Services)

H.Con.Res. 364 - Recognizing the Significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month (Rep. Lee – Oversight and Government Reform)

H.Res. 1311 - Expressing support for the designation of National GEAR UP Day (Rep. Fattah – Oversight and Government Reform)

H.Res. 1202 - Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Guard Youth Challenge Day (Rep. Tom Davis (VA) – Oversight and Government Reform)

H.Res. 1128 - Expressing support of the goals and ideals of National Carriage Driving Month. (Rep. Davis (IL) – Oversight and Government Reform)

H.R. 6226 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 300 East 3rd Street in Jamestown, New York, as the "Stan Lundine Post Office Building" (Rep. Higgins – Oversight and Government Reform)

H.R. 5235 - The Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act (Rep. Gallegly – Oversight and Government Reform)

H.R. 6545 - National Energy Security Intelligence Act of 2008 (Rep. Cazayoux – Intelligence)

Conference Reports may be brought up at any time.

Motions to go to Conferenceshould they become available.

Possible Motions to Instruct Conferees.

In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:

Convenes: 10:00am

Resume motion to proceed to S.3268, the Energy Speculation bill.

12:15pm - 2:15pm Recess for the weekly caucus luncheons

If cloture is invoked on the motion to proceed to S.3268, the time from 2:15pm - 6:15pm will be equally divided and controlled in 30 minute alternating blocks of time, with the Majority controlling the first 30 minutes and the Republicans controlling the next 30 minutes.

Votes:
At approximately 11am, Roll Call Vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.3268.

On the Radar:

A second domestic economic stimulus package may be unveiled shortly. A markup originally scheduled for today has been postponed, but is expected to happen shortly, with an announcement on the package (expected to be in the neighborhood of $50 billion in total) by week's end. The White House is skeptical of the need for such a bill.
The White House is also looking askance at the housing bill still making its way through Congress (H.R. 3221), and has issued a veto threat if the final product contains a program of federal grants to buy out and rehabilitate foreclosed properties.