Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, March 15, 2012

Mr. Tom Udall, from the State of New Mexico, called the Senate to order at 9:30 a.m., the Chaplain offered a prayer, and Mr. Udall led the Senate in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

The Journal

Pursuant to the order of yesterday, the Journal of the proceedings of the Senate was deemed approved to date.

Certain Procedures Dispensed With

Pursuant to the order of yesterday, the morning hour being deemed expired, and the times for the recognition of the two leaders being reserved.

Transaction of Morning Business

Pursuant to the order of yesterday, the Senate proceeded to a period for the transaction of morning business.

Legislative Business (Thursday, March 15)

H.R. 473 (Rep. Boren): To provide for the conveyance of approximately 140 acres of land in the Ouachita National Forest in Oklahoma to the Indian Nations Council, Inc., of the Boy Scouts of America, and for other purposes .

-- Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

H.R. 886 (Rep. Womack): To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the establishment of the Nation's first Federal law enforcement agency, the United States Marshals Service.

-- Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.Amdt. 1847 (Sen. Boozman): To improve the bill.

-- Amendment SA 1847 proposed by Senator Reid for Senator Boozman.

-- Amendment SA 1847 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

H.R. 3606 (Rep. Fincher): To increase American job creation and economic growth by improving access to the public capital markets for emerging growth companies.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Motion by Senator Reid to commit to Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs with instructions that the Committee report back forthwith with amendment SA 1838 made in Senate.

-- Cloture motion on the bill presented in Senate.

S.Amdt. 1833 (Sen. Reed): In the nature of a substitute.

-- Amendment SA 1833 proposed by Senator Reid for Senator Reed.

-- Cloture motion on amendment SA 1833 presented in Senate.

S.Amdt. 1834 (Sen. Reid): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment SA 1834 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 1833.

S.Amdt. 1835 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 1835 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 1834.

S.Amdt. 1836 (Sen. Cantwell): To reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

-- Amendment SA 1836 proposed by Senator Reid for Senator Cantwell to language proposed to be stricken by amendment no. SA 1833.

-- Cloture motion on amendment SA 1836 presented in Senate.

S.Amdt. 1837 (Sen. Reid): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment SA 1837 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 1836.

S.Amdt. 1838 (Sen. Reid): To change the enactment date.

-- Amendment SA 1838 proposed by Senator Reid.

S.Amdt. 1839 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 1839 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 1838 (the instructions of the motion to commit).

S.Amdt. 1840 (Sen. Reid): Of a perfecting nature.

-- Amendment SA 1840 proposed by Senator Reid to Amendment SA 1839.

S.Res. 398 (Sen. Menendez): A resolution recognizing the 191st anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrating Greek and American democracy .

-- Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

Executive Business (Thursday, March 15)

PN566: Gina Marie Groh, of West Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 95 - 2. Record Vote Number: 49

PN786: Michael Walter Fitzgerald, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 91 - 6. Record Vote Number: 50

Adjournment

By unanimous consent, on the request of Mr. Harry Reid, at 4:33 p.m., the Senate adjourned, under its order of today, until 2 p.m. on Monday, March 19, 2012.