Senate Floor Activity - Thursday, May 23, 2013

Mr. Brian Schatz, from the State of Hawaii, called the Senate to order at 9:30 a.m., the Rabbi Michael Beals, Congregation Beth Shalom , Wilmington, Delaware, offered a prayer, and Mr. Schatz 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, May 23)

S. 954 (Sen. Stabenow): An original bill to reauthorize agricultural programs through 2018.

-- Considered by Senate.

S.Amdt. 923 (Sen. Feinstein): To prohibit the payment by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation of any portion of the premium for a policy or plan of insurance for tobacco.

-- Amendment SA 923 proposed by Senator Feinstein.

-- Amendment SA 923, under the order of 5/23/13, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 44 - 52. Record Vote Number: 137

S.Amdt. 953 (Sen. Durbin): To limit the amount of premium subsidy provided by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation on behalf of any person or legal entity with an average adjusted gross income in excess of $750,000, with a delayed application of the limitation until completion of a study on the effects of the limitation.

-- Amendment SA 953 proposed by Senator Durbin.

-- Amendment SA 953 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 59 - 33. Record Vote Number: 139

S.Amdt. 965 (Sen. Sanders): To permit States to require that any food, beverage, or other edible product offered for sale have a label on indicating that the food, beverage, or other edible product contains a genetically engineered ingredient.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

-- Amendment SA 965, under the order of 5/22/13, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, was not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 27 - 71. Record Vote Number: 135

S.Amdt. 998 (Sen. Leahy): To establish a pilot program for gigabit Internet projects in rural areas.

-- Amendment pending in Senate.

S.Amdt. 1031 (Sen. Hagan): To authorize the use of the insurance fund to reduce fraud and maintain program integrity in the crop insurance program .

-- Amendment SA 1031 proposed by Senator Hagan.

-- Amendment SA 1031 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 0. Record Vote Number: 138

S.Res. 129 (Sen. Hirono): A resolution recognizing the significance of May 2013 as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States.

-- Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

-- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

-- Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Amdt. 1143 (Sen. Hirono): To amend the preamble.

-- Amendment SA 1143 proposed by Senator Reid for Senator Hirono.

-- Amendment SA 1143 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res. 158 (Sen. Reid): A resolution to authorize the production of records by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

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

S.Con.Res. 17 (Sen. Reid): A concurrent resolution providing for a conditional adjournment or recess of the Senate and an adjournment of the House of Representatives.

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

Executive Business (Thursday, May 23)

PN6: Srikanth Srinivasan, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit

-- Cloture motion withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.

-- By unanimous consent agreement, debate and vote 5/23/2013.

-- Considered by Senate.

-- Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 97 - 0. Record Vote Number: 136

PN32: Mark A. Barnett, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade