Thursday: Russia trade bill faces passage in the Senate

The Senate meets at 9:30 a.m., and after leader remarks will hear from retiring senators giving their farewell remarks to the Senate.

Shortly after noon, the Senate will hold up to three votes. One of these is on H.R. 6156, the Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act. Senators debated this bill for much of Wednesday; it would give Russia permanent normal trade relations status, a needed step if the U.S. is going to benefit from the concessions Russia made when joining the World Trade Organization.

The House approved this will in November, and Senate passage would send it to the White House for President Obama's signature.

The two other votes are on judges. One is on the nomination of Mark Walker to be a U.S. district judge for the Northern District of Florida; the other is on the nomination of Terrence Berg to be a U.S. district judge for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Berg is expected to be approved by voice vote.

The House is out for the rest of the week, and adjourned on Wednesday after approving several suspension bills.

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