Votes

The Senate on Thursday afternoon quickly approved a two-month extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), an action that was made possible by an agreement Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) made to take up a longer-term extension when the Senate returns from the Memorial Day break.

The Senate approved the extension by unanimous consent, after Reid declared that the Senate had no choice but to extend the program, which expires at the end of May.

The Senate Thursday morning quickly approved four amendments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bill, by unanimous consent, including one from Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) that was not in the group of amendments agreed to on Wednesday.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) set up a unanimous consent vote on an en bloc amendment package just before noon, saving the Senate roll-call votes on these amendments later in the day. The amendments were from:

Sen. Kent Conrad, who introduced the bill, said "federal law should reflect the 21st-century understanding of mental illness and disease."

Only 26 Democrats went on record with support for the pipeline project, a smaller tally than Republicans have been touting.

The bill obligates $100 million next year to plan for the site, but billions would be needed to complete it.

The House accepted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would replace the sequester of discretionary defense spending for fiscal 2013, making the bill compatible with the House-passed budget resolution.

The amendment from Rep. Scott Rigell (R-Va.) was approved 220-201 Friday morning, and reflects the ongoing Republican effort to spare the Defense Department from sequester cuts and take required budget savings from other departments.

The House on Friday voted to limit the Obama administration's flexibility to reduce the U.S. nuclear stockpile or work with Russia on nuclear nonproliferation activities.

Approval of the Republican amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) were a measure of retaliation against President Obama, who was caught telling Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he would have "more flexibility" on European missile defense after the 2012 election.

The House got through 92 amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Thursday and early Friday morning, but finally adjourned shortly after 1:30 a.m. and planned to return later Friday morning for votes and consideration of the last 50.

The House approved several amendments throughout the long day, including language that requires the sale of new F-16 aircraft to Taiwan, establishes a Sexual Assault Oversight Council in the Defense Department, requires studies of the health of service members and gives the president the authority to move satellites from the U.S. Munitions List in certain cases.

The House late Thursday approved more than a dozen amendments to the 2013 National Defense Authorization act (NDAA) by voice vote, including language from Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) that would authorize the sale of 66 F-16 fighter aircraft to Taiwan.

Others approved would prohibit DOD contracts with anyone that has business operations located in a state sponsor of terrorism, require DOD to assess what military equipment shortages exist, and establish a Sexual Assault Oversight Council within DOD.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday set up a procedural vote for Monday on a bill expanding a user-fee program at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), after saying earlier in the day that he hoped to avoid this move.

Reid filed a motion to end debate on a motion to proceed to S. 3187, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, and set up a possible vote at 5:30 p.m. Monday when the Senate returns.