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May 21, 2013, 8:38 am
By
Pete Kasperowicz
The House meets at 10 a.m., and in the afternoon it will consider several suspension bills aimed at helping veterans, just days before Congress breaks for its Memorial Day recess.
One veterans bill, the Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act (H.R. 1412), would increase job training and apprenticeship programs for veterans. Another, the American Heroes COLA Act (H.R. 570), would provide for automatic cost-of-living adjustments for veterans' disability payments.
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May 20, 2013, 7:45 pm
By
Pete Kasperowicz
Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.) on Monday evening spoke on the House floor to thank first responders and everyone else working to dig out from severe tornadoes that hit Moore, Oklahoma today.
"I rise in support of Oklahomans, who even as we speak this evening are laboring to find and rescue all those affected by this afternoon's severe tornadoes in Moore and other areas in the great state of Oklahoma," Bridenstine said.
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May 20, 2013, 7:14 pm
By
Ramsey Cox
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced Monday that there was unanimous consent to take up a Senate resolution that would strengthen enforcement of sanctions against Iran. Reid said the Senate would debate S.Res. 65 and proceed to a vote on Wednesday afternoon.
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May 20, 2013, 7:08 pm
By
Pete Kasperowicz
The House Monday evening passed legislation that implements four multilateral treaties aimed at preventing the transport of nuclear or other weapons on ships, or terrorist attacks on ships or offshore platforms.
Members approved the Nuclear Terrorism Conventions Implementation and Safety of Maritime Navigation Act, H.R. 1073, in a 390-3 vote. It was brought up under a suspension of House rules, the process the House usually uses to quickly pass non-controversial bills.
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May 20, 2013, 6:24 pm
By
Ramsey Cox
The Senate confirmed two of President Obama’s judicial nominees on Monday. The Senate voted 90-0 to confirm Sheri Polster Chappell to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida.
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May 20, 2013, 5:49 pm
By
Pete Kasperowicz
Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) last week dropped his support for creating a select committee on last year's attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi.
Mica added his name to the resolution calling for a select committee in late March. But last Thursday, he asked that his name be removed from that resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.).
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May 20, 2013, 4:00 pm
By
Ramsey Cox
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said the House farm bill cuts to food stamps, also called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), could not pass in the Senate. “We shouldn’t be cutting federal nutrition programs,” Brown said Monday. “[The Senate] bill cuts $4 billion from SNAP and that’s already $4 billion too much. … The House’s $20 billion in SNAP cuts won’t pass muster in the Senate and certainly won’t get my support.”
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May 20, 2013, 3:45 pm
By
Erik Wasson
The farm bill, which came to the Senate floor on Monday, cuts less from farm subsidies than Obama wants.
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May 20, 2013, 3:03 pm
By
Pete Kasperowicz
Freshman Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.) on Monday said efforts to force the Boy Scouts of America to allow gay members into the group shows that the left is "intolerant" and won't rest until it "bullies" that group and others to accept its views.
"Some of us in America still believe in the concept of sexual morality, that sex is intended for one man and one woman within the institution of marriage," Bridenstine said on the House floor. "Organizations that hold this philosophy and promote it among our youth should be commended, or at least, you would think, tolerated.
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May 20, 2013, 2:18 pm
By
Ramsey Cox
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) applauded the bipartisan work of the Senate Agriculture Committee for passing out a farm bill, which the Senate will begin considering at 3 p.m. Monday. “American farmers are counting on us but so is the economy,” Reid said on the Senate floor Monday. “To keep America and farms strong the Congress must pass a strong farm bill.”
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