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Following last votes, the House is expected to debate the two Democratic Motions to Instruct on H.R. 4348 and continue debating amendments to H.R. 4310 late into the evening.
**Members are advised that potential close votes on amendments are expected today.
H.Res. 661 – Rule providing for further consideration of H.R. 4310 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Rep. McKeon – Armed Services) (One Hour of Debate). The Rules committee has recommended a structured Rule for amendments. The Rule provides for consideration of 142 amendments, each debatable for 10 minutes except for the Lee Amendment that would end the war in Afghanistan by limiting funding to the safe and orderly withdrawal of U.S. troops, which is debatable for 20 minutes. The debate time is equally controlled by the proponent and opponent of the amendment.
H.Res. 661 also provides the Chairman of the committee on Armed Services authority to offer amendments en bloc, consisting of amendments not previously considered. All en bloc amendments are debatable for 20 minutes equally divided between the Chair and Ranking Member of the committee on Armed Services. The Rule also provides for one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
Despite repeated promises of openness by the Republican Majority, the Rules committee did not make in order the McGovern/Smith (WA)/Jones bipartisan amendment on future U.S presence in Afghanistan. On a subject that is critically important to our nation, the Republican Majority rejected Floor consideration of a bipartisan proposal. This is in direct contradiction to a promise made by the Republican Majority to ‘let the House work its will’. Members are urged to VOTE NO on H.Res. 661.
Continue Consideration of H.R. 4310 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Rep. McKeon – Armed Services) H.R. 4310 would provide for the authorization of funding for the Department of Defense and other related agencies, programs, and operations for fiscal year 2013. It provides for a total of $642.5 billion for the entire fiscal year. The measure's authorization includes $88.5 billion in FY 2013 contingency funds authorized specifically to support operations in Afghanistan and the general war on terrorism.
In addition to authorizing all operations at the Pentagon, as well as military operations overseas, the bill also includes some policy additions/restrictions, including: a restriction of funds used to release prisoners at the Guantánamo Bay detention center to a foreign country or entity; banning gay marriage in Defense Department facilities and clarifying that chaplains are not required to officiate at same-sex weddings; and language attempting to slow U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
The Rule provides for no further general debate, makes in order 142 amendments, and allows for the Chairman to offer amendments en bloc:
A full list of the 142 amendments made in order can be found HERE
Bill Text for H.R. 4310:
HTML Version
PDF Version
Background for H.R. 4310:
House Report (HTML Version)
House Report (PDF Version)
Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4348 – Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012 (Offered by Rep. Rahall)
Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4348 – Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012 (Offered by Rep. Barrow)
Postponed Suspensions (2 Bills)
- H.Res. 568 – Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the importance of preventing the Government of Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability, as amended (Rep. Ros–Lehtinen – Foreign Affairs)
- H.R. 5740 - To extend the National Flood Insurance Program (Rep. Biggert- Financial Services)
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule for Friday, May 18: The House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. The House is expected to complete consideration of H.R. 4310 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Rep. McKeon – Armed Services)
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