If you missed the wrap up of the pre-election session in Congress, it was probably because you weren't watching C-SPAN2 at 4:03 am on Saturday morning when the Senate adjourned, setting the next vote for November 13, one week after the elections.
The House got out of town at lunch time on Friday, with lawmakers smacking their lips and licking their fingers after eating some ribs cooked by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), which he conveniently set out in the Speaker's Lobby just off the House floor.
For a variety of reasons, the Senate waited until midnight to take five different votes, as Senators approved a six month stop gap budget to keep the government running until late March of next year.
It meant that between the start of their summer break back in early August and the beginning of their post election session in mid-November - the House and Senate will each have met for only eight legislative work days.
Let me put that another way - they will have had eight legislative work days on the floors of the House and Senate over a period of fourteen weeks.
You can determine whether that is good or bad; the statistic is there for your use.
While the Congress did not act on a variety of major items, like the budget, automatic budget cuts, the expiring income tax rates and much more, there was a flurry of legislative action at 3:30 am on Saturday known as "Wrap up."
That is when the Senate approves a host of bills and other measures by unanimous consent.
So here is what was in "Wrap up" - the Senate will be back to do this again in November.
- HR 4850 - An Act to allow for innovations and alternative technologies that meet or exceed desired energy efficiency goals
- HR 915 - Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act
- HR 6215 - To amend the Trademark Act of 1946 to correct an error in the provisions relating to remedies for dilution
- HR 2706 - Billfish Conservation Act of 2012
- S Res 466 - Calling for the release from prison of former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko.
- HR 3556 - To designate the new United States courthouse in Buffalo, New York, as the "Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse"
- HR 1791 - To designate the United States courthouse under construction at 101 South United States Route 1 in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the "Alto Lee Adams, Sr., United States Courthouse"
- HR 4347 - To designate the United States courthouse located at 709 West 9th Street in Juneau, Alaska, as the "Robert Boochever United States Courthouse"
- S 3311 - To designate the United States courthouse located at 2601 2nd Avenue North, Billings, Montana, as the "James F. Battin United States Courthouse"
- S Con Res 50 - Expressing the sense of Congress regarding actions to preserve and advance the multistakeholder governance model under which the Internet has thrived.
- S 3486 - Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act of 2012
- S 3193 - Barona Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Clarification Act of 2012
- HR 6431 - To provide flexibility with respect to United States support for assistance provided by international financial institutions for Burma, and for other purposes
- HR 2453 - An Act to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of Mark Twain
- HR 6433 - To make corrections with respect to Food and Drug Administration user fees
- HR 4158 - To confirm full ownership rights for certain United States astronauts to artifacts from the astronauts' space missions
- HR 4223 - To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit theft of medical products, and for other purposes
- HR 6375 - To authorize certain Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects, to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes
- S 3315 - GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2012
- S 300 - Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012
- S 710 - Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act
- HR 2838 - Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2012
- S 3341 - Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of 2012
- HR 5512 - Divisional Realignment Act of 2012
- HR 6189 - Reporting Efficiency Improvement Act
- HR 1272 - Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Judgment Fund Distribution Act of 2012
- HR 2240 - Lowell National Historical Park Land Exchange Act of 2012
- HR 2606 - New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act
- HR 2139 - Lions Clubs International Century of Service Commemorative Coin Act
- S 3624 - Military Commercial Driver's License Act of 2012
- S 3625 - To change the effective date for the internet publication of certain information to prevent harm to the national security or endangering the military officers and civilian employees to whom the publication requirement applies, and for other purposes
- S Res 448 - Recognizing the 100th anniversary of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc.
- S Res 472 - Designating October 7, 2012, as Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans Day.
- S Res 558 - Congratulating the athletes from the State of Nevada and throughout the United States who participated in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as members of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams
- S Res 555 - Supporting the goals and ideals of "National Save for Retirement Week", including raising public awareness of the various tax-preferred retirement vehicles and increasing personal financial literacy
- S Res 561 - Recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebrating the heritages and cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of Native Americans to the United States
- The Senate also passed 14 different resolutions covering items like "Red Ribbon Week," "Hispanic Heritage Month", and more.
If you missed the wrap up of the pre-election session in Congress, it was probably because you weren't watching C-SPAN2 at 4:03 am on Saturday morning when the Senate adjourned, setting the next vote for November 13, one week after the elections. The House got out of town at lunch ...
