D.C. Daily: June 8, 2012

Senate
Yesterday's Action:
During business yesterday, the Senate took the following actions:

• Passed S. 3261, to allow the Chief of the Forest Service to award certain contracts for large air tankers.
• Passed H.R. 5883, to make a technical correction in Public Law 112-108.
• Passed H.R. 5890, to correct a technical error in Public Law 112-122.
• Passed S. Res. 476, honoring the contributions of the late Fang Lizhi to the people of China and the cause of freedom.
• Passed S. Res. 488, commending the efforts of the firefighters and emergency response personnel of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, who came together to extinguish the May 23, 2012, fire at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.
• Agreed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3240, the "Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012", by a vote of 90 yeas to 8 nays.
• Began consideration of the nomination of Andrew David Hurwitz to be Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. A motion to invoke cloture was entered, and a vote on cloture will occur on Monday, June 11.

Today's Schedule:
The Senate will not meet today. The next meeting of the Senate is scheduled for 2:00 PM on Monday, June 11.


House
Yesterday's Action:
During business yesterday, the House took the following actions:

• Passed H.R. 436, the "Health Care Cost Reduction Act of 2012", by a vote of 270 yeas to 146 nays.
• Passed H.R. 5855, the "Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2013", by a vote of 234 yeas to 182 nays.

Today's Schedule:
The House will meet today at 9:00 AM. The House is expected to begin consideration of H.R. 5882, the "Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2013".


Executive Agencies
Significant Proposed Rules:
There were no significant rules proposed today.

Significant Final Rules:

• Federal Housing Finance Agency: establishing prudential standards (Standards) relating to the management and operations of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and Federal Home Loan Banks (Banks) (collectively, regulated entities). (Effective 8/7/12)
• Coast Guard: correcting six technical errors inadvertently published in a final rule on March 23, 2012. (Effective 6/21/12)
• Federal Maritime Commission: revising the regulations which govern negotiated rate arrangements. (Effective 9/10/12, unless adverse comment is received by 8/10/12)

Presidential Documents:

• Presidential Memorandum: delegating to the Secretary of State the reporting functions conferred upon the President by section 8 of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004.
• Presidential Determination No. 2012-07: certifying that it is important to the national security interests of the United States to waive the provisions of section 7040(a) of the Act, in order to provide funds appropriated to carry out Chapter 4 of Part II of the Foreign Assistance Act, as amended, to the Palestinian Authority.

Supreme Court
The court has concluded scheduled oral arguments for the October 2011 term. However, the court is still meeting to finalize decisions on cases it heard during the preceeding term. The court's next session of oral arguments is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 1, 2012.