Constitution Reading, I Want Names

Congress opened today's session with the reading of the entire Constitution.

"They were followed, more or less alternating between parties, with lawmakers repeating momentous clauses on the rights and responsibilities of the three branches of governments and more prosaic sections regarding the oversight of forts and dockyards and the ban on office holders receiving gifts from foreign princes.

The entire reading of the seven articles and 27 amendments of the Constitution took about an hour and a half. Members volunteered on a first-come-first-serve with the reading of the Second Amendment clause on the right to bear arms going to freshman Republican Frank Guinta of New Hampshire.

For the first hour of the recital the Republican side of the chamber was full, while far fewer Democrats occupied the other side. After an hour, the number of Republican listeners also declined."
Constitution reading provokes political tussling - Yahoo! News

I want to know which dems didn't show up and which republicans left early. Time to look for replacements already after two days in Congress.

I want names, stay tuned.

72 Hours To Read The Bills HR 554

A note from one of my readers on

Read the "Read The Bill" Bill at OpenCongress.

"H.Res.554

Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that legislation and conference reports be available on the Internet for 72 hours before consideration by the House, and for other purposes.

* Introduced: June 16, 2009
* Status: Introduced
* Next step: Voted on by House"
Read The Bill: Improve the legislative process by posting bills online for 72 hours before debate!

You can go to the link to sign the petition.

Not sure it will go anywhere with Pelosi in charge. Will have to wait till 2010 for a chance.

Upcoming House Business, Huh

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2009:

On Tuesday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Unlimited One Minutes per side. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.



Suspensions (8 Bills)

1) H.R. 1275 - Utah Recreational Land Exchange Act of 2009 (Rep. Matheson - Natural Resources)

2) H.R. 1129 - To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide an annual grant to facilitate an iron working training program for Native Americans (Rep. Lynch - Natural Resources)

3) H.R. 1945 - Tule River Tribe Water Development Act (Rep. Nunes - Natural Resources)

4) H.Con.Res. 142 - Supporting National Men's Health Week (Rep. Cummings - Oversight and Government Reform)

5) H.Con.Res. 127 - Recognizing the significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month (Rep. Lee (CA) - Oversight and Government Reform)

6) H.Con.Res. 135 - Directing the Architect of the Capitol to place a marker in Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center which acknowledges the role that slave labor played in the construction of the United States Capitol (Rep. Lewis (GA) - House Administration)

7) H.Con.Res. 131 - Directing the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the National Motto of "In God We Trust" in the Capitol Visitor Center (Rep. Lungren - House Administration)

8) H.R. __ - To authorize the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office to use funds made available under the Trademark Act of 1946 for patent operations in order to avoid furloughs and reductions-in-force (Rep. Conyers - Judiciary)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8; THURSDAY, JULY 9; FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2009:

On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.

On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.


H.R. 2965 - Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009 (Rep. Altmire – Small Business) (Subject to a Rule)



H.R. 2701 - Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Rep. Reyes – Intelligence) (Subject to a Rule)



H.R. 2997 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (Rep. DeLauro – Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule)



H.R. 3081 – Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2010 (Rep. Lowey – Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule)



Possible Consideration of H.R. 3082 - Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2010 (Rep. Edwards (TX) – Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule)