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The Focus of Today's Session will be
S.1637, the Jumpstart Our Business Strength Act

4:40 P.M.

Senator Hatch is calling the current debate "presidential election-year politics."  He has said that the Senate needs to take action on the JOBS legislation so that the U.S. will not be hit with $4 billion in tariffs. 

3:40 P.M.

Senator Grassley is speaking about the Medicare prescription drug bill that was passed last year, and allegations that the Department of Health and Human Services produced partisan ads about this legislation. 

3:25 P.M.

Senator Gregg is criticizing the decision by Democrats to stop new overtime regulations from taking effect.  He has said that the Senate has already voted on this issue once, and should wait for the regulation to be finalized before additional action should be taken. 

2:45 P.M.

Senator Domenici, Chairman of the Energy Committee is speaking about his attempts to pass an energy bill.  He has said it is not appropriate to blame the President for the lack of a national energy policy, it is the responsibility of Congress to pass this legislation.  Senator Domenici is also advocating for exploring areas for natural gas and crude oil to help reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign energy sources. 

1:55 P.M.

Senator Durbin is speaking about National Public Radio announcer Bob Edwards, who is stepping down as the morning anchor.  He is asking that any fans of "Morning Edition" on NPR are upset at Bob Edwards being forced out of his position, they should email NPR. 

12:55 P.M.

Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi is discussing the cost of not complying with the World Trade Organization's rules.  He is also mentioning that the JOBS legislation would have an immediate effect on American jobs and is strongly urging his colleagues to pass this bill immediately.

12:35 P.M.

By a vote of 51-47 the Senate voted not to invoke cloture on the motion to recommit S.1637 to the Finance Committee.  Sixty votes are needed to invoke cloture.  By not invoking cloture, the Senate will continue debate on S.1637.  Currently, Senator Enzi of Wyoming is speaking about the importance of increasing access to good paying jobs. 

11:35 A.M.

Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee is discussing that  the European Union's "European tax" on American workers and saying that each day that passes without the passage of the JOBS bill has implications on the effect of the tax on Americans. He is urging that every one of his colleagues vote for cloture on the JOBS bill. The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to recommit S.1637.

11:25 A.M.

Senator Tom Harkin is voicing his frustration with the Republicans for using parliamentary tactics to make it so that there will not be a vote on his amendment protecting overtime pay for workers.

11:15 A.M.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is quoting previous comments made by Senator Daschle saying that it is essential to pass the JOBS bill in order to save manufacturing jobs. Senator Daschle is adding to Senator McConnell's comments by repeating that it is necessary to pass this bill, but is expressing the need to include language about protecting overtime pay.

10:35 A.M.

Senator Kit Bond of Missouri is voicing his opposition to comments that have been made on the Senate floor about books by Richard Clarke, a former anti-terrorism advisor in both the Clinton and Bush Administrations, and by former Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill. He is discussing the importance of the investigation which is being conducting by the 9/11 Commission and how it must remain non-political.

10:10 A.M.

Senator Jon Corzine of New Jersey is calling the Administration's record on jobs "a complete failure," and is talking about the need for Congress to act responsibly when considering the JOBS bill.

10:00 A.M.

Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan is expressing her concerns about the recent accounts surrounding the Medicare bill which report that the Administration knew that the costs would be different that what was being discussed.

9:30 A.M.

The Senate convenes today at 9:30 for a period of morning business until 10:30, at which time consideration of the the Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act, S.1637, will resume.  Introduced by Senator Grassley of Iowa, the Jumpstart Our Business Strength Act (also referred to as the Foreign Sales Corporation/Extraterritorial Income or FSC/ETI bill) would repeal an export tax subsidy ruled to be illegal by the World Trade Organization while offering new corporate tax relief over a period of ten years. Last fall the European Union threatened to impose sanctions on the U.S. if the tax code was not altered to be in compliance with the WTO’s ruling. At 11:30, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to recommit S.1637.