Agreement on Debt Limit/CR/Budget conference--2 roll call votes at approx.

By consent, the Senate will now begin consideration of H.R.2775, agree to the substitute amendment, which is the text of the debt limit and CR deal, and immediately proceed to a cloture vote on the bill, as amended. If cloture is invoked, the Senate would immediately proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended.

The Senate also agreed that if the senate passes H.R.2775, as amended, the Senate go to conference on the Budget resolution and authorized the Chair to appoint conferees with a ratio of 12 Democrats and 10 Republicans. The conferees are instructed to report back a conference report by December 13, 2013. It is not in order for the Senate to consider a conference report if it includes reconciliation instructions to raise the debt limit. If the House fails to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R.2775 (Debt Limit/CR), the agreement to go to conference on the Budget would be vitiated.

2 roll call votes at approx. 7:30pm:

-       Cloture on H.R.2775, as amended (60 vote threshold); and

-       Passage of H.R.2775, as amended, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014 (majority vote threshold).

Agreement to go to conference on Budget resolution

Murray:           I ask unanimous consent that if the Senate passes H.R.2775, as amended, the Senate then proceed to the consideration of Calendar #33, H.Con.Res.25; that the amendment at the desk, which is the text of S.Con.Res.8, the budget resolution passed by the Senate, be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that H.Con.Res.25, as amended, be agreed to; the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that the motion for the Senate to insist on its amendment, be agreed to; that the Senate request a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses and authorize the Chair to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate, with a ratio of 12 Democrats and 10 Republicans; that the conferees be instructed to report back a conference report by December 13, 2013; that if the Senate receives from the House a request to go to conference on S.Con.Res.8, that this agreement be modified so that the Senate agree to the request to go conference on S.Con.Res.8, with the remaining provisions related to the conference remaining in effect; further, that it not be in order for the Senate to consider a conference report with respect to H.Con.Res.25 or S.Con.Res.8, if it includes reconciliation instructions to raise the debt limit; and that all of the above occur with no intervening action or debate; finally, that H.Con.Res.25, as amended, and passed, be held at the desk until a message is received from the House relative to H.R.2775 and if the House fails to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R.2775, this agreement be vitiated.

Without objection.

Agreement on CR/Debt Limit

Reid:                I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar #193, H.R.2775; that the substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to (text of debt limit until February 7, 2014 and CR through January 15, 2014); that a cloture motion on the bill, as amended, which is at the desk, then be read; that the mandatory quorum required under rule 22 be waived; that no other amendments, points of order or motions be in order to the bill; that if cloture is invoked, all post-cloture time be yielded back and the bill, as amended, be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended; that if the bill, as amended, is passed, that a title amendment, which is at the desk be agreed to; finally, that if cloture is not invoked, the action above with respect to the amendment to the bill be vitiated and the bill be returned to the calendar.

Without objection.