S.Res. 15 — Agreed to in Senate

III 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 15 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 24 (legislative day, January 3), 2013 Mr. Reid (for himself, Mr. Levin, and Mr. McCain) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION To improve procedures for the consideration of legislation and nominations in the Senate. 1. Consideration of legislation (a) Motion To proceed and consideration of amendments A motion to proceed to the consideration of a measure or matter made pursuant to this section shall be debatable for no more than 4 hours, equally divided in the usual form. If the motion to proceed is agreed to the following conditions shall apply: (1) The first amendments in order to the measure or matter shall be one first-degree amendment each offered by the minority, the majority, the minority, and the majority, in that order. If an amendment is not offered in its designated order under this paragraph, the right to offer that amendment is forfeited. (2) If a cloture motion has been filed pursuant to rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate on a measure or matter proceeded to under this section, it shall not be in order for the minority to propose its first amendment unless it has been submitted to the Senate Journal Clerk by 1:00 p.m. on the day following the filing of that cloture motion, for the majority to propose its first amendment unless it has been submitted to the Senate Journal Clerk by 3:00 p.m. on the day following the filing of that cloture motion, for the minority to propose its second amendment unless it has been submitted to the Senate Journal Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on the day following the filing of that cloture motion, or for the majority to propose its second amendment unless it has been submitted to the Senate Journal Clerk by 7:00 p.m. on the day following the filing of that cloture motion. If an amendment is not timely submitted under this paragraph, the right to offer that amendment is forfeited. (3) An amendment offered under paragraph (1) shall be disposed of before the next amendment in order under paragraph (1) may be offered. (4) An amendment offered under paragraph (1) is not divisible or subject to amendment while pending. (5) An amendment offered under paragraph (1), if adopted, shall be considered original text for purpose of further amendment. (6) No points of order shall be waived by virtue of this section. (7) No motion to commit or recommit shall be in order during the pendency of any amendment offered pursuant to paragraph (1). (8) Notwithstanding rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, if cloture is invoked on the measure or matter before all amendments offered under paragraph (1) are disposed of, any amendment in order under paragraph (1) but not actually pending upon the expiration of post-cloture time may be offered and may be debated for not to exceed 1 hour, equally divided in the usual form. Any amendment offered under paragraph (1) that is ruled non-germane on a point of order shall not fall upon that ruling, but instead shall remain pending and shall require 60 votes in the affirmative to be agreed to. (b) Sunset This section shall expire on the day after the date of the sine die adjournment of the 113th Congress. 2. Consideration of nominations (a) In general (1) Post-cloture consideration If cloture is invoked in accordance with rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate on a nomination described in paragraph (2), there shall be no more than 8 hours of post-cloture consideration equally divided in the usual form. (2) Nominations covered A nomination described in this paragraph is any nomination except for the nomination of an individual— (A) to a position at level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title 5, United States Code; or (B) to serve as a judge or justice appointed to hold office during good behavior. (b) Special rule for district court nominees If cloture is invoked in accordance with rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate on a nomination of an individual to serve as a judge of a district court of the United States, there shall be no more than 2 hours of post-cloture consideration equally divided in the usual form. (c) Sunset This section shall expire on the day after the date of the sine die adjournment of the 113th Congress.