Wednesday, November 18, 2020
House Meets at… Votes Predicted at…
10:00 a.m. Morning Hour
12:00 p.m. Legislative Business
Fifteen “One Minutes” Per Side
First/Last Votes: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

 

ANY ANTICIPATED MEMBER ABSENCES FOR VOTES TODAY SHOULD BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY TO THE OFFICE OF THE MAJORITY WHIP AT 6-3210.

Floor Schedule and Procedure:

Motion to Go to Conference on H.R. 6395 – William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

Suspensions (22 bills)

1. H.Res. 1033 – Condemning acts by the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region that violate fundamental rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents as well as acts that undermine Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, as amended (Rep. Engel – Foreign Affairs)

The resolution condemns acts by the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region that violate fundamental rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents as well as acts that undermine Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy.

2. H.Res. 697 – A resolution affirming the significance of the advocacy for genuine autonomy for Tibetans in the People’s Republic of China and the work His Holiness the 14th Dalai lama has done to promote global peace, harmony, and understanding, as amended (Rep. Yoho – Foreign Affairs)

This resolution affirms the cultural and religious significance of genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people, urges the swift enactment of the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2019, encourages the further implementation of the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-330), and encourages continued bipartisan engagement with leaders of the Tibetan people.

3. H.R. 6334 – Securing America from Epidemics Act, as amended (Rep. Bera – Foreign Affairs)

This legislation authorizes U.S. participation in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Initiatives, which is seeking to develop, produce, and distribute vaccines for emerging infectious disease, including COVID-19.

4. H.Res. 349 – Reaffirming the vital role of the United States-Japan alliance in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, as amended (Rep. Castro – Foreign Affairs)

This resolution reaffirms the role of the U.S.-Japan alliance in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, and calls for continued cooperation between the two governments in addressing global challenges that threaten the security of people everywhere in the “Reiwa” era of Japan.

5. H.Res. 809 – Expressing the importance of the United States alliance with the Republic of Korea and the contributions of Korean Americans in the United States, as amended (Rep. Suozzi – Foreign Affairs)

This resolution recognizes the importance of the U.S.-Korea alliance in promoting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and calls for the further strengthening of ties between the two countries.

6. H.Res. 1012 – Resolution Recognizing the historic transformation of the United States-Republic of Korea alliance since the Korean War into a mutually beneficial, global partnership, as amended (Rep. Bera – Foreign Affairs)

This resolution underscores the crucial role of the U.S.-Korea alliance in ensuring peace and stability in Asia and around the world, encourages continued close cooperation on issues in the Indo-Pacific as well as collaboration on medical and scientific and research, and urges both countries to prioritize ongoing Special Measures Agreement negotiations and to reach mutually agreeable terms.

7. H.R. 4644 – Libya Stabilization Act, as amended (Rep. Deutch – Foreign Affairs)

This bill sanctions actors outside of Libya who fuel the growth of the country’s civil conflict or are perpetrators of human rights abuses.  It also supports U.S. assistance for humanitarian relief, strengthening democratic governance, building a more peaceful future for Libya, and ensuring the security of the U.S. and our allies.

8. H.Res. 1062 – Affirming the nature and importance of the United States-Iraq bilateral relationship, including security and economic components of the relationship, as amended (Rep. Allred – Foreign Affairs)

This resolution expresses support for a sovereign, democratic Iraq, emphasizes the importance of the U.S.-Iraq relationship, and calls on Iraq to take all appropriate action to protect U.S. diplomats and servicemembers. It also highlights the need to address the humanitarian challenges facing Iraq including COVID-19, internal displacement, violence against minority religious and ethnic groups, and recovery of communities impacted by the counter-ISIS campaign.

9. H.R. 7990 – FENTANYL Results Act, as amended (Rep. Trone – Foreign Affairs)

This legislation helps to combat the international trafficking of fentanyl, similar synthetic drugs, and new psychoactive substances, including by increasing collaboration with the international community via shared anti-trafficking initiatives and capacity building measures.

10. H.R. 7276 – Desert Locust Control Act, as amended (Rep. Smith (NJ) – Foreign Affairs)

This bill establishes an interagency working group to coordinate and support a U.S. response to the locust outbreak threatening food security and livelihoods in the Horn of Africa.

11. H.R. 5586 – Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act, as amended (Rep. Jeffries – Foreign Affairs)

This bill requires the State Department to provide: 1) an assessment of the La Saline Massacre that took place on November 13, 2018; and 2) an all-encompassing report that includes strategies and assessments of State Department and USAID initiatives and partnerships with the Haitian government on human rights, freedom of the press and assembly, and anti-corruption efforts, as well as actions to support post-earthquake and post-hurricane recovery and development.

12. H.R. 7703 – Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act, as amended (Rep. Espaillat – Foreign Affairs)

This bill formally authorizes the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) which was established by the Obama Administration in 2009. The CBSI is a holistic approach that increases engagement between the U.S. and its allies in the Caribbean to counter trafficking, reduce rates of violent crime, and invest in prevention.

13. H.Res. 672 – Expressing support of the Three Seas Initiative in its efforts to increase energy independence and infrastructure connectivity thereby strengthening the United States and European national security, as amended (Rep. Kaptur – Foreign Affairs)

This resolution expresses support for efforts by central and eastern European nations to increase energy independence and infrastructure connectivity in the region.  It encourages joint financing projects in energy, infrastructure, and digital communications; reaffirms the President’s Build Act of 2018 authority to provide U.S. financing; encourages the initiative to be opened to non-EU member states such as Ukraine, Moldova, and countries in the Western Balkans; and strongly condemns Russian efforts to weaponize energy as a means to undermine liberty and democracy in Europe.

14. H.Res. 1145 – Condemning the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and calling for a robust United States and international response, as amended (Rep. McGovern – Foreign Affairs)

This resolution condemns the August 20, 2020, poisoning of Alexei Navalny, a well-known anticorruption activist in Russia, as well as the deaths of numerous Russian journalists, human rights activists, politicians, and whistleblowers in Russia and overseas since 2006.  It calls for an investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and supports sanctions against those found to have committed or organized the attack.

15. H.R. 8259 – To prohibit Russian participation in the G7, and for other purposes, as amended (Rep. Meeks – Foreign Affairs)

This bill would prohibit the United States from facilitating Russian participation in the G7 or a reconstituted G8 unless Russia has ceased all interference in U.S. and allied elections; ended its occupation of Crimea, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia; and withdrawn its forces from Transnistria. It also requires a report to Congress on Russian linkages to Afghan militants and any efforts by Russia to kill or endanger U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

16. H.Res. 825 – A resolution urging the United States to continue to be a leader in supporting the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the global nonproliferation regime to reap the benefits the NPT and such regime bring to United States and international security, as amended (Rep. Sherman – Foreign Affairs)

This resolution recognizes the NPT as an important mechanism for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, further reducing the number of nuclear weapons, and promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.  It reaffirms the United States’ commitment to be a leader in nonproliferation matters, encourages all states to declare and implement moratoria on the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons, discourages additional capacity to enrich uranium beyond what is necessary to fuel civilian nuclear reactors, and discourages reprocessing spent nuclear fuel.

17. H.R. 4636 – PLASTICS Act, as amended (Rep. McCaul – Foreign Affairs)

This bill calls on the State Department and USAID to lead an effort to address the global problem of ocean-borne plastic waste and other pollution debris, including improved plastic waste cleanup, waste management and recycling.

18. H.R. 8405 – American Values and Security in International Athletics Act (Rep. McCaul – Foreign Affairs)

This bill requires the Secretary of State to devise and implement a strategy for disseminating to American athletes participating in international competitions briefing materials on human rights concerns and digital privacy and security risks individuals may face in specific host countries.

19. H.R. 8438 – Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020, as amended (Rep. Smith (NJ) – Foreign Affairs)

This bill amends the 2004 Belarus Democracy Act to reauthorize sanctions on those complicit in the crackdown on fundamental freedoms of Belarusians by Alyaksandr Lukashenka during and after the August 9, 2020 election. It also reauthorizes assistance measures and authorizes additional assistance to, among other things, counter internet censorship; support the work of women activists; support political refugees fleeing Belarus; support the investigating of the human rights abuses in Belarus; and support the public health response to COVID-19.

20. H.R. 5408 – Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act, as amended (Rep. Wilson (SC) – Foreign Affairs)

This bill highlights the egregious violations of human rights committed by Russia and the non-state armed groups it controls in the sovereign territory of Ukraine, and makes it the policy of the United States to consider these abuses when making a determination of whether to designate Russia as a country of particular concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.

21. H.R. 4802 – To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize rewards under the Department of State’s reward program relating to information regarding individuals or entities engaged in activities in contravention of United States or United Nations sanctions, and for other purposes (Rep. Wilson (SC) – Foreign Affairs)

This legislation expands the Department of State’s Rewards for Justice Program in order to authorize rewards for individuals who provide information on U.S. and UN sanctions evaders. It is needed to create a clearer mechanism to incentivize individuals to come forward with information that will ultimately enhance compliance with U.S. and international sanctions, increase confidence in the rule of law, and bring criminals and rogue regimes seeking to circumvent U.S. law to justice.

22. H.R. 7954Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2020 (Rep. Chabot – Foreign Affairs)

This bill provides continued funding for the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act for fiscal years 2021-2025. This offers eligible developing countries the option to redirect a portion of their debt payments to local forest and coral reef conservation activities instead of making payments to the U.S. government.

                

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“..and I prayed to God to make me strong and able to fight, and that’s what I’ve always prayed for ever since.”

Harriet Tubman