(610) - HR 4162: VA Education Benefit Election – Passage
November 12, 2019 - Takano, D-Calif., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would extend the period during which servicemembers may elect to accept or decline eligibility for certain Veterans Affairs Department educational assistance benefits under a 1984 GI Bill. It would also end new enrollment in the program after fiscal 2029.
Vote: Yea
(611) - HR 3224: Female Veterans Health Care Programs – Passage
November 12, 2019 - Takano, D-Calif., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would expand a number of medical and other services under the Veterans Affairs Department, particularly for female veterans. Among other provisions, it would require all VA medical centers and clinics to offer women's health primary care services during regular business hours; expand a VA program that provides retreat-based counseling for female veterans; and authorize $1 million annually for a VA residency program for primary and emergency care clinicians focused on women's health. It would establish a women's health office within the Veterans Health Administration to oversee women's health care services and require the office to make funding recommendations, develop standards of care, and promote the expansion of clinical, research, and educational activities related to women's health care. The bill would also authorize $20 million for fiscal 2020 for the VA to support organizations providing assistance to female veterans and their families; extend from seven to 14 days the period that newborn children of veterans are eligible for newborn care; and require a number of reports to Congress related to VA services provided to female veterans. Finally, the bill would establish a program to assist veterans who have experienced intimate partner violence or sexual assault; require the VA to administer a national study and establish a task force to address intimate partner violence and sexual assault with respect to veterans; and require the VA to establish policies to address harrassment and sexual assault within the department, including reporting procedures and mandatory training for employees.
Vote: Yea
(612) - HR 3537: Veteran Entrepreneurship Program – Passage
November 13, 2019 - Schneider, D-Ill., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would codify the Boots to Business Program under the Small Business Administration, which provides entrepreneurship training to veterans, recently discharged servicemembers, and military spouses interested in business ownership. It would authorize the program for five fiscal years, beginning on the first Oct. 1 after enactment. Among other provisions, it would allow the SBA to collaborate with public and private entities to develop courses and to issue grants to veteran business outreach centers and other entities to carry out the program. The bill would require the SBA to submit an annual report to Congress on the program, including program costs, demographic information of participants, and an evaluation of program effectiveness.
Vote: Yea
(613) - HR 499: Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Classification – Passage
November 13, 2019 - Schneider, D-Ill., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would allow the spouse of a deceased veteran with a service-connected disability to continue to classify their small business as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business for up to three years after the veteran's death, in the case of a veteran who had less than a 100 percent disability rating.
Vote: Yea
(614) - HR 3734: Veterans Small Business Task Force – Passage
November 13, 2019 - Schneider, D-Ill., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would require an interagency task force on the development of veteran-owned small businesses to report annually to Congress on its appointments, activities, outreach to veterans, and plans for promoting services available to veterans. Additionally, it would require the Government Accountability Office to submit a report to Congress on the accessibility of credit used by small businesses owned and controlled by veterans, service-disabled veterans, reservists, or their spouses.
Vote: Yea
(615) - H Res 693, HR4863, HRES661: Export-Import Bank Reauthorization - Previous Question
November 14, 2019 - DeSaulnier, D-Calif., motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 695) that would provide for House floor consideration of the United States Export Finance Agency Act (HR 4863), including floor consideration of 21 amendments to the bill. The rule would also provide for automatic agreement to a resolution (H Res 661) that would allow the House general counsel to retain private counsel in support of the ongoing impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump and automatic agreement to a resolution (H Res 693) that would authorize the directors of the House Diversity and Inclusion Office and the House Whistleblower Ombudsman Office, respectively, to appoint and fix the pay of their employees. It would modify the House Rules for the 116th Congress to extend authorities and operations of the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress through the end of the 116th Congress. Additionally, the rule would provide for a motion to discharge a concurrent resolution (H Con Res 70) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee to be offered on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, and it would waive section 7 of the War Powers Resolution related to the concurrent resolution. The concurrent resolution (H Con Res 70) would direct the president to withdraw U.S. military forces from hostilities in Syria, unless a specific use of force is authorized by Congress.
Vote: Nay
(616) - HR 4863, HRES661, HRES693: Export-Import Bank Reauthorization – Rule
November 14, 2019 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 695) that would provide for House floor consideration of the United States Export Finance Agency Act (HR 4863), including floor consideration of 21 amendments to the bill. The rule would also provide for automatic agreement to a resolution (H Res 661) that would allow the House general counsel to retain private counsel in support of the ongoing impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump and automatic agreement to a resolution (H Res 693) that would authorize the directors of the House Diversity and Inclusion Office and the House Whistleblower Ombudsman Office, respectively, to appoint and fix the pay of their employees. It would modify the House Rules for the 116th Congress to extend authorities and operations of the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress through the end of the 116th Congress. Additionally, the rule would provide for a motion to discharge a concurrent resolution (H Con Res 70) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee to be offered on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, and it would waive section 7 of the War Powers Resolution related to the concurrent resolution. The concurrent resolution (H Con Res 70) would direct the president to withdraw U.S. military forces from hostilities in Syria, unless a specific use of force is authorized by Congress.
Vote: Nay
(617) - HR 4863: Export-Import Bank Reauthorization - Human Rights and Free Speech Sanctions
November 15, 2019 - Torres, D-Calif., amendment that would prohibit the Export-Import Bank from approving transactions by any individual subject to certain sanctions related to human rights or free speech violations, including sanctions related to demonstrations in Hong Kong and political repression of religious and ethnic minorities in China and Myanmar.
Vote: Yea
(618) - HR 4863: Export-Import Bank Reauthorization - Energy Efficiency Office
November 15, 2019 - Flores, R-Texas, for Burgess, R-Texas, amendment that would require the Export-Import Bank to establish an office focusing on energy efficiency and clean energy exports. It would also require the Ex-Im Bank to consider potential energy price increases resulting from agency-supported exports, and it would allow the agency to withhold financing from a project for energy affordability reasons. It would require the agency to report annually to Congress on increased energy affordability or emissions reductions resulting from agency-financed exports.
Vote: Yea
(619) - HR 4863: Export-Import Bank Reauthorization - Opioid Trafficking Sanctions
November 15, 2019 - McAdams, D-Utah, amendment that would prohibit the Export-Import Bank from approving transactions by any individual subject to sanctions related to the illegal trafficking of synthetic opioids.
Vote: Yea
(620) - HR 4863: Export-Import Bank Reauthorization - China and Mexico Opioid Trafficking
November 15, 2019 - Davidson, R-Ohio, amendment that would prohibit the Export-Import Bank from authorizing financial assistance to certain foreign governments, including China and Mexico, if they do not "closely cooperate" with the United States to prevent opioid trafficking, including by sharing intelligence, prosecuting traffickers, or implementing regulations related to the production and export of illicit opioids.
Vote: Yea
(621) - HR 4863: Export-Import Bank Reauthorization - Businesses Affected by Tarrifs
November 15, 2019 - Stevens, D-Mich., amendment that would require the Export-Import Bank outreach plan required by the bill to include an emphasis on small businesses impacted by retaliatory tariffs.
Vote: Yea
(622) - HR 4863: Export-Import Bank Reauthorization - Human Rights and Criminal Organization Sanctions
November 15, 2019 - Torres Small, D-N.M., amendment that would prohibit the Export-Import Bank from approving transactions by any individual subject to sanctions related to human rights abuses, including human trafficking or sex trafficking, or subject to sanctions based on involvement with transnational criminal organizations.
Vote: Yea
(623) - HR 4863: Export-Import Bank Reauthorization – Recommit
November 15, 2019 - Riggleman, R-Va., motion to recommit the bill to the House Financial Services Committee with instructions to report it back immediately with an amendment that would prohibit the Export-Import Bank from issuing a loan, guarantee, or insurance that would benefit the government of China with respect to supporting the People's Liberation Army, Chinese intelligence agency, or policies related to Chinese international development activities, human rights violations, or illicit transfer of technologies or intellectual property from the U.S. It would exempt transactions that would create export opportunities for U.S. small businesses or that are required for exporting humanitarian goods or services.
Vote: Yea
(624) - HR 4863: Export-Import Bank Reauthorization – Passage
November 15, 2019 - Passage of the bill that would reauthorize the charter of the Export-Import Bank through fiscal 2029 and would increase the amount of loans, guarantees, and insurance the bank may have outstanding at any one time from $135 million to $175 million, increasing the amount annually through fiscal 2026. It would redesignate the agency as the "United States Export Finance Agency." Among other provisions, it would establish a number of offices within the agency, including an office focused on promoting the inclusion of minorities and women in the agency's workforce and activities and an office focused on financing for exports related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage. It would increase from 25% to 30% the amount of Ex-Im Bank lending activity that must be directed to small businesses by fiscal 2029 and require the agency to prepare an outreach plan to inform small businesses about agency services. It would prohibit the agency from approving any transactions involving individuals subject to certain trade and economic sanctions or involving the People's Liberation Army or Chinese intelligence agency. It would establish alternative procedures for agency operations in the event of a quorum lapse on the board of directors, authorizing a temporary board that would include the U.S. trade representative and Trade and Commerce secretaries and could approve agency transactions.
Vote: Nay
(625) - HR 3702: Disaster Assistance Block Grants – Passage
November 18, 2019 - Green, D-Texas, motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, that would permanently authorize the Housing and Urban Development Department community development block grant disaster recovery program to allow state and local governments to use CDBG funds for disaster assistance activities. It would codify certain HUD practices and establish requirements related to program administration, and it would require HUD to issue a final rule for program implementation within one year of enactment. It would also establish a Treasury Department reserve fund to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to program grantees following a disaster. Among other provisions, the bill would require HUD to coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration to share information on disaster recovery needs to avoid duplication of benefits. It would require grantees to prioritize households with the lowest incomes in allocating assistance; comply with HUD-approved procurement processes; and consult with affected residents and local stakeholders in developing a grant proposal. It would require grantees to use between 7% and 10% of funds awarded for administrative costs and at least 15% of funds awarded for expenses related to disaster mitigation planning.
Vote: Yea
(626) - HR 4634: Terrorism Risk Insurance – Passage
November 18, 2019 - Waters, D-Calif., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, that would reauthorize, through fiscal 2027, the Treasury Department Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, which offers federal compensation to insurers for losses above specified values resulting from acts of terrorism. It would modify payment deadlines for recoupment surcharges paid by policyholders to the SEC under the program. It would also require the president's working group on financial markets to evaluate the availability and affordability of terrorism risk insurance for places of worship and others, and it would require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on the potential costs of cyber terrorism and its impacts on the private insurance market.
Vote: Yea
(627) - HR 4344: SEC Recovery of Illicit Funds – Passage
November 18, 2019 - Green, D-Texas, motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, that would modify the statute of limitations applied to Securities and Exchange Commission disgorgement cases seeking the return of illicit funds gained in violation of securities law. Specifically, it would establish a 14-year statute of limitations for such cases, as well as for relief sought by the SEC through injunctions. The bill would also require the SEC to submit a report to Congress on enforcement actions brought by the SEC in the ten years after enactment.
Vote: Yea
(628) - HR 3055: Further Fiscal 2020 Short-Term Appropriations - Previous Question
November 19, 2019 - McGovern, D-Mass., motion to order the previous question on the rule (H Res 708) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (HR 3055). The rule would make in order a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, with a further House amendment that would make continuing appropriations for federal government operations and services through Dec. 20, 2019.
Vote: Nay
(629) - HR 3055: Further Fiscal 2020 Short-Term Appropriations – Rule
November 19, 2019 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 708) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (HR 3055). The rule would make in order a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, with a further House amendment that would make continuing appropriations for federal government operations and services through Dec. 20, 2019.
(630) - HR 5084: Corporate Board Diversity – Passage
November 19, 2019 - Green, D-Texas, motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would require any publicly traded company, in its annual disclosure to the Securities and Exchange Commission, to include voluntarily self-reported data on racial, ethnic, and gender composition and veteran status of its board members and executive officers. It would also require the company to disclose whether it has adopted any policy, plan, or strategy to promote racial, ethnic, and gender diversity on its board or executive leadership, and it would require the SEC to establish an advisory group to identify strategies to increase diversity on the boards of public companies.
Vote: Nay
(631) - HR 3055: Further Fiscal 2020 Short-Term Appropriations - Motion to Concur
November 19, 2019 - Lowey, D-N.Y., motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the short-term continuing resolution (HR 3055), with a further House amendment that would provide funding for federal government operations and services through Dec. 20, 2019, at fiscal 2019 levels. Among other provisions, it would extend through Dec. 20 authorizations for certain expiring programs and entities, including certain Medicaid and Medicare programs and other health-related HHS programs. It would increase or modify funding rates for certain activities, including to provide for a 3.1 percent pay increase for the members of the armed forces and to provide $7.3 billion for activities related to the 2020 decennial census. It would repeal a $7.6 billion rescission of federal highway funding set to take effect in July 2020; extend certain federal surveillance authorities under the Patriot Act and other existing law through March 15, 2020; and modify provisions related to the Justice Department fund for victims of state-sponsored terrorism, including to designate 50 percent of funds for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
(632) - HR 1309: Workplace Violence Prevention - Previous Question
November 20, 2019 - DeSaulnier, D-Calif., motion to order the previous question on the rule (H Res 713) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (HR 1309). The rule would provide for automatic adoption of a Scott, D-Va., manager's amendment to HR 1309 and provide for floor consideration of 10 additional amendments to the bill. The Scott manager's amendment to HR 1309 would specify that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration workplace violence standards to be issued under the bill's provisions would not apply to entities providing child day care services or to health practitioner offices not located in health care facilities.
Vote: Nay
(633) - HR 1309: Workplace Violence Prevention – Rule
November 20, 2019 - Adoption of the rule that would provide for House floor consideration of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (HR 1309). The rule would provide for automatic adoption of a Scott, D-Va., manager's amendment to HR 1309 and provide for floor consideration of 10 additional amendments to the bill. The manager's amendment to HR 1309 would specify that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration workplace violence standards to be issued under the bill's provisions would not apply to entities providing child day care services or to health practitioner offices not located in health care facilities.
Vote: Nay
(634) - HR 737: Shark Fin Import Ban – Passage
November 20, 2019 - Huffman, D-Calif., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (HR 737), as amended, that would prohibit any individual from possessing, selling, or purchasing shark fins or products containing shark fins and impose a fine of up to $100,000 for violations. It would provide an exemption for shark fins lawfully acquired with a government permit for research or noncommercial purposes. It would clarify that the prohibition would not apply to dogfish fins or tails. It would require the Commerce Department to add rays and skates to a list of species for which it tracks import data on fish and fish products.
Vote: Yea
(635) - S 1838: Hong Kong Autonomy and Human Rights – Passage
November 20, 2019 - Engel, D-N.Y., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S 1838), that would state U.S. policy and require a number of actions and reports related to human rights in Hong Kong and the autonomy of Hong Kong from mainland China. Specifically, it would require the State Department to submit an annual certification to Congress related to the autonomy of Hong Kong from China, as a condition for treatment of Hong Kong as a separate entity from China under U.S. commercial and other law. It would require the president to report to Congress on Hong Kong's compliance with U.S. export control laws, including related to the transfer of certain technologies and services to China. It would require the president to submit an annual report to Congress identifying individuals responsible for actions in contravention of international agreements related to the autonomy of Hong Kong or for human rights violations in Hong Kong, and would require the president to impose economic, visa, and travel sanctions against such individuals. It would also prohibit the State Department from denying visas to Hong Kong residents based on politically-motivated arrest or other adverse action by the Hong Kong government against the applicant.
Vote: Yea
(636) - S 2710: Hong Kong Munitions Export Prohibition – Passage
November 20, 2019 - Sherman, D-Calif., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S 2710) that would require the president to prohibit the issuance of licenses to export certain munitions items, including tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and handcuffs, to the Hong Kong police force. It would sunset the prohibition one year after enactment.
Vote: Yea
(637) - HR 1309: Workplace Violence Prevention - Remove Deadline and Other Requirements
November 21, 2019 - Byrne, R-Ala., amendment no. 3, a substitute amendment that would modify language in the bill to remove a requirement that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration workplace violence prevention standard required by the bill be based on existing 2015 OSHA guidelines. It would add findings to the bill describing recent studies and rulemaking related to workplace violence in the health care and social service industries, including to express that the 2015 OSHA guidelines are "not enforceable." Among other provisions, it would remove requirements in the bill establishing a deadline for OSHA promulgation of a final standard, and it would remove or reduce requirements related to types of violence addressed, mandatory employee training, and anti-retaliation policies under workplace violence prevention plans. It would require the Labor Department to conduct an education campaign for affected employers and employees regarding existing OSHA materials on workplace violence, during the rulemaking process for the new OSHA standard.
Vote: Yea
638 - HR 1309: Workplace Violence Prevention - Violent Incident Reporting
November 21, 2019 - Harder, D-Calif., amendment no. 4 that would clarify that nothing in the bill should be understood to limit or prevent health care workers, social service workers, or other personnel from reporting violent incidents to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Vote: Yea
(639) - HR 1309: Workplace Violence Prevention - Existing Legal Protections
November 21, 2019 - Wexton, D-Va., amendment no. 9 that would clarify that nothing in the bill should be understood to limit or diminish any protections in federal, state, or local law related to domestic violence, stalking, dating violence, or sexual assault.
Vote: Yea
(640) - HR 1309: Workplace Violence Prevention - OSHA Technical Assistance for Employers
November 21, 2019 - Delgado, D-N.Y., amendment no. 10 that would require that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard on workplace violence prevention required by the bill provide for a period, of up to a year, during which the agency would prioritize providing technical assistance and advice to employers subject to the standard.
Vote: Nay
(641) - HR 1309: Workplace Violence Prevention - Motion to Table
November 21, 2019 - Hoyer, D-Md., motion to table the Kelly, R-Pa., motion to appeal of the ruling of the chair, effectively ruling a Kelly motion to recommit the bill not germane. The motion to table would sustain a ruling of the chair regarding a Courtney, D-Conn., point of order that the amendment contained in the Kelly motion to recommit the bill was not germane. The Kelly motion to recommit would have moved to recommit the bill to the House Education and Labor Committee with instructions to report it back immediately with an amendment that would express the sense of Congress that the House majority in the 116th Congress has "failed to deliver results" by prioritizing the impeachment of President Trump over working with the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress to enact legislation related to "critical issues," including implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, annual Defense authorizations and appropriations for fiscal 2020, prescription drug pricing, and "secure operational control" of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Vote: Nay
(642) - HR 1309: Workplace Violence Prevention – Passage
November 21, 2019 - Passage of the bill, as amended, that would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue a final workplace violence prevention standard that would require employers in the health care and social service industries to develop and implement comprehensive plans to prevent and protect employees from violent incidents at work. It would require OSHA to issue an interim final standard, based on 2015 OSHA guidelines, within one year of enactment and a final standard within 42 months of enactment. Among other provisions, it would require employers to develop and implement workplace violence prevention plans within six months of issuance of the interim final standard. It would require employers to develop plans with the participation of employees or employee representatives and to provide annual employee training related to the plans. It would require that the plans include certain procedures for reporting, responding to, and mitigating risks of incidents of workplace violence, including for employers to investigate and take corrective actions in response to violent incidents. It would require employers to maintain a record of all such incidents and incident response. The bill's provisions would apply to employers of any individuals who work in certain health care facilities -- including hospitals, nursing homes, or drug abuse treatment centers -- or individuals who provide certain services -- including home-based health care or social work and emergency services.
Vote: Yea
