(643) - H Res 546: Russian G-7 Readmission – Passage
December 03, 2019 - Sires, D-N.J., motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution that would express the sense of the House of Representatives reiterating its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. It would condemn Russia's "aggressive" actions in Ukraine, including its occupation of Crimea, and its "assaults on democratic societies worldwide." It would call on leaders of G-7 countries to oppose Russia's readmission into the group unless and until it ends its occupation of Ukrainian territory and halts anti-democratic efforts worldwide.
Vote: Yea
(644) - S 178: Chinese Human Rights Violations – Passage
December 03, 2019 - Sires, D-N.J., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, that would state U.S. policy and require a number of U.S. actions to address Chinese actions related to Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang autonomous region. Specifically, it would require the president to identify items that allow the Chinese government to suppress individual privacy, freedom of movement, and other basic human rights; it would require the president to add such items to a federal list of controlled export items, requiring licenses for the export or transfer of such items to or within China. It would require the president to submit to Congress a list of senior Chinese officials responsible for or knowingly engaged in serious human rights abuses against Turkic Muslims in the region and to impose sanctions against such individuals. Among other provisions, the bill would require that U.S. policy toward China be explicitly linked with the situation in Xinjiang, and it would require the State Department to submit a report to Congress on human rights abuses in the region, including an assessment of political "reeducation camps" in the region.
Vote: Yea
(645) - HR 2534, H CON RES 77: Insider Trading Prohibition - Previous Question
December 04, 2019 - Perlmutter, D-Colo., motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 739) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Insider Trading Prohibition Act (HR 2534), including consideration of two amendments to the bill. It would also provide for a motion to discharge a concurrent resolution (H Con Res 77) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee to be offered on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, and it would waive section 7 of the War Powers Resolution related to the concurrent resolution. The concurrent resolution (H Con Res 77) 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
(646) - H Con Res 77, HR2534: Insider Trading Prohibition – Rule
December 04, 2019 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 739) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Insider Trading Prohibition Act (HR 2534), including consideration of two amendments to the bill. It would also provide for a motion to discharge a concurrent resolution (H Con Res 77) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee to be offered on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, and it would waive section 7 of the War Powers Resolution related to the concurrent resolution. The concurrent resolution (H Con Res 77) 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
(647) - S 151: Robocall Enforcement and Deterrence – Passage
December 04, 2019 - Pallone, D-N.J., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, that would require the Federal Communications Commission to take certain actions and implement regulations related to robocalls -- mass telephone calls placed by an automatic dialer -- including regulations that would require phone companies to offer call authentication technology at no cost to consumers. It would allow the FCC to issue civil penalties of up to $10,000 for intentional violation of robocalling laws. It would extend, from two years to four years after a violation, the time period during which the FCC and law enforcement agencies can prosecute illegal robocallers, and it would require the FCC to submit evidence of certain violations to the Justice Department for potential criminal prosecution. It would also require the Justice Department and the FCC to convene an interagency task force to study enforcement of robocalling law. Among other provisions, it would require the FCC to take actions to address "one-ring" phone call scams and to evaluate the effectiveness of its policies to reduce access to number resources by potential violators of robocalling laws, and update such policies if appropriate. It would require the FCC to submit a number of reports to Congress related to robocalls, including on the transmission of misleading or inaccurate caller identification information, enforcement of related laws and regulations, and effectiveness of the regulations required by the bill.
Vote: Yea
(648) - HR 2534: Insider Trading Prohibition - Use of Insider Information
December 05, 2019 - Huizenga, R-Mich., amendment no. 2 that would replace language in the bill to prohibit any individual from trading securities while "using" as opposed to being "aware of" material, nonpublic information related to such securities.
Vote: Yea
(649) - HR 2534: Insider Trading Prohibition – Passage
December 05, 2019 - Passage of the bill, as amended, that would statutorily prohibit and codify a standard definition of insider trading under securities law. Specifically, it would prohibit any individual from buying, selling, or causing the purchase or sale of any security using material, nonpublic information, if the individual is aware that the information was wrongfully obtained or that its use would be deemed wrongful. The bill would prohibit the communication of such information to another individual if it is reasonably foreseeable that such individual would use the information in securities trading or communicate the information to another individual who may do so. It would define securities trading activity as wrongful under the bill's provisions if it is based on information obtained by or the use of which would constitute theft, bribery, misrepresentation, or espionage; a violation of federal computer data and privacy laws; misappropriation or deception; or a breach of fiduciary duty, contract, or other relationship of trust and confidence. Among other provisions, the bill would specify that an individual would be considered in violation of the prohibition if they were aware that information used in a trade was wrongfully obtained or communicated, regardless of whether they were aware of how it was obtained. It would specify that the employer of an individual who violates the prohibition would not be held liable if they did not participate in the trade, and it would allow the Security and Exchange Commission to exempt any individuals, securities, or transactions from the bill's provisions.
Vote: Yea
(650) - HR 4, HRES326: Voting Rights Enforcement; Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - Previous Question
December 05, 2019 - Raskin, D-Md., motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 741) for the Voting Rights Advancement Act (HR 4) and a resolution (H Res 326) that would express the sense of the House of Representatives that a U.S. proposal for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should expressly endorse a two-state solution. The rule would provide for automatic adoption of a Nadler, D-N.Y., manager's amendment to HR 4 that would require state and local governments to obtain approval from the Justice Department before implementing any change that would reduce Sunday early voting times or that would make certain changes to voter registration list maintenance in jurisdictions where two or more racial or language minority groups represent at least 20% of the voting-age population. The rule would also provide for automatic adoption of the Engel, D-N.Y., manager's amendment no. 1 to H Res 326 that would express that it is in the interest of the U.S. to honor its commitments outlined in a 2016 U.S.-Israel memorandum of understanding related to military and security assistance to Israel and to resume the provision of foreign assistance to Palestinians, and it would provide for automatic adoption of the Engel manager's amendment no. 2 to the preamble.
Vote: Nay
(651) - HR 4, HRES326: Voting Rights Enforcement; Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – Rule
December 05, 2019 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 741) for the Voting Rights Advancement Act (HR 4) and a resolution (H Res 326) that would express the sense of the House of Representatives that a U.S. proposal for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should expressly endorse a two-state solution. The rule would provide for automatic adoption of a Nadler, D-N.Y., manager's amendment to HR 4 that would require state and local governments to obtain approval from the Justice Department before implementing any change that would reduce Sunday early voting times or that would make certain changes to voter registration list maintenance in jurisdictions where two or more racial or language minority groups represent at least 20% of the voting-age population. The rule would also provide for automatic adoption of the Engel, D-N.Y., manager's amendment no. 1 to H Res 326 that would express that it is in the interest of the U.S. to honor its commitments outlined in a 2016 U.S.-Israel memorandum of understanding related to military and security assistance to Israel and to resume the provision of foreign assistance to Palestinians, and it would provide for automatic adoption of the Engel manager's amendment no. 2 to the preamble.
Vote: Nay
(652) - H Res 326: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – Passage
December 06, 2019 - Agreeing to the resolution, as amended, that would express the sense of the House of Representatives that only a two-state solution can ensure Israel's survival as a Jewish and democratic state and fulfill the "legitimate aspirations" for a Palestinian state. It would express that a U.S. proposal to achieve a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should expressly endorse a two-state solution and that the U.S. remains "indispensable" to any effort to achieve this goal. It would express that it is in the interest of the U.S. to honor its commitments outlined in a 2016 U.S.-Israel memorandum of understanding related to military and security assistance to Israel and to resume the provision of foreign assistance to Palestinians. It would discourage actions by Israel or Palestinians that would delay a peaceful end to the conflict, including unilateral annexation of territory or efforts to achieve Palestinian statehood status outside of negotiations with Israel.
Vote: Nay
(653) - HR 4: Voting Rights Enforcement – Recommit
December 06, 2019 - Davis, R-Ill., motion to recommit the bill to the House Judiciary Committee with instructions to report it back immediately with an amendment that would clarify that nothing contained in the bill may be construed to allow fines paid to the federal government in relation to voting rights violations, including fines required by a settlement agreement, to be used to make a payment in support of a federal congressional campaign.
Vote: Yea
(654) - HR 4: Voting Rights Enforcement – Passage
December 06, 2019 - Passage of the bill, as amended, that would effectively restore preclearance requirements under the Voting Rights Act for any changes to voting procedures in states and localities with a history of voting rights violations within the previous 25 years. It would establish formulas to identify such jurisdictions, which would be required to submit proposed changes to the Justice Department for review and approval before they may be implemented. It would also require states and localities to review any newly enacted or adopted election practices to identify whether it includes certain practices that could impact the ability to vote based on race or language, including changes to voter identification requirements and changes to jurisdictional boundaries or voting locations in jurisdictions with large minority populations. It would require jurisdictions that adopt such practices to submit them for federal preclearance. Among other provisions, it would authorize the Justice Department to assign federal election observers to ensure compliance with federal voting rights protections in covered jurisdictions. It would require states and localities to provide public notice of any changes to voting procedures made within 180 days of a federal election and to provide public notice of updated demographic data within ten days of any change to electoral district boundaries. It would expand court authorities related to the enforcement of voting rights law, allowing courts to take certain actions to enforce any federal voting rights law prohibiting racial or language discrimination. Specifically, it would allow courts to grant injunctions or require judicial preclearance for changes to voting procedures in a jurisdiction, in relation to such violations.
Vote: Nay
(655) - HR 4761: DHS Narcotics Detection – Passage
December 09, 2019 - Clarke, D-N.Y., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would require Customs and Border Protection to implement a strategy to ensure that chemical screening devices used by the department are able to identify narcotics in an operational environment at purity levels less than or equal to 10%, or to provide ports of entry with an alternate method for identifying narcotics at lower purity levels, within 180 days of enactment. It would also require CBP to test new chemical screening devices for effectiveness at identifying narcotics at various purity levels, before purchasing them. Additionally, it would require the Department of Homeland Security to implement a plan to develop a centralized spectral database for chemical screening devices.
Vote: Yea
(656) - HR 4739: DHS Opioid Exposure Procedures – Passage
December 09, 2019 - Clarke, D-N.Y., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would require Customs and Border Protection to issue a policy that would specify effective procedures for the safe handling of potential synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, by CBP personnel and canines, and to reduce the health risks associated with accidental exposure to synthetic opioids. It would require CBP to develop mandatory and recurrent training related to such policies; ensure that protective equipment is available to personnel who are at risk of exposure; and regularly monitor the effectiveness of implementation of the policy. It would also require the Homeland Security Department inspector general to conduct annual audits of policy implementation.
Vote: Yea
(657) - HR 729: Coastal Communities and Habitats - Previous Question
December 10, 2019 - Agreeing to the Morelle, D-N.Y., motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 748) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act (HR 729). It would provide for floor consideration, including en bloc consideration, of 29 amendments to the bill.
Vote: Nay
(658) - HR 729: Coastal Communities and Habitats – Rule
December 10, 2019 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 748) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act (HR 729). It would provide for floor consideration, including en bloc consideration, of 29 amendments to the bill.
Vote: Nay
(659) - HR 5363: Higher Education Funding – Passage
December 10, 2019 - Adams, D-N.C., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, that would indefinitely extend funding, at the current funding level of $225 million annually, for Education Department grants to support historically black colleges and universities and other minority serving institutions. It would increase annual funding levels for Pell grants, authorizing $1.5 billion for fiscal 2020 and $1.2 billion annually for fiscal 2021 and succeeding fiscal years. The bill would also require the Education Department to establish procedures to use certain tax return information obtained directly from the Internal Revenue Service in determining students' eligibility for federal financial aid and income-based student loan repayment plans, as opposed to requiring students to submit such information. It would require the IRS to disclose such information to the Education Department, upon request by the department and with the consent of the student.
Vote: Yea
(660) - HR 729: Coastal Communities and Habitats - En Bloc Amendments
December 10, 2019 - Adoption of the Case, D-Hawaii, en bloc amendments to the bill.
Vote: Nay
(661) - HR 729: Coastal Communities and Habitats - Chesapeake Bay Oyster Research
December 10, 2019 - Brown, D-Md., amendment no. 4 that would authorize $2 million annually through fiscal 2025 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to award grants to certain entities, including academic researchers and members of the seafood industry, to conduct research on the conservation, restoration, or management of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay.
Vote: Nay
(662) - HR 729: Coastal Communities and Habitats - Algal Bloom Projects
December 10, 2019 - Crist, D-Fla., amendment no. 12 that would add harmful algal blooms to a list of factors negatively impacting coastal waters that may be addressed by projects eligible for Commerce Department grants to states related to coastal climate change adaptation.
Vote: Nay
(663) - HR 729: Coastal Communities and Habitats - Digital Data for Coastal Management
December 10, 2019 - Panetta, D-Calif., amendment no. 14 that would add to the bill a finding stating that partnerships between institutions of higher education and federal agencies help ensure effective communication of digital data focused on coastal management issues.
Vote: Yea
(664) - HR 729: Coastal Communities and Habitats - Coral Shoreline Projects
December 10, 2019 - Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla., amendment no. 23 that would add corals to a list of natural elements that may be incorporated in projects eligible for a grant program established by the bill to support climate-resilient living shoreline projects.
Vote: Nay
(665) - HR 729: Coastal Communities and Habitats - Military Installation Climate Resiliency
December 10, 2019 - Luria, D-Va., amendment no. 26 that would require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to consider the potential of a project to support the resiliency or community infrastructure supportive of a military installation, when evaluating projects for a grant program established by the bill to support climate-resilient living shoreline projects.
Vote: Yea
(666) - HR 729: Coastal Communities and Habitats - Modify Marine Mammal Protections
December 10, 2019 - Johnson, R-La., amendment no. 29 that would modify provisions related to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration authorization of activities that may result in the incidental "taking," including killing or harassment, of marine mammals under an exemption from an existing moratorium prohibiting the taking and importing of marine mammals. It would require that conditions imposed under such NOAA authorizations would not result in more than minor changes to or alter the location or design of the authorized activity. It would modify requirements related to applications, approval, and extension for such authorizations.
Vote: Yea
(667) - HR 729: Coastal Communities and Habitats – Passage
December 10, 2019 - Passage of the bill, as amended, that would authorize or reauthorize a number of Commerce and Interior department programs and activities related to coastal community development and climate change adaptation. Specifically, it would authorize, in new Commerce Department grant funding, such sums as may be necessary for grants to states to implement coastal climate change preparedness and response plans; $50 million annually through fiscal 2025 for climate-resilient "living shoreline" projects using natural materials and systems to protect coastal communities and habitats; $12 million annually through fiscal 2024 for "working waterfronts" projects to improve public access to coastal waters for business and recreation; and $5 million annually for preservation and restoration of Native American tribal coastal lands. It would reauthorize a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant program for colleges and other institutions to conduct research related to coastal and Great Lake science, conservation, and management; it would authorize $87.5 million for the program in fiscal 2020 and amounts increasing annually through fiscal 2025, and authorize an additional $6 million annually through fiscal 2025 for university research on certain issues related to coastal habitats, including control of aquatic nonnative species and harmful algal bloom prevention. It would reauthorize $47.5 million annually through fiscal 2024 for operations of the Integrated Ocean Observing System, through which NOAA disseminates data on marine areas. It would reauthorize the NOAA digital coast partnership program, a collection of web-based visualization and predictive tools and resources to assist with management of coastal communities. Finally, it would authorize $17.5 million annually through fiscal 2029 for the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct research related to fish habitats to support binational fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin. It would establish a National Fish Habitat Board and authorize $7.2 million annually through fiscal 2023 to fund fish habitat conservation projects recommended by the board.
Vote: Nay
(668) - S 1790, HR3, HR5038: Agricultural Workers; Fiscal 2020 Defense Authorization; Drug Price Negotiation - Previous Question
December 11, 2019 - Shalala, D-Fla., motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 758) that would provide for consideration of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (HR 5038); the conference report to accompany the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (S 1790); and the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (HR 3). The rule would provide for automatic adoption of a Nadler, D-N.Y., manager's amendment to HR 5038 that would decrease from 2,500 to 500 the number of H-2A nonimmigrant visas available for sheep and goat herding per fiscal year. The rule would also provide for floor consideration of 12 amendments to HR 3 and provide for automatic adoption of the Pallone, D-N.J., manager's amendment to the bill. The Pallone manager's amendment to HR 3 would require the Labor Department, in consultation with the Health and Human Services and Treasury departments, to issue regulations to implement models related to agreement processes and enforcement mechanisms for inflation rebates by prescription drug manufacturers, if the department determines that a sufficient number of prescription drug prices have increased and that such models are feasible, not later than Dec. 31, 2022. The amendment would also make technical corrections and adjust effective dates for several provisions in the bill.
Vote: Nay
(669) - S 1790, HR5038, HR3: Agricultural Workers; Fiscal 2020 Defense Authorization; Drug Price Negotiation – Rule
December 11, 2019 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 758) that would provide for consideration of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (HR 5038); the conference report to accompany the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (S 1790); and the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (HR 3). The rule would provide for automatic adoption of a Nadler, D-N.Y., manager's amendment to HR 5038 that would decrease from 2,500 to 500 the number of H-2A nonimmigrant visas available for sheep and goat herding per fiscal year. The rule would also provide for floor consideration of 12 amendments to HR 3 and provide for automatic adoption of the Pallone, D-N.J., manager's amendment to the bill. The Pallone manager's amendment to HR 3 would require the Labor Department, in consultation with the Health and Human Services and Treasury departments, to issue regulations to implement models related to agreement processes and enforcement mechanisms for inflation rebates by prescription drug manufacturers, if the department determines that a sufficient number of prescription drug prices have increased and that such models are feasible, not later than Dec. 31, 2022. The amendment would also make technical corrections and adjust effective dates for several provisions in the bill.
Vote: Nay
(670) - HR 729: Coastal Communities and Habitats - Motion to Table
December 11, 2019 - McCollum, D-Minn., motion to table (kill) the Himes, D-Conn., motion to reconsider the vote by which the House passed, 262-151, the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act (HR 729) on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019
Vote: Nay
(671) - S 1790, HRES758, HR3, HR5038: Agricultural Workers; Fiscal 2020 Defense Authorization; Drug Price Negotiation - Motion to Table
December 11, 2019 - Nadler, D-N.Y., motion to table (kill) the McGovern, D-Conn., motion to reconsider the vote by which the House adopted, 222-190, the rule (H Res 758) on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.
Vote: Nay
(672) - S 1790: Fiscal 2020 Defense Authorization - Conference Report
December 11, 2019 - Adoption of the conference report to accompany the bill that would authorize, in total, $738 billion in discretionary defense spending, including $256.7 billion for Defense Department operations and maintenance, including operations in Afghanistan and Syria, $143 billion for weapons and other procurement, and $188 billion for personnel-related expenses. Within the total, the bill would authorize $71.5 billion for overseas contingency operations not subject to discretionary spending caps. The bill would authorize $23.1 billion for Energy Department defense-related activities, including for nuclear weapon programs and environmental restoration activities; $33 billion for the Defense health program; $11.8 billion for military construction, family housing, and base realignment and closure activities; and approximately $11 billion for missile defense programs. Among other provisions, the bill would authorize a 3.1 percent pay increase for members of the armed forces; expand protections for victims of sexual assault involving members of the armed forces; provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave for all federal workers; phase out over three years the "widow's tax" requirement that Defense Department compensation benefits for survivors of veterans be reduced based on benefits received by the survivor from the VA; and allow the Defense Department to allow and pay claims for personal injury or death of a servicemember resulting from medical malpractice by a department health care provider. It would authorize the creation of a Space Force within the Air Force; authorize funds for the deployment of the low-yield, submarine-launched W76-2 nuclear; and prohibit the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey unless the Turkish government certifies that it will not purchase S-400 air defense technology from Russia. It would require the Defense Department to submit a number of reports on the effects of climate change and develop a climate vulnerability and risk-assessment tool. It would prohibit the use of any funds authorized to withdraw the U.S. from NATO; prohibit the use of funds authorized to close the U.S. naval station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and extend prohibitions on the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay to certain other countries.
Vote: Yea
(673) - HR 5038: Undocumented Agricultural Workers – Recommit
December 11, 2019 - Biggs, R-Ariz., motion to recommit the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to the House Judiciary Committee with instructions to report it back immediately with an amendment that would strike from the bill provisions related to the applicability of law to agricultural workers under the H-2A visa program, including a provision requiring that such workers not be denied any right or remedy applicable to U.S. agricultural workers under federal or state labor law, and a provision that would grant such workers access to free federal mediation and conciliation services to assist in resolving disputes between workers and employers.
Vote: Yea
(674) - HR 5038: Undocumented Agricultural Workers – Passage
December 11, 2019 - Passage of the bill that would allow certain undocumented agricultural workers in the United States to apply for permanent residency status. It would also overhaul the H-2A nonimmigrant visa program and replace the E-verify employment status verification system with a similar system for use by the agricultural sector. It would allow undocumented agricultural workers who have worked for at least 180 work days in the two years before enactment and lived continuously in the U.S. since that time status to apply for certified agricultural worker status, which would authorize such individuals to continue working in the U.S. for five and a half years. It would also allow such individuals to eventually apply for a green card, or legal permanent resident status, if they have worked in agriculture for at least 10 years prior to enactment and at least 4 years as a certified agricultural worker, or for at least 8 years as a certified agricultural worker. It would authorize such sums as may be necessary for Homeland Security Department for related activities, including for a grant program for nonprofits to assist eligible individuals with applications. The bill would overhaul the H-2A visa program, which grants nonimmigrant visas for temporary or seasonal agricultural workers. Among other provisions, it would add up to 20,000 three-year visas authorizing year-round agricultural work; it would require DHS to establish an electronic platform to serve as an access point for employers for documentation, certification, and petitions for H-2A worker positions; it would modify wage requirements for H-2A workers and establish a number of requirements related to legal protections, housing, and transportation for such workers. It would require DHS to terminate the existing federal E-verify employment status verification system and administer a new electronic system to determine the eligibility of individuals to work in the U.S. agricultural sector. It would require agricultural sector employers to use the new system. Finally, it would authorize funding for Agriculture Department rural housing assistance programs, including $200 million annually through fiscal 2024 for a rural multifamily housing assistance program, $75 million annually through fiscal 2029 for housing loan assistance for agricultural workers, and $50 million for fiscal 2020 to improve the technology used to process multifamily housing loans and to manage such housing.
Vote: Nay
(675) - HR 5038: Undocumented Agricultural Workers - Motion to Table
December 11, 2019 - McGovern, D-Mass., motion to table (kill) the Lofgren, D-Calif., motion to reconsider the vote by which the House passed, 260-165, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (HR 5038) on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.
Vote: Nay
(676) - HR 3: Drug Price Negotiation - Drug Price and Manufacturing Substitute
December 12, 2019 - Walden, R-Ore., substitute amendment no. 1 that consists of the provisions of the Lower Costs, More Cures Act (HR 19). The substitute amendment would make a number of modifications to payments and pricing structures under Medicare Parts B and D and Medicaid, including to place a $3,100 annual out-of-pocket cap on costs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries and to require insurance companies to establish a monthly post-deductible cap of $50 on insulin for Part D beneficiaries, starting in 2022. It would establish or modify a number of requirements related to availability of drug pricing information, payment systems, and availability of refunds from drug manufacturers. It would make a number of modifications to FDA regulations related to biosimilar drug products and generic drug exclusivity. It would expedite or simplify certain procedures for the approval and market entry of generic drugs, and it would prohibit generic and brand-name drug manufacturers from entering into agreements in which brand-name manufacturers pay to delay entry of a generic drug into the market. It would require Health and Human Services Department to establish a requirement that direct-to-consumer television advertisements for Medicare- or Medicaid-eligible prescription drugs or biological products include truthful information indicating the list price of the drug or product advertised. It would also reduce from 10% to 7.5% the threshold for medical expense tax deductions to allow taxpayers to deduct medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of their adjusted gross income.
Vote: Yea
(677) - HR 3: Drug Price Negotiation - Rural Hospital Residency Program Grants
December 12, 2019 - O'Halleran, D-Ariz., amendment no. 5 that would require the Health and Human Services Department to establish grant programs to award grants of no more than $250,000 to encourage hospitals in rural and medically underserved areas, including critical access hospitals, to establish medical residency training programs or to establish partnerships with other hospitals to host residents under such a program. It would authorize such sums as may be necessary for such grants through fiscal 2029.
Vote: Yea
(678) - HR 3: Drug Price Negotiation - New Medical Treatments Study
December 12, 2019 - Gottheimer, D-N.J., amendment no. 7 that would require the Health and Human Services Department to conduct a study to identify diseases or conditions that lack treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration and instances in which development of such treatments could fill unmet medical needs for serious, life-threatening, or rare diseases and conditions. The amendment would also require the study to identify incentives that would lead to the development, approval, and marketing of such treatments.
Vote: Yea
(679) - HR 3: Drug Price Negotiation - Federal Health Plan Contracts
December 12, 2019 - Luria, D-Va., amendment no. 10 that would prohibit the federal office of personnel management from contracting with a health benefits plan if the plan carrier has elected not to participate in the fair price negotiation program established by the bill.
Vote: Nay
(680) - HR 3: Drug Price Negotiation - VA Drug Procurement
December 12, 2019 - Cunningham, D-S.C., amendment no. 11 that would require drug manufacturers contracting with the Veterans Affairs Department to comply with maximum prices set for any drug under the bill's provisions, if the VA determines that such maximum prices are less than those determined under existing law regarding VA drug procurement.
Vote: Nay
(681) - HR 3: Drug Price Negotiation – Recommit
December 12, 2019 - Upton, R-Mich., motion to recommit the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (HR 3) to the House Energy and Commerce Committee with instructions to report it back immediately with an amendment that would prohibit the provisions of the bill from going into effect unless the Health and Human Services Department certifies that the implementation of such provisions is not projected to result in fewer new drug applications in relation to unmet medical needs and potential cures.
Vote: Yea
(682) - HR 3: Drug Price Negotiation – Passage
December 12, 2019 - Passage of the bill, as amended, that would allow the Health and Human Services Department to negotiate prices for certain drugs under Medicare programs and would make a number of modifications to Medicare programs related to drug costs and plan benefits. Specifically, the bill would establish a fair price negotiation program in which HHS would enter into agreements with drug manufacturers to negotiate maximum fair prices for certain drugs. It would allow the department to negotiate a "maximum fair price" for insulin and up to 250 other Medicare-eligible, brand-name drugs that do not have generic competition, including 125 drugs that account for the greatest national spending and 125 drugs that account for the greatest spending under Medicare parts C and D. The bill would require the department to negotiate the maximum price of at least 25 drugs for 2023 and at least 50 drugs in each subsequent year. It would require that such maximum prices would not exceed 120% of a drug's average international price or 85% of the average manufacturer price for drugs for a year. The bill would subject drug manufacturers who do not reach a negotiated agreement for a drug to excise taxes based on gross sales of that drug. It would require manufacturers to offer negotiated prices to private health insurers. The bill would also make adjustments to payments, pricing structures, and programs related to Medicare parts B and D. Among other provisions, it would place a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap on costs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries, expand eligibility for a Part D low-income subsidy program, and add comprehensive vision, dental, and hearing coverage under Medicare Part B. Finally, it would authorize funding for HHS programs to address opioid and substance use disorders and authorize funding for National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration activities related to the development of new drugs and medical treatments.
Vote: Nay
(683) - HR 1158, HRES761, HR1865: Fiscal 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Acts - Previous Question
December 17, 2019 - Morelle, D-N.Y., motion to order the previous question on the rule (H Res 765) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Senate amendment to the Fiscal 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act (HR 1158), with a further House amendment, and provide for House floor consideration of Senate amendment to the Fiscal 2020 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act (HR 1865), with a further House amendment, as modified. The rule would also provide for automatic adoption of the resolution (H Res 761) that would allow designated individuals to be admitted to the Hall of the House in order to obtain footage of the House in session for inclusion in the Capitol Visitor Center visitor orientation film. The rule would provide for automatic adoption of a Lowey, D-N.Y., manager's amendment modifying the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the Fiscal 2020 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act (HR 1865). Among other provisions, it would retroactively extend a number of expiring tax deductions and other provisions through 2020, including deductions for tuition expenses and paid family and medical leave. It would reduce from 10% to 7.5% the threshold for medical expense tax deductions to allow taxpayers to deduct medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of their adjusted gross income in tax years before 2021. It would extend through 2022 certain tax credits for biodiesel and renewable diesel and for railroad maintenance. It would also include a number of provisions related to tax relief in the event of a natural disaster, including provisions related to loans, payment plans, and tax-favored withdrawals from a retirement plan by individuals affected by a natural disaster and provisions to extend tax filing deadlines by 60 days for such individuals.
Vote: Nay
(684) - HR 1865, HR1158, HRES761: Fiscal 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Acts – Rule
December 17, 2019 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 765) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Senate amendment to the Fiscal 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act (HR 1158), with a further House amendment, and provide for House floor consideration of Senate amendment to the Fiscal 2020 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act (HR 1865), with a further House amendment, as modified. The rule would also provide for automatic adoption of the resolution (H Res 761) that would allow designated individuals to be admitted to the Hall of the House in order to obtain footage of the House in session for inclusion in the Capitol Visitor Center visitor orientation film. The rule would provide for automatic adoption of a Lowey, D-N.Y., manager's amendment modifying the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the Fiscal 2020 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act (HR 1865). Among other provisions, it would retroactively extend a number of expiring tax deductions and other provisions through 2020, including deductions for tuition expenses and paid family and medical leave. It would reduce from 10% to 7.5% the threshold for medical expense tax deductions to allow taxpayers to deduct medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of their adjusted gross income in tax years before 2021. It would extend through 2022 certain tax credits for biodiesel and renewable diesel and for railroad maintenance. It would also include a number of provisions related to tax relief in the event of a natural disaster, including provisions related to loans, payment plans, and tax-favored withdrawals from a retirement plan by individuals affected by a natural disaster and provisions to extend tax filing deadlines by 60 days for such individuals.
Vote: Nay
(685) - HR 4183: VA Benefits Study – Passage
December 17, 2019 - Takano, D-Calif., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, that would require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on disability and pension benefits provided by the Veterans Affairs Department to members of the National Guard and U.S. military reserve. Among other requirements, it would require the study to examine the number of service-connected disability compensation and pension claims submitted, approved, and disapproved for such veterans in the period between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2018; compare such information with regard to benefits received by veterans who served in the regular military; and identify common barriers for National Guard members and reservists in obtaining VA benefits, including barriers relating to documentation of injuries incurred while serving.
Vote: Yea
(686) - HR 3530: VA Health Professional Credentials – Passage
December 17, 2019 - Takano, D-Calif., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, that would require the Veterans Affairs Department to ensure that its medical centers compile, verify and continuously monitor documentation related to professional certification and credentials for department health care professionals, including documentation of professional licensure, training and education, malpractice history, and any restrictions related to malpractice. It would also require the department to ensure that all personnel who work with controlled substances hold an active registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Among other provisions, it would require the VA to carry out a number of ongoing performance and quality reviews to monitor health care provided at department medical centers, establish procedures to respond to clinical competency concerns, and notify appropriate licensing entities regarding such concerns. It would require biannual training for VA employees responsible for reviewing health care credentials and quality of care or for taking disciplinary or employment actions against VA health care professionals. It would prohibit the VA from entering into any settlement agreement that would require the department to conceal a serious medical error.
Vote: Yea
(687) - HR 722: Utah Mountain Designation – Passage
December 17, 2019 - Haaland, D-N.M., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would designate a mountain located south of Elk Ridge City, Utah, as "Miracle Mountain," to acknowledge the significance of the mountain to the city's residents and surrounding communities in relation to halting the progress of the Sept. 2018 Bald Mountain Fire.
Vote: Yea
(688) - HR 2548: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grants – Passage
December 17, 2019 - Fletcher, D-Texas, motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, that would make acquisition or relocation projects that have already been initiated eligible for certain Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation assistance grants to state and local agencies, provided that the project complies with all other grant eligibility requirements and federal project requirements.
Vote: Yea
(689) - HR 1865: Fiscal 2020 Further Consolidated Appropriation Act - Motion to Concur
December 17, 2019 - Lowey, D-N.Y. motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the Fiscal 2020 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, with a further House amendment, as modified, that would provide approximately $540 billion in discretionary funding for eight of the twelve fiscal 2020 appropriations: Labor-HHS-Education, Agriculture, Energy-Water, Interior-Environment, Legislative Branch, Military Construction-VA, State-Foreign Operations, and Transportation-HUD. It would provide $184.9 billion for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education departments and related agencies; $23.5 billion for the Agriculture Department and related agencies; $48.3 billion for the Energy Department and federal water projects; $36 billion for the Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency, and related agencies; $5 billion for legislative branch entities; $110.4 billion for the Veterans Affairs Department, military construction, and related agencies; $54.7 billion for the State Department and related agencies; and $74.3 billion for the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development departments and related agencies. It would also include a number of other legislative provisions related to taxes, health care programs, and various federal program extensions. Among other provisions, it would provide $94.9 billion for the Health and Human Services department, including $41.7 billion for the National Institutes of Health and $25 million for NIH and Centers for Disease Control research related to firearm injury and mortality prevention. It would provide $96 billion for Agriculture Department domestic food programs and $3.1 billion for rural development programs; $16.7 billion for Energy Department nuclear security programs; and $9.1 for the Environmental Protection Agency. It would provide $11.3 billion for military construction and an additional $6.2 billion in emergency military construction funding for natural disaster-related repairs. It would provide $9 billion for State Department international security assistance, including $448 million for economic and security assistance for Ukraine. It would provide $49.1 billion for the Housing and Urban Development, including $23.9 billion for the Section 8 rental assistance voucher program. It would eliminate a number of health care-related taxes, including excise taxes on medical devices and on incremental costs of employer-sponsored health care plans above certain cost thresholds. It would establish federal match rates for Medicaid programs in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories. It would raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. It would reauthorize and extend a number of programs and authorizations, including to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank for seven years, the Terrorism Risk Insurance program through fiscal 2027, and the National Flood Insurance program through fiscal 2020. It would extend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program through May 22, 2020, and it would reauthorize a number of visa programs and the E-Verify employment eligibility verification system through fiscal 2020. As amended, it would retroactively extend a number of expiring tax deductions and credits, including deductions for tuition expenses and paid family and medical leave and credits for renewable energy development. It would also extend tax relief provisions for individuals affected by natural disasters, and it would reduce the threshold after which taxpayers may deduct medical expenses exceeding a certain amount of their gross income.
Vote: Yea
(690) - HR 1158: Fiscal 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act - Motion to Concur
December 17, 2019 - Lowey, D-N.Y., motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the Fiscal 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act, with a further House amendment, that would provide $860.3 billion in discretionary spending for four of the twelve fiscal 2020 appropriations bills: Defense, Homeland Security, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Financial Services. It would provide $695.1 for the Defense Department, $68 billion for the Homeland Security Department, $73.2 billion for the Commerce and Justice departments and science and related agencies, and $23.8 billion for the Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, and other agencies. Among other provisions, it would provide $70.7 billion in overseas contingency operations funding, primarily for ongoing military operations in Afghanistan and other counterterrorism operations; $42.4 billion for military aircraft, including over $9 billion for the procurement of 98 F-35 planes; and $40 million for the operation and maintenance of the Space Force. It would provide $1.38 billion in funding for Customs and Border Protection for the construction of physical barriers along the U.S. southwest border. It would provide $22.6 billion for NASA activities and programs; $32.6 billion for the Justice Department, including $502.5 million to support state and local law enforcement activities under the Violence Against Women Act; and $7.6 billion for the Census Bureau. It would provide $425 million for Election Assistance Commission grants related improving federal election security. It would provide a 3.1% pay increase for all members of the armed forces and for federal civilian employees.
Vote: Yea
(691) - : Procedural Motion - Motion to Adjourn
December 18, 2019 - Biggs, R-Ariz., motion to adjourn.
Vote: Yea
(692) - H Res 770: Condemning Reps. Nadler and Schiff - Motion to Table
December 18, 2019 - Hoyer, D-Md., motion to table (kill) the privileged resolution that would that would express disapproval of actions by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., in relation to the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.
Vote: Nay
(693) - H Res 755: Impeachment of President Trump - Previous Question
December 18, 2019 - McGovern, D-Mass., motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 767) for the resolution (H Res 755) containing two articles of impeachment against President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, respectively. The rule would provide for six hours of debate on the Articles of Impeachment, equally divided between the chair and ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee or their designees. It would also provide for consideration, following adoption of the Articles of Impeachment, of a resolution appointing and authorizing managers for the impeachment trial in the Senate. It would provide for 10 minutes of debate on this resolution, equally divided between the chair and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee. The rule would authorize only certain individuals to be admitted to the Hall of the House during consideration of the Articles of Impeachment. It would provide that no other resolution incidental to impeachment relating to H Res 755 shall be considered privileged during the remainder of the 116th Congress.
Vote: Nay
(694) - H Res 755: Impeachment of President Trump – Rule
December 18, 2019 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 767) for the resolution (H Res 755) containing two articles of impeachment against President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, respectively. The rule would provide for six hours of debate on the Articles of Impeachment, equally divided between the chair and ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee or their designees. It would also provide for consideration, following adoption of the Articles of Impeachment, of a resolution appointing and authorizing managers for the impeachment trial in the Senate. It would provide for 10 minutes of debate on this resolution, equally divided between the chair and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee. The rule would authorize only certain individuals to be admitted to the Hall of the House during consideration of the Articles of Impeachment. It would provide that no other resolution incidental to impeachment relating to H Res 755 shall be considered privileged during the remainder of the 116th Congress.
Vote: Nay
(695) - H Res 755: Impeachment of President Trump - Article I - Abuse of Power
December 18, 2019 - Adoption of Article I of the resolution, which would impeach President Donald Trump for abuse of power by using the powers of his office to solicit the interference of a foreign government in the 2020 U.S. presidential election to benefit his reelection and harm the election prospects of a political opponent. Specifically, it would state that Trump solicited the government of Ukraine to announce investigations into former vice president Joe Biden and theories regarding foreign interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. It would state that Trump conditioned official actions, including the release of security assistance funds to Ukraine, on such announcements. It would state that Trump's actions were conducted "for corrupt purposes in pursuit of personal political benefit" and that such actions "compromised the national security of the United States and undermined the integrity of the United States democratic process."
Vote: Nay
(696) - H Res 755: Impeachment of President Trump - Article II - Obstruction of Congress
December 18, 2019 - Adoption of Article II of the resolution, which would impeach President Donald Trump for obstruction of Congress by defying, and instructing others not to comply with, subpoenas issued by the House of Representatives in relation to the House impeachment inquiry into Trump's solicitation of the government of Ukraine. Specifically, it would state that Trump directed executive branch agencies, offices, and officers not to cooperate with House committees and to withhold the production of documents sought by the committees pursuant to the impeachment inquiry. It would state that such actions "directed the unprecedented, categorical, and indiscriminate defiance of subpoenas" issued pursuant to the "sole power of impeachment" of the House. It would state that such actions served to "cover up the president's own repeated misconduct" and "nullify a vital constitutional safeguard vested solely in the House of Representatives."
Vote: Nay
(697) - HR 5377: State and Local Tax Deductions - Previous Question
December 19, 2019 -Torres, D-Calif., motion to order the previous question on the rule (H Res 772) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act (HR 5377). It would provide for up to one hour of debate on the bill.
Vote: Nay
(698) - HR 5377: State and Local Tax Deductions – Rule
December 19, 2019 - Adoption of the rule (H Res 772) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act (HR 5377). It would provide for up to one hour of debate on the bill.
Vote: Nay
(699) - HR 5377: State and Local Tax Deductions – Recommit
December 19, 2019 - Rice, R-S.C., motion to recommit the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act to the House Ways and Means Committee with instructions to report it back immediately with an amendment that would make an exception to the bill's elimination of the $10,000 cap on federal tax deductions for state and local taxes, such that the cap would still apply for taxpayers whose adjusted gross incomes exceed $100 million in a taxable year. It would double to $1,000 the tax deductions established by the bill for professional development costs for teachers and first responders.
Vote: Yea
(700) - HR 5377: State and Local Tax Deductions – Passage
December 19, 2019 - Passage of the bill, as amended, that would reduce or eliminate the existing $10,000 cap on federal tax deductions for state and local taxes, which was established under the 2017 tax law, for tax years 2019 through 2021. Specifically, it would double the cap to $20,000 for married couples filing a joint tax return for tax year 2019, and it would eliminate the cap for tax years 2020 and 2021. As amended, the bill would retain the cap for taxpayers whose adjusted gross incomes exceed $100 million in a taxable year. As an offset, the bill would increase the top individual income tax rate from 37% to 39.6% and it would reduce the corresponding income thresholds at which the top tax bracket applies. The bill would also permanently increase from $250 to $1,000 a tax deduction for professional development costs for elementary and secondary school teachers, and it would establish a new tax deduction of up to $1,000 for first responders, including for costs associated with related professional development courses.
Vote: Nay
(701) - HR 5430: United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement – Passage
December 19, 2019 - Passage of the bill that would implement the trade agreement reached between the United States, Mexico, and Canada that replaces the North American Free-Trade Agreement. It would modify existing trade law to provide for implementation of the agreement, authorize federal agencies and other entities to implement and enforce provisions of the agreement, and authorize or appropriate more than $2 billion in funding for certain implementation activities. Among other provisions, the bill would require the Treasury and Labor departments to issue regulations to implement trade provisions in the USMCA and outline classification standards for the origin of goods under such provisions. It would require the establishment of interagency committees related to implementation and enforcement of the agreement's provisions related to automobiles, environmental obligations, and labor obligations. It would provide for additional enforcement and monitoring mechanisms related to forced labor, labor reforms in Mexico, and remedies for labor rights violations. It would require the EPA to construct and maintain facilities to treat wastewater and pollution sources resulting from transboundary water flows originating in Mexico. It would provide for transition procedures in the case of withdrawal of any country from the agreement. The bill would authorize $1.5 billion for the North American Development Bank, a binational institution that funds environmental infrastructure projects in the U.S.-Mexico border region, and it would require the bank to prioritize the financing of projects related to water pollution. It would make supplemental fiscal 2020 appropriations to provide $300 million for Environmental Protection Agency grants for construction of wastewater facilities in the U.S.-Mexico border region; $210 million for Labor Department international grant programs, including $180 million for grants to support labor justice system reforms in Mexico; $40 million for enforcement of environmental obligations under the USMCA; and $16 million for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities related to addressing marine debris and combating illegal and unregulated fishing in coordination with Mexico. The USMCA, which would be implemented by the bill, would increase from 60%-62.5% to 75% the North American content threshold for automobiles to qualify for duty-free access, and it would establish additional thresholds for steel and aluminum content and content made by workers earning at least $16 per hour. It would establish trade regulations for products created using agricultural biotechnology. It would require signatories to implement and maintain certain multilateral environmental agreements to which they are already signatories, and to adopt and maintain certain internationally recognized labor rights, including to prohibit the importation of goods produced by forced labor.
Vote: Yea
