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Congressional legislation, December 5, 2016 – December 10, 2016
From Ballotpedia
Monday, December 5, 2016
Senate
- Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.) said that they would block the Senate from passing any bills by unanimous consent until a vote was held on S 3470—the Miners Protection Act of 2016. The legislation proposed funding coal miners’ pensions and healthcare plans, which were set to expire at the end of 2016. In a joint statement, the senators said, “These miners cannot wait another day and it’s up to us to protect what they’ve earned for a lifetime of dangerous, backbreaking work. We are confident this bill would pass on the floor and we demand action to provide long-term certainty for these miners."
- On Friday, when their effort to amend a short-term funding to include an extension of benefits for miners failed, the senators decided to stop blocking a vote on the funding bill in order to avoid a government shutdown.
House
- Key vote: The House passed S 1635—the Department of State Operations Authorization and Embassy Security Act, Fiscal Year 2016—by a vote of 374-16. The legislation proposed funding the U.S. Department of State through fiscal year 2016.
- The House unanimously passed HR 5015—the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act of 2016. The legislation proposed fixing an accounting error made by the federal government which mistakenly withheld taxes on one-time lump-sum disability severance payments that were paid to military veterans who suffered combat-related injuries.
- Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.), the bill's sponsor, said, “Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines risk their lives every day to protect our freedoms, our values and our republic. The revelation that there are thousands of veterans who did not receive their full disability severance pay is unacceptable. This legislation is a common-sense solution to ensure that these veterans who had their severance payment wrongfully taxed will receive every penny that they are rightfully owed. These veterans deserve no less for their service and sacrifice to our nation."
- The House passed HR 6427—the Creating Financial Prosperity for Businesses and Investors Act—by a vote of 391-2. The bill proposed amending "the Small Business Investment Incentive Act of 1980 to require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue a public statement, and disclose any actions it intends to take, each time its annual government-business forum submits findings or recommendations regarding the current status of problems and programs relating to small business capital formation."
Tuesday, December 6
House
- The House passed HR 6394—the Improving Broadband Access for Veterans Act of 2016—by a vote of 411-4. The legislation proposed helping low-income military veterans access broadband internet service.
- The House unanimously passed HR 6416—the Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016. The legislation proposed requiring "clinicians practicing at the VA to report directly to state licensing boards whenever they witness unacceptable behavior from other VA clinicians. ... Currently, it takes at least 100 days for the VA to decide whether or not to refer a complaint of substandard health care practices reported to the VA to the state licensing board."
- Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), the bill's sponsor, said, “This bill will bring much-needed accountability to the VA. As a physician, I find it unacceptable that clinicians practicing at the VA could be fired for providing substandard care to veterans and move into private practice before their state licensing board is made aware of the complaints lodged against them, if they’re ever made aware at all. If we expect to change the culture at VA hospitals and clinics around the country, we must make reporting obligations at the VA consistent with existing professional ethical standards. My bill will ensure no bad actors at the VA slip through the cracks because of favoritism or corruption, and I encourage the Senate to take up this important legislation soon.”
- Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the outgoing House Freedom Caucus chairman, attempted to force a vote on a resolution to impeach Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen, but the move was rejected. The resolution accused Koskinen of impeding a congressional investigation into the IRS’s targeting of conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status.
Wednesday, December 7
Senate
- Key vote: The Senate passed HR 34—the 21st Century Cures Act—by a vote of 94-5. The $6.3 billion bill allocated funding to address the opioid epidemic, Vice President Joe Biden’s “cancer moonshot” program, Alzheimer’s disease, and mental health system reforms. Additionally, the bill streamlined and increased the speed of FDA approval for new drugs and medical devices.
- After the Senate passed the bill, President Barack Obama released the following statement: “We are now one step closer to ending cancer as we know it, unlocking cures for diseases like Alzheimer’s, and helping people seeking treatment for opioid addiction finally get the help they need. The bipartisan passage of the 21st Century Cures Act is an example of the progress we can make when people from both parties work together to improve the health of our families, friends and neighbors. … This bill will make a big difference, and I look forward to signing it as soon as it reaches my desk.”
House
- The House passed HR 1219—the Arbuckle Project Maintenance Complex and District Office Conveyance Act of 2016—by a vote of 412-1. The legislation proposed authorizing "the Department of the Interior to convey to the Arbuckle Master Conservancy District in Murray County, Oklahoma, all U.S. interest in the Maintenance Complex and District Office, Arbuckle Project, Oklahoma, consistent with the Agreement between the United States and the Arbuckle Master Conservancy District for Transferring Title to the Federally Owned Maintenance Complex and District Office to the Arbuckle Master Conservancy District."
- The House passed HR 5143—the Transparent Insurance Standards Act of 2016—by a vote of 239-170. The legislation proposed reinforcing "that any international insurance standard agreed to at the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) would not be self-executing and could not be applied in the United States until implemented through the existing domestic process, and provides Congress the opportunity to reject any agreement. It also requires the Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve to work to ensure policyholder protection, increased transparency, and recognition of the state-based model of insurance regulation."
- Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.), the bill's sponsor, said, “The Transparent Insurance Standards Act is a bill that would increase transparency, protect U.S. policyholders, and uphold Article I of the Constitution by stating that Congress will have the ultimate say in terms of what standards are approved by the United States,” Luetkemeyer said. “My bill maintains that international discussions should represent the state-based regulatory system and that United States should be in the position of exporting our standards, not importing them from Europe. On matters of importance to consumers, America will lead and not be led. I am pleased with today’s strong vote and look forward to continuing the work on this issue in the new Congress.”
- The House unanimously passed HR 6076—To Research, Evaluate, Assess, and Treat Astronauts Act. The legislation proposed directing "the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a program that provides for the medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of crewmembers for space flight-associated medical conditions."
- The House passed S 2971—the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Act of 2016—by a vote of 405-7. The legislation proposed directing "the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) continue to administer the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System; (2) provide for a national network of standardized search and rescue resources to assist states and local governments in responding to hazards; (3) designate urban search and rescue teams to participate in the system, determine participation criteria, and enter into an agreement with the state or local government agency sponsoring each team with respect to such participation; and (4) maintain management and technical teams necessary to administer the system."
- The House unanimously passed HR 5790—the Federal Bureau of Investigation Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2016. The legislation proposed broadening "the protections for whistleblowers so they are not retaliated against by supervisors, putting them in the same position as other protected federal workers in other areas of the government."
- Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the bill's sponsor, said, "We have great respect and admiration for the FBI. They do wonderful work. It's because I respect the FBI and it's agents that I helped introduce this bill ... The whistleblowers protections in the FBI have really not kept up with the rest of government, and that's why we need a change here. The whistleblowers at the FBI should be treated the same as they are within the rest of the federal government."
Thursday, December 8
Senate
- Key vote: The Senate passed S 2943—the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017—by a vote of 92-7. They legislation authorized $618.7 billion in defense spending.
House
- Key vote: The House passed HR 2028—the legislative vehicle for the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017—by a vote of 326-96. The legislation proposed funding the government through April 2016 and included:
- a budget cap of $1.07 trillion from fiscal 2016;
- $8 billion in funding for the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS);
- $170 million in funding for cleaning up contaminated water in places like Flint, Michigan;
- $4.1 billion in disaster relief;
- $872 million for medical research and drug abuse; and
- an expedited process to waive the requirement that executive cabinet members be retired from active duty military service for seven years, which would allow General James Mattis to be considered for secretary of state.
- Key vote: The House passed S 612—the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act—by a vote of 360-61. The legislation provided aid for resident of Flint, Michigan, who were dealing with a contaminated water crisis. The bill also included funding for water-related infrastructure projects.
- The House passed HR 4919—Kevin and Avonte's Law of 2016—by a vote of 346-66. The legislation proposed providing "targeted support to communities for locally-based, proactive programs to prevent wandering and locate missing children or seniors who have wandered from safe environments."
- Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), the bill's sponsor, said, “The ‘Missing Americans Alert Program’ will fill a great unmet need, particularly in the autism community—since 2011, over 100 individuals with autism lost their lives after wandering from a safe environment. Time and training are of the essence when individuals wander and Kevin and Avonte’s Law can help equip local law enforcement with the training and technology to bring these children home safely.”
Friday, December 9
Senate
- Key vote: The Senate passed HR 2028—the legislative vehicle for the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017—by a vote 63-36. The legislation funded the government through April 28. Funding was set to expire at midnight on December 9. The legislation included:
- a budget cap of $1.07 trillion from fiscal 2016;
- $8 billion in funding for the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS);
- $170 million in funding for cleaning up contaminated water in places like Flint, Michigan;
- $4.1 billion in disaster relief;
- $872 million for medical research and drug abuse; and
- an expedited process to waive the requirement that executive cabinet members be retired from active duty military service for seven years, which would allow General James Mattis to be considered for secretary of state.
Saturday, December 10
Senate
- Key vote: The Senate passed S 612—the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act—by a vote of 78-21. The legislation provided aid for resident of Flint, Michigan, who were dealing with a contaminated water crisis. The bill also included funding for water-related infrastructure projects.
