[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D570-D572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 57 public bills, H.R. 6, 2405-
2460 and 5 resolutions, H. Res. 272, 275-278 were introduced. 
                                                         Pages H3386-88
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages H3390-91
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 1119, to improve the efficiency of Federal research and 
development, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 114-121);
  H.R. 874, to amend the Department of Energy High-End Computing 
Revitalization Act of 2004 to improve the high-end computing research 
and development program of the Department of Energy, and for other 
purposes (H. Rept. 114-122);
  H.R. 1156, to authorize the establishment of a body under the 
National Science and Technology Council to identify and coordinate 
international science and technology cooperation opportunities (H. 
Rept. 114-123);
  H.R. 1158, to improve management of the National Laboratories, 
enhance technology commercialization, facilitate public-private 
partnerships, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 114-
124);
  H.R. 1162, to make technical changes to provisions authorizing prize 
competitions under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980, with an amendment (H. Rept. 114-125);
  H.R. 1561, to improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's weather research through a focused program of 
investment on affordable and attainable advances in observational, 
computing, and modeling capabilities to support substantial improvement 
in weather forecasting and prediction of high impact weather events, to 
expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather data, and 
for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 114-126);
  H. Res. 273, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2262) to 
facilitate a pro-growth environment for the developing commercial space 
industry by encouraging private sector investment and creating more 
stable and predictable regulatory conditions, and for other purposes; 
providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 880) to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to simplify and make permanent the 
research credit; providing for consideration of motions to suspend the 
rules; and providing for proceedings during the period from May 22, 
2015, through May 29, 2015 (H. Rept. 114-127); and
  H. Res. 274, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1335) to 
amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to 
provide flexibility for fishery managers and stability for fishermen, 
and for other purposes (H. Rept. 114-128).                   
Page H3386

[[Page D571]]

Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed 
Representative Bost to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H3313
Recess: The House recessed at 10:37 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon. 
                                                             Page H3317
Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the Guest Chaplain, Reverend 
Gregory Goethals, S.J. Loyola High School, Los Angeles, California. 
                                                             Page H3317
Committee Resignation: Read a letter from Representative Emmer wherein 
he resigned from the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs.                                             
  Page H3317
Committee Resignation: Read a letter from Representative Meehan wherein 
he resigned from the Committee on Homeland Security.         
  Page H3318
Committee Elections: The House agreed to H. Res. 272, electing Members 
to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives. 
                                                             Page H3318
Suspension--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and pass the following measure which was debated on Monday, May 18th:
  Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015:  S. 178, to provide 
justice for the victims of trafficking, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 
420 yeas to 3 nays, Roll No. 244.                        
  Pages H3329-30
Unanimous Consent Agreement: Agreed by unanimous consent that the 
question of adopting a motion to recommit on H.R. 2353 may be subject 
to postponement as though under clause 8 of rule 20.         
  Page H3330
Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015: The House passed H.R. 
2353, to provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, 
motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the 
Highway Trust Fund, by a recorded vote of 387 ayes to 35 noes with one 
answering ``present'', Roll No. 249.           
  Pages H3330-39, H3359-61
  Rejected the Esty motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure with instructions to report the same 
back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote of 
182 yeas to 241 nays, Roll No. 248.            
Pages H3338-39, H3359-60
  H. Res. 271, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 
1806), (H.R. 2250), and (H.R. 2353), was agreed to by a yea-and-nay 
vote of 242 yeas to 179 nays, Roll No. 243, after the previous question 
was ordered.                                             
Pages H3321-29
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2016: The House passed H.R. 
2250, making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2016, by a yea-and-nay vote 357 yeas to 67 nays, 
Roll No. 247.                                            
  Pages H3339-59
Agreed to:
  Flores amendment (No. 2 printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-120) that 
prohibits any funds for delivering printed copies of the Congressional 
Pictorial Directory; and                                 
Pages H3354-55
  Ratcliffe amendment (No. 1 printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-120) 
that zeros out $5,700,000 in funding for the Open World Leadership 
Center and applies the savings to the spending reduction account (by a 
recorded vote of 224 ayes to 199 noes, Roll No. 245). 
                                               Pages H3353-54, H3357-58
Rejected:
  Blackburn amendment (No. 3 printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-120) 
that provides for a one percent across the board cut. Exempts Capitol 
Police, Architect of the Capitol, and the Sergeant at Arms (by a 
recorded vote of 172 ayes to 250 noes, Roll No. 246). 
                                               Pages H3356-57, H3358-59
  H. Res. 271, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 
1806), (H.R. 2250), and (H.R. 2353), was agreed to by a yea-and-nay 
vote of 242 yeas to 179 nays, Roll No. 243, after the previous question 
was ordered.                                             
Pages H3321-29
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  American Super Computing Leadership Act: H.R. 874, to amend the 
Department of Energy High-End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004 to 
improve the high-end computing research and development program of the 
Department of Energy;                                    
  Pages H3361-63
  Science Prize Competitions Act: H.R. 1162, amended, to make technical 
changes to provisions authorizing prize competitions under the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980;      
  Pages H3363-65
  Research and Development Efficiency Act: H.R. 1119, amended, to 
improve the efficiency of Federal research and development; 
                                                         Pages H3365-66
  International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2015: H.R. 
1156, amended, to authorize the establishment of a body under the 
National Science and Technology Council to identify and coordinate 
international science and technology cooperation opportunities; 
                                                         Pages H3366-67
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To authorize the 
establishment or designation of a working group under the National 
Science and Technology Council to identify and coordinate international 
science and technology cooperation opportunities.''.         
Page H3367

[[Page D572]]

  Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015: H.R. 1561, 
amended, to improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's weather research through a focused program of 
investment on affordable and attainable advances in observational, 
computing, and modeling capabilities to support substantial improvement 
in weather forecasting and prediction of high impact weather events, 
and to expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather 
data; and                                                
  Pages H3367-73
  Department of Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer 
Act of 2015: H.R. 1158, amended, to improve management of the National 
Laboratories, enhance technology commercialization, and facilitate 
public-private partnerships.                             
  Pages H3373-77
Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he 
notified Congress that the national emergency declared with respect to 
the stabilization of Iraq is to continue in effect beyond May 22, 
2015--referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be 
printed (H. Doc. 114-40).                                    
  Page H3339
Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate by the Deputy Clerk 
and subsequently presented to the House today appear on page H3321.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Four yea-and-nay votes and three recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H3329, 
H3329-30, H3357-58, H3358-59, H3359, H3359-60, and H3360-61. There were 
no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 8:09 p.m.