[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 97 (Wednesday, June 17, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D721-D722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 20 public bills, H.R. 2798-
2817; and 4 resolutions, H. Res. 322-325, were introduced. 
                                                         Pages H4490-91
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages H4492-93
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 1626, to reduce duplication of information technology at the 
Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, with an 
amendment (H. Rept. 114-162);
  H.R. 1633, to provide for certain improvements relating to the 
tracking and reporting of employees of the Department of Homeland 
Security placed on administrative leave, or any other type of paid non-
duty status without charge to leave, for personnel matters, and for 
other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 114-163);
  H.R. 2200, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish 
chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and 
information sharing functions of the Office of Intelligence and 
Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security and to require 
dissemination of information analyzed by the Department to entities 
with responsibilities relating to homeland security, and for other 
purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 114-164);
  H.R. 2206, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require 
recipients of State Homeland Security Grant Program funding to preserve 
and strengthen interoperable emergency communications capabilities, and 
for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 114-165);
  H.R. 1640, to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit to 
Congress a report on the Department of Homeland Security headquarters 
consolidation project in the National Capital Region, and for other 
purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 114-166); and H. Res. 321, 
providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 
2146) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal law 
enforcement officers, firefighters, and air traffic controllers to make 
penalty-free withdrawals from governmental plans after age 50, and for 
other purposes (H. Rept. 114-167).                           
Page H4490
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed 
Representative Farenthold to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H4435
Recess: The House recessed at 10:19 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon. 
                                                             Page H4437
Reception in the House Chamber of Former Members of Congress: Agreed by 
unanimous consent that the proceedings had during the former Members 
program held earlier in the day be printed in the Congressional Record 
and that all Members and former Members who spoke during the 
proceedings have the privilege of revising and extending their remarks.
                                                             Page H4449
Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015: The House began consideration 
of H.R. 160, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 
excise tax on medical devices. Consideration is expected to resume 
tomorrow, June 18th.                           
  Pages H4449-55, H4471-72
  Pursuant to the Rule, an amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill, 
modified by the amendment printed in part A of H. Rept. 114-157, shall 
be considered as adopted.                                    
Page H4472
  H. Res. 319, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 
160) and (H.R. 1190) was agreed to by a recorded vote of 241 ayes to 
186 noes, Roll No. 372, after the previous question was ordered by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 241 yeas to 186 nays, Roll No. 371. 
                                                         Pages H4471-72
Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers 
Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces deployed to Iraq or 
Syria on or after August 7, 2014: The House failed to agree to H. Con. 
Res. 55, directing the

[[Page D722]]

President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to 
remove United States Armed Forces deployed to Iraq or Syria on or after 
August 7, 2014, other than Armed Forces required to protect United 
States diplomatic facilities and personnel, from Iraq and Syria, by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 139 yeas to 288 nays with one answering 
``present'', Roll No. 370.                               
  Pages H4455-71
  H. Con. Res. 55 was considered pursuant to the order of the House of 
June 16, 2015.
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  VBID for Better Care Act of 2015: H.R. 2570, amended, to establish a 
demonstration program requiring the utilization of Value-Based 
Insurance Design to demonstrate that reducing the copayments or 
coinsurance charged to Medicare beneficiaries for selected high-value 
prescription medications and clinical services can increase their 
utilization and ultimately improve clinical outcomes and lower health 
care expenditures;                                       
  Pages H4479-81
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To amend title XVIII of 
the Social Security Act with respect to the treatment of patient 
encounters in ambulatory surgical centers in determining meaningful EHR 
use, establish a demonstration program requiring the utilization of 
Value-Based Insurance Design to demonstrate that reducing the 
copayments or coinsurance charged to Medicare beneficiaries for 
selected high-value prescription medications and clinical services can 
increase their utilization and ultimately improve clinical outcomes and 
lower health care expenditures, and for other purposes.''.   
Page H4481
  Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act of 2015: H.R. 2507, amended, to 
amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish an annual 
rulemaking schedule for payment rates under Medicare Advantage; 
                                                         Pages H4481-83
  Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act of 2015: H.R. 2505, 
amended, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the 
annual reporting of data on enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans; and
                                                         Pages H4483-85
  Securing Seniors' Health Care Act of 2015: H.R. 2582, amended, to 
amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the risk 
adjustment under the Medicare Advantage program, and to delay the 
authority to terminate Medicare Advantage contracts for MA plans 
failing to achieve minimum quality ratings.              
  Pages H4485-87
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To amend title XVIII of 
the Social Security Act to delay the authority to terminate Medicare 
Advantage contracts for MA plans failing to achieve minimum quality 
ratings, to make improvements to the Medicare Adjustment risk 
adjustment system, and for other purposes.''.                
Page H4487
Meeting Hour: Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns 
today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow, June 18.       
  Page H4489
Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes and one recorded vote 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H4470, 
H4471, and H4471-72. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 6:17 p.m.