[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 103 (Thursday, June 25, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D770-D773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 61 public bills, H.R. 2886-
2946; and 9 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 58-59; and H. Res. 340-346 were 
introduced.                                              
  Pages H4768-71
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages H4773-75
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 313, to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide leave to 
any new Federal employee who is a veteran with a service-connected 
disability rated

[[Page D771]]

at 30 percent or more for purposes of undergoing medical treatment for 
such disability, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 114-180);
  H.R. 1069, to amend title 44, United States Code, to require 
information on contributors to Presidential library fundraising 
organizations, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 114-181);
  H.R. 1531, to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide a pathway 
for temporary seasonal employees in Federal land management agencies to 
compete for vacant permanent positions under internal merit promotion 
procedures, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 114-182);
  H.R. 690, to require each agency, in providing notice of a rule 
making, to include a link to a 100 word plain language summary of the 
proposed rule (H. Rept. 114-183);
  H.R. 712, to impose certain limitations on consent decrees and 
settlement agreements by agencies that require the agencies to take 
regulatory action in accordance with the terms thereof, and for other 
purposes (H. Rept. 114-184);
  H.R. 2647, to expedite under the National Environmental Policy Act 
and improve forest management activities in units of the National 
Forest System derived from the public domain, on public lands under the 
jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and on tribal lands to 
return resilience to overgrown, fire-prone forested lands, and for 
other purposes, with amendments (H. Rept. 114-185, Part 1);
  H.R. 2647, to expedite under the National Environmental Policy Act 
and improve forest management activities in units of the National 
Forest System derived from the public domain, on public lands under the 
jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and on tribal lands to 
return resilience to overgrown, fire-prone forested lands, and for 
other purposes, with amendments (H. Rept. 114-185, Part 2);
  H.R. 208, to require the Administrator of the Small Business 
Administration to establish a program to make loans to certain 
businesses, homeowners, and renters affected by Superstorm Sandy, with 
amendments (H. Rept. 114-186);
  H.R. 2499, to amend the Small Business Act to increase access to 
capital for veteran entrepreneurs, to help create jobs, and for other 
purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 114-187);
  H.R. 2670, to amend the Small Business Act to provide for expanded 
participation in the microloan program, and for other purposes (H. 
Rept. 114-188); and
  H.R. 1023, to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to 
provide for increased limitations on leverage for multiple licenses 
under common control (H. Rept. 114-189).                     
Page H4768
Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the Guest Chaplain, Pastor 
Randy Bezet, Bayside Community Church, Bradenton, Florida.   
  Page H4655
Privileged Resolution: The House agreed to H. Res. 340, returning to 
the Senate the bill (H.R. 1735), to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for 
military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of 
Energy, and to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal 
year, with the Senate amendment thereto.                     
  Page H4657
Question of Privilege: Representative Thompson (MS) rose to a question 
of the privileges of the House and submitted a resolution. 
Subsequently, the Chair ruled that the resolution did present a 
question of the privileges of the House.                 
  Pages H4662-63
  Agreed to the McCarthy motion to refer the resolution, H. Res. 341, 
to the Committee on House Administration by a yea-and-nay vote of 240 
yeas to 184 nays, Roll No. 385.                          
Pages H4663-64
Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015: The House agreed to the Ryan 
(WI) motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment to 
the Senate amendment to H.R. 1295, to extend the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act, the Generalized System of Preferences, and the 
preferential duty treatment program for Haiti, by a yea-and-nay vote of 
286 yeas to 138 nays, Roll No. 388.                      
  Pages H4666-98
  H. Res. 338, the rule providing for consideration of the Senate 
amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill 
(H.R. 1295) was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 251 yeas to 176 
nays, Roll No. 386, after the previous question was ordered. 
                                               Pages H4657-62, H4664-65
Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and pass the following measures which were debated on Tuesday, June 
23rd:
  DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015: H.R. 1615, amended, to direct the 
Chief FOIA Officer of the Department of Homeland Security to make 
certain improvements in the implementation of section 552 of title 5, 
United States Code (commonly known as the Freedom of Information Act), 
by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 423 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll 
No. 387; and                                             
  Pages H4665-66
  CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2015: H.R. 2200, 
amended, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish 
chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and 
information sharing functions of the Office of

[[Page D772]]

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, by a \2/
3\ yea-and-nay vote of 420 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 389. 
                                                         Pages H4698-99
Trade Act of 2015--Motion to Reconsider: Agreed by unanimous consent 
that the motion to reconsider the vote on the question of concurring in 
the matter comprising the remainder of title II of the Senate amendment 
to H.R. 1314, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for 
a right to an administrative appeal relating to adverse determinations 
of tax-exempt status of certain organizations, is laid on the table. 
                                                             Page H4699
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016: Agreed to take 
from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 1735), to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, and to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, with the Senate amendment 
thereto, disagree with the Senate amendment and request a conference 
with the Senate thereon.                                     
  Page H4699
  The Chair appointed the following conferees on H.R. 1735: From the 
Committee on Armed Services, for consideration of the House bill and 
the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: 
Representatives Thornberry, Forbes, Miller (FL), Wilson (SC), LoBiondo, 
Bishop (UT), Turner, Kline, Rogers (AL), Shuster, Conaway, Lamborn, 
Wittman, Hunter, Hartzler, Heck (NV), Wenstrup, Stefanik, Smith (WA), 
Loretta Sanchez (CA), Davis (CA), Langevin, Larsen (WA), Cooper, 
Bordallo, Courtney, Tsongas, Garamendi, Johnson (GA), Speier, Castro 
(TX), and Duckworth.                                         
Page H4699
  The Chair announced that additional conferees will be appointed at a 
subsequent time.                                             
Page H4699
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2016: The House began consideration of H.R. 2822, 
making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, 
and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016. 
Further consideration was postponed.                  
  Pages H4699-H4761
Agreed to:
  Poe (TX) amendment that redirects funding within the Bureau of Land 
Management by $1,000,000;                                
Pages H4730-31
  Flores amendment that increases funding for the Bureau of Land 
Management by $5,000,000, increases funding for the National Forest 
System by $5,000,000, and reduces funding for the Environmental 
Programs and Management by $12,307,693;                  
Pages H4731-32
  Clawson (FL) amendment that increases funding for US Fish and 
Wildlife Service Resource Management by $1,000,000 and reduces funding 
for Environmental Programs and Management by $1,200,000; 
                                                         Pages H4735-36
  Clawson (FL) amendment that increases funding for Operation of the 
National Park System Everglades Restoration by $1,000,000 and reduces 
funding for Environmental Programs and Management by $1,250,000; 
                                                         Pages H4736-37
  Sewell (AL) amendment that increases funding for Operation of the 
National Park System by $2,500,000, increases funding for Historic 
Preservation Fund by $4,500,000, and reduces funding for Office of the 
Secretary Departmental Operations by $7,000,000;         
Pages H4637-38
  Gallego amendment that redirects funding within the National Park 
Service by $1,000,000;                                       
Page H4738
  Tsongas amendment that redirects funding within Centennial Challenge 
projects and programs by $30,000,000;                    
Pages H4739-40
  Johnson (OH) amendment that increases funding, by offset, for State 
and Tribal Assistance Grants by $2,000,000;              
Pages H4742-43
  Gosar amendment that increases funding for the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education by $50,304,000 and reduces 
funding for Environmental Programs by $61,304,000;       
Pages H4743-45
  Langevin amendment that reduces funding for the EPA Science and 
Technology by $1,625,000 and increases funding for the Environmental 
Programs and Management by $1,000,000;                   
Pages H4753-54
  Grayson amendment that redirects funding within Environmental 
Programs and Management by $2,212,000;                       
Page H4754
  Mooney (WV) amendment that reduces funding for Environmental Programs 
and Management by $2,000,000 and increases funding for the Office of 
Inspector General by $1,000,000;                         
Pages H4754-55
  Mooney (WV) amendment that reduces funding for the Environmental 
Programs and Management by $2,000,000 and applies the savings to the 
spending reduction account;                                  
Page H4755
  Tipton amendment that increases funding, by offset, for Wildland Fire 
Management by $20,000,000; and                           
Pages H4755-56
  Benishek amendment that increases funding, by offset, for Capital 
Improvement and Maintenance by $2,000,000.                   
Page H4760
Rejected:
  Griffith amendment that sought to increase from 3 to 6 the 
Appalachian States with the greatest

[[Page D773]]

amount of unfunded needs to meet the priorities of the Surface Mining 
Control Reclamation.                                         
Page H4743
Withdrawn:
  Garamendi amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that 
would have reduced funding for the Management of Lands and Resources by 
$14,000,000 and increased funding for Surveys, Investigation and 
Research by $11,611,000;                                     
Page H4732
  Yoho amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that would 
have reduced funding for the Bureau of Land Management by $25,325,000 
and applied the savings to the spending reduction account; 
                                                         Pages H4732-33
  Guinta amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that 
would have increased funding, by offset, for Land Acquisition by 
$16,000,000;                                                 
Page H4734
  Garamendi amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that 
would have redirected funding within the Land and Water Conservation 
Fund by $1,000,000;                                      
Pages H4734-35
  Yoho amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that would 
have reduced funding for the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund by 
$29,904,000 and applied the savings to the spending reduction account; 
                                                             Page H4743
  Plaskett amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that 
would have redirected funding within Insular Affairs by $13,684,000; 
                                                         Pages H4747-48
  Jackson Lee amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn 
that would have reduced funding for the Office of Inspector General 
Salaries and Expenses by $2,000,000 and increased funding for the 
Smithsonian Institution Salaries and Expenses by $1,500,000; 
                                                         Pages H4748-52
  Grijalva amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that 
would have struck section 120, prohibiting use of funds regarding legal 
trade and transport of ivory;                            
Pages H4752-53
  McNerney amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that 
would have increased funding for State and Tribal Assistance Grants by 
$861,000,000, increased funding for capitalization grants for the Clean 
Water State Revolving Funds by $432,000,000, and increased funding for 
capitalization grants for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds by 
$429,000,000; and                                        
Pages H4757-58
  Beyer amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that 
would have struck the paragraph regarding EPA Administrator 
requirements to base agency policies and actions regarding air 
emissions from forest biomass on the principle that forest biomass 
emissions do not increase overall carbon dioxide accumulations in the 
atmosphere.                                              
Pages H4759-60
Point of Order sustained against:
  Beyer amendment that sought to increase funding for the National Park 
Service maintenance backlog by $11,500,000,000; and      
Pages H4738-39
  Kildee amendment (No. 10 printed in the Congressional Record of June 
24, 2015) that sought to add a new proviso providing new eligibility 
requirements for grant recipients.                       
Pages H4758-59
Proceedings Postponed:
  Garamendi amendment that seeks to reduce funding for the Bureau of 
Land Management by $4,010,000 and increase funding for the US Fish and 
Wildlife Service by $3,902,000;                          
Pages H4733-34
  Capps amendment that seeks to increase funding, by offset, for Inland 
Oil Spill Programs by $5,434,000;                        
Pages H4740-42
  Sablan amendment that seeks to increase funding, by offset, for 
Insular Affairs by $5,000,000; and                       
Pages H4745-46
  Castor (FL) amendment that seeks to redirect funding within 
Environmental Programs and Management by $1,913,000.     
Pages H4746-47
  H. Res. 333, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 
2822) and (H.R. 2042) was agreed to yesterday, June 24th.
Adjournment Resolution: The House agreed to S. Con. Res. 19, providing 
for a conditional adjournment or recess of the Senate and an 
adjournment of the House of Representatives.                 
  Page H4761
Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate today appears on 
pages H4699 and H4766.
Senate Referrals: S. 230 was held at the desk.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Five yea-and-nay votes developed during the 
proceedings of today and appear on pages H4663-64, H4664, H4665, H4697-
98, H4698. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and at 6:01 p.m., pursuant to S. 
Con. Res. 19, the House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 
7, 2015.