[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 8, 2015)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D793-D796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page D793]]




                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 28 public bills, H.R. 2962-
2989; and 4 resolutions, H. Res. 349, 351-353, were introduced. 
                                                         Pages H4954-56
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages H4957-58
Report Filed: A report was filed today as follows:
  H. Res. 350, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6) to 
accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of 21st century 
cures, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 114-193).            
Page H4954
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed 
Representative Holding to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H4867
Recess: The House recessed at 11:06 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon. 
                                                             Page H4874
Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the Guest Chaplain, Reverend 
Shane Hall, First Southern Baptist Church, Del City, Oklahoma. 
                                                             Page H4874
Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by 
voice vote.                                          
  Pages H4874, H4935
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2016: The House continued 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. Consideration began on June 25th. 
                                            Pages H4888-H4900, H4935-46
Agreed to:
  Pearce amendment that was debated on July 7 that prohibits the use of 
funds to increase the rate of any royalty required to be paid to the 
United States for oil and gas produced on Federal land, or to prepare 
or publish a proposed rule relating to such an increase (by a recorded 
vote of 231 ayes to 198 noes, Roll No. 408);             
Pages H4898-99
  Hardy amendment that was debated on July 7 that prohibits the use of 
funds to make a Presidential declaration by public proclamation of a 
national monument under chapter 3203 of title 54, United States Code in 
the counties of Mohave and Cococino in the State of Arizona, in the 
counties of Modoc and Siskiyou in the State of California, in the 
counties of Chaffee, Moffat, and Park in the State of Colorado, in the 
counties of Lincoln, Clark, and Nye in the State of Nevada, in the 
county of Otero in the State of New Mexico, in the counties of Jackson, 
Josephine and Malheur in the State of Oregon, or in the counties of 
Wayne, Garfield, and Kane in the State of Utah (by a recorded vote of 
222 ayes to 206 noes, Roll No. 409); and                     
Page H4899
  Buck amendment that prohibits the use of funds to be used to pay the 
salaries and expenses of personnel or any other entity to negotiate or 
conclude a settlement with the Federal Government that includes terms 
requiring the defendant to donate or contribute funds to an 
organization or individual.                                  
Page H4937
Rejected:
  Garamendi amendment that was debated on June 25 that sought 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 (by a 
recorded vote of 181 ayes to 244 noes, Roll No. 393);    
Pages H4888-89
  Capps amendment that was debated on June 25 that sought to increase 
funding by offset, for Inland Oil Spill Programs, by $5,434,000 (by a 
recorded vote of 184 ayes to 243 noes, Roll No. 394);        
Page H4889
  Sablan amendment that was debated on June 25 that sought to increase 
funding, by offset, for Insular Affairs by $5,000,000 (by a recorded 
vote of 183 ayes to 245 noes, Roll No. 395);             
Pages H4889-90
  Castor (FL) amendment that was debated on June 25 that sought to 
redirect funding within Environmental Programs and Management, by 
$1,913,000 (by a recorded vote of 188 ayes to 239 noes, Roll No. 396); 
                                                         Pages H4890-91
  Grijalva amendment that was debated on July 7 that sought to strike 
section 423, relating to stream buffers (by a recorded vote of 189 ayes 
to 239 noes, Roll No. 397);                                  
Page H4891
  Tsongas amendment that was debated on July 7 that sought to strike 
section 425, relating to the limitation on the use of funds for 
National Ocean Policy (by a recorded vote of 191 ayes to 238 noes, Roll 
No. 398);                                                
Pages H4891-92
  Grijalva amendment that was debated on July 7 that sought to strike 
section 433, relating to the availability of vacant grazing allotments 
(by a recorded vote of 178 ayes to 251 noes, Roll No. 399); 
                                                         Pages H4892-93
  Polis amendment that was debated on July 7 that sought to strike 
section 437, relating to the use of funds for the social cost of carbon 
(by a recorded vote of 186 ayes to 243 noes, Roll No. 400); 
                                                             Page H4893
  Edwards amendment that was debated on July 7 that sought to strike 
section 438, which provides for a limitation on the use of funds 
regarding ozone standards (by a recorded vote of 180 ayes to 249 noes, 
Roll No. 401);                                           
Pages H4893-94

[[Page D794]]


  Lawrence amendment (No. 13 printed in the Congressional Record of 
June 24, 2015) that was debated on July 7 that sought to strike section 
439, which provides for prohibitions regarding hydraulic fracturing (by 
a recorded vote of 179 ayes to 250 noes, Roll No. 402); 
                                                         Pages H4894-95
  Polis amendment that was debated on July 7 that sought to prohibit 
the use of funds in contravention of Public Law 94-579 (by a recorded 
vote of 192 ayes to 237 noes, Roll No. 403);                 
Page H4895
  Tsongas amendment that was debated on July 7 that sought to prohibit 
the use of funds to implement or enforce sections 117, relating to 
Sage-Grouse, section 121 relating to reissuance of rules (wolves), and 
section 122 relating to the Northern Long Eared Bat (by a recorded vote 
of 186 ayes to 243 noes, Roll No. 404);                  
Pages H4895-96
  Grijalva amendment that was debated on July 7 that sought to prohibit 
the use of funds to implement or enforce section 120, with respect to 
ivory (by a recorded vote of 183 ayes to 244 noes, Roll No. 405); 
                                                         Pages H4896-97
  Beyer amendment that was debated on July 7 that sought to prohibit 
the use of funds in contravention of Executive Orders regarding climate 
change (by a recorded vote of 189 ayes to 237 noes, Roll No. 406); and 
                                                             Page H4897
  Blackburn amendment (No. 6 printed in the Congressional Record of 
June 24, 2015) that was debated on July 7 that sought to reduce funds 
by 1 percent across-the-board (by a recorded vote of 168 ayes to 258 
noes, Roll No. 407).                                     
Pages H4897-98
Withdrawn:
  Buck amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that would 
have prohibited the use of funds to pay retention bonuses to Senior 
Executive Service personnel at the Environmental Protection Agency; not 
more than $50,000 to be made available to be used by the Department of 
the Interior to conduct a study on whether Agricola Americus should be 
classified as an endangered species.                     
Pages H4936-37
Proceedings Postponed:
  Ellison amendment that seeks to prohibit the use of funds to enter 
into contracts with any person whose disclosures of a proceeding with a 
disposition listed in United States Code, in the Federal Awardee 
Performance and Integrity Information System include the term ``Fair 
Labor Standards Act'' and such disposition is listed as ``willful'' or 
``repeated'';                                            
Pages H4935-36
  Buck amendment that seeks to prohibit the use of funds to pay a 
Federal employee for any period of time during which such employee is 
using official time under United States Code;            
Pages H4937-38
  Grothman amendment that seeks to prohibit the use of funds to 
regulate the location of the placement of a monitor of pollutants under 
the Clean Air Act in any county provided such county has at least one 
monitor;                                                 
Pages H4939-40
  Sanford amendment that seeks to prohibit the use of funds for oil and 
gas lease sale 260 included in the Draft Proposed Outer Continental 
Shelf (OCS) oil and Gas Leasing program for 2017-2022 (DPP), or in any 
subsequent proposed or final iteration of such Program;      
Page H4940
  Palmer amendment that seeks to prohibit the use of funds for grants 
under title VII, subtitle G of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and to 
reduce funds for EPA-State and Tribal Assistance Grants as well as 
grants under title VII, subtitle G of the Energy Policy Act by 
$50,000,000 in each instance;                            
Pages H4941-42
  Palmer amendment that seeks to prohibit the use of funds by the 
Environmental Protection Agency to carry out the powers granted under 
section 3063 of title 18, United States Code; and        
Pages H4942-43
  Calvert amendment that seeks to prohibit the use of funds to prohibit 
the display the flag of the United States or the POW/MIA flag, or the 
decoration of graves with flags in the National Park Service national 
cemeteries as provided in National Park Service Director's order #61 or 
to contravene the National Park Service memorandum dated June 24, 2015 
with the subject line containing the words ``Immediate Action Required, 
No Reply Needed'' with respect to sales items.           
Pages H4945-46
  H. Res. 333, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 
2822) and (H.R. 2042) was agreed to on June 24th.
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and agree to the 
following measures:
  Calling for substantive dialogue, without preconditions, in order to 
address Tibetan grievances and secure a negotiated agreement for the 
Tibetan people: H. Res. 337, amended, calling for substantive dialogue, 
without preconditions, in order to address Tibetan grievances and 
secure a negotiated agreement for the Tibetan people; and 
                                                         Pages H4900-04
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding 
Srebrenica: H. Res. 310, expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives regarding Srebrenica.                    
  Pages H4904-08
Student Success Act: The House passed H.R. 5, to support State and 
local accountability for public education, protect State and local 
authority, and inform parents of the performance of their children's 
schools,

[[Page D795]]

by a recorded vote of 218 ayes to 213 noes, Roll No. 423. Consideration 
began February 25th.                                     
  Pages H4908-35
  Rejected the Esty motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce with instructions to report the same back 
to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a recorded vote of 185 
ayes to 244 noes, Roll No. 422.                          
Pages H4932-34
  Pursuant to H. Res. 125, it was made in order to consider the further 
amendments printed in part A of H. Rept. 114-192 as though they were 
the last further amendments printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-29. 
                                                             Page H4924
Agreed to:
  Rokita amendment (No. 45 printed in part A of H. Rept. 114-192) that 
sets the authorization from fiscal year 2016 through 2019; 
                                                         Pages H4908-10
  Zeldin amendment (No. 30 printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-29) that 
was debated on February 26 that allows a State to withdraw from the 
Common Core Standards or any other specific standards (by a recorded 
vote of 373 ayes to 57 noes, Roll No. 410);              
Pages H4924-25
  Hurd amendment (No. 31 printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-29) that was 
debated on February 26 that expresses the sense of Congress that 
students' personally identifiable information is important to protect 
as applied to current law and this act (by a recorded vote of 424 ayes 
to 2 noes, Roll No. 411);                                    
Page H4925
  Loebsack amendment (No. 40 printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-29) that 
was debated on February 26 that supports the expansion of the use of 
digital learning through competitive grants to partnerships to 
implement and evaluate the results of technology-based learning 
practices, strategies, tools, or programs at rural schools (by a 
recorded vote of 218 ayes to 213 noes, Roll No. 416); and 
                                                         Pages H4928-29
  Salmon amendment (No. 47 printed in part A of H. Rept. 114-192) that 
allows parents to opt their student out of the testing required under 
this bill and exempt schools from including students that have opted 
out in the schools' participation requirements (by a recorded vote of 
251 ayes to 178 noes, Roll No. 420).              
Pages H4912-13, H4931
Rejected:
  Grayson amendment (No. 32 printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-29) that 
was debated on February 26 that sought to require the Secretary of 
Education to conduct an assessment of the impact of school start times 
on student health, well-being, and performance (by a recorded vote of 
199 ayes to 228 noes, Roll No. 412);                         
Page H4926
  Wilson (FL) amendment (No. 33 printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-29) 
that was debated on February 26 that sought to provide for school 
dropout prevention and re-entry and provide grants to raise academic 
achievement levels for all students (by a recorded vote of 192 ayes to 
237 noes, Roll No. 413);                                 
Pages H4926-27
  Carson (IN) amendment (No. 35 printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-29) 
that was debated on February 26 that sought to advance assessments of 
student achievement and instructional practices, effective teacher 
preparation and continuing professional development, education 
administration, and international comparisons; the amendment supports 
development of a national research strategy to ensure that students, 
particularly at risk students, have effective teachers and are being 
prepared for the future (by a recorded vote of 186 ayes to 245 noes, 
Roll No. 414);                                           
Pages H4927-28
  Brownley (CA) amendment (No. 39 printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-29) 
that was debated on February 26 that sought to create a grant program 
for states to create or expand biliteracy seal programs to recognize 
student proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in both English 
and a second language for graduating high school seniors (by a recorded 
vote of 191 ayes to 239 noes, Roll No. 415);                 
Page H4928
  Polis amendment (No. 41 printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-29) that 
was debated on February 26 that sought to authorize--but does not 
appropriate funds--for the Secretary of Education to provide grants 
for: early-childhood education scholarships, professional development 
and licensing credentials, or increased compensation for educators who 
have attained specific qualifications (by a recorded vote of 205 ayes 
to 224 noes, Roll No. 417);                                  
Page H4929
  Thompson (MS) amendment (No. 43 printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-29) 
that was debated on February 27 that sought to require that The Student 
Success Act shall not go into effect until the Secretary of Education 
determine that its enactment will not reduce the college and career 
readiness of racial or ethnic minority students, students with 
disabilities, English learners, and low-income students and provide 
written notification to Congress on such determination (by a recorded 
vote of 189 ayes to 241 noes, Roll No. 241);                 
Page H4930
  Walker amendment (No. 46 printed in part A of H. Rept. 114-192) that 
sought to add A-PLUS, which would send funding under NCLB back to 
states in the form of block grants, and states would then be able to 
direct that funding to any education purpose under state law (by a 
recorded vote of 195 ayes to 235 noes, Roll No. 419); and 
                                               Pages H4910-12, H4930-31
  Scott (VA) amendment (No. 44 printed in part B of H. Rept. 114-29) 
that was debated on February

[[Page D796]]

27 that sought to repeal H.R. 5 and replace the bill text with a 
substitute amendment that provides robust funding levels, replaces the 
mandates of No Child Left Behind, and maintains civil rights and equity 
protections that ensure all students graduate from high school college- 
and career-ready (by a recorded vote of 187 ayes to 244 noes, Roll No. 
421).                                                        
Page H4932
Withdrawn:
  Polis amendment (No. 48 printed in part A of H. Rept. 114-192) that 
was offered and subsequently withdrawn that would have required states 
to have college- and career-ready standards and set performance, 
growth, and graduation rate targets for all student subgroups; also 
included performance targets for English language learners and students 
with disabilities.                                       
Pages H4913-24
  Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming 
changes to reflect the actions of the House.                 
Page H4946
  H. Res. 347, the rule providing for the further consideration of the 
bill (H.R. 5) and consideration of the bill (H.R. 2647) was agreed to 
by a yea-and-nay vote of 242 yeas to 185 nays, Roll No. 392, after the 
previous question was ordered.                           
Pages H4879-87
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H4900.
Senate Referrals: S. 286 was held at the desk.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Thirty one recorded votes and one yea-and-nay vote 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H4887, 
H4888-89, H4889, H4890, H4890-91, H4891, H4891-92, H4892-93, H4893, 
H4893-94, H4894-95, H4895, H4895-96, H4896-97, H4897, H4897-98, H4898-
99, H4899, H4924-25, H4925, H4926, H4926-27, H4927, H4928, H4928-29, 
H4929, H4930, H4930-31, H4931, H4932, H4934, and H4934-35. There were 
no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 9:37 p.m.