[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D2-D5]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 232 public bills, H.R. 5-237; 
and 37 resolutions, H.J. Res. 1-13; H. Con. Res. 1-3; and H. Res. 1-21, 
were introduced.                                           
  Pages H37-46
Reports Filed: There were no reports filed today.
Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the Guest Chaplain, Very Rev. 
Paul Ugo Arinze, St. John Vianney Roman Catholic Church, Janesville, 
WI.                                                             
  Page H1
Certificate of Election: The Clerk announced that Certificates of 
Election covering 435 seats in the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress had 
been received and the names of those persons whose credentials show 
that they were regularly elected as Representatives in accordance with 
the laws of their respective States would be called. Without objection, 
the Representatives-elect were directed to record their presence by 
electronic device in order to determine whether a quorum was present. 
                                                                Page H1
Call of the States: On the Call of the States, 434 Members reported 
their presence, Roll No. 1.                                  
  Pages H1-2
Election Credentials for the Resident Commissioner and Delegates: The 
Clerk announced that credentials have been received showing the 
elections of the following: Honorable Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, 
Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; Honorable 
Eleanor Holmes Norton, Delegate from the District of Columbia;

[[Page D3]]

Honorable Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Delegate from Guam; Honorable Stacey 
E. Plaskett, Delegate from the Virgin Islands; Honorable Amata Coleman 
Radewagen, Delegate from American Samoa; and Honorable Gregorio Sablan, 
Delegate from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 
                                                                Page H2
Election of Speaker: The Honorable Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin was 
elected Speaker of the House of Representatives and received 239 votes. 
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi received 189 votes, The Honorable Tim Ryan 
(OH) received 2 votes, The Honorable Jim Cooper received 1 vote, The 
Honorable John Lewis (GA) received 1 vote, and The Honorable Daniel 
Webster (FL) received 1 vote. Earlier, the Clerk appointed 
Representatives-elect Harper, Brady (PA), Kaptur, and Ros-Lehtinen to 
act as Tellers.                                              
  Pages H2-4
Escort Committee: The Clerk appointed the following committee to escort 
the Speaker-elect to the Chair: Representatives-elect McCarthy, Pelosi, 
Scalise, Hoyer, McMorris Rodgers, Clyburn, Stivers, Crowley, Messer, 
Sanchez, Collins (GA), Ben Ray Lujan (NM), Smith (MO), DeLauro, Mimi 
Walters (CA), Swalwell (CA), Mitchell, Levin, Sessions, Lowey, and 
McHenry; and the members of the Wisconsin delegation: Representatives-
elect Sensenbrenner, Kind, Moore, Duffy, Pocan, Grothman, and 
Gallagher.                                                      
  Page H4
Administration of the Oath of Office to Members of the 115th Congress: 
The Dean of the House, the Honorable John Conyers, Jr., administered 
the oath of office to the Speaker. The Speaker then administered the 
oath to the Members, Resident Commissioner, and Delegates.      
  Page H6
Election of Majority and Minority Leaders: The Chairman of the 
Republican Conference, Representative McMorris Rodgers, announced the 
election of Representative McCarthy as the Majority Leader. The 
Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, Representative Crowley, announced 
the election of Representative Pelosi as the Minority Leader.   
  Page H6
Election of Majority and Minority Whips: The Chairman of the Republican 
Conference, Representative McMorris Rodgers, announced that election of 
Representative Scalise as the Majority Whip. The Chairman of the 
Democratic Caucus, Representative Crowley, announced the election of 
Representative Hoyer as the Minority Whip and Representative Clyburn as 
Assistant Democratic Leader.                                    
  Page H6
Electing Officers of the House of Representatives: The House agreed to 
H. Res. 1, electing the following officers for the House of 
Representatives: Karen L. Haas, Clerk; Paul D. Irving, Sergeant-at-
Arms; Philip Kiko, Chief Administrative Officer; and Father Patrick J. 
Conroy, Chaplain.                                               
  Page H6
  Agreed that the question be divided on the adoption of the resolution 
so as to have a separate vote on the election of the Chaplain. Agreed 
to the first portion of the resolution by voice vote. Agreed to the 
remainder of the resolution by voice vote.                      
Page H6
  Rejected the Crowley amendment to H. Res. 1 by voice vote.    
Page H6
Administration of the Oath of Office: Representative-elect Lawrence 
presented herself in the well of the House and was administered the 
oath of office by the Speaker.
Notify the Senate that a Quorum Has Assembled: The House agreed to H. 
Res. 2, to inform the Senate that a quorum of the House has assembled 
and of the election of the Speaker and the Clerk.               
  Page H6
Notify the President of the Assembly of the 115th Congress: The House 
agreed to H. Res. 3, authorizing the Speaker to appoint a committee to 
notify the President of the assembly of the Congress. Subsequently, the 
Speaker appointed Representatives McCarthy and Pelosi to the committee. 
Later, Representative McCarthy announced that the Committee had 
notified the President that a quorum of each House had assembled and 
was ready to receive any communication he may be pleased to make. 
                                                             Pages H6-7
Notify the President of the Election of the Speaker and the Clerk: The 
House agreed to H. Res. 4, authorizing the Clerk to inform the 
President of the election of the Speaker and the Clerk.         
  Page H7
Adopting Rules for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress: The House agreed 
to H. Res. 5, adopting rules for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, by 
a yea-and-nay vote of 234 yeas to 193 nays, Roll No. 6, after the 
previous question was ordered by a yea-and-nay vote of 237 yeas to 193 
nays, Roll No. 4.                                           
  Pages H7-28
  Representative Norton moved to refer H. Res. 5 to a select committee 
of five members, to be appointed by the Speaker. Subsequently, 
Representative McCarthy moved to table the Norton motion and by a yea-
and-nay vote of 228 yeas to 184 nays, Roll No. 3, the McCarthy motion 
was agreed to.                                                 
Page H11
  Rejected the Lewis (GA) motion to commit H. Res. 5 to a select 
committee composed of the Majority Leader and Minority Leader with 
instructions to report it back to the House forthwith with an

[[Page D4]]

amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote of 193 yeas to 236 nays, Roll No. 5. 
                                                           Pages H26-27
Policies regarding use of electronic equipment: The Chair announced the 
changes to rule 2 and rule 17 just adopted for the 115th Congress with 
regard to the use of electronic equipment on the House floor. 
                                                               Page H28
Election of Members to Certain Standing Committees: The House agreed to 
H. Res. 6, electing Members to certain standing committees of the House 
of Representatives.                                            
  Page H28
Election of Members to Certain Standing Committees: The House agreed to 
H. Res. 7, electing Members to certain standing committees of the House 
of Representatives.                                        
  Pages H28-29
Designation of Minority Employees: The House agreed to H. Res. 8, 
providing for the designation of certain minority employees.   
  Page H29
Daily Hour of Meeting: The House agreed to H. Res. 9, fixing the daily 
hour of meeting of the First Session of the One Hundred Fifteenth 
Congress.                                                      
  Page H29
Assembly outside of the District of Columbia: The House agreed to H. 
Con. Res. 1, regarding consent to assemble outside the seat of 
government.                                                    
  Page H29
Appointment Authority: Agreed that during the One Hundred Fifteenth 
Congress, the Speaker, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader be 
authorized to accept resignations and to make appointments authorized 
by law or by the House.                                        
  Page H29
Extension of Remarks: Agreed that during the One Hundred Fifteenth 
Congress, all Members be permitted to extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material within the permitted limit in that section 
of the Congressional Record entitled ``Extension of Remarks''. 
                                                               Page H29
Morning-Hour Debate: Agreed to the procedures regarding the format for 
morning-hour debate for the first session of the One Hundred Fifteenth 
Congress.                                                      
  Page H29
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act: H.R. 27, to amend title 38, 
United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
retain a copy of any reprimand or admonishment received by an employee 
of the Department in the permanent record of the employee; and 
                                                           Pages H29-31
  Biological Implant Tracking and Veteran Safety Act of 2017: H.R. 28, 
to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to adopt and implement a standard identification 
protocol for use in the tracking and procurement of biological implants 
by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 
                                                           Pages H31-33
Joint Economic Committee--Appointment: The Chair announced the 
Speaker's appointment of the following Member on the part of the House 
to the Joint Economic Committee: Representative Tiberi.        
  Page H33
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence--Appointment: The Chair 
announced the Speaker's appointment of the following Member to the 
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Representative Nunes, 
Chairman.                                                      
  Page H33
House Office Building Commission--Appointment: The Chair announced that 
Representatives McCarthy and Pelosi will serve as members of the House 
Office Building Commission with the Speaker.                   
  Page H33
Speaker Pro Tempore: The Chair announced that the Speaker delivered to 
the Clerk a letter dated January 3, 2017, listing Members in the order 
in which each shall act as Speaker pro tempore under clause 8(b)(3) of 
rule 1.                                                        
  Page H33
Succession of the Speaker of the House: Read a letter from the Speaker 
wherein he designated Representative McCarthy to exercise authority 
regarding any assembly, reassembly, or reconvening.            
  Page H34
Speaker Pro Tempore Designations: Read a letter from the Speaker 
wherein he appointed Representative Denham, Representative Thornberry, 
Representative Upton, Representative Harris, Representative Comstock, 
and Representative Messer to act as Speaker pro tempore to sign 
enrolled bills and joint resolutions through the remainder of the One 
Hundred Fifteenth Congress.                                    
  Page H34
Clerk Designation: Read a letter from the Clerk wherein she designated 
Mr. Robert Reeves, Deputy Clerk, and Mr. Robert Borden, Legal Counsel, 
to sign any and all papers and do all other acts in case of her 
temporary absence or disability.                               
  Page H34
Policies of the Chair: The Chair announced his policies with respect to 
particular aspects of the legislative process dealing with (1) 
privileges of the floor; (2) introduction of bills and resolutions; (3) 
unanimous-consent requests for the consideration of legislation; (4) 
recognition for one-minute speeches; (5) recognition for special-order 
speeches; (6) decorum in debate; (7) conduct of votes by electronic 
device; (8) use of handouts on the House floor; (9) use of electronic 
equipment on the House floor; and (10) use of the Chamber. These 
announcements, where

[[Page D5]]

appropriate, will reiterate the origins of the stated policies. The 
Chair intends to continue in the 115th Congress the policies reflected 
in these statements. The policy announced in the 102nd Congress with 
respect to jurisdictional concepts related to clause 5(a) of rule 21, 
tax and tariff measures, will continue to govern but need not be 
reiterated, as it is adequately documented in the House Rules and 
Manual. Agreed without objection that the announcements will be placed 
in the Congressional Record.                               
  Pages H34-36
Extending the life of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural 
Ceremonies: The House agreed to S. Con. Res. 1, extending the life of 
the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.     
  Page H36
Providing for the counting on January 6, 2017, of the electoral votes 
for President and Vice President of the United States: The House agreed 
to S. Con. Res. 2, to provide for the counting on January 6, 2017, of 
the electoral votes for President and Vice President of the United 
States.                                                        
  Page H36
Whole Number of the House: Under clause 5(d) of Rule 20, the Chair 
announced to the House that the whole number of the House is 434. 
                                                               Page H36
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H28.
Senate Referrals: S. Con. Res. 1 was held at the desk. S. Con. Res. 2 
was held at the desk.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Five yea-and-nay votes developed during the 
proceedings of today and appear on pages H3-4, H11, H26, H26-27, and 
H27-28. There was one quorum call, Roll No. 1, which appears on pages 
H1-2.
Adjournment: The House met at 12 noon and adjourned at 6:08 p.m.