[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 41 (Thursday, March 9, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D245-D246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                        House of Representatives

Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 68 public bills, H.R.1422-1489; 1 
private bill, H.R.1490; and 5 resolutions, and H. Res.184-188 were 
introduced.                                                   
  Pages H2017-19
Additional Cosponsors:                                            
  Page H2021
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 654, to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency to carry out a plan for the purchase and installation of an 
earthquake early warning system for the Cascadia Subduction Zone, and for 
other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115-30);
  H.R. 1117, to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency to submit a report regarding certain plans regarding 
assistance to applicants and grantees during the response to an emergency or 
disaster, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115-31); and
  H.R. 1214, to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency to conduct a program to use simplified procedures to issue 
public assistance for certain projects under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115-
32).                                                          
Pages H2016-17
Recess: The House recessed at 11:10 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon. 
                                                                  Page H1958
Recess: The House recessed at 1:06 p.m. and reconvened at 2:16 p.m. 
                                                                  Page H1967
Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017: The House passed H.R. 985, 
to amend the procedures used in Federal court class actions and 
multidistrict litigation proceedings to assure fairer, more efficient 
outcomes for claimants and defendants, by a recorded vote of 220 ayes to 201 
noes with 1 answering ``present'', Roll No. 148. 
                                                 Pages H1962-68, H1974-H2000
  Rejected the Kildee motion ro recommit the bill to the Committee on the 
Judiciary with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith 
with an amendment, by a recorded vote of 188 ayes to 234 noes, Roll No. 147.
                                                              Pages H1998-99
  Pursuant to the Rule, an amendment in the nature of a substitute 
consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115-5 shall be considered as 
an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule. 
                                                          Pages H1963, H1981
Agreed to:
  Goodlatte amendment (No. 1 printed in part B of H. Rept. 115-29) that 
strikes the prohibition on the use of the same class counsel if the named 
plaintiff is a present or former client, or has a contractual relationship 
with, the class counsel; carves out private securities litigation class 
actions from the conflict of interest and stay of discovery sections, gives 
federal courts 90 days to review the sufficiency of the allegations 
verification submissions made in the section on multi-district litigation, 
and makes other technical, conforming, and clarifying changes. 
                                                              Pages H1983-84
Rejected:
  Deutch amendment (No. 2 printed in part B of H. Rept. 115-29) that sought 
to strike the provision on conflicts of interest (by a recorded vote of 182 
ayes to 227 noes, Roll No. 140);                    
Pages H1984-85, H1993-94
  Deutch amendment (No. 3 printed in part B of H. Rept. 115-29) that sought 
to strike the fee determination based on equitable relief provision (by a 
recorded vote of 189 ayes to 228 noes, Roll No. 141); 
                                                       Pages H1985-86, H1994
  Soto amendment (No. 4 printed in part B of H. Rept. 115-29) that sought to 
strike section 1721 to allow discovery to proceed while motions are pending 
(by a recorded vote of 192 ayes to 230 noes, Roll No. 142); 
                                                    Pages H1986-87, H1994-95
  Johnson (GA) amendment (No. 5 printed in part B of H. Rept. 115-29) that 
sought to exempt civil actions alleging fraud (by a recorded vote of 190 
ayes to 230 noes, Roll No. 143);                    
Pages H1987-88, H1995-96
  Conyers amendment (No. 6 printed in part B of H. Rept. 115-29) that sought 
to exempt civil rights actions from the bill's class action provisions (by a 
recorded vote of 191 ayes to 230 noes, Roll No. 144); 
                                                       Pages H1988-90, H1996
  Jackson Lee amendment (No. 7 printed in part B of H. Rept. 115-29) that 
sought to replace the substantive text of the bill with a requirement that 
the bankruptcy asbestos trust report quarterly an aggregate list of demands 
received and payments made (by a recorded vote of 193 ayes to 229 noes, Roll 
No. 145); and                                       
Pages H1990-92, H1996-97
  Espaillat amendment (No. 8 printed in part B of H. Rept. 115-29) that 
sought to exempt a claimant who is or has been living in public housing or 
any dwelling unit for which rental assistance provided under section 8 (by a 
recorded vote of 193 ayes to 228 noes, Roll No. 146). 
                                                    Pages H1992-93, H1997-98
  H. Res. 180, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 720) 
and (H.R. 985) was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 233 yeas to 184 nays, 
Roll No. 139, after the previous question was ordered by a yea-and-nay vote 
of 233 yeas to 186 nays, Roll No. 138.                        
Pages H1967-68
Innocent Party Protection Act: The House passed H.R. 725, to amend title 28, 
United States Code, to prevent fraudulent joinder, by a recorded vote of 224 
ayes to 194 noes, Roll No. 152.                        
  Pages H1968, H2003-04

[[Page D246]]


  Rejected the Kuster motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on the 
Judiciary with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith 
with an amendment, by a recorded vote of 187 ayes to 233 noes, Roll No. 151.
                                                              Pages H2002-03
Rejected:
  Soto amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 115-27) that sought to create an 
exception for instances of public health risks, including byproducts of 
hydraulic fracturing, well stimulation, or any water contamination (by a 
recorded vote of 189 ayes to 233 noes, Roll No. 149); and 
                                                    Pages H1972-73, H2000-01
  Cartwright amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 115-27) that sought to 
create a separate exception for plaintiffs seeking compensation resulting 
from the bad faith of an insurer (by a recorded vote of 187 ayes to 229 
noes, Roll No. 150).                                
Pages H1973-74, H2001-02
  H. Res. 175, the rule providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 725) 
was agreed to yesterday, March 8th.
Migratory Bird Conservation Commission--Appointment: The Chair announced the 
Speaker's appointment of the following Member on the part of the House to 
the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission: Representative Thompson (CA). 
                                                                  Page H2004
Senate Messages: Message received from the Senate and message received from 
the Senate by the Clerk and subsequently presented to the House today appear 
on pages H1958-59, H1968.
Senate Referral: S. 496 was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure. S.J. Res. 1 was held at the desk.                 
  Page H2016
Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes and thirteen recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H1967, H1967-
68, H1993-94, H1994, H1995, H1995-96, H1996, H1997, H1997-98, H1999, H1999-
H2000, H2000-01, H2001-02 H2002-03, H2003. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 9:14 p.m.