[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 46 (Thursday, March 16, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D300-D301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 37 public bills, H.R. 1556-
1592; and 7 resolutions, H.J. Res. 90; and H. Res. 200-205 were 
introduced.                                              
  Pages H2147-49
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages H2150-51
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 1302, to require an exercise related to terrorist and foreign 
fighter travel, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115-40);
  H.R. 1297, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make 
technical corrections to the requirement that the Secretary of Homeland 
Security submit quadrennial homeland security reviews, and for other 
purposes (H. Rept. 115-41); and
  H.R. 1238, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make the 
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Health Affairs responsible 
for coordinating the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security 
related to food, agriculture, and veterinary defense against terrorism, 
and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115-42, Part 1).            
Page H2147
Recess: The House recessed at 10:47 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon. 
                                                             Page H2090
Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the Guest Chaplain, Rev. Dr. 
Andrew Chaney, First and Calvary Presbyterian Church, Springfield, 
Missouri.                                                    
  Page H2090
Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 243 yeas to 165 nays with 1 answering ``present'', 
Roll No. 164.                                         
  Page H2090, H2102
Recess: The House recessed at 1:30 p.m. and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. 
                                                             Page H2100
VA Accountability First Act of 2017: The House passed H.R. 1259, to 
amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the removal or 
demotion of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs based on 
performance or misconduct, by a recorded vote of 237 ayes to 178 noes, 
Roll No. 168.                                            
  Pages H2114-35
  Rejected the Kihuen motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs with instructions to report the same back to the 
House forthwith with amendments, by a recorded vote of 189 ayes to 229 
noes, Roll No. 167.                                      
Pages H2133-35
  Pursuant to the Rule, an amendment in the nature of a substitute 
consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115-7 shall be 
considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the 
five-minute rule.                                            
Page H2122
Agreed to:
  Roe (TN) amendment (No. 1 printed in part A of H. Rept. 115-39) that 
inserts ``to or'' after the word ``paid'' on page 20, line 15; 
                                                             Page H2125
  Kuster amendment (No. 4 printed in part A of H. Rept. 115-39) that 
includes as prohibited personnel practices as described in the 
whistleblower protection subsection of section 3 with those defined in 
38 USC 733(c);                                           
Pages H2127-28
  Taylor amendment (No. 6 printed in part A of H. Rept. 115-39) that 
requires the Veterans Administration to provide a semi-annual report to 
the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs outlining all 
instances of Senior Executives who are detailed to a new position 
within the agency; the report will

[[Page D301]]

contain details on the purpose of the reassignment as well as the costs 
associated with the reassignment;                            
Page H2128
  Tenney amendment (No. 7 printed in part A of H. Rept. 115-39) that 
requires that bonuses awarded to senior-level executives within the 
Department of Veterans Affairs be reported to Congress on an annual 
basis; and                                               
Pages H2128-29
  Kuster amendment (No. 8 printed in part A of H. Rept. 115-39) that 
requires VA supervisors to develop performance plans for employees, to 
include steps taken to address poor performance; it would also improve 
training for supervisors.                                
Pages H2129-30
Rejected:
  Walz amendment (No. 2 printed in part A of H. Rept. 115-39) that 
sought to grant the VA Secretary improved authorities to hold VA senior 
executives and employees accountable, protects employees' 
constitutionally guaranteed due process rights, and protects employees' 
collective bargaining rights under federal law (by a recorded vote of 
194 ayes to 223 noes, Roll No. 165); and          
Pages H2125-27, H2132
  Takano substitute amendment (No. 9 printed in part A of H. Rept. 115-
39) that sought to provide for the suspension and removal of VA 
employees for performance or misconduct that is a threat to public 
health and safety in place of the proposed removal process (by a 
recorded vote of 183 ayes to 232 noes, Roll No. 166). 
                                               Pages H2130-32, H2132-33
  H. Res. 198, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 
1259), (H.R. 1367), and (H.R. 1181) was agreed to by a recorded vote of 
229 ayes to 187 noes, Roll No. 163, after the previous question was 
ordered by a yea-and-nay vote of 227 yeas to 185 nays, Roll No. 162. 
                                            Pages H2094-H2100, H2100-02
Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act: The House passed H.R. 1181, to 
amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the conditions under 
which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated mentally 
incompetent for certain purposes, by a yea-and-nay vote of 240 yeas to 
175 nays, Roll No. 169.                        
  Pages H2102-14, H2135-36
  H. Res. 198, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 
1259), (H.R. 1367), and (H.R. 1181) was agreed to by a recorded vote of 
229 ayes to 187 noes, Roll No. 163, after the previous question was 
ordered by a yea-and-nay vote of 227 yeas to 185 nays, Roll No. 162. 
                                            Pages H2094-H2100, H2100-02
Improving the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire 
and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs: The House considered H.R. 1367, to improve the authority of 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and retain physicians and 
other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Consideration is 
expected to resume tomorrow, March 17th.                 
  Pages H2136-39
  H. Res. 198, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 
1259), (H.R. 1367), and (H.R. 1181) was agreed to by a recorded vote of 
229 ayes to 187 noes, Roll No. 163, after the previous question was 
ordered by a yea-and-nay vote of 227 yeas to 185 nays, Roll No. 162. 
                                            Pages H2094-H2100, H2100-02
Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes and five recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H2100-01, 
H2101-02, H2102, H2132, H2132-33, H2134-35, H2135 and H2135-36. There 
were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:50 p.m.