[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 119 (Friday, July 14, 2017)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D775-D779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 21 public bills, H.R. 3241-
3261; and 5 resolutions, H.Res 446-450 were introduced. 
                                                         Pages H5884-85
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages H5885-86
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 1422, to amend the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 to 
require that certain buildings and personal property be covered by 
flood insurance, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 
115-220);
  H.R. 2565, to require the use of replacement cost value in 
determining the premium rates for flood insurance coverage under the 
National Flood Insurance Act, and for other purposes, with an amendment 
(H. Rept. 115-221); and
  H.R. 806, to facilitate efficient State implementation of ground-
level ozone standards, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. 
Rept. 115-222).                                              
Page H5884
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed 
Representative Simpson to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H5835
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018: The House 
passed H.R. 2810, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for 
military activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
construction, and to prescribe military personnel strengths for such 
fiscal year, by a recorded vote of 344 ayes to 81 noes, Roll No. 378. 
Consideration began Wednesday, July 12th.                
  Pages H5867-68
  Rejected the Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM) motion to recommit the bill 
to the Committee on Armed Services with instructions to report the same 
back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a recorded vote of 
190 ayes to 235 noes, Roll No. 377.                      
Pages H5866-67
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.''.   
Page H5868
Agreed to:
  Thornberry en bloc amendment No. 3 consisting of the following 
amendments printed in H. Rept. 115-217: DesJarlais (No. 16) that 
requires National Nuclear Security Administration to provide Congress 
with a list of unfunded requirements; Plaskett (No. 49) that converts 
the Overseas Housing Allowance to Basic Housing Allowance for the US 
Virgin Islands; Bera (No. 54) that requires a report from the Defense 
Department on its activities and priorities with respect to infectious 
disease; Kuster (No. 55) that allows DoD to support VA in their 
adoption of an Electronic Health Record System and to require DoD and 
VA to jointly submit annual reports to Congress on their progress in 
developing a fully interoperable health record; Jackson Lee (No. 56) 
that calls for increased collaboration with NIH to combat Triple 
Negative Breast Cancer; Soto (No. 57) that encourages the transition of 
military medical professionals into employment with the Veterans Health 
Administration upon discharge or separation from the Armed Forces; 
Conaway (No. 58) that repeals subsection 190(f) of title 10, United 
States

[[Page D776]]

Code, to ensure a consistent approach is used to determine when 
qualified private auditors should conduct incurred cost audits for 
Department of Defense contracts; Pittenger (No. 59) that prohibits DOD 
from contracting with telecom firms found by ODNI to be complicit with 
DPRK cyberattacks; DeSantis (No. 60) that requires an assessment on 
procurement from Chinese companies providing support to the Democratic 
People's Republic of Korea and authorizes the Secretary of Defense to 
terminate contracts based on a determination informed by the 
assessment; Velazquez (No. 61) that adds the threshold for construction 
contracts that must be bonded under the Miller Act as an exclusion, 
since increasing this threshold exposes more small construction 
businesses to loss of payment protection on federal construction 
projects; Murphy (FL) (No. 62) that authorizes Procurement Technical 
Assistance Centers, established pursuant to the Procurement Technical 
Assistance Program administered by the Defense Logistics Agency, to 
assist eligible small business owners in pursuing opportunities during 
all phases of the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business 
Technology Transfer programs, which enable small businesses to engage 
in federal research and development that has the potential for 
commercialization; Fitzpatrick (No. 63) that directs the Secretary of 
Defense to raise the priority of completing DOD Directive 2310.07E in 
order to clarify processes and efficiencies in recovering the remains 
of heroes missing in action, via the POW/MIA Accounting Agency; Soto 
(No. 64) that requires the Secretary of Defense to brief the House 
Armed Services Committee on a strategy to ensure that there is 
sufficient expertise, oversight, and policy direction on developmental 
test and evaluation within the Office of the Secretary of Defense after 
the completion of the reorganization of such Office required under 
section 901 of Public Law 114-328; Schiff (No. 65) that expresses a 
sense of Congress that in the interest of justice and efficiency, 
military judges should provide victims of terrorism and their families 
the opportunity to provide recorded testimony; Schiff (No. 66) that 
allows military judges to use video conferencing to improve 
efficiencies of military commissions; Schiff (No. 67) that requires 
proceedings for military commissions to be publicly available on the 
internet; Kildee (No. 68) that requires the Administration to 
articulate projected casualties and costs associated with the 
deployments of members of the Armed Force to Afghanistan as well as the 
objectives of said deployments and a timeline to achieve these 
objectives; Delaney (No. 69) that limits funds that support the closure 
of a bio-safety level 4 lab until the federal agencies who rely on the 
lab have certified to Congress that the closure will not negatively 
affect biodefense capabilities; Comstock (No. 70) that strikes language 
regarding the elimination of the STARBASE Report, and adds the STARBASE 
Report to the list of `Preservation of Certain Additional Reports'; and 
Carbajal (No. 71) that strikes language that would remove a National 
Guard Youth Challenge Report;                            
Pages H5840-45
  Thornberry en bloc amendment No. 4 consisting of the following 
amendments printed in H. Rept. 115-217: Gottheimer (No. 72) that 
strikes the language that eliminates an annual report to Congress on 
support to law enforcement agencies conducting counter-terrorism 
activities; Fitzpatrick (No. 73) that directs the Secretary of Defense 
to conduct a study on the related health effects of exposure to PFOS/ 
PFOA at military installations; Boyle (No. 74) that expresses the sense 
of Congress that it is in the national security interest of the 
Department of Defense to assist Ukraine to improve its cybersecurity 
capabilities; Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX) (No. 75) that requires the 
Secretary of the Army to construct a memorial marker at Arlington 
National Cemetery to honor the three astronauts who died in the Apollo 
1 spacecraft fire; Wilson (SC) (No. 76) that requires the President to 
submit a comprehensive, interagency strategy for countering violent 
extremist groups that pose a threat to the United States or its 
interests; Thornberry (No. 77) that requires a comprehensive report on 
defense industrial base vulnerabilities and the concentration of 
purchases; also creates a database of certain transactions and 
purchases involving foreign persons; Moulton (No. 78) that establishes 
Congressional Charter to enable Spirit of America to assist the 
Department of Defense to utilize donated assistance to meet needs and 
support of U.S. missions abroad; Connolly (No. 79) that directs the 
Secretary of Defense to conduct a review of existing DoD policy on DoD 
civilian employee air travel to and from Afghanistan in order to 
explore commercial or alternative air travel for DoD civilian 
employees; Davidson (No. 80) that requires collaboration between FAA 
and DOD on unmanned aircraft systems research and development of 
standards and policies; Rohrabacher (No. 81) that adds a stipulation 
requiring that, prior to the disbursement of certain funds, the 
Secretary of Defense certify to Congress that Pakistan is not using its 
military or any funds or equipment provided by the United States to 
persecute minority groups seeking political or religious freedom; Poe 
(TX) (No. 82) that adds an additional certification criteria required 
for waiving coalition support funds to Pakistan; the new addition 
requires the Secretary of Defense to certify Pakistan is not providing 
military, financial, or logistical support to specially designated 
global terrorists operating in Afghanistan or Pakistan;

[[Page D777]]

Moore (No. 83) that requires the U.S. strategy on Syria to identify 
State Department and Defense Department funding by year to implement 
it, to identify the legal authority for U.S. forces in Syria to 
accomplish military objectives; requires a separate assessment of how 
the humanitarian situation in Syria affects the achievement of U.S. 
goals, including how the U.S. intends to respond to the humanitarian 
crisis including aiding Syrian refugees and internally displaced 
persons; Nolan (No. 84) that prohibits the use of funds authorized by 
this Act to be made available to deploy members of the Armed Forces to 
participate in the ongoing civil war in Yemen; Michelle Lujan Grisham 
(NM) (No. 85) that requires the Secretary of the Air Force to brief the 
House and Senate Armed Services Committees, the House Oversight and 
Government Reform Committee, and the Senate Homeland Security and 
Government Affairs Committee on efforts to increase diversity in the 
civilian workforce; Gallego (No. 86) that requires reporting on 
deployments of U.S. forces to Syria; Lamborn (No. 87) that requires a 
report from the President, along with the Secretary of Defense, the 
Secretary of State, and the Director of National Intelligence, 
regarding the use by the Government of Iran of commercial aircraft and 
related services for illicit activities; Nolan (No. 88) that prohibits 
funding from the Counter-ISIS Train & Equip Fund to recipients that the 
Secretary of Defense has reported as having previously misused provided 
training or equipment; Engel (No. 89) that requires a report to 
Congress on the defense and security relationship between Serbia and 
the Russian Federation; Cheney (No. 90) that requires a report from the 
President on options available in response to a failure by Russia to 
achieve reductions required by the New START Treaty by February 5th, 
2018; and Walker (No. 91) that requires DoD to submit a report to 
Congress on bilateral ports of call with Taiwan;         
Pages H5845-51
  Thornberry en bloc amendment No. 5 consisting of the following 
amendments printed in H. Rept. 115-217: Engel (No. 92) that requires 
notification to Congress when changes are made to previously reported 
legal or policy frameworks guiding national security operations; Ted 
Lieu (CA) (No. 93) that requires a report from the Secretary of Defense 
and Secretary of State on the extent to which Saudi Arabia is abiding 
by its commitments in Yemen, including adherence to the U.S.-provided 
No Strike List and improving its targeting capabilities to avoid 
civilians; Crowley (No. 94) that expresses the sense of Congress that 
respect for human rights should be part of United States policy; 
Gallagher (No. 95) that requires an assessment of U.S. security and 
defense implications of China's expanding global access; Yoho (No. 96) 
that normalizes the transfer of defense articles and defense services 
to Taiwan; Duncan (SC) (No. 97) that establishes a Sense of Congress 
that the security, stability, and prosperity of the Western Hemisphere 
region are vital to U.S. national interests; the U.S. should ensure an 
appropriate forward presence in the region and build partner capacity; 
DOD should commit additional assets and increase investments to the 
region; and DOD should engage the region by strengthening relations to 
address shared challenges; Bishop (MI) (No. 98) that expresses the 
Sense of Congress that the President should call on NATO allies to 
fulfill their mutual defense commitments, should call on NATO allies to 
secure national and regional security interests, and should recognize 
NATO allies who are achieving those objectives; Kelly (PA) (No. 99) 
that prohibits funds from being used to implement the UN Arms Trade 
Treaty unless the Senate approves a resolution of ratification for the 
Treaty and implementing legislation for the Treaty has been enacted 
into law; Engel (No. 100) that requires the Secretary of Defense to 
designate an existing Department of Defense employee as responsible for 
coordinating the Department's existing obligations to protect cultural 
heritage; Soto (No. 101) that requires the Secretary of Defense, the 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of Energy, and the 
Secretary of State to jointly submit to Congress a report on spacebased 
nuclear detection; Fitzpatrick (No. 102) that directs the Secretary of 
Defense to define ``deterrence'' in a cyber operations landscape, and 
assess how this definition affects the overall cyber operations 
strategy in the Department of Defense; Franks (No. 103) that updates 
some of the balance of funds to the Israeli Missile Defense would 
enable the Israelis to spend funding authorized in the bill on 
procurement and RDTE; Lamborn (No. 104) that requires Initial 
Operational Capability of a boost phase ballistic missile defense 
capability by Dec. 31, 2020; Young (AK) (No. 105) that promotes an 
integrated, layered ballistic missile defense system incorporating 
THAAD, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, Aegis Ashore, and Patriot Air 
and Missile Defense Systems, as well as authorizing additional GBIs, 
and accelerating the completion of the EIS for an interceptor site on 
the East Coast and in the Midwest of the U.S. Missile Defense Testing; 
Hunter (No. 106) that amends section 1696 by striking an exception to 
10 U.S.C. Sec. 2377 and adding a certification requirement; and Rogers 
(AL) (No. 107) that amends the bill for construction of the previously 
authorized AEGIS Ashore Missile Defense Complex at Redzikowo Base, 
Poland, the Secretary of the Navy may construct a 6,180 square meter 
multipurpose facility, for the purposes of providing additional 
berthing space on board the installation;                
Pages H5851-55

[[Page D778]]


  Thornberry en bloc amendment No. 6 consisting of the following 
amendments printed in H. Rept. 115-217: Simpson (No. 108) that 
authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to convey to the City of 
Mountain Home, Idaho approximately 4.25 miles of railroad spur near the 
Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho for economic development; Bishop 
(UT) (No. 109) that removes certain deed restrictions and reversions 
associated with conveyance of property of former Defense Depot Ogden, 
Utah; Bustos (No. 110) that requires the Secretary of Defense to 
certify that there is not suitable space in an existing military 
installation before they buy or lease space valued at over $750k 
annually; Brat (No. 111) that creates a process for foreign governments 
to petition DOD to return surplus property to that government; savings 
are available for readiness programs; Rice (SC) (No. 112) that would 
require the Secretary of Defense to issue modifications to all relevant 
construction and facilities specifications to ensure that machine-room 
less elevators are not prohibited in buildings and facilities 
throughout the Department of Defense; the Secretary shall promulgate 
interim standards making these specification changes not later than 180 
days after enactment, and final standards not later than 1 year after 
enactment; Ben Ray Lujan (NM) (No. 113) that requires the Administrator 
for Nuclear Security to report on the recommended alternative for the 
recapitalization of plutonium science and production capabilities; 
requires certification by the Department of Defense that the 
recommended alternative is acceptable; and requires the Government 
Accountability Office to review the analysis of alternatives; Larsen 
(WA) (No. 114) that requires development of a plan for verification and 
monitoring relating to the potential proliferation of nuclear weapons 
and their components, and fissile material; Carbajal (No. 115) that 
requires the Secretary of Energy in consultation with the Department of 
State to develop a plan to further minimize the use of highly-enriched 
uranium for medical isotopes; Hunter (No. 116) that provides additional 
resources for the Coast Guard's retirement account; the amendment also 
exposes foreign owners and operators of oil production facilities to 
liability for cleanup costs and damages from oil spills that threaten 
or cause damage in the United States; Moulton (No. 117) that requires a 
comprehensive political and military strategy for U.S. involvement in 
Syria and enumerates specific reporting requirements due within 90 days 
of enactment; Langevin (No. 118) that requires a report regarding the 
mission continuity of the National Biodefense Analysis and 
Countermeasures Center; Comstock (No. 119) that expresses the sense of 
Congress stating that the federal government should ensure that in its 
actions it does not unduly or artificially distort competition in the 
market for new commercial satellite servicing activities; Davidson (No. 
120) that prohibits use of funds for military operations in Yemen 
outside of the scope of the 2001 AUMF; and Marino (No. 121) that 
requires a report to be made by the Secretary of Defense to the 
congressional defense committees on the procurement of tungsten and 
tungsten powders;                                        
Pages H5855-60
  Lamborn amendment (No. 15 printed in H. Rept. 115-217) that was 
debated on July 13th that normalizes the operational test and 
evaluation process for the ballistic missile defense system by 
conforming the condition for proceeding beyond low-rate initial 
production in line with all other major defense acquisition programs 
(by a recorded vote of 235 ayes to 189 noes, Roll No. 373); 
                                                         Pages H5862-63
  Byrne amendment (No. 17 printed in H. Rept. 115-217) that classifies 
a vessel being repaired or dismantled to be a ``recreational vessel'' 
if the vessel shares elements of design and construction of traditional 
recreational vessels and is not normally engaged in a military or 
commercial undertaking when operating (by a recorded vote of 244 ayes 
to 181 noes, Roll No. 374);                                  
Page H5863
  Hunter amendment (No. 18 printed in H. Rept. 115-217) that addresses 
forum selection for claims from foreign maritime crews (by a recorded 
vote of 234 ayes to 190 noes, Roll No. 375); and             
Page H5864
  McGovern amendment (No. 43 printed in H. Rept. 115-217) that requires 
the Secretary of Defense to design and produce a military service medal 
to honor retired and former members of the Armed Forces who are 
radiation-exposed veterans (Atomic Veterans) (by a recorded vote of 424 
ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 376).             
Pages H5864-65
Rejected:
  Tenney amendment (No. 122 printed in H. Rept. 115-217) that sought to 
reinstate the Berry Amendment's longstanding domestic sourcing 
requirement for stainless steel flatware and provides for a one year 
phase-in period; and                                     
Pages H5860-61
  Franks amendment (No. 13 printed in H. Rept. 115-217) that was 
debated on July 13th that sought to require the Secretary of Defense to 
conduct strategic assessments of the use of violent or unorthodox 
Islamic religious doctrine to support extremist or terrorist messaging 
and justification (by a recorded vote of 208 ayes to 217 noes, Roll No. 
372).                                                        
Page H5862
  Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming 
changes to reflect the actions of the House.                 
Page H5868
  H. Res. 440, the rule providing for further consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 2810) was agreed to yesterday, July 13th.

[[Page D779]]

Meeting Hour: Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns 
today, it adjourn to meet at 12 noon on Monday, July 17th for Morning 
Hour debate.                                                 
  Page H5869
Quorum Calls--Votes: Seven recorded votes developed during the 
proceedings of today and appear on pages H5862, H5862-63, H5863, H5864, 
H5864-65, H5866-67, and H5867-68. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 2:01 p.m.