[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 24, 2018)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D859-D861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 22 public bills, H.R. 6479-
6500; and 9 resolutions, H. Res. 1017-1025 were introduced. 
                                                         Pages H7154-55
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages H7156-57
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 5649, to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to amend 
the Social Security Act, and to direct the Secretaries of Veterans 
Affairs, Defense, Labor, and Homeland Security, and the Administrator 
of the Small Business Administration, to take certain actions to 
improve transition assistance to members of the Armed Forces who 
separate, retire, or are discharged from the Armed Forces, and for 
other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115-864, Part 1);
  H.R. 5882, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide 
for the termination by a spouse of a lessee of certain leases when the 
lessee dies while in military service (H. Rept. 115-865);
  H.R. 2409, to allow servicemembers to terminate their cable, 
satellite television, and Internet access service contracts while 
deployed (H. Rept. 115-866);
  H.R. 2787, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a pilot 
program instituting a clinical observation program for pre-med students 
preparing to attend medical school, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115-
867);
  H.R. 5693, to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts and agreements 
for the placement of veterans in non-Department medical foster homes 
for certain veterans who are unable to live independently, with 
amendments (H. Rept. 115-868);
  H.R. 5974, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use on-site 
regulated medical waste treatment systems at certain Department of 
Veterans Affairs facilities, and for other purposes, with an amendment 
(H. Rept. 115-869);
  H.R. 5538, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the 
inclusion of certain additional periods of active duty service for 
purposes of suspending charges to veterans' entitlement to educational 
assistance under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs during periods of suspended participation in vocational 
rehabilitation programs (H. Rept. 115-870);
  H.R. 5938, to amend the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act to 
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a vacancy and 
recruitment database to facilitate the recruitment of certain members

[[Page D860]]

of the Armed Forces to satisfy the occupational needs of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, to establish and implement a training and 
certification program for intermediate care technicians in that 
Department, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115-
871);
  H.R. 5864, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish 
qualifications for the human resources positions within the Veterans 
Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for 
other purposes (H. Rept. 115-872); and
  H. Res. 1020, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with 
respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the 
Committee on Rules, and providing for consideration of motions to 
suspend the rules (H. Rept. 115-873).                    
Pages H7153-54
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed 
Representative Palazzo to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H7089
Recess: The House recessed at 10:35 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon. 
                                                             Page H7093
Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the Guest Chaplain, Imam 
Seyed Ali Ghazvini, Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno, Fresno, 
California.                                                  
  Page H7093
Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2018--Rule for Consideration: The 
House agreed to H. Res. 1012, providing for consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 6199) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include 
certain over-the-counter medical products as qualified medical 
expenses, and providing for proceedings during the period from July 27, 
2018, through September 3, 2018, by a recorded vote of 229 ayes to 179 
noes, Roll No. 369, after the previous question was ordered by a yea-
and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 184 nays, Roll No. 368.      
  Pages H7100-06
Recess: The House recessed at 4:39 p.m. and reconvened at 4:50 p.m. 
                                                             Page H7124
Protect Medical Innovation Act: The House passed H.R. 184, to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on medical 
devices, by a yea-and-nay vote of 283 yeas to 132 nays, Roll No. 372. 
                                                 Pages H7119-24,7124-25
  Pursuant to the Rule, the amendment printed in H. Rept. 115-860 shall 
be considered as adopted.                                    
Page H7119
  H. Res. 1011, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 
184) and (H.R. 6311) was agreed to by a recorded vote of 225 ayes to 
184 noes, Roll No. 371, after the previous question was ordered by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 223 yeas to 188 nays, Roll No. 370. 
                                            Pages H7095-H7100, H7106-07
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Equitable Access to Care and Health Act: H.R. 1201, amended, to amend 
section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an 
additional religious exemption from the individual health coverage 
mandate;                                                 
  Pages H7107-09
  Native American Health Savings Improvement Act: H.R. 1476, amended, 
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit individuals 
eligible for Indian Health Service assistance to qualify for health 
savings accounts;                                        
  Pages H7109-10
  Water and Agriculture Tax Reform Act: H.R. 519, amended, to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to facilitate water leasing and water 
transfers to promote conservation and efficiency;        
  Pages H7110-12
  Ensuring Integrity in the IRS Workforce Act of 2018: H.R. 3500, 
amended, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit the 
Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service from rehiring any employee 
of the Internal Revenue Service who was involuntarily separated from 
service for misconduct;                                  
  Pages H7112-13
  Improving Social Security's Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act: 
H.R. 6084, amended, to amend title VII of the Social Security Act to 
provide for a single point of contact at the Social Security 
Administration for individuals who are victims of identity theft; 
                                                         Pages H7113-15
  Improving Seniors Access to Quality Benefits Act: H.R. 4952, amended, 
to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study 
and submit a report on the effects of the inclusion of quality 
increases in the determination of blended benchmark amounts under part 
C of the Medicare program;                               
  Pages H7115-16
  Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Transparency Act of 2018: H.R. 
6138, amended, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
provide for ambulatory surgical center representation during the review 
of hospital outpatient payment rates under part B of the Medicare 
program;                                                 
  Pages H7116-18
  Tribal Social Security Fairness Act of 2018: H.R. 6124, amended, to 
amend title II of the Social Security Act to authorize voluntary 
agreements for coverage of Indian tribal council members; 
                                                         Pages H7118-19
  Allowing servicemembers to terminate their cable, satellite 
television, and Internet access service contracts while deployed: H.R. 
2409, amended, to allow servicemembers to terminate their cable,

[[Page D861]]

satellite television, and Internet access service contracts while 
deployed;                                                
  Pages H7130-31
  Veterans-Specific Education for Tomorrow's Medical Doctors Act: H.R. 
2787, amended, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a 
pilot program instituting a clinical observation program for pre-med 
students preparing to attend medical school;             
  Pages H7132-33
  Amending title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion 
of certain additional periods of active duty service for purposes of 
suspending charges to veterans' entitlement to educational assistance 
under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs during 
periods of suspended participation in vocational rehabilitation 
programs: H.R. 5538, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide 
for the inclusion of certain additional periods of active duty service 
for purposes of suspending charges to veterans' entitlement to 
educational assistance under the laws administered by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs during periods of suspended participation in 
vocational rehabilitation programs;                      
  Pages H7133-34
  Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William `Bill' Mulder (Ret.) Transition 
Improvement Act of 2018: H.R. 5649, amended, to amend titles 10 and 38, 
United States Code, to amend the Social Security Act, and to direct the 
Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Labor, and Homeland Security, 
and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, to take 
certain actions to improve transition assistance to members of the 
Armed Forces who separate, retire, or are discharged from the Armed 
Forces;                                                  
  Pages H7134-40
  Gold Star Spouses Leasing Relief Act: H.R. 5882, amended, to amend 
the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the termination by a 
spouse of a lessee of certain leases when the lessee dies while in 
military service;                                        
  Pages H7140-41
  Veterans Serving Veterans Act of 2018: H.R. 5938, amended, to amend 
the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to establish a vacancy and recruitment database to 
facilitate the recruitment of certain members of the Armed Forces to 
satisfy the occupational needs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
to establish and implement a training and certification program for 
intermediate care technicians in that Department; and    
  Pages H7142-44
  Department of Veterans Affairs Creation of On-Site Treatment Systems 
Affording Veterans Improvements and Numerous General Safety 
Enhancements Act: H.R. 5974, amended, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to use on-site regulated medical waste treatment 
systems at certain Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. 
                                                         Pages H7144-45
  Suspensions--Proceedings Postponed: The House debated the following 
measures under suspension of the rules. Further proceedings were 
postponed.
  The American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act: S. 
1182, amended, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 
commemorative coins in recognition of the 100th anniversary of The 
American Legion; and                                     
  Pages H7125-30
  VA Hospitals Establishing Leadership Performance Act: H.R. 5864, 
amended, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish 
qualifications for the human resources positions within the Veterans 
Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
                                                         Pages H7141-42
Raising a question of the privileges of the House pursuant to article 
I, section 7, of the United States Constitution: Agreed by unanimous 
consent to H. Res. 1019, raising a question of the privileges of the 
House pursuant to article I, section 7, of the United States 
Constitution.                                                
  Page H7150
Recess: The House recessed at 8:39 p.m. and reconvened at 9:28 p.m. 
                                                             Page H7150
Senate Referral: S. 2503 was held at the desk.
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H7107.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes and two recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H7105, 
H7105-06, H7106-07, H7107, and H7124-25. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 9:28 p.m.