[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 29, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3276-H3290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IG INDEPENDENCE AND EMPOWERMENT ACT

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House 
Resolution 504, I call up the bill (H.R. 2662) to amend the Inspector 
General Act of 1978, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 504, the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on 
Oversight and Reform, printed in the bill, is adopted, and the bill, as 
amended, is considered read.
  The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:

                               H.R. 2662

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``IG 
     Independence and Empowerment Act''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                TITLE I--INSPECTOR GENERAL INDEPENDENCE

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Amendment.

 TITLE II--CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE IN STATUS OF INSPECTOR 
                                GENERAL

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Change in status of Inspector General offices.
Sec. 203. Presidential explanation of failure to nominate an Inspector 
              General.

           TITLE III--VACANCY OF INSPECTOR GENERAL POSITIONS

Sec. 301. Vacancy of Inspector General positions.

  TITLE IV--COUNCIL OF INSPECTORS GENERAL ON INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY 
                              TRANSPARENCY

Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Additional information to be included in requests and reports 
              to Congress.
Sec. 403. Availability of information to members of Congress regarding 
              certain allegations of wrongdoing closed without 
              referral.
Sec. 404. Semiannual report.
Sec. 405. Additional reports; rules of construction.
Sec. 406. Membership of Integrity Committee.
Sec. 407. Requirement to refer allegations of wrongdoing against 
              Inspector General to Integrity Committee.
Sec. 408. Requirement to report final disposition to Congress.

    TITLE V--ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY PROVISIONS FOR INSPECTORS GENERAL

Sec. 501. Short title.
Sec. 502. Additional authority provisions for Inspectors General.

      TITLE VI--INVESTIGATIONS OF DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PERSONNEL

Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Investigations of Department of Justice personnel.

    TITLE VII--OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINTS

Sec. 701. Short title.
Sec. 702. Office of Inspector General whistleblower complaints.

TITLE VIII--NOTICE OF ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN 
                      STATUS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

Sec. 801. Notice of ongoing investigations when there is a change in 
              status of Inspector General.

TITLE IX--COUNCIL OF THE INSPECTORS GENERAL ON INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY 
                             APPROPRIATION

Sec. 901. CIGIE appropriation.

    TITLE X--NOTICE OF REFUSAL TO PROVIDE INSPECTORS GENERAL ACCESS

Sec. 1001. Notice of refusal to provide information or assistance to 
              Inspectors General.

          TITLE XI--ENHANCEMENTS TO INSPECTOR GENERAL TRAINING

Sec. 1101. Short title.
Sec. 1102. Enhancements to Inspector General Training.

                      TITLE XII--BUDGETARY EFFECTS

Sec. 1201. Determination of budgetary effects.

                        TITLE XIII--SEVERABILITY

Sec. 1301. Severability.

                TITLE I--INSPECTOR GENERAL INDEPENDENCE

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Inspector General 
     Independence Act''.

     SEC. 102. AMENDMENT.

       The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is 
     amended--
       (1) in section 3(b)--
       (A) by striking ``An Inspector General'' and inserting:
       ``(1) An Inspector General'';
       (B) by inserting after ``by the President'' the following: 
     ``in accordance with paragraph (2)''; and
       (C) by inserting at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) The President may remove an Inspector General only 
     for any of the following grounds (and the documentation of 
     any such ground shall be included in the communication 
     required pursuant to paragraph (1)):
       ``(A) Documented permanent incapacity.
       ``(B) Documented neglect of duty.
       ``(C) Documented malfeasance.
       ``(D) Documented conviction of a felony or conduct 
     involving moral turpitude.
       ``(E) Documented knowing violation of a law or regulation.
       ``(F) Documented gross mismanagement.
       ``(G) Documented gross waste of funds.
       ``(H) Documented abuse of authority.
       ``(I) Documented inefficiency.''; and
       (2) in section 8G(e)(2), by adding at the end the 
     following: ``An Inspector General may be removed only for any 
     of the following grounds (and the documentation of any such 
     ground shall be included in the communication required 
     pursuant to this paragraph):
       ``(A) Documented permanent incapacity.
       ``(B) Documented neglect of duty.
       ``(C) Documented malfeasance.
       ``(D) Documented conviction of a felony or conduct 
     involving moral turpitude.
       ``(E) Documented knowing violation of a law or regulation.
       ``(F) Documented gross mismanagement.
       ``(G) Documented gross waste of funds.
       ``(H) Documented abuse of authority.
       ``(I) Documented inefficiency.''.

 TITLE II--CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE IN STATUS OF INSPECTOR 
                                GENERAL

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

        This title may be cited as the ``Inspector General 
     Protection Act''.

     SEC. 202. CHANGE IN STATUS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICES.

       (a) Change in Status of Inspector General of Offices.--
     Paragraph (1) of section 3(b) of

[[Page H3277]]

     the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``, is placed on paid or unpaid non-duty 
     status,'' after ``is removed from office'';
       (2) by inserting ``, change in status,'' after ``any such 
     removal''; and
       (3) by inserting ``, change in status,'' after ``before the 
     removal''.
       (b) Change in Status of Inspector General of Designated 
     Federal Entities.--Section 8G(e)(2) of the Inspector General 
     Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``, is placed on paid or unpaid non-duty 
     status,'' after ``office'';
       (2) by inserting ``, change in status,'' after ``any such 
     removal''; and
       (3) by inserting ``, change in status,'' after ``before the 
     removal''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect 30 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 203. PRESIDENTIAL EXPLANATION OF FAILURE TO NOMINATE AN 
                   INSPECTOR GENERAL.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 33 of title 5, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
     3349d the following new section:

     ``Sec. 3349e. Presidential explanation of failure to nominate 
       an Inspector General

       ``If the President fails to make a formal nomination for a 
     vacant Inspector General position that requires a formal 
     nomination by the President to be filled within the period 
     beginning on the date on which the vacancy occurred and 
     ending on the day that is 210 days after that date, the 
     President shall communicate, within 30 days after the end of 
     such period, to Congress in writing--
       ``(1) the reasons why the President has not yet made a 
     formal nomination; and
       ``(2) a target date for making a formal nomination.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 
     33 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
     after the item relating to section 3349d the following new 
     item:

``3349e. Presidential explanation of failure to nominate an Inspector 
              General.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 
     and shall apply to any vacancy first occurring on or after 
     that date.

           TITLE III--VACANCY OF INSPECTOR GENERAL POSITIONS

     SEC. 301. VACANCY OF INSPECTOR GENERAL POSITIONS.

       (a) In General.--Section 3345 of title 5, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(d)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a), if an Inspector 
     General position that requires appointment by the President 
     by and with the advice and consent of the Senate to be filled 
     is vacant, the first assistant of such position shall perform 
     the functions and duties of the Inspector General temporarily 
     in an acting capacity subject to the time limitations of 
     section 3346.
       ``(2) Notwithstanding subsection (a), if for purposes of 
     carrying out paragraph (1) of this subsection, by reason of 
     absence, disability, or vacancy, the first assistant to the 
     position of Inspector General is not available to perform the 
     functions and duties of the Inspector General, an acting 
     Inspector General shall be appointed by the President from 
     among individuals serving in an office of any Inspector 
     General, provided that--
       ``(A) during the 365-day period preceding the date of 
     death, resignation, or beginning of inability to serve of the 
     applicable Inspector General, the individual served in a 
     position in an office of any Inspector General for not less 
     than 90 days; and
       ``(B) the rate of pay for the position of such individual 
     is equal to or greater than the minimum rate of pay payable 
     for a position at GS-15 of the General Schedule.''.
       (b) Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply to any vacancy first occurring with respect to an 
     Inspector General position on or after the date of enactment 
     of this Act.

  TITLE IV--COUNCIL OF INSPECTORS GENERAL ON INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY 
                              TRANSPARENCY

     SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Integrity Committee 
     Transparency Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 402. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REQUESTS 
                   AND REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

       Section 11(d) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (5)(B)(ii), by striking the period at the 
     end and inserting ``, the length of time the Integrity 
     Committee has been evaluating the allegation of wrongdoing, 
     and a description of any previous written notice provided 
     under this clause with respect to the allegation of 
     wrongdoing, including the description provided for why 
     additional time was needed.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (8)(A)(ii), by inserting ``or corrective 
     action'' after ``disciplinary action''.

     SEC. 403. AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS 
                   REGARDING CERTAIN ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING 
                   CLOSED WITHOUT REFERRAL.

       Section 11(d)(5)(B) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(iii) Availability of information to members of 
     congress.--

       ``(I) In general.--With respect to an allegation of 
     wrongdoing made by a member of Congress that is closed by the 
     Integrity Committee without referral to the Chairperson of 
     the Integrity Committee to initiate an investigation, the 
     Chairperson of the Integrity Committee shall, not later than 
     60 days after closing such allegation, provide a written 
     description of the nature of the allegation of wrongdoing and 
     how the Integrity Committee evaluated the allegation of 
     wrongdoing to--

       ``(aa) the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on 
     Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives;
       ``(bb) the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
       ``(cc) a member of the House of Representatives who has the 
     support of any seven members of the Committee on Oversight 
     and Reform of the House of Representatives; or
       ``(dd) a member of the Senate who has the support of any 
     five members of the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate.

       ``(II) Requirement to forward.--The Chairperson of the 
     Integrity Committee shall forward any written description or 
     update provided under this clause to the members of the 
     Integrity Committee and to the Chairperson of the Council.''.

     SEC. 404. SEMIANNUAL REPORT.

       Section 11(d)(9) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(9) Semiannual report.--On or before May 31, 2022, and 
     every six months thereafter, the Council shall submit to 
     Congress and the President a report on the activities of the 
     Integrity Committee during the immediately preceding six-
     month periods ending March 31 and September 30, which shall 
     include the following with respect to allegations of 
     wrongdoing that are made against Inspectors General and staff 
     members of the various Offices of Inspector General described 
     under paragraph (4)(C):
       ``(A) An overview and analysis of the allegations of 
     wrongdoing disposed of by the Integrity Committee, 
     including--
       ``(i) analysis of the positions held by individuals against 
     whom allegations were made, including the duties affiliated 
     with such positions;
       ``(ii) analysis of the categories or types of the 
     allegations of wrongdoing; and
       ``(iii) a summary of disposition of all the allegations.
       ``(B) The number of allegations referred to the Department 
     of Justice or the Office of Special Counsel, including the 
     number of allegations referred for criminal investigation.
       ``(C) The number of allegations referred to the Chairperson 
     of the Integrity Committee for investigation, a general 
     description of the status of such investigations, and a 
     summary of the findings of investigations completed.
       ``(D) An overview and analysis of allegations of wrongdoing 
     received by the Integrity Committee during any previous 
     reporting period, but remained pending during some part of 
     the six months covered by the report, including--
       ``(i) analysis of the positions held by individuals against 
     whom allegations were made, including the duties affiliated 
     with such positions;
       ``(ii) analysis of the categories or types of the 
     allegations of wrongdoing; and
       ``(iii) a summary of disposition of all the allegations.
       ``(E) The number and category or type of pending 
     investigations.
       ``(F) For each allegation received--
       ``(i) the date on which the investigation was opened;
       ``(ii) the date on which the allegation was disposed of, as 
     applicable; and
       ``(iii) the case number associated with the allegation.
       ``(G) The nature and number of allegations to the Integrity 
     Committee closed without referral, including the 
     justification for why each allegation was closed without 
     referral.
       ``(H) A brief description of any difficulty encountered by 
     the Integrity Committee when receiving, evaluating, 
     investigating, or referring for investigation an allegation 
     received by the Integrity Committee, including a brief 
     description of--
       ``(i) any attempt to prevent or hinder an investigation; or
       ``(ii) concerns about the integrity or operations at an 
     Office of Inspector General.''.

     SEC. 405. ADDITIONAL REPORTS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

       Section 11(d) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(14) Additional reports.--
       ``(A) Report to inspector general.--The Chairperson of the 
     Integrity Committee shall submit a report immediately 
     whenever the Chairperson of the Integrity Committee becomes 
     aware of particularly serious or flagrant problems, abuses, 
     or deficiencies relating to the administration of programs 
     and operations of an Office of Inspector General. The report 
     shall be sent to the Inspector General who leads the Office 
     of Inspector General at which the serious or flagrant 
     problems, abuses, or deficiencies were alleged.
       ``(B) Report to congress.--The Inspector General of the 
     Office identified by the Integrity Committee shall submit any 
     such report to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform 
     and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs within seven calendar days from the time 
     the Inspector General receives the report together with a 
     report by the Inspector General at the Office identified by 
     the Integrity Committee containing any comments such 
     Inspector General deems appropriate.
       ``(15) Rule of construction.--
       ``(A) Public disclosure of information.--Except as provided 
     in subparagraph (B), nothing in this subsection shall be 
     construed to authorize the public disclosure of information 
     which is--
       ``(i) prohibited from disclosure by any other provision of 
     law;

[[Page H3278]]

       ``(ii) required by Executive order to be protected from 
     disclosure in the interest of national defense or national 
     security or in the conduct of foreign affairs; or
       ``(iii) a part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
       ``(B) Provision of report to requesting members of 
     congress.--Subject to any other provision of law that would 
     otherwise prohibit disclosure of such information, the 
     information described in subparagraph (A) may be provided to 
     any Member of Congress upon request of the Member.
       ``(16) Prohibited disclosures.--The Integrity Committee may 
     not provide or otherwise disclose to Congress or the public 
     any information that reveals the personally identifiable 
     information of an individual who alleges wrongdoing to the 
     Integrity Committee under this subsection unless the 
     Integrity Committee first obtains the consent of the 
     individual.''.

     SEC. 406. MEMBERSHIP OF INTEGRITY COMMITTEE.

       Section 11(d)(2) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(iv) The individual appointed under subparagraph (C).''; 
     and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) Appointment of former inspector general to 
     committee.--
       ``(i) Appointment.--The Chairperson of the Council shall 
     appoint an individual who prior to the date of such 
     appointment served as an Inspector General (as that position 
     is described in section 3(a) and section 8G(a)(6)), and who 
     has upheld the highest standards of integrity and 
     professionalism while serving and since leaving service as an 
     Inspector General, as determined by the Chairperson, to serve 
     as a member of the Committee unless no such individual is 
     available or willing to serve as a member of the Committee at 
     the time of the appointment.
       ``(ii) Initial term.--The individual appointed under clause 
     (i) shall serve at the pleasure of the Chairperson of the 
     Council for a 2-year term.
       ``(iii) Additional term.--The Chairperson of the Council 
     may reappoint the individual appointed under clause (i) to 
     serve at the pleasure of the Chairperson of the Council for 
     an additional term not to exceed 2 years.
       ``(iv) Compensation.--

       ``(I) Special government employee designation.--The 
     individual appointed under clause (i) shall be considered a 
     special government employee pursuant to section 202(a) of 
     title 18, United States Code.
       ``(II) Compensation and travel expenses.--An individual 
     appointed under clause (i) may not receive compensation at a 
     rate in excess of the rate of basic pay for level IV of the 
     executive schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 
     States Code, and any such individual, while engaged in the 
     performance of their duties away from their homes or regular 
     places of business, may be allowed travel expenses, including 
     per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 
     5703 of such title for persons employed intermittently in the 
     Government service.
       ``(III) Acceptance of volunteer services.--The Chairperson 
     of the Council may accept volunteer services from the 
     individual appointed under this subparagraph without regard 
     to section 1342 of title 31, United States Code.
       ``(IV) Provisions relating to reemployment.--

       ``(aa) The Chairperson of the Council may reemploy 
     annuitants.
       ``(bb) The employment of annuitants under this paragraph 
     shall be subject to the provisions of section 9902(g) of 
     title 5, United States Code, as if the Council was the 
     Department of Defense.''.

     SEC. 407. REQUIREMENT TO REFER ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING 
                   AGAINST INSPECTOR GENERAL TO INTEGRITY 
                   COMMITTEE.

       (a) Requirement.--Section 11(d)(4) of the Inspector General 
     Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), in the heading, by striking 
     ``Requirement'' and inserting ``Allegations against staff 
     members'';
       (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 
     subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
       ``(B) Allegations against inspectors general.--An Inspector 
     General shall refer to the Integrity Committee any allegation 
     of wrongdoing against that Inspector General.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--Section 11(d)(1) 
     of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is 
     amended by striking ``(4)(C)'' and inserting ``(4)(D)''.

     SEC. 408. REQUIREMENT TO REPORT FINAL DISPOSITION TO 
                   CONGRESS.

       Section 11(d)(8) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by inserting 
     ``contemporaneously with the submission of the report under 
     clause (ii),'' before ``submit''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, the Committee on 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the 
     Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of 
     Representatives, and other congressional committees of 
     jurisdiction,'' after ``Integrity Committee''.

    TITLE V--ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY PROVISIONS FOR INSPECTORS GENERAL

     SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``IG Subpoena Authority 
     Act''.

     SEC. 502. ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY PROVISIONS FOR INSPECTORS 
                   GENERAL.

       The Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting after section 6 the following new section:

     ``SEC. 6A. ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY.

       ``(a) Testimonial Subpoena Authority.--In addition to the 
     authority otherwise provided by this Act and in accordance 
     with the requirements of this section, each Inspector 
     General, in carrying out the provisions of this Act (or in 
     the case of an Inspector General or Special Inspector General 
     not established under this Act, the provisions of the 
     authorizing statute), is authorized to require by subpoena 
     the attendance and testimony of witnesses as necessary in the 
     performance of the functions assigned to the Inspector 
     General by this Act (or in the case of an Inspector General 
     or Special Inspector General not established under this Act, 
     the functions assigned by the authorizing statute), which in 
     the case of contumacy or refusal to obey, such subpoena shall 
     be enforceable by order of any appropriate United States 
     district court. An Inspector General may not require by 
     subpoena the attendance and testimony of any Federal employee 
     or employee of a designated Federal entity, but may use other 
     authorized procedures.
       ``(b) Limitation of Delegation.--The authority to issue a 
     subpoena under subsection (a) may only be delegated to an 
     official performing the functions and duties of the Inspector 
     General when an Inspector General position is vacant or when 
     the Inspector General is unable to perform the functions and 
     duties of the Office.
       ``(c) Panel Review Before Issuance.--
       ``(1) Approval required.--
       ``(A) Request for approval by subpoena panel.--Before the 
     issuance of a subpoena described in subsection (a), an 
     Inspector General shall submit a request for approval to 
     issue a subpoena to a panel (in this section, referred to as 
     the `Subpoena Panel'), which shall be comprised of three 
     Inspectors General of the Council of the Inspectors General 
     on Integrity and Efficiency, who shall be designated by the 
     Inspector General serving as Chairperson of the Council.
       ``(B) Protection from disclosure.--The information 
     contained in the request submitted by an Inspector General 
     under subparagraph (A) and the identification of a witness 
     shall be protected from disclosure to the extent permitted by 
     law. Any request for disclosure of such information shall be 
     submitted to the Inspector General requesting the subpoena.
       ``(2) Time to respond.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     the Subpoena Panel shall approve or deny a request for 
     approval to issue a subpoena not later than 10 calendar days 
     after the submission of such request.
       ``(B) Additional information for panel.--If the Subpoena 
     Panel determines that additional information is necessary to 
     approve or deny a request submitted by an Inspector General 
     under paragraph (1)(A), the Subpoena Panel shall request such 
     information from the Inspector General and shall approve or 
     deny the request submitted by the Inspector General under 
     paragraph (1)(A) not later than 20 calendar days after the 
     submission of the request under such paragraph.
       ``(3) Denial by panel.--If a majority of the Subpoena Panel 
     denies the approval of a subpoena, that subpoena may not be 
     issued.
       ``(d) Notice to Attorney General.--
       ``(1) In general.--If the Subpoena Panel approves a 
     subpoena under subsection (c), the Inspector General shall 
     notify the Attorney General that the Inspector General 
     intends to issue the subpoena.
       ``(2) Denial for interference with an ongoing 
     investigation.--Not later than 10 calendar days after the 
     date on which the Attorney General is notified pursuant to 
     paragraph (1), the Attorney General may object to the 
     issuance of the subpoena because the subpoena will interfere 
     with an ongoing investigation and the subpoena may not be 
     issued.
       ``(3) Issuance of subpoena approved.--If the Attorney 
     General declines to object or fails to object to the issuance 
     of the subpoena during the 10-day period described in 
     paragraph (2), the Inspector General may issue the subpoena.
       ``(e) Guidelines.--The Chairperson of the Council of the 
     Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, in 
     consultation with the Attorney General, shall prescribe 
     guidelines to carry out this section.
       ``(f) Inspector General Defined.--For purposes of this 
     section, the term `Inspector General' includes each Inspector 
     General established under this Act and each Inspector General 
     or Special Inspector General not established under this Act.
       ``(g) Applicability.--The provisions of this section shall 
     not affect the exercise of authority by an Inspector General 
     of testimonial subpoena authority established under another 
     provision of law.'';
       (2) in section 5(a)--
       (A) in paragraph (21)(B), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a semicolon;
       (B) in paragraph (22), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by inserting at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(23) a description of the use of subpoenas for the 
     attendance and testimony of witnesses authorized under 
     section 6A.''; and
       (3) in section 8G(g)(1), by inserting ``6A,'' before ``and 
     7''.

      TITLE VI--INVESTIGATIONS OF DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PERSONNEL

     SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Inspector General Access 
     Act''.

     SEC. 602. INVESTIGATIONS OF DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PERSONNEL.

       Section 8E of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
     App.) is amended--

[[Page H3279]]

       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and paragraph (3)'';
       (B) by striking paragraph (3);
       (C) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs 
     (3) and (4), respectively; and
       (D) in paragraph (4), as redesignated, by striking 
     ``paragraph (4)'' and inserting ``paragraph (3)''; and
       (2) in subsection (d), by striking ``, except with respect 
     to allegations described in subsection (b)(3),''.

    TITLE VII--OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINTS

     SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Enhanced Whistleblower 
     Engagement Act''.

     SEC. 702. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL WHISTLEBLOWER 
                   COMPLAINTS.

       (a) Whistleblower Protection Coordinator.--Section 
     3(d)(1)(C) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
     App.) is amended--
       (1) in clause (i), in the matter preceding subclause (I), 
     by inserting ``, including employees of that Office of 
     Inspector General'' after ``employees''; and
       (2) in clause (iii), by inserting ``(including the 
     Integrity Committee of that Council)'' after ``and 
     Efficiency''.
       (b) Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and 
     Efficiency.--Section 11(c)(5)(B) of the Inspector General Act 
     of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking ``, 
     allegations of reprisal,'' and inserting the following: ``and 
     allegations of reprisal (including the timely and appropriate 
     handling and consideration of protected disclosures and 
     allegations of reprisal that are internal to an Office of 
     Inspector General)''.

TITLE VIII--NOTICE OF ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN 
                      STATUS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

     SEC. 801. NOTICE OF ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS WHEN THERE IS A 
                   CHANGE IN STATUS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.

       (a) Change in Status of Inspector General of 
     Establishment.--Section 3 of the Inspector General Act of 
     1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by inserting at the end the 
     following:
       ``(h) Not later than 15 days after an Inspector General is 
     removed, placed on paid or unpaid non-duty status, or 
     transferred to another position or location within an 
     establishment, the acting Inspector General shall submit to 
     the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate, a list of all audits and 
     investigations being conducted, supervised, coordinated by 
     the Office at the time the Inspector General was removed, 
     placed on paid or unpaid non-duty status, or transferred.''.
       (b) Change in Status of Inspector General of Designated 
     Federal Entity.--Section 8G(e) of the Inspector General Act 
     of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by inserting at the end 
     the following:
       ``(3) Not later than 15 days after an Inspector General is 
     removed, placed on paid or unpaid non-duty status, or 
     transferred to another position or location within an 
     designated Federal entity, the acting Inspector General shall 
     submit to the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate, a list of all audits and 
     investigations being conducted, supervised, coordinated by 
     the Office at the time the Inspector General was removed, 
     placed on paid or unpaid non-duty status, or transferred.''.

TITLE IX--COUNCIL OF THE INSPECTORS GENERAL ON INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY 
                             APPROPRIATION

     SEC. 901. CIGIE APPROPRIATION.

       (a) Availability of Appropriated Funds.--Section 11(c)(3) 
     of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to any 
     funds available in the Inspectors General Council Fund 
     established under subparagraph (B), there are authorized to 
     be appropriated such sums as may be necessary, to remain 
     available until expended, to carry out the functions and 
     duties of the Council under this subsection.''.
       (b) Removing Council Funding From Individual Inspector 
     General Budget Requests.--Section 6(g) of the Inspector 
     General Act of 1978 is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, and any resources 
     necessary to support the Council of the Inspectors General on 
     Integrity and Efficiency. Resources necessary to support the 
     Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency 
     shall be specifically identified and justified in the budget 
     request''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) in subparagraph (B), by adding ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) by striking subparagraph (C); and
       (C) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (C).
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (b) 
     shall take effect on the date that is 30 days after the date 
     of receipt by the Council of the Inspectors General on 
     Integrity and Efficiency of an appropriation for the Council 
     to carry out the functions and duties of the Council under 
     section 11 of the Inspector General Act (5 U.S.C. App. 11), 
     as amended under this section.

    TITLE X--NOTICE OF REFUSAL TO PROVIDE INSPECTORS GENERAL ACCESS

     SEC. 1001. NOTICE OF REFUSAL TO PROVIDE INFORMATION OR 
                   ASSISTANCE TO INSPECTORS GENERAL.

       Section 6(c) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
     App.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) If the information or assistance that is the subject 
     of a report under paragraph (2) is not provided to the 
     Inspector General by the date that is 30 days after the 
     report is made, the Inspector General shall submit a notice 
     that the information or assistance requested is being 
     unreasonably refused or not provided by the head of the 
     establishment involved or the head of the Federal agency 
     involved, as applicable, to--
       ``(A) the Committee in the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee in the Senate that has jurisdiction over the 
     establishment involved or the Federal agency involved, as 
     applicable;
       ``(B) the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       ``(C) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs of the Senate.''.

          TITLE XI--ENHANCEMENTS TO INSPECTOR GENERAL TRAINING

     SEC. 1101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Inspector General Training 
     Enhancement Act''.

     SEC. 1102. ENHANCEMENTS TO INSPECTOR GENERAL TRAINING.

        Section 11(c)(1)(E) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 
     (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by inserting ``and establish 
     minimum standards and best practices for training to ensure 
     all Inspectors General receive training to carry out the 
     duties, responsibilities, and authorities under this Act and 
     on emerging areas of the law of relevance to Inspectors 
     General and the work of their offices as identified by the 
     Council'' after ``Inspector General''.

                      TITLE XII--BUDGETARY EFFECTS

     SEC. 1201. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

                        TITLE XIII--SEVERABILITY

     SEC. 1301. SEVERABILITY.

       If any provision of this Act (or the application of that 
     provision to particular persons or circumstances) is held 
     invalid or found to be unconstitutional the remainder of this 
     Act (or the application of that provision to other persons or 
     circumstances) shall not be affected.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill, as amended, shall be debatable for 
1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform or their respective 
designees.
  The gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and 
extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials on H.R. 2662.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  I rise today to urge strong, bipartisan support for my bill, H.R. 
2662, the IG Independence and Empowerment Act.
  The work of inspectors general, who conduct independent oversight of 
Federal agencies, continues to be a remarkable investment for American 
taxpayers. For every dollar we spend on IGs, we get $17 back. And this 
return could be even higher if we gave IGs additional tools, which is 
exactly what this bill would do.
  The IG Independence and Empowerment Act is a package of critical 
reforms to protect IGs from political retaliation and obstruction. I 
want to thank Leader Hoyer for his support and work on this bill, as 
well as all the other cosponsors of the legislation.
  The IG Independence and Empowerment Act also has the support of 14 
good government groups. They wrote that the reforms in this legislation 
``have been crafted to address problems with inspector general 
independence and authority long raised by Congress, civil society, and 
our inspectors general. We strongly urge Congress to pass this 
legislation to empower our independent watchdogs to serve the public 
even more effectively.''
  This bill would enhance the independence of IGs in several ways. Most 
importantly, it would protect IGs from being fired simply for doing 
their jobs. The bill would only allow an IG to be removed for a 
documented cause, based on a defined list of nonpartisan reasons, such 
as a knowing violation of

[[Page H3280]]

the law, abuse of authority, or gross mismanagement.
  These removal protections come from a bill I introduced last year, 
after the previous administration bullied, sidelined, and retaliated 
against multiple IGs.
  Last April and May, in six short weeks, President Trump fired or 
sidelined four IGs and acting IGs who were simply doing their jobs.
  On April 3, intelligence community IG Michael Atkinson was fired 
after he provided a whistleblower complaint to Congress about President 
Trump's now infamous call with Ukrainian President, part of the conduct 
for which he was impeached by this body.
  On April 7, President Trump removed Glenn Fine as Acting Defense 
Department IG, which blocked IG Fine from serving as chair of the 
Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, a committee I helped create 
in the CARES Act to oversee trillions of dollars in Federal spending in 
response to the coronavirus pandemic. IG Fine was simply doing his job.
  On May 15, President Trump removed Mitch Behm as the Acting 
Transportation Department IG and replaced him with an agency insider. 
Mr. Behm was investigating Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao at 
the time.
  And, finally, that same day, President Trump fired State Department 
IG Steve Linick, who, at the time, was investigating Secretary of State 
Mike Pompeo for abuse of power and misuse of resources, and replaced 
him with a political crony.
  All four of these IGs were just following the law and the facts, yet 
they faced blatant retaliation. This is just plain wrong.
  President Trump's actions struck at the heart of why we have IGs, to 
provide independent oversight and a check on executive branch waste, 
fraud, and abuse.
  No President should be allowed to retaliate against an IG for simply 
doing their jobs, and the IG Independence and Empowerment Act would 
ensure that IGs are protected from this kind of retaliation.
  In a letter to congressional leadership after the IG firings by Mr. 
Trump, nine former IGs wrote and said: ``Forcing inspectors general to 
choose between doing their jobs with integrity and keeping their 
positions is not an acceptable model of governance and oversight. We 
therefore urge you to pass for-cause removal protections for all IGs.''
  In addition, the IG Independence and Empowerment Act would ensure 
temporary, acting IGs are independent and qualified by requiring the 
acting IG to be the deputy IG in the same office, or another senior 
official from the IG community if there is no deputy. This would 
protect against the appointment of acting IGs with conflicts of 
interest or who are acting as political appointees.
  The IG Independence and Empowerment Act would further bolster IG 
independence by requiring notification to Congress before an IG is 
pushed aside and placed on non-duty status so that we in Congress can 
support the independence of IGs.
  The bill would also empower IGs by granting them the authority to 
subpoena nongovernment witnesses to provide testimony. In many 
investigations, testimony from nongovernment witnesses is essential. So 
providing IGs with this authority is often the only way to root out 
fraud or other wrongdoings.
  In 2016, our former colleague, Mark Meadows, supported a similar 
provision and highlighted that bill's procedural safeguards, which are 
essentially the same in the bill we are considering today.
  He stated: ``This bill provides the expanded authority that the IGs 
have asked for, but with safeguards in place to make sure that they 
protect against the possibility that an IG's investigation would 
interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation, or do other harm.''

                              {time}  1645

  The IG Independence and Empowerment Act would also close a loophole 
that prevents the Department of Justice IG from initiating 
investigations into professional misconduct by DOJ attorneys.
  This bill balances enhanced authorities and independence with new 
accountability and transparency measures for IGs.
  For example, the bill contains the bipartisan Integrity Committee 
Transparency Act, which would require greater transparency from the 
CIGIE Integrity Committee, the body Congress set up to investigate IGs.
  Supporting IG independence has long been a bipartisan issue. Congress 
must act now to protect and empower IGs so that they can perform the 
duties Congress has entrusted to them without being retaliated against.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support the IG Independence and 
Empowerment Act and continue the bipartisan tradition of protecting and 
strengthening IGs.
  To my Republican colleagues who may say these efforts are about 
attacking President Trump, I would respond with this: Joe Biden is the 
President now.
  I am supporting good governments reforms under a Democratic 
administration because I believe in accountability no matter who the 
President is and what party they come from.
  We are talking about the future. This is about safeguarding 
taxpayers' money and protecting the integrity of our government.
  I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will support these 
critical reforms as well.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, through their work, inspectors general help improve 
government efficiency and effectiveness. Their nonpartisan audits and 
investigations work to root out waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement 
in all Federal agencies. In fact, the Committee on Oversight and Reform 
and IGs have this common mission, but IGs occupy a unique spot within 
the Federal Government. They have a responsibility to their respective 
agency and to Congress through the notice requirements.
  When the political parties of the executive branch and Congress are 
different, political fights can understandably erupt. Unfortunately, 
this has recently led to a politicization of IG investigations.
  That takes us to today's bill. Many provisions in this bill are a 
step in the right direction to empower IGs to conduct robust oversight. 
However, I remain concerned about some of the provisions in this bill.
  Title I in this bill would unnecessarily constrain the President's 
ability to remove an IG, shifting the delicate balance between the 
executive branch and Congress. Maintaining the current balance would 
enable Congress to use its own oversight authority if it believes there 
is wrongdoing by the President or an agency head in the removal of an 
IG.
  Next, in title III, the majority has proposed to dramatically limit 
who can be appointed as an acting inspector general if the IG has 
voluntarily left office or been removed. In doing so, this hinders the 
President's ability to appoint an IG with whom they have confidence.
  While there are legitimate concerns about IGs serving at multiple 
agencies, this provision goes too far in limiting the President's 
authority over a subset of executive branch employees.
  Finally, I have serious concerns with title V, the provision 
authorizing an inspector general to issue testimonial subpoena 
authorities to compel testimony from former Federal employees.
  While it may be helpful for IGs to investigate certain allegations of 
misconduct, it also provides IGs with a tool that can be easily abused 
for political purposes. For example, this authority would enable new 
Biden-appointed inspectors general to subpoena former Trump 
administration officials under the guise of any investigation, 
regardless of the real purpose for the investigation.
  Finally, this provision does not provide the necessary protections 
for former Federal employees who may be subjected to the legal fees of 
dealing with a subpoena, instead forcing them to pay for counsel to 
defend against and respond to these subpoenas. Without meaningful 
protections to ensure that testimonial subpoena authority would not be 
used to seek out political retribution, I cannot support this 
provision.
  Rooting out waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement, and misconduct is one 
of

[[Page H3281]]

the most important jobs of this committee, and inspectors general serve 
on the front lines with us in this mission. We must ensure that all of 
our inspectors general have the tools they need to conduct robust 
oversight of their respective agencies.
  That is why committee Republicans offered multiple amendments at the 
markup to address these concerns but still empower our IGs. We again 
offered compromise amendments at the Rules Committee yesterday, but my 
Democrat colleagues have only allowed one of these amendments to be 
made in order.
  I am hopeful that Democrats will take the opportunity to pass a major 
bipartisan bill by adopting this amendment. If they choose to continue 
down their partisan path, I hope my Democrat colleagues can stop the 
repeated attacks on the Trump administration.
  Instead, we should focus on ensuring our inspectors general are 
focused on and equipped to conduct robust oversight over agency 
operations and spending.
  Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield to the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished majority leader 
of the House, an important leader on this legislation, and a steadfast 
leader on this and on so many issues before this body.
  Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I appreciate Chairwoman Maloney's 
leadership on this issue and so many other issues to protect the 
citizens, protect consumers, protect voters, and protect, frankly, 
those who stand up and say there is wrongdoing.
  I heard the remarks of the ranking member, and I appreciate his 
thoughtfulness. But as I was listening to him, I am thinking: How do 
you make sure that somebody is not cowed by a President, any President, 
who is prepared to take adverse action without cause against somebody 
because he or she does not like the investigation they are undertaking?
  As the gentleman may know, and as my colleagues may know, I urged a 
rule that we adopted in this House which said that it is a violation of 
our rules to out a whistleblower. We have put whistleblower protections 
in, but unfortunately, when we had whistleblowers come forward most 
recently, they were attacked and attempted to be outed, which would 
have subjected them, obviously, to the adverse consequences against 
which we tried to protect them in the legislation that we passed on 
whistleblowing. So, I see some analogy between these two.
  I thank Vice Chairman Gomez, Chairman Connolly, Chairman Lynch, and 
Representatives Porter and Lieu for working on this legislation and 
supporting this legislation. I was proud to introduce it with the chair 
of the committee and proud to support it.
  Madam Speaker, Americans deserve the highest standards of ethics, 
transparency, and accountability from their government. Federal 
agencies and officials work for the people, and they must be 
accountable to the people. That is why the previous administration's 
assault on the independence of inspectors general was so alarming.
  This is not an attack on a specific administration. As the 
gentlewoman and chair of the committee has pointed out, we have a 
Democratic President now, so this is going to bind him. It is not going 
to bind his predecessors. If anything, it is certainly not anti-Biden, 
but it is to say: President Biden, we respect you, but we want to have 
inspectors general who have the confidence they can move ahead without 
fear of retribution.
  Former President Trump removed or replaced, as has been pointed out, 
the inspectors general from the Departments of Defense, State, Health 
and Human Services, and Transportation. What kind of a check and 
balance is that, if a President can simply say, ``I don't like what you 
are doing. I am removing you''? I would suggest none, with all due 
respect to my friend.
  These watchdogs must be able to act independently and be free from 
political pressure or threats to their careers. It seems to me that is 
a very commonsense, rational judgment to make. That is what this is 
about.
  We introduced our bill to address the challenge exposed by the 
actions of the prior administration, that is true. But that has not 
been the only administration that has acted to undermine inspectors 
general.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join us in supporting this legislation 
today. It will build on the provisions that I pushed to include in the 
House Rules Committee, as I pointed out in January, which protects 
Federal whistleblowers by making it a violation of House rules for 
Members to reveal their identities.
  Those who come forward to reveal misconduct or violations of the 
public trust need to be heard and must be protected from threats of 
retaliation. If that is not the case, it will undermine the very 
objective that we seek in creating IGs. They need to know that they can 
go to inspectors general or to Congress under strong whistleblower 
protections.
  House Democrats, and I hope House Republicans, will renew the faith 
in government and ensure that it works for the people. We are 
determined to protect and strengthen government accountability.
  I hope all of us, in a bipartisan way, will repair this very critical 
principle of accountability for the people of this country.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Gomez), the vice chair of the Committee 
on Oversight and Reform.
  Mr. GOMEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the IG Independence 
and Empowerment Act.
  This comprehensive legislation would ensure inspectors general have 
the tools needed to conduct thorough investigations without fear of 
political retaliation.
  Many of these reforms have had strong bipartisan support for years, 
in particular, my bill, the IG Subpoena Authority Act. This provision 
grants IGs the authority to subpoena testimony from former employees 
and contractors as a tool to better undercover waste, fraud, and abuse. 
Currently, the absence of such authority hinders the ability of OIGs to 
conduct complete oversight in matters of corruption and injustice.
  I know my Republican colleagues claim this authority has no 
protections from abuse, but that simply is not true. This bill includes 
safeguards to ensure that this authority is not abused by requiring 
that an IG must have a subpoena approved by a panel of three other IGs.
  Additionally, I understand my Republican colleague may introduce an 
amendment that would strike the subpoena authority provision from this 
bill today. I find this interesting and confusing because the IG 
Subpoena Authority Act was first introduced in the 115th Congress by 
Republican Congressman Steve Russell with the support of then-Chairman 
Towns and Ranking Member Issa, and it passed the House by unanimous 
consent.
  This bill has not changed substantially since the 115th Congress. 
What has changed is the political context in which we are trying to 
pass this reform. If a reform was good for government then, it is a 
reform that is good for government now. Nothing has changed.
  Madam Speaker, we need to make sure that the IG Subpoena Authority 
Act is included and passed today. That will help strengthen the 
integrity and maintain the accountability in our Federal agencies.
  I thank Chairwoman Maloney for its inclusion in the IG Independence 
and Empowerment Act. It is a step forward for good government, and I 
strongly encourage an ``aye'' vote.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1700

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes 
to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Porter), the vice chair of the 
Subcommittee on Government Operations of the Oversight Committee.
  Ms. PORTER. Madam Speaker, the Inspector General Independence and 
Empowerment Act protects our Nation's government watchdogs.
  Inspectors general are independent officials responsible for 
preventing and detecting waste, fraud, and abuse. They safeguard the 
interests of taxpayers and weed out corruption. We need stronger 
protections to prevent biased or unqualified acting inspectors general 
from assuming these vital roles.

[[Page H3282]]

  I championed such measures in my Accountability for Acting Officials 
Act, and I am proud to say they are included in the chairwoman's bill. 
These provisions would forbid dual-hatting, serving as both a political 
appointee and an acting inspector general at the same agency. This 
conflict of interest compromises the independence of the inspector 
general's work.
  American taxpayers fund these agencies. They deserve to know that 
those agencies are working on their behalf. They deserve inspectors 
general who will fight to protect their dollars and our government's 
integrity.
  I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the 
Inspector General Independence and Empowerment Act.
  I thank Chair Maloney for her leadership on government integrity, 
including this important bill.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank the 
gentlewoman from California for her amendment, her hard work on this 
bill, and her leadership on the subcommittee and committee.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Connolly), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2662, 
the IG Independence and Empowerment Act. I want to thank the chairwoman 
of the committee for her leadership, especially in bringing forward 
this important legislative package to bolster the independence and 
protection of oversight of Federal inspectors general while holding 
them more accountable to Congress and the American people at the same 
time.
  Our Subcommittee on Government Operations held a hearing in April 
that highlighted the need for this legislation. At the hearing, we 
discussed how the former President, Mr. Trump, exploited statutory 
loopholes repeatedly to attack Federal IGs, firing well-respected IGs 
for investigating policies of political allies he liked.
  President Trump also appointed political agency officials to serve as 
acting IGs, this double-hatting Ms. Porter just talked about. This 
legislation would address that. We cannot allow these actions to be 
repeated.
  IGs are unique in the Federal Government, serving to root out waste, 
fraud, abuse, and gross mismanagement. They report both to the 
executive and legislative branches of government. This bill bolsters 
IGs on both fronts.
  Importantly, the bill ensures the President or an agency head can 
remove an IG only for documented cause, and I think that is a very 
important new standard. This measure will ensure that IGs can be 
removed when appropriate and cannot be removed simply because they 
speak truth to power.
  I authored two additional provisions included in this legislation. 
The first, the Integrity Committee Transparency Act, is a bipartisan 
provision I drafted with my ranking member, Mr. Hice. This provision 
would codify and enhance administrative reporting reforms at the 
Integrity Committee. Just this week, we saw how important that can be.
  It would also require the Integrity Committee to report immediately 
any particularly serious and flagrant problems, abuses, or deficiencies 
at the Office of Inspector General to the IG of that office.
  Importantly, the provision also expands the membership of the 
Integrity Committee to include a former inspector general, increasing 
acumen and accountability and some distance.
  These are critical measures necessary in the wake of cases in which 
the Integrity Committee has sometimes fallen short in its reporting to 
this body, to the Congress. In one recent allegation of wrongdoing, it 
took nearly 4 years for the Integrity Committee to complete its 
investigation, and employees at that office continued to struggle under 
an IG who conducted herself with clear negligence. That case got 
resolved today with the announcement that that IG is going to retire.
  IGs cannot afford to be poor leaders, nor can we afford to have them 
be poor leaders. They must be model Federal employees if their 
credibility and integrity are to be trusted.
  We also champion title VII of this bill, the Enhanced Whistleblower 
Engagement Act. This provision requires OIG employees to undergo 
whistleblower training, mandates engagement between a designated 
whistleblower coordinator and the Integrity Committee, and requires 
CIGIE to identify best practices for the timely and appropriate 
handling of alleged reprisals within an OIG.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield the 
gentleman such time as he may consume.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, this measure is nearly identical to a 
bipartisan provision in the Senate crafted by Republican Senator 
Grassley from Iowa.
  In addition to these provisions, the bill includes several other 
important measures to bolster the independence of our nonpartisan 
watchdogs. This bill is an important bill in reasserting the 
independence, accountability, and transparency of IGs. They are a 
critical part of making this government work and rebuilding American 
trust in its government.
  I thank the distinguished chairwoman for her leadership in bringing 
this bill before us. I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to 
support this bill.

  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, first, I would 
like to recognize the hard work of the chairman of the subcommittee. He 
authored two proposals that were included in the bill and was a major 
leader on it. I thank Mr. Connolly.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Raskin), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil 
Liberties of the Oversight Committee and a member of the Select 
Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis of the Oversight Committee.
  Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, I thank Chair Maloney for her wonderful 
leadership of the Oversight Committee.
  I rise in support of H.R. 2662, the Inspector General Independence 
and Empowerment Act.
  The inspectors general are a remarkable innovation in American 
Government that have saved us untold billions of dollars and checked 
the corrupt abuse of power by people controlling Federal departments. 
They are essential to our ability to legislate as the Article I branch 
and to do meaningful oversight over the executive branch of government.
  That is true in general, but it is especially true when we have a 
President like Donald Trump who categorically refused to recognize 
congressional subpoenas, blocked members of his administration from 
coming to testify before Congress in an unprecedented way, and 
generally refused to cooperate with congressional factfinding at all.
  When a President refuses to cooperate with the legislative branch, 
when he obstructs Congress at every turn, the IGs are our only source 
of information. It is imperative that we protect our inspectors 
general's independence and their impartiality so they will not be 
reduced to the level of being Presidential sycophants who are party 
loyalists.
  The Supreme Court has recognized the importance of IG independence, 
noting that it is ``vital to effectuating Congress' intent and 
maintaining an opportunity for objective inquiries into bureaucratic 
waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement.''
  This bill will ensure that the IGs have the tools that they need to 
conduct thorough investigations on behalf of the American people, and 
it will protect them from unjust political retaliation.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am excited to listen to the enthusiasm from my 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle and their newfound passion 
for oversight. The Republicans on the Oversight Committee have been 
asking for many hearings on many different areas of potential 
oversight, potential waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in the 
Federal Government. But thus far, in this new Congress, my friends on 
the other side of the aisle have only been interested in oversight of 
the previous administration.

[[Page H3283]]

  I am getting really excited for the taxpayers of America because I 
feel like, today, I am hearing that my friends on the other side of the 
aisle are interested in ensuring that there is good government, that we 
have transparency.
  One thing that I would like to mention in this bill is that the 
Oversight Committee is responsible for oversight, and we want to work 
with the inspectors general. We have a lot of agreement in this bill, 
and I will talk about that during my closing remarks. But I do believe 
there is the potential for us to compromise and have a bipartisan bill 
that actually might have a chance to become law down the hall.
  But I hope that this newfound enthusiasm for oversight will carry 
over, and we can do what the Oversight Committee is supposed to do and 
not rely as heavily on unelected bureaucrats.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman, my dear friend and colleague, 
for having great enthusiasm for oversight and combating waste, fraud, 
and abuse. I would respectfully offer to him that the best way to 
conduct that is to give the power to the IGs to conduct legitimate 
investigations. What we have seen is that when there comes a legitimate 
investigation, they are often moved aside, fired, or retaliated 
against.
  So, I welcome the gentleman's enthusiasm. I hope he will join with me 
in supporting giving the power to IGs to conduct legitimate 
investigations of waste, fraud, and abuse.
  As I said in my opening remarks, for every dollar we spend on IGs, we 
get back $17, really hundreds of millions of dollars back from their 
oversight and work.
  Madam Speaker, I want to remind the gentleman, as he knows from our 
hearings, there are many provisions in this bill that are bipartisan, 
several that Mr. Connolly just mentioned that we were working on. I 
look forward to working with him and passing this bill.
  It should be bipartisan. Oversight and accountability should be 
bipartisan. I hope the gentleman joins us in voting for this important 
bill.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Speier), the chair of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel of 
the Armed Services Committee. She also serves on the Oversight and 
Reform Committee and is the co-chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus.
  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, the history of whistleblowing dates back 
to the founding of this country. The Continental Congress was committed 
to making sure that whistleblowers would have a voice. Last year alone, 
$2.2 billion was saved by the taxpayers because of whistleblowers in 
our government.
  The April massacre of IGs was an unprecedented power play by the 
President, a ruthless President who somehow thought they worked for 
him. They don't work for him. They didn't work for him. They work for 
the American people, and that is why, since the founding of this 
country, we have been so committed to it.

  Today's legislation will protect IGs from retaliation and increase 
their independence, ensuring they operate free from political 
interference. Those complaints that those IGs were looking at were 
brought to them by individuals. It was a political move by the 
President to fire them.
  I am interested that my colleague on the other side of the aisle was 
concerned about the costs of being represented by counsel when someone 
who is a Federal employee is called in to testify. Maybe we can work on 
a bill to make sure that every Federal employee has that benefit. No 
one talked about that when Ambassador Yovanovitch was called in to 
testify or National Security Advisor Fiona Hill or Lieutenant Colonel 
Vindman, all of whom had to pick up the tab for the attorneys 
representing them.
  Last month during a hearing before the Oversight Subcommittee on 
Government Operations, the current Chair of the Council of the 
Inspectors General, Inspector General Allison Lerner, testified that 
while they offer multiple trainings for IGs, the trainings are not 
mandated.
  I believe, without mandated training, it is impossible to ensure that 
IGs are operating at the highest level and are well-equipped to carry 
out their duties, so I am pleased that my amendment requiring minimum 
standards and best practices for training IGs has been included in this 
bill.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1715

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how 
much time is remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from New York has 8\1/2\ 
minutes remaining. The gentleman from Kentucky has 23\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank my 
colleague, Jackie Speier, for her tremendous work on this bill, and one 
of the major provisions was a bill of hers that was incorporated into 
it.
  I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Ross), 
a newly elected Member from the great State of North Carolina and a 
member of the Judiciary Committee.
  Ms. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  I rise today in support of the Inspector General Independence Act. 
Inspectors general are vital to the integrity, efficiency, and efficacy 
of our Government. It is crucial that they operate free from political 
influence.
  This critical legislation includes a bipartisan bill I introduced, 
the Inspector General Access Act, which grants the inspector general of 
the Department of Justice the authority to investigate misconduct by 
DOJ attorneys.
  The DOJ inspector general is currently the only Federal inspector 
general without this authority. This is simply unacceptable.
  DOJ attorneys wield a tremendous amount of power, including the 
ability to make life and death decisions. It is crucial that these 
attorneys are held to the highest level of professionalism, and that 
their actions and conduct are subject to independent oversight.
  For this reason, I wholeheartedly support the Inspector General 
Independence Act, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Just a couple of things I want to make sure that everyone understands 
with respect to this bill. This bill is a combination of 10 different 
bills. Republicans support seven of the 10 bills. Seven of the 10 bills 
we could pass pretty close to unanimously in this Chamber that would 
strengthen the IGs and not hamper a President's ability to terminate an 
IG that may not agree with their ideology.
  No one in Congress would hire a staffer that adamantly opposed their 
ideology. No one in the private sector would have a staffer be a 
spokesperson or an employee that fundamentally disagreed with the 
direction that person wanted to lead their company. And the same should 
be true with the President of the United States.
  With respect to President Trump's termination of inspectors general, 
I want to mention a couple of terminations that the President did. 
President Trump removed the Intelligence Community Inspector General 
Michael Atkinson because he flaunted strict whistleblower procedures to 
provide the Ukraine whistleblower report to Chairman Schiff.
  Now, we support good government. We want to protect whistleblowers. 
We want to encourage whistleblowers to come forward. Adam Schiff did 
more to damage prospective whistleblowers than any Member of this body. 
And the IG was complicit with him in that. That was a rightful 
termination by President Trump.
  Acting Inspector General Christi Grimm purposely released an outdated 
and misleading report claiming there were shortages of medical 
equipment at hospitals which was found to be entirely inaccurate and 
likely was politically motivated. That is why President Trump 
terminated her.
  So there are examples of a President rightfully terminating an 
inspector general, and I don't think that this bill is the right path 
to move forward. This is overlegislating.
  We are passing a lot of bills out of this Chamber that are dead upon 
arrival in the Senate. When we pass a bill that has bipartisan support, 
that makes a difference in the Senate. We

[[Page H3284]]

could achieve that, and I have an amendment that goes a long way 
towards making this bill bipartisan.
  So with respect to oversight, I think the American people are upset 
over COVID-19. Speaker Pelosi created a Select Committee on the 
Coronavirus Crisis, which is a subsidiary of the House Oversight 
Committee, we share the same staff. We have been asking for hearings on 
the origins of COVID-19 and had no response, no luck from my friends 
across the aisle, so we had a hearing today. We had a forum. And it was 
very productive. And I think the people of America appreciated that. 
That is oversight.
  So our committee can go a lot further with respect to oversight, and 
I think that we could come to a bipartisan compromise to strengthen the 
IGs without politicizing the IGs, without hampering a President's 
ability to get rid of a bad IG.
  I strongly oppose this bill. I hope through the amendment process it 
can get better, that it can pass in a bipartisan manner, and we can 
strengthen the IGs, and we can send a message to the Senate that we 
have a bipartisan bill that you should take up and President Biden can 
hopefully sign into law.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 
the balance of my time.
  Independence is the bedrock principle of inspectors general, and this 
legislation would protect and enhance their critical work.
  As I mentioned earlier, this legislation has the support of several 
nonpartisan, good government groups, including the Project on 
Government Oversight, the Government Accountability Project, Taxpayers 
for Common Sense, and many, many others. It also contains several 
bipartisan bills that are part of the overall inspector general reform 
bill. I ask that the support letters from the good government groups be 
included in the Record.

                                                    June 28, 2021.
       Dear Representative: The undersigned organizations write to 
     express our support for the IG Independence and Empowerment 
     Act (H.R. 2662) and to urge you to vote for this critical 
     legislation.
       Our federal inspectors general (IGs) identify and 
     investigate waste, fraud, and abuse within the executive 
     branch. The importance of their work cannot be overstated. 
     Executive branch officials and Members of Congress from both 
     sides of the aisle rely on oversight conducted by inspectors 
     general to inform their policy-making. These watchdogs 
     continually return substantial savings for taxpayers. In 
     fiscal year 2020 alone, inspectors general identified 
     potential savings of approximately $53 billion. And perhaps 
     most importantly, inspectors general investigate and expose 
     abuses of power that may infringe on constitutional rights.
       If enacted, this legislation would address critical 
     weaknesses in laws that have limited the effectiveness and 
     threatened the independence of these watchdogs.
       For example, most inspectors general lack the authority to 
     compel former agency officials, subcontractors, or 
     subgrantees to cooperate with IG investigations. This has 
     limited the ability of our watchdogs to effectively review 
     federal programs for waste and fraud and to investigate 
     federal employees accused of misconduct. The IG Independence 
     and Empowerment Act would address this by giving inspectors 
     general the authority to compel testimony from former agency 
     officials, subcontractors, or grantees where that testimony 
     would be relevant to ongoing investigations.
       Another weakness is that the president can fire these 
     watchdogs and replace them with unqualified or conflicted 
     individuals, exposing the work of these offices to 
     unnecessary political interference. The public and Congress 
     depend on inspectors general to ensure our federal agencies 
     are functioning effectively, but these watchdogs must be 
     confident they will not be fired for doing that job well. As 
     nine former inspectors general recently wrote to Congress, 
     ``Forcing inspectors general to choose between doing their 
     jobs with integrity and keeping their positions is not an 
     acceptable model of governance and oversight.'' The IG 
     Independence and Empowerment Act places reasonable limits on 
     when a president can remove an inspector general and who can 
     serve in the event of a vacancy, and will further insulate 
     the critical oversight offices from politics.
       There are many other critical reforms in this comprehensive 
     legislation that have been crafted to address problems with 
     inspector general independence and authority long raised by 
     Congress, civil society, and our inspectors general. We 
     strongly urge Congress to pass this legislation to empower 
     our independent watchdogs to serve the public even more 
     effectively.
           Sincerely,
         Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington 
           (CREW), Common Cause, Demand Progress, Government 
           Accountability Project, Government Information Watch, 
           Mainers for Accountable Leadership, National Security 
           Counselors, Open The Government, Project On Government 
           Oversight (POGO), Protect Democracy, Public Citizen, 
           Stand Up America, Taxpayers for Common Sense, The 
           Digital Democracy Project.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. The reforms we are considering 
today are only one part of the work Congress needs to prevent future 
Presidents from abusing power. I also strongly support the broad 
Protecting Our Democracy Act, which Chairman Schiff has spearheaded, 
and I look forward to that bill's consideration very soon.
  I do want to say that the Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, 
unlike the description from my good friend and colleague, has held 15 
hearings of oversight. They have disclosed and recovered millions of 
dollars of illegal spending or corrupt spending. There is a hearing 
tomorrow, which will be the 16th hearing of the committee, and we 
welcome you to join us at that subcommittee hearing if you so wish.
  The inspector general community just, in general, has been attacked 
in recent years. By passing this IG Independence and Empowerment Act, 
Congress would send a strong message in the strongest terms that no 
administration, regardless of President or party, can bully or 
retaliate or act against an IG when the IG is doing their job. They can 
only be removed for just cause, such as violating the law or gross 
mismanagement.
  In passing this legislation, we will be strengthening our democracy, 
and we will send a strong message that Congress supports accountability 
and an effective government.
  I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill. It should be a 
bipartisan bill.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
  Each further amendment printed in part A of House Report 117-74 not 
earlier considered as part of amendments en bloc pursuant to section 3 
of House Resolution 504, shall be considered only in the order printed 
in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the 
report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time 
specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent 
and an opponent, may be withdrawn by the proponent at any time before 
the question is put thereon, shall not be subject to amendment, and 
shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question.
  It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the Committee on 
Oversight and Reform or her designee to offer amendments en bloc 
consisting of further amendments printed in part A of House Report 117-
74, not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc shall be considered as 
read, shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled 
by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight 
and Reform or their respective designees, shall not be subject to 
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the 
question.


   Amendments En Bloc Offered by Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House 
Resolution 504, I offer amendments en bloc.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the amendments en 
bloc.
  Amendments en bloc consisting of amendment Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 
printed in part A of House Report 117-74, offered by Mrs. Carolyn B. 
Maloney of New York:


              Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mrs. AXNE of IOWA

       Page 6, after line 16, add the following new section (and 
     amend the table of contents accordingly):

     SEC. 103. REMOVAL OR TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Reasons for Removal or Transfer.--Section 3(b) of the 
     Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), as amended by 
     section 102, is further amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``reasons'' and inserting 
     ``substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific 
     reasons,''; and
       (2) by inserting at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) If there is an open or completed inquiry into an 
     Inspector General that relates

[[Page H3285]]

     to the removal or transfer of the Inspector General under 
     paragraph (1), the written communication required under that 
     paragraph shall--
       ``(A) identify each entity that is conducting, or that 
     conducted, the inquiry; and
       ``(B) in the case of a completed inquiry, contain the 
     findings made during the inquiry.''.
       (b) Reasons for Removal or Transfer for Designated Federal 
     Entities.--Section 8G(e) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 
     (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``reasons'' and inserting 
     ``substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific 
     reasons,''; and
       (2) by inserting at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) If there is an open or completed inquiry into an 
     Inspector General that relates to the removal or transfer of 
     the Inspector General under paragraph (2), the written 
     communication required under that paragraph shall--
       ``(A) identify each entity that is conducting, or that 
     conducted, the inquiry; and
       ``(B) in the case of a completed inquiry, contain the 
     findings made during the inquiry.''.


           Amendment No. 2 offered by Ms. Bourdeau of Georgia

       Page 34, line 1, strike ``and'' and insert ``,''.
       Page 34, line 3, insert ``, and on the use of and process 
     for the suspension or debarment of persons for eligibility 
     for Federal contracts'' after ``Council''.


           Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Carter of Louisiana

       Page 34, after line 3, insert the following (and amend the 
     table of contents and redesignate the subsequent titles 
     accordingly):

            TITLE XII--EQUITABLE PAY FOR INSPECTORS GENERAL

     SEC. 1201. EQUITABLE PAY FOR INSPECTORS GENERAL.

       Section 3(e) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
     App) is amended by inserting after ``3 percent'' the 
     following: ``or the rate of pay that is equal to the highest 
     rate of basic pay of any other employee of the Office of such 
     Inspector General, whichever is higher''.


        Amendment No. 5 offered by Mr. Malinowski of New Jersey

       Page 7, line 4, strike ``Offices'' and insert ``Office''.
       Page 7, line 13, strike ``Entities'' and insert ``Entity''.
       Page 7, after line 21, insert the following:
       (c) Exception to Requirement to Submit Communication 
     Relating to Certain Changes in Status.--
       (1) Communication relating to change in status of inspector 
     general of office.--Section 3(b) of the Inspector General Act 
     of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), as amended by section 102(1), is 
     further amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``If'' and inserting 
     ``Except as provided in paragraph (3), if''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) If an Inspector General is placed on paid or unpaid 
     non-duty status, the President may submit the communication 
     described in paragraph (1) to Congress later than 30 days 
     before the Inspector General is placed on paid or unpaid non-
     duty status, but in any case not later than the date on which 
     the placement takes effect, if--
       ``(A) the President determines that a delay in placing the 
     Inspector General on paid or unpaid non-duty status would--
       ``(i) pose a threat to the Inspector General or others;
       ``(ii) result in the destruction of evidence relevant to an 
     investigation; or
       ``(iii) result in loss of or damage to Government property;
       ``(B) in the communication, the President includes--
       ``(i) a specification of which clause the President relied 
     on to make the determination under subparagraph (A);
       ``(ii) the substantive rationale, including detailed and 
     case-specific reasons, for such determination;
       ``(iii) if the President relied on an inquiry to make such 
     determination, an identification of each entity that is 
     conducting, or that conducted, such inquiry; and
       ``(iv) if an inquiry described in clause (iii) is 
     completed, the findings of that inquiry.
       ``(4) The President may not place an Inspector General on 
     paid or unpaid non-duty status during the 30-day period 
     preceding the date on which the Inspector General is removed 
     or transferred under paragraph (1) unless the President--
       ``(A) determines that not placing the Inspector General on 
     paid or unpaid non-duty status would--
       ``(i) pose a threat to the Inspector General or others;
       ``(ii) result in the destruction of evidence relevant to an 
     investigation; or
       ``(iii) result in loss of or damage to Government property; 
     and
       ``(B) on or before the date on which the placement takes 
     effect, submits to the Committee in the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee in the Senate that has 
     jurisdiction over the Inspector General involved, the 
     Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of 
     Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate, a written communication 
     that contains the following information--
       ``(i) a specification of which clause under subparagraph 
     (A) the President relied on to make the determination under 
     such subparagraph;
       ``(ii) the substantive rationale, including detailed and 
     case-specific reasons, for such determination;
       ``(iii) if the President relied on an inquiry to make such 
     determination, an identification of each entity that is 
     conducting, or that conducted, such inquiry; and
       ``(iv) if an inquiry described in clause (iii) is 
     completed, the findings of that inquiry.''.
       (2) Communication relating to change in status of inspector 
     general of designated federal entity.--Section 8G(e) of the 
     Inspector General Act Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
     App.) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``If'' and inserting 
     ``Except as provided in paragraph (3), if''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) If an Inspector General is placed on paid or unpaid 
     non-duty status, the head of a designated Federal entity may 
     submit the communication described in paragraph (1) to 
     Congress later than 30 days before the Inspector General is 
     placed on paid or unpaid non-duty status, but in any case not 
     later than the date on which the placement takes effect, if--
       ``(A) the head determines that a delay in placing the 
     Inspector General on paid or unpaid non-duty status would--
       ``(i) pose a threat to the Inspector General or others;
       ``(ii) result in the destruction of evidence relevant to an 
     investigation; or
       ``(iii) result in loss of or damage to Government property;
       ``(B) in the communication, the head includes--
       ``(i) a specification of which clause under subparagraph 
     (A) the head relied on to make the determination under such 
     subparagraph;
       ``(ii) the substantive rationale, including detailed and 
     case-specific reasons, for such determination;
       ``(iii) if the head relied on an inquiry to make such 
     determination, an identification of each entity that is 
     conducting, or that conducted, such inquiry; and
       ``(iv) if an inquiry described in clause (iii) is 
     completed, the findings of that inquiry.
       ``(4) The head may not place an Inspector General on paid 
     or unpaid non-duty status during the 30-day period preceding 
     the date on which the Inspector General is removed or 
     transferred under paragraph (1) unless the head--
       ``(A) determines that not placing the Inspector General on 
     paid or unpaid non-duty status would--
       ``(i) pose a threat to the Inspector General or others;
       ``(ii) result in the destruction of evidence relevant to an 
     investigation; or
       ``(iii) result in loss of or damage to Government property; 
     and
       ``(B) on or before the date on which the placement takes 
     effect, submits to the Committee in the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee in the Senate that has 
     jurisdiction over the Inspector General involved, the 
     Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of 
     Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate, a written communication 
     that contains the following information--
       ``(i) a specification of which clause under subparagraph 
     (A) the head relied on to make the determination under such 
     subparagraph;
       ``(ii) the substantive rationale, including detailed and 
     case-specific reasons, for such determination;
       ``(iii) if the head relied on an inquiry to make such 
     determination, an identification of each entity that is 
     conducting, or that conducted, such inquiry; and
       ``(iv) if an inquiry described in clause (iii) is 
     completed, the findings of that inquiry.''.
       Page 7, strike line 22 and all that follows through line 24 
     and insert the following:
       (d) Application.--The amendments made by this section shall 
     apply with respect to removals, transfers, and changes of 
     status occurring on or after the date that is 30 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act.
       Page 29, line 20, strike ``Establishment'' and insert 
     ``Office''.
       Page 30, line 10, strike ``is'' and insert ``, as amended 
     by section 202(c)(2), is further''.
       Page 30, line 12, strike ``(3)'' and insert ``(5)''.

           Amendment No. 6 offered by Mr. Torres of New York

       Page 34, after line 3, insert the following (and amend the 
     table of contents and redesignate the subsequent titles 
     accordingly):

                           TITLE XII--REPORT

     SEC. 1201. GAO REVIEW AND REPORT.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Comptroller General shall--
       (1) conduct a review that evaluates the effectiveness of 
     the processes of the Integrity Committee of the Council of 
     the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and the 
     processes of Offices of Inspector General, respectively, for 
     ensuring that Inspectors General--
       (A) are held accountable through the investigation of 
     allegations of wrongdoing, including allegations of 
     misconduct, abuse of authority, or other malfeasance, that 
     are made against such Inspectors General; and
       (B) meet relevant standards for integrity and independence;
       (2) identify recommendations with respect to--

[[Page H3286]]

       (A) enhancing accountability for Inspectors General; and
       (B) ensuring that Inspectors General meet relevant 
     standards for integrity and independence; and
       (3) issue a report--
       (A) on the results of the review required by paragraph (1); 
     and
       (B) that contains any recommendations identified under 
     paragraph (2).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 504, the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman 
from Kentucky (Mr. Comer) each will control 10 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, the amendment 
offered by Congresswoman Cindy Axne would increase transparency when an 
inspector general is removed.
  This amendment would require the President or independent agency head 
to provide Congress a detailed case-specific explanation when firing an 
IG.
  The amendment would also require the President or independent agency 
head to provide to Congress the findings from an inquiry that led to 
the IG's removal.
  These requirements would enhance IG independence in addition to the 
critical for-cause removal protections already in the bill.
  The amendment offered by Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux would 
enhance training requirements for inspectors general.
  This amendment would ensure that IGs are trained in an important 
aspect of their oversight work over Federal contractors.
  The suspension and debarment process provides an essential tool to 
hold Federal contractors accountable for waste, fraud, and abuse.
  Federal procurement law and the suspension and debarment processes 
are highly complex, and it is important that all IGs are well-versed on 
these issues.
  This training will help make IGs even more effective and efficient 
and could lead to more taxpayer savings.
  The amendment offered by Congressman Troy Carter would ensure IGs are 
paid at an equitable level with senior staff in their office.
  Through an unintended consequence in current law, IGs are sometimes 
paid less than the senior staff in their own offices. This inequity 
could lead to difficulty in attracting the most qualified people to be 
IGs.
  This amendment would add language to current law providing that IGs 
have to be paid at least the same rate of pay as the highest paid 
employee in the IG's office.
  This simple change would help ensure that IGs are paid what they 
deserve for the critical work they perform.

                              {time}  1730

  The amendment offered by Congressman   Tom Malinowski would balance 
notification to Congress with the need to address an immediate threat.
  The base bill would require that the President or an independent 
agency head would notify Congress at least 30 days before placing an IG 
on non-duty status.
  This amendment would make an exception to that requirement if any 
delay in that placement would mean a threat to people, property, or an 
ongoing investigation.
  This amendment would give the President or agency head flexibility in 
the case of a documented threat, while ensuring Congress is notified of 
any change to an IG status in advance whenever possible.
  And, finally, an amendment offered by Congressman Ritchie Torres, 
which would provide a needed review of all processes to ensure IGs are 
held accountable.
  This amendment would require the Government Accountability Office to 
review existing processes for investigating allegations of IG 
wrongdoing, including the processes of the CIGIE Integrity Committee. 
The results of this review would provide Congress with critical 
information to know how well these processes are working and how to 
improve them, if needed.
  IGs provide a critical check on waste, fraud, and abuse in the 
government, and their own conduct must be above reproach.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to adopt this commonsense package 
of amendments, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose the amendments en bloc.
  Madam Speaker, some of the amendments in the proposed package attempt 
to be helpful and improve the bill, but most are just Band-Aids 
attempting to cover up flawed provisions.
  For example, one amendment attempts to paper over the flaws in title 
I by expanding the requirement for the President to provide his or her 
rationale to Congress detailing why an IG was removed.
  Yes, understanding the President's rationale for removing an IG is 
very important to Congress. This amendment, however, fails to address 
the fundamental issue in the section, specifically limiting the reasons 
for an IG's removal or transferred to only nine constraining reasons.
  Another provision in this package seeks to amend title II, but title 
II already passed earlier this Congress as a standalone bill by voice 
vote under suspension. This amendment to title II would undermine that 
broadly supported bill by creating an easy-to-abuse loophole for a 
President to remove an IG immediately, rather than waiting the 30 days 
for Congress to review the required notice of removal.
  My Democrat colleagues have stated constantly that the goal of their 
legislation is to ensure that it is incredibly difficult to remove an 
IG, yet they support an amendment that would gut this and allow our 
President to circumvent the will of Congress. This is what happens when 
the majority decides to go it alone rather than seeking to work 
together to craft strong bipartisan legislation.
  This bloc of amendments is the perfect analog for this legislation--
many good provisions mixed with a few poison bills, which undermine the 
intent of the legislation as a whole. Therefore, I must ask my 
colleagues to vote against this package of amendments.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute 
to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Carter), one of the newest members 
of our caucus. He serves on the Committees of Transportation and 
Infrastructure and Small Business.
  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for 
her incredible leadership on this very critical and important 
legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today because I support this bill and the 
commonsense amendment that I have for it. I thank the chairwoman for 
her incredible hard work on this important issue.
  Inspectors general play a key role in our government. They provide 
transparency and accountability into government programs and spending. 
They help prevent waste and fix mismanagement and abuse.
  The IG Independence and Empowerment Act would ensure that they have 
the autonomy and the authority to do their jobs without political 
interference. My amendment is simple and in line with the goals of the 
bill. It would ensure that the inspector general is paid commensurate 
to their task.
  Currently, IGs make less money than some of their senior advisers. I 
think the person with the most responsibility should be paid 
accordingly. If we want the best people to work these important jobs, 
we need to make sure that their pay matches their role. My amendment 
would fix an unintended consequence of current law and strengthen IG 
offices so that they can better carry out their essential work.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I support all of 
the en bloc amendments, including Mr. Carter's, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 504, the 
previous question is ordered on the amendments en bloc offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney).
  The question is on the amendments en bloc.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.

[[Page H3287]]

  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question 
are postponed.


                  Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Comer

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 
4 printed in part A of House Report 117-74.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 4, strike line 1 and all that follows through page 6, 
     line 16.
       Page 9, strike line 3 and all that follows through page 10, 
     line 10.
       Page 22, strike line 20 and all that follows through page 
     27, line 14.
       Redesignate and renumber the remaining titles and sections 
     and amend the table of contents accordingly.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 504, the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, this amendment strips out the three 
provisions of this legislation that do not have bipartisan support in 
order for the IG Independence and Empowerment Act to move forward with 
the full support of the U.S. House. Both sides of the aisle can then 
come back to the table to fix the remaining provisions in a manner that 
addresses concerns on both sides of the aisle.
  Specifically, my amendment strikes title I, which would artificially 
constrain the President from removing or reassigning an IG to one of 
nine specific reasons listed in the provision.
  As drafted, title I would have the effect of prohibiting a President 
from removing an IG who is acting in bad faith and undermining a duly 
elected President's policies in a purely partisan manner.
  My amendment also strikes title III, which strictly limits who the 
President could name as the acting inspector general to the ``first 
assistant.'' This provision does not include any commonsense 
exceptions, creating unintended consequences.
  For example, it could elevate an individual to acting IG who may be 
engaged in the same misconduct which caused the original IG to have 
been removed.
  Lastly, my amendment strikes title V of the bill, which grants 
inspectors general the authority to issue subpoenas to compel the 
testimony of former Federal officials, including political appointees.
  While I support granting IGs testimonial subpoena authority, the 
current provision lacks necessary safeguards and could result in it 
being used in a politically abusive manner.
  Madam Speaker, I support the goals behind these provisions, as well 
as the other seven titles of the bill, which have strong bipartisan 
support. However, my amendment addresses the problematic language in 
these three sections. That is why I ask my Republican and Democrat 
colleagues to pass this amendment to enable us to negotiate a 
bipartisan solution for the inspector general community that can be 
signed into law.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise in 
opposition to this amendment
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from New York is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, this amendment 
would absolutely gut the bill. The amendment would strike the bill's 
key protection for inspectors general against political retaliation by 
eliminating the protection that would only allow an IG to be removed 
only for a legitimate cause. Not for political retaliation, not because 
a President doesn't like what they are doing or an investigation that 
they have started, but only for mismanagement or illegal acts for 
cause.
  We saw last year how unlimited authority can be abused when President 
Trump bullied and retaliated against two IGs who were investigating his 
administration, including when he fired the State Department IG. These 
protections are constitutional.
  Last month, the Independent Congressional Review Service released an 
analysis of congressional authority to limit the removal of IGs and 
concluded that for-cause removal restrictions ``appear to be a 
constitutionally permissible means of encouraging independence for most 
IGs.''
  Madam Speaker, this amendment would also gut the protection in the 
bill against the appointment of acting IGs with a clear conflict of 
interest. The amendment would strike a requirement that acting IGs come 
from an Office of Inspector General. The Council of Inspectors General 
for Integrity and Efficiency requested this reform, proposed by 
Republican Representative Porter, as one of its top legislative 
priorities in order to ``enhance the independence of OIGs.''
  We saw serious abuses during the last administration. In both the 
Department of Transportation and the Department of State, President 
Trump named political appointees within the agency to serve as the 
acting IG overseeing the same agency.
  Finally, this amendment would strip from the bill an important reform 
that would allow IGs to issue a subpoena to require individuals outside 
of the Federal Government to provide testimony, if needed, for an 
investigation. This has long been a priority for inspectors general to 
allow thorough and complete investigations.
  Madam Speaker, multiple IGs have reported that Trump administration 
officials, including Jeff Sessions, have refused to cooperate with 
investigations. No Federal employee should be able to simply avoid and 
escape accountability by leaving government and saying, ``I just no 
longer will testify or participate in finding the truth.''
  These provisions were passed by the Committee on Oversight and Reform 
and the House in 2018, in a Republican-led bill, and contained 
carefully crafted compromises struck by Chairman Issa and Ranking 
Member Cummings years ago.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation provides procedural safeguards to 
ensure that subpoena authority is not abused and it does not interfere 
with ongoing investigations. For example, the bill will require an 
inspector general to obtain the approval of a panel of three other 
inspectors general in order to issue a subpoena for testimony.
  A few IGs, including the Department of Defense IG, already have this 
authority. The language I authored and that the Congress passed on a 
bipartisan basis, the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee was 
provided testimonial subpoena authority when it was created as part of 
the CARES Act last Congress.
  There are many instances of former officials and nongovernment 
employees avoiding IG interviews going back over a decade. For example, 
IGs were unable to interview retired agents in the ``Fast and Furious'' 
investigation, and nongovernment witnesses to the Carter-Page FISA 
warrant investigation.
  This has never been a partisan issue before. In fact, the underlying 
bill had many, many bipartisan pieces. So in a letter to the Committee 
on Oversight and Reform, Department of Justice Inspector General has 
also come out against this.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 504, the 
previous question is ordered on the amendment offered by the gentleman 
from Kentucky (Mr. Comer).
  The question is on the amendment.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the noes appear to have it.
  Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The 
SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, 
the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question 
are postponed.

                              {time}  1745

  Amendments En Bloc Offered by Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the 
unfinished business is the question on the adoption of amendments en 
bloc, printed in part A of House Report 117-74, on

[[Page H3288]]

which further proceedings were postponed and on which the yeas and nays 
were ordered.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendments en bloc.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendments en bloc.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendments en bloc 
offered by the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney).
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 219, 
nays 184, not voting 27, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 193]

                               YEAS--219

     Adams
     Aguilar
     Allred
     Auchincloss
     Axne
     Barragan
     Bass
     Beatty
     Bera
     Beyer
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Bourdeaux
     Bowman
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brown
     Brownley
     Bush
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson
     Carter (LA)
     Cartwright
     Case
     Casten
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Connolly
     Cooper
     Correa
     Costa
     Courtney
     Craig
     Crow
     Cuellar
     Davids (KS)
     Davis, Danny K.
     Dean
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Delgado
     Demings
     DeSaulnier
     Deutch
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Escobar
     Eshoo
     Espaillat
     Evans
     Fitzpatrick
     Fletcher
     Foster
     Frankel, Lois
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garcia (IL)
     Garcia (TX)
     Golden
     Gomez
     Gonzalez, Vicente
     Gottheimer
     Green, Al (TX)
     Grijalva
     Harder (CA)
     Hayes
     Higgins (NY)
     Himes
     Horsford
     Houlahan
     Hoyer
     Huffman
     Jackson Lee
     Jacobs (CA)
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (TX)
     Jones
     Kahele
     Kaptur
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Khanna
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kim (NJ)
     Kind
     Kinzinger
     Kirkpatrick
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster
     Lamb
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee (CA)
     Lee (NV)
     Leger Fernandez
     Levin (CA)
     Levin (MI)
     Lieu
     Lofgren
     Lowenthal
     Luria
     Lynch
     Malinowski
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     Maloney, Sean
     Manning
     Matsui
     McBath
     McCollum
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McNerney
     Meng
     Mfume
     Moore (WI)
     Morelle
     Moulton
     Mrvan
     Murphy (FL)
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neguse
     Newman
     Norcross
     O'Halleran
     Ocasio-Cortez
     Omar
     Pallone
     Panetta
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peters
     Phillips
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Porter
     Pressley
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Rice (NY)
     Ross
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scanlon
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrader
     Schrier
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, David
     Sewell
     Sherman
     Sherrill
     Sires
     Slotkin
     Smith (WA)
     Soto
     Spanberger
     Speier
     Stansbury
     Stanton
     Stevens
     Strickland
     Suozzi
     Swalwell
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Titus
     Tlaib
     Tonko
     Torres (CA)
     Torres (NY)
     Trahan
     Trone
     Underwood
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson Coleman
     Welch
     Wexton
     Wild
     Williams (GA)
     Wilson (FL)
     Yarmuth

                               NAYS--184

     Aderholt
     Allen
     Amodei
     Armstrong
     Babin
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Barr
     Bentz
     Bergman
     Bice (OK)
     Biggs
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (NC)
     Boebert
     Bost
     Brady
     Brooks
     Buchanan
     Buck
     Bucshon
     Budd
     Burchett
     Burgess
     Calvert
     Cammack
     Carl
     Carter (TX)
     Cawthorn
     Chabot
     Cheney
     Cline
     Clyde
     Cole
     Comer
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Curtis
     Davidson
     Davis, Rodney
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Donalds
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Emmer
     Estes
     Fallon
     Feenstra
     Ferguson
     Fischbach
     Fitzgerald
     Fleischmann
     Fortenberry
     Foxx
     Franklin, C. Scott
     Gaetz
     Garbarino
     Garcia (CA)
     Gibbs
     Gimenez
     Gonzales, Tony
     Gonzalez (OH)
     Gooden (TX)
     Gosar
     Granger
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green (TN)
     Greene (GA)
     Griffith
     Grothman
     Guthrie
     Hagedorn
     Harris
     Harshbarger
     Hartzler
     Hern
     Herrera Beutler
     Hill
     Hinson
     Hollingsworth
     Hudson
     Huizenga
     Jacobs (NY)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)
     Joyce (PA)
     Katko
     Keller
     Kelly (MS)
     Kelly (PA)
     Kim (CA)
     Kustoff
     LaHood
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Latta
     LaTurner
     Lesko
     Letlow
     Loudermilk
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Mace
     Malliotakis
     Mann
     Massie
     Mast
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClain
     McClintock
     McHenry
     McKinley
     Meijer
     Meuser
     Miller (WV)
     Miller-Meeks
     Moolenaar
     Mooney
     Moore (UT)
     Mullin
     Murphy (NC)
     Nehls
     Newhouse
     Nunes
     Obernolte
     Owens
     Palazzo
     Palmer
     Pence
     Perry
     Posey
     Reed
     Reschenthaler
     Rice (SC)
     Rodgers (WA)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rosendale
     Rouzer
     Rutherford
     Salazar
     Scalise
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Sessions
     Simpson
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smucker
     Spartz
     Stauber
     Steel
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Steube
     Stewart
     Taylor
     Tenney
     Thompson (PA)
     Timmons
     Turner
     Upton
     Valadao
     Van Drew
     Van Duyne
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walorski
     Waltz
     Webster (FL)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Young
     Zeldin

                             NOT VOTING--27

     Arrington
     Banks
     Carter (GA)
     Cloud
     Crist
     Fulcher
     Gallagher
     Gohmert
     Good (VA)
     Guest
     Herrell
     Hice (GA)
     Higgins (LA)
     Issa
     Jackson
     Johnson (LA)
     Long
     Meeks
     Miller (IL)
     Moore (AL)
     Norman
     Pfluger
     Rose
     Roy
     Tiffany
     Weber (TX)
     Williams (TX)

                              {time}  1814

  Messrs. FEENSTRA, COLE, and SMITH of New Jersey changed their vote 
from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
  So the en bloc amendments were agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.


    members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress

     Babin (Nehls)
     Boebert (Gosar)
     Bourdeaux (Kuster)
     Cardenas (Gomez)
     Carl (Joyce (PA))
     Cawthorn (Nehls)
     Clark (MA) (Kuster)
     Cohen (Beyer)
     Fallon (Nehls)
     Gallego (Gomez)
     Garcia (IL) (Gomez)
     Garcia (TX) (Jeffries)
     Grijalva (Stanton)
     Horsford (Jeffries)
     Jackson Lee (Butterfield)
     Jacobs (NY) (Garbarino)
     Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)
     Kind (Connolly)
     Kirkpatrick (Stanton)
     Lawson (FL) (Evans)
     Leger Fernandez (Jacobs (CA))
     Lieu (Beyer)
     Lowenthal (Beyer)
     McClain (Bergman)
     Meng (Jeffries)
     Mullin (Lucas)
     Napolitano (Correa)
     Owens (Curtis)
     Payne (Pallone)
     Ruiz (Aguilar)
     Rush (Underwood)
     Sewell (DelBene)
     Steube (Franklin, C. Scott)
     Strickland (DelBene)
     Timmons (Wilson (SC))
     Torres (NY) (Jeffries)
     Wilson (FL) (Hayes)
     Young (Joyce (OH))


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  June 29, 2021, on page H3288, the following appeared:MEMBERS 
RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS Babin 
(Nehls) Bourdeaux (Kuster) Cardenas (Gomez) Carl (Joyce (PA)) 
Cawthorn (Nehls) Clark (MA) (Kuster) Cohen (Beyer) DesJarlais 
(Fleischmann) Fallon (Nehls) Gallego (Gomez) Garcia (IL) (Gomez) 
Garcia (TX) (Jeffries) Gonzalez, Vincente (Carbajal) Grijalva 
(Stanton) Horsford (Jeffries) Hoyer (Trone) Jackson Lee 
(Butterfield) Jacobs (NY) (Garbarino) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Kind 
(Connolly) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Leger 
Fernandez (Jacobs (CA)) Lieu (Beyer) Lowenthal (Beyer) McClain 
(Bergman) Meng (Jeffries) Mullin (Lucas) Napolitano (Correa) Owens 
(Curtis) Payne (Pallone) Rice (NY) (Peters) Ruiz (Aguilar) Rush 
(Underwood)
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: MEMBERS RECORDED 
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS Babin (Nehls) 
Boebert (Gosar) Bourdeaux (Kuster) Cardenas (Gomez) Carl (Joyce 
(PA)) Cawthorn (Nehls) Clark (MA) (Kuster) Cohen (Beyer) Fallon 
(Nehls) Gallego (Gomez) Garcia (IL) (Gomez) Garcia (TX) (Jeffries) 
Grijalva (Stanton) Horsford (Jeffries) Jackson Lee (Butterfield) 
Jacobs (NY) (Garbarino) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Kind (Connolly) 
Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Leger Fernandez (Jacobs 
(CA)) Lieu (Beyer) Lowenthal (Beyer) McClain (Bergman) Meng 
(Jeffries) Mullin (Lucas) Napolitano (Correa) Owens (Curtis) Payne 
(Pallone) Ruiz (Aguilar) Rush (Underwood)


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  (By unanimous consent, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ was allowed to speak out 
of order.)


  Moment of Silence in Remembrance of Victims of the Champlain Towers 
                     Collapse in Surfside, Florida

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a grieving 
but hopeful heart in the wake of an unimaginable tragedy in Surfside, 
Florida.
  As we gather, our world-renowned Miami Dade search and rescue teams 
are joined by teams from as far away as Israel and Mexico to search for 
potential survivors of Champlain Towers South in Surfside.
  Since that unprecedented collapse, first responders, medical 
personnel, engineers, grief counselors, and caseworkers have 
painstakingly worked nonstop to assist in the search and rescue, 
providing support to the families and to begin an investigation.
  For those still trapped, we hold out hope for the search to discover 
survivors. For all those who lost loved ones, we send our deepest 
condolences and pledge support and solidarity.
  So many in our community fled nations where they faced danger. That 
makes this tragedy all the more painful. But we are resilient. We will 
be there every step of the way for the families of those missing in the 
rubble. But we know we cannot do this alone.
  I thank the Biden administration for the speedy delivery of Federal 
resources, and Mayors Daniella Levine Cava and Charles Burkett for 
their steadfast leadership in this truly unprecedented crisis.
  And our deepest thanks for the remarkable, relentless first 
responders who are still on that pile, searching around the clock in 
the hope of finding even one survivor.
  Madam Speaker, the agony that these families are going through is 
beyond comprehension. So on behalf of the missing, those who perished, 
and their families, I ask that the House please rise and pause for a 
moment of silence in memory and in honor of those who have been 
struggling through this Surfside tragedy and crisis.
  The SPEAKER. The Chair would ask all Members to rise for a moment of 
silence in remembrance of the victims of the collapse of the Champlain 
Towers building in Surfside, Florida.


                  Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Comer

  The SPEAKER. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business 
is

[[Page H3289]]

the question on amendment No. 4, printed in part A of House Report 117-
74, on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the yeas 
and nays were ordered.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
  The SPEAKER. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer).
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 182, 
nays 220, not voting 28, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 194]

                               YEAS--182

     Aderholt
     Allen
     Amodei
     Armstrong
     Babin
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Barr
     Bentz
     Bergman
     Bice (OK)
     Biggs
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (NC)
     Boebert
     Bost
     Brady
     Brooks
     Buchanan
     Bucshon
     Budd
     Burchett
     Burgess
     Calvert
     Cammack
     Carl
     Carter (TX)
     Cawthorn
     Chabot
     Cheney
     Cline
     Clyde
     Cole
     Comer
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Curtis
     Davidson
     Davis, Rodney
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Donalds
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Emmer
     Estes
     Fallon
     Feenstra
     Ferguson
     Fischbach
     Fitzgerald
     Fleischmann
     Fortenberry
     Foxx
     Franklin, C. Scott
     Gaetz
     Garcia (CA)
     Gibbs
     Gimenez
     Gonzales, Tony
     Gonzalez (OH)
     Gooden (TX)
     Gosar
     Granger
     Graves (MO)
     Green (TN)
     Greene (GA)
     Griffith
     Grothman
     Guthrie
     Hagedorn
     Harris
     Harshbarger
     Hartzler
     Hern
     Herrera Beutler
     Hill
     Hinson
     Hollingsworth
     Hudson
     Huizenga
     Jacobs (NY)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)
     Joyce (PA)
     Katko
     Keller
     Kelly (MS)
     Kelly (PA)
     Kim (CA)
     Kinzinger
     Kustoff
     LaHood
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Latta
     LaTurner
     Lesko
     Letlow
     Loudermilk
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Mace
     Malliotakis
     Mann
     Massie
     Mast
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClain
     McClintock
     McHenry
     McKinley
     Meijer
     Meuser
     Miller (WV)
     Miller-Meeks
     Moolenaar
     Mooney
     Moore (UT)
     Mullin
     Murphy (NC)
     Nehls
     Newhouse
     Nunes
     Obernolte
     Owens
     Palazzo
     Palmer
     Pence
     Perry
     Posey
     Reed
     Reschenthaler
     Rice (SC)
     Rodgers (WA)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rosendale
     Rouzer
     Rutherford
     Salazar
     Scalise
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Sessions
     Simpson
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smucker
     Spartz
     Stauber
     Steel
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Steube
     Stewart
     Taylor
     Tenney
     Thompson (PA)
     Timmons
     Turner
     Upton
     Valadao
     Van Drew
     Van Duyne
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walorski
     Waltz
     Webster (FL)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Young
     Zeldin

                               NAYS--220

     Adams
     Aguilar
     Allred
     Auchincloss
     Axne
     Barragan
     Bass
     Beatty
     Bera
     Beyer
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Bourdeaux
     Bowman
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brown
     Brownley
     Bush
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson
     Carter (LA)
     Cartwright
     Case
     Casten
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Connolly
     Cooper
     Correa
     Costa
     Courtney
     Craig
     Crist
     Crow
     Cuellar
     Davids (KS)
     Davis, Danny K.
     Dean
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Delgado
     Demings
     DeSaulnier
     Deutch
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Escobar
     Eshoo
     Espaillat
     Evans
     Fitzpatrick
     Fletcher
     Foster
     Frankel, Lois
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garcia (IL)
     Garcia (TX)
     Golden
     Gomez
     Gonzalez, Vicente
     Gottheimer
     Green, Al (TX)
     Grijalva
     Harder (CA)
     Hayes
     Higgins (NY)
     Himes
     Horsford
     Houlahan
     Hoyer
     Huffman
     Jackson Lee
     Jacobs (CA)
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (TX)
     Jones
     Kahele
     Kaptur
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Khanna
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kim (NJ)
     Kind
     Kirkpatrick
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster
     Lamb
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee (CA)
     Lee (NV)
     Leger Fernandez
     Levin (CA)
     Levin (MI)
     Lieu
     Lofgren
     Lowenthal
     Luria
     Lynch
     Malinowski
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     Maloney, Sean
     Manning
     Matsui
     McBath
     McCollum
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McNerney
     Meeks
     Meng
     Mfume
     Moore (WI)
     Morelle
     Moulton
     Mrvan
     Murphy (FL)
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neguse
     Newman
     Norcross
     O'Halleran
     Ocasio-Cortez
     Omar
     Pallone
     Panetta
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peters
     Phillips
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Porter
     Pressley
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Rice (NY)
     Ross
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scanlon
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrader
     Schrier
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, David
     Sewell
     Sherman
     Sherrill
     Sires
     Slotkin
     Smith (WA)
     Soto
     Spanberger
     Speier
     Stansbury
     Stanton
     Stevens
     Strickland
     Suozzi
     Swalwell
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Titus
     Tlaib
     Tonko
     Torres (CA)
     Torres (NY)
     Trahan
     Trone
     Underwood
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson Coleman
     Welch
     Wexton
     Wild
     Williams (GA)
     Wilson (FL)
     Yarmuth

                             NOT VOTING--28

     Arrington
     Banks
     Buck
     Carter (GA)
     Cloud
     Fulcher
     Gallagher
     Garbarino
     Gohmert
     Good (VA)
     Graves (LA)
     Guest
     Herrell
     Hice (GA)
     Higgins (LA)
     Issa
     Jackson
     Johnson (LA)
     Long
     Miller (IL)
     Moore (AL)
     Norman
     Pfluger
     Rose
     Roy
     Tiffany
     Weber (TX)
     Williams (TX)

                              {time}  1840

  Mr. VEASEY, Ms. WATERS, Mr. CLEAVER, Ms. BASS, Messrs. COHEN, LIEU, 
and LOWENTHAL changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
  Mrs. GREENE of Georgia and Mr. CARL changed their vote from ``nay'' 
to ``yea.''
  So the amendment was rejected.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Stated for:
  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would 
have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 194.


    members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress

     Babin (Nehls)
     Boebert (Gosar)
     Bourdeaux (Kuster)
     Cardenas (Gomez)
     Carl (Joyce (PA))
     Cawthorn (Nehls)
     Clark (MA) (Kuster)
     Cohen (Beyer)
     Fallon (Nehls)
     Gallego (Gomez)
     Garcia (IL) (Gomez)
     Garcia (TX) (Jeffries)
     Grijalva (Stanton)
     Horsford (Jeffries)
     Jackson Lee (Butterfield)
     Jacobs (NY) (Garbarino)
     Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)
     Kind (Connolly)
     Kirkpatrick (Stanton)
     Lawson (FL) (Evans)
     Leger Fernandez (Jacobs (CA))
     Lieu (Beyer)
     Lowenthal (Beyer)
     McClain (Bergman)
     Meng (Jeffries)
     Mullin (Lucas)
     Napolitano (Correa)
     Owens (Curtis)
     Payne (Pallone)
     Ruiz (Aguilar)
     Rush (Underwood)
     Sewell (DelBene)
     Steube (Franklin, C. Scott)
     Strickland (DelBene)
     Timmons (Wilson (SC))
     Torres (NY) (Jeffries)
     Wilson (FL) (Hayes)
     Young (Joyce (OH))


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  June 29, 2021, on page H3289, the following appeared: Timmons 
Wilson (FL)
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: Timmons (Wilson 
(SC))


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Moore of Wisconsin). The previous 
question is ordered on the bill, as amended.
  The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on passage of the bill.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 221, 
nays 182, not voting 27, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 195]

                               YEAS--221

     Adams
     Aguilar
     Allred
     Auchincloss
     Axne
     Barragan
     Bass
     Beatty
     Bera
     Beyer
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Bourdeaux
     Bowman
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brown
     Brownley
     Bush
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson
     Carter (LA)
     Cartwright
     Case
     Casten
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Connolly
     Cooper
     Correa
     Costa
     Courtney
     Craig
     Crist
     Crow
     Cuellar
     Davids (KS)
     Davis, Danny K.
     Dean
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Delgado
     Demings
     DeSaulnier
     Deutch
     Dingell
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Escobar
     Eshoo
     Espaillat
     Evans
     Fitzpatrick
     Fletcher
     Foster
     Frankel, Lois
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garcia (IL)
     Garcia (TX)
     Golden
     Gomez
     Gonzalez, Vicente
     Gottheimer
     Green, Al (TX)
     Grijalva
     Harder (CA)
     Hayes
     Higgins (NY)
     Himes
     Horsford
     Houlahan
     Hoyer
     Huffman
     Jackson Lee
     Jacobs (CA)
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (TX)
     Jones
     Kahele
     Kaptur
     Katko
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Khanna
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kim (NJ)
     Kind
     Kirkpatrick
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster
     Lamb
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee (CA)
     Lee (NV)
     Leger Fernandez
     Levin (CA)
     Levin (MI)
     Lieu
     Lofgren
     Lowenthal
     Luria
     Lynch
     Malinowski
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     Maloney, Sean
     Manning
     Matsui
     McBath

[[Page H3290]]


     McCollum
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McNerney
     Meeks
     Meng
     Mfume
     Moore (WI)
     Morelle
     Moulton
     Mrvan
     Murphy (FL)
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neguse
     Newman
     Norcross
     O'Halleran
     Ocasio-Cortez
     Omar
     Pallone
     Panetta
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peters
     Phillips
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Porter
     Pressley
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Reed
     Rice (NY)
     Ross
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scanlon
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrader
     Schrier
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, David
     Sewell
     Sherman
     Sherrill
     Sires
     Slotkin
     Smith (WA)
     Soto
     Spanberger
     Speier
     Stansbury
     Stanton
     Stevens
     Strickland
     Suozzi
     Swalwell
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Titus
     Tlaib
     Tonko
     Torres (CA)
     Torres (NY)
     Trahan
     Trone
     Underwood
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson Coleman
     Welch
     Wexton
     Wild
     Williams (GA)
     Wilson (FL)
     Yarmuth

                               NAYS--182

     Aderholt
     Allen
     Amodei
     Armstrong
     Babin
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Barr
     Bentz
     Bergman
     Bice (OK)
     Biggs
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (NC)
     Boebert
     Bost
     Brady
     Brooks
     Buchanan
     Buck
     Bucshon
     Budd
     Burchett
     Burgess
     Calvert
     Cammack
     Carl
     Carter (TX)
     Cawthorn
     Chabot
     Cheney
     Cline
     Clyde
     Cole
     Comer
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Curtis
     Davidson
     Davis, Rodney
     Diaz-Balart
     Donalds
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Emmer
     Estes
     Fallon
     Feenstra
     Ferguson
     Fischbach
     Fitzgerald
     Fleischmann
     Fortenberry
     Foxx
     Franklin, C. Scott
     Gaetz
     Garbarino
     Garcia (CA)
     Gibbs
     Gimenez
     Gonzales, Tony
     Gonzalez (OH)
     Gooden (TX)
     Gosar
     Granger
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green (TN)
     Greene (GA)
     Griffith
     Grothman
     Guthrie
     Hagedorn
     Harris
     Harshbarger
     Hartzler
     Hern
     Herrera Beutler
     Hill
     Hinson
     Hollingsworth
     Hudson
     Huizenga
     Jacobs (NY)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)
     Joyce (PA)
     Keller
     Kelly (MS)
     Kelly (PA)
     Kim (CA)
     Kinzinger
     Kustoff
     LaHood
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Latta
     LaTurner
     Lesko
     Letlow
     Loudermilk
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Mace
     Malliotakis
     Mann
     Massie
     Mast
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClain
     McClintock
     McHenry
     McKinley
     Meijer
     Meuser
     Miller (WV)
     Miller-Meeks
     Moolenaar
     Mooney
     Moore (UT)
     Mullin
     Murphy (NC)
     Nehls
     Newhouse
     Norman
     Nunes
     Obernolte
     Owens
     Palazzo
     Palmer
     Pence
     Perry
     Posey
     Reschenthaler
     Rice (SC)
     Rodgers (WA)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rosendale
     Rouzer
     Rutherford
     Salazar
     Scalise
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Sessions
     Simpson
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smucker
     Spartz
     Stauber
     Steel
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Steube
     Stewart
     Taylor
     Tenney
     Thompson (PA)
     Timmons
     Turner
     Upton
     Valadao
     Van Drew
     Van Duyne
     Wagner
     Walorski
     Waltz
     Webster (FL)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Young
     Zeldin

                             NOT VOTING--27

     Arrington
     Banks
     Carter (GA)
     Cloud
     DesJarlais
     Doggett
     Fulcher
     Gallagher
     Gohmert
     Good (VA)
     Guest
     Herrell
     Hice (GA)
     Higgins (LA)
     Issa
     Jackson
     Johnson (LA)
     Long
     Miller (IL)
     Moore (AL)
     Pfluger
     Rose
     Roy
     Tiffany
     Walberg
     Weber (TX)
     Williams (TX)

                              {time}  1902

  So the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.


    MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS

     Babin (Nehls)
     Boebert (Gosar)
     Bourdeaux (Kuster)
     Cardenas (Gomez)
     Carl (Joyce (PA))
     Cawthorn (Nehls)
     Clark (MA) (Kuster)
     Cohen (Beyer)
     Fallon (Nehls)
     Gallego (Gomez)
     Garcia (IL) (Gomez)
     Garcia (TX) (Jeffries)
     Grijalva (Stanton)
     Horsford (Jeffries)
     Jackson Lee (Butterfield)
     Jacobs (NY) (Garbarino)
     Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)
     Kind (Connolly)
     Kirkpatrick (Stanton)
     Lawson (FL) (Evans)
     Leger Fernandez (Jacobs (CA))
     Lieu (Beyer)
     Lowenthal (Beyer)
     McClain (Bergman)
     Meng (Jeffries)
     Mullin (Lucas)
     Napolitano (Correa)
     Norman (Wilson (SC))
     Owens (Curtis)
     Payne (Pallone)
     Ruiz (Aguilar)
     Rush (Underwood)
     Sewell (DelBene)
     Steube (Franklin, C. Scott)
     Strickland (DelBene)
     Timmons (Wilson (SC))
     Torres (NY) (Jeffries)
     Wilson (FL) (Hayes)
     Young (Joyce (OH))

                          ____________________