STEARNS, CLIFF (a Representative from Florida)

Amendments

Dept. of Defense: making appropriations (H.R. 5856), H5059 [19JY]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 5854), H3346 [31MY]

Energy and water development: making appropriations (H.R. 5325), H3465 [5JN]

Health: reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (H.R. 5), H1511 [22MR]

Articles and editorials

China’s Solyndra Economy, Patrick Chovanec, Wall Street Journal, H6015 [14SE]

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

Abortion: protect pain-capable unborn children in the District of Columbia (see H.R. 3803), H1916 [17AP]

Afridi, Shakeel: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 4069), H901 [16FE]

Agriculture: codify exemptions for farming, forestry, and ranching relative to permit requirements for dredged or fill material (see H.R. 4278), H3105 [17MY]

Americans With Disabilities Act: require a plaintiff to provide a defendant with an opportunity to voluntarily correct a violation prior to commencing civil action (see H.R. 881), H4064 [26JN]

Armed Forces: limit authority to detain U.S. citizens under authorizations for use of military force (see H.R. 3676), H641 [8FE]

——— tribute to members for service in Iraq (see H. Res. 528), H181 [25JA]

Bureau of Prisons: establish an Oleoresin Capsicum Spray Pilot Program (see H.R. 1175), H1807 [29MR]

Committee on POW and MIA Affairs (House, Select): establish (see H. Res. 111), H1642 [27MR]

Crime: establish criminal offense for fraudulent claims about military service (see H.R. 1775), H5009 [18JY]

Dept. of Commerce: enable concrete masonry products manufacturers and importers to carry out coordinated program of research, education, and promotion to improve, maintain, and develop markets (see H.R. 3395), H1915 [17AP]

Dept. of Education: allow States to enter into performance agreements and combine certain Federal funds to improve academic achievement (see H.R. 2514), H1807 [29MR]

Dept. of Energy: phase out the innovative technology loan guarantee program and provide taxpayer protections from pending program participants (see H.R. 6213), H5326 [26JY]

Dept. of HHS: establish a National Pediatric Research Network (see H.R. 6163), H5923 [12SE]

——— establish and implement a Pancreatic Cancer Initiative (see H.R. 733), H5860 [11SE]

——— exempt employers from taxes, penalties, or suits for failure to offer insurance coverage for certain women’s preventive services on the basis of religious belief or moral conviction (see H.R. 6097), H4828 [11JY]

——— limit the number and pay of individuals serving as special consultants, fellows, or other employees (see H.R. 6214), H5326 [26JY]

Dept. of Justice: reauthorize the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (see H.R. 100), H641 [8FE]

Dept. of Labor: prohibit finalization of certain proposed child labor rules relative to family farming (see H.R. 4157), H2134 [25AP]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: improve employment services for veterans by consolidating various programs (see H.R. 4072), H2040 [23AP]

——— require provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all departmental medical centers (see H.R. 329), H2211 [26AP]

Diseases: expand research and awareness activities relative to scleroderma (see H.R. 1672), H966 [27FE]

Ecology and environment: preempt regulation of, action relating to, or consideration of greenhouse gases relative to any Federal policy to mitigate climate change (see H.R. 750), H1807 [29MR]

Ecuador: condemn repression of democracy and human rights, express concern on lack of counternarcotics cooperation and relationship with Iran, and discourage renewal of trade preference systems (see H. Res. 745), H6234 [20SE]

Employment: make E-verify program for employment eligibility confirmation permanent and mandatory (see H.R. 2885), H571 [7FE]

EPA: require analyses of cumulative impacts of certain rules and actions that impact gasoline, diesel fuel, and natural gas prices, jobs, and the economy (see H.R. 4471), H2813 [16MY]

Fair Labor Standards Act: preserve companionship services exemption for minimum wage and overtime pay (see H.R. 3066), H2447 [8MY]

FCC: authorize multiple Commissioners to hold nonpublic collaborative discussions (see H.R. 1009), H440 [2FE]

——— provide greater transparency and efficiency in procedures (see H.R. 3309), H27 [17JA]

FDA: create a pathway for premarket notification and review of laboratory-developed tests (see H.R. 3207), H641 [8FE]

——— strengthen ability to seek advice from external experts on rare diseases, their burdens, and unmet medical needs of individuals with rare diseases (see H.R. 4156), H1272 [7MR]

Federal agencies and departments: require approval by agency head for conferences costing above a certain limit (see H.R. 4454), H3267 [30MY]

Federal Realignment and Closure Commission: establish (see H.R. 2680), H2072 [24AP]

Financial institutions: improve examination of depository institutions (see H.R. 3461), H3105 [17MY]

Government: require procurement from the private sector the goods and services necessary for operations and management of certain Government agencies (see H.R. 1474), H1915 [17AP]

Government-sponsored enterprises: establish a term for conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and provide conditions for continued operations, wind down, and dissolution of such enterprises (see H.R. 1182), H1807 [29MR]

Health: improve access to emergency medical services (see H.R. 157), H1741 [28MR]

Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act: repeal health-care related provisions (see H.R. 6079), H4775 [10JY]

House Rules: prevent creation of duplicative and overlapping Federal programs (see H. Res. 623), H3916 [20JN]

Immigration: enhance Federal, State, and local assistance in enforcement of immigration laws (see H.R. 100), H641 [8FE]

——— reform policies relative to family-sponsored immigrants and reduce the number of such immigrants (see H.R. 692), H696 [13FE]

——— temporarily suspend certain provisions of Federal immigration law relative to Executive efforts to block certain deportations (see H.R. 2497), H641 [8FE]

Information technology: preserve and advance the multistakeholder governance model under which the Internet has thrived (see H. Con. Res. 127), H3363 [31MY]

Internet: oppose any effort to transfer control to the U.N. or any other international governmental organization (see H. Res. 57), H2072 [24AP]

Iran: express importance of preventing acquisition of nuclear weapons capability and continue economic and diplomatic pressure to secure nonproliferation agreement (see H. Res. 568), H1808 [29MR]

Israel: reaffirm strategic relationship with the U.S., direct the President to submit reports on U.S. actions to enhance this relationship, and assist in the defense of Israel (see H.R. 4133), H1642 [27MR]

Medicare: clarify application of secondary payer rules (see H.R. 1063), H5923 [12SE]

——— establish smart card pilot program (see H.R. 2925), H694 [9FE]

——— strengthen and protect hospice programs (see H.R. 3506), H5130 [23JY]

Medicare/Medicaid: curb waste, fraud, and abuse (see H.R. 3399), H3662 [7JN]

Nicklaus, Jack: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 4040), H1498 [21MR]

NLRB: permit employers to pay higher wages to their employees who are working under a union contract (see H.R. 4385), H2647 [10MY]

Office of the Director of National Intelligence: allow elements of the intelligence community to share cyber threat intelligence with private-sector cybersecurity entities (see H.R. 3523), H221 [31JA]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: protect rights of conscience relative to requirements for coverage of specific items and services (see H.R. 1179), H903 [16FE]

——— repeal (see H.R. 6079), H4775 [10JY]

——— repeal annual fee on health insurance providers (see H.R. 1370), H726 [14FE]

Power resources: develop plan to increase oil and gas exploration, development, and production under oil and gas leases of Federal lands in response to Strategic Petroleum Reserve drawdown (see H.R. 4480), H2716 [15MY]

Presidential appointments: disapprove appointment of certain officers or employees during a congressional recess of less than 3 days and express that such appointments are unconstitutional (see H. Res. 509), H27 [17JA]

——— exercise of recess appointment power during a congressional recess of less than 3 days (see H. Res. 604), H2034 [19AP]

——— prevent payment for services to individuals appointed during a Senate recess to fill a vacancy that existed when the Senate was in session (see H.R. 3770), H26 [17JA]

Presidents of the U.S.: clarify that Executive orders infringing on congressional powers and duties or requiring expenditure of funds not specifically appropriated has no force or effect (see H. Con. Res. 98), H641 [8FE]

Public debt: disapprove the President’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit (see H.J. Res. 98), H28 [17JA]

Public welfare programs: prohibit waivers relative to compliance with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program work requirements (see H.R. 6140), H5293 [25JY]

——— provide information on total spending on means-tested welfare programs, provide additional work requirements, and provide overall spending limit on means-tested welfare programs (see H.R. 1167), H1846 [16AP]

Taxation: clarify that wages paid to unauthorized aliens are not deductible (see H.R. 3720), H1154 [5MR]

——— establish ABLE accounts to pay for qualified disability expenses of family members with disabilities (see H.R. 3423), H1847 [16AP]

——— promote neutrality, simplicity, and fairness in the taxation of digital goods and services (see H.R. 1860), H1915 [17AP]

——— provide collegiate housing and infrastructure grants (see H.R. 1327), H2288 [27AP]

——— repeal the individual and employer health insurance mandates (see H.R. 6048), H4603 [28JN]

Transportation: empower States with authority for most taxing and spending for highway and mass transit programs (see H.R. 3264), H1807 [29MR]

Veterans: provide grants to State emergency medical service departments to provide for the expedited training and licensing of veterans with prior medical training (see H.R. 4124), H5923 [12SE]

Wallenberg, Raoul: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 3001), H220 [31JA]

Water: prevent finalization by the EPA or Corps of Engineers of proposed guidance on identification of waters protected by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (see H.R. 4965), H3164 [18MY]

William ‘‘Bill’’ Kling VA Clinic, Sunrise, FL: designate (see H.R. 6443), H6623 [4DE]

Bills and resolutions introduced

Committee on Repeals (House): establish (see H. Res. 845), H7585 [2JA]

FCC: require reallocation and auction for commercial use of certain frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum (see H.R. 4817), H2203 [26AP]

FDA: expedite approval of drugs for serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions (see H.R. 4132), H1152 [5MR]

Power resources: promote global energy supply security through increased cooperation among the U.S., Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, and Georgia (country) (see H. Res. 611), H1805 [29MR]

Constitutional authority statements

FCC: require reallocation and auction for commercial use of certain frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum (H.R. 4817), H2206 [26AP]

FDA: expedite approval of drugs for serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions (H.R. 4132), H1153 [5MR]

Letters

Dept. of Defense TRICARE for Life program enrollment fee implementation funding: Fang A. Wong, American Legion, H5059 [19JY]

——— Wayne E. Carrignan, Florida VFW, H5059 [19JY]

Expedite approval of drugs for serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions: several health advocacy organizations, H3225 [30MY]

Faster Access to Specialized Treatments (FAST) Act: several health organizations, E975• [5JN]

Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act: Emil Kakkis, EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, H3864 [20JN]

——— Pat Furlong, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (organization), H3864 [20JN]

Limit liability of volunteers who provide health care services in response to a disaster: David B. Hoyt, American College of Surgeons, H1512 [22MR]

——— several health care organizations, H1512 [22MR]

Remarks

Abortion: prohibit discrimination against the unborn on the basis of sex (H.R. 3541), H3186 [30MY]

Armed Forces: protect child custody arrangements for parents who are members (H.R. 4201), H3234, H3236 [30MY]

Budget: allocation of funds, H128 [24JA]

Dept. of Defense: limit increase of premiums, deductibles, copayments, or other charges for health care provided under the TRICARE program, H1858 [17AP]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 5856), H5059 [19JY]

——— TRICARE for Life program enrollment fee implementation funding, H5059 [19JY]

Dept. of Education: extend the reduced interest rate for Federal Direct Stafford Loans (H.R. 4628), H2235 [27AP]

Dept. of Energy: clarify certain findings from Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) investigation of the innovative technology loan guarantee program, H6019 [14SE]

——— ensure the innovative technology loan guarantee program is able to continue to accept applications for new loan guarantees, H6020 [14SE]

——— phase out the innovative technology loan guarantee program and provide taxpayer protections from pending program participants (H.R. 6213), H5930 [13SE], H6006, H6010, H6014, H6019, H6020 [14SE]

——— prohibit funding for subordinating any loan obligation to other financing, H3465 [5JN]

Dept. of HHS: ensure religious conscience protections relative to insurance coverage of certain women’s preventive health services, H737 [15FE]

——— Prevention and Public Health Fund funding, H2235 [27AP]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: develop a comprehensive policy to improve outreach and transparency to veterans and Armed Forces members through provision of information on institutions of higher learning (H.R. 4057), H5819 [11SE]

——— prohibit funding for payment of employee performance awards, H3346 [31MY]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 5854), H3346 [31MY]

Economy: importance of job creation, H5774 [11SE]

Energy and water development: making appropriations (H.R. 5325), H3465 [5JN]

FCC: consolidate reporting obligations to improve congressional oversight and reduce reporting burdens (H.R. 3310), H3233 [30MY]

FDA: allow fast track approval of certain orphan drugs (H.R. 3737), H3864 [20JN]

——— expedite approval of drugs for serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions, H3225 [30MY], H3864 [20JN], E974• [5JN]

——— revise and extend the user-fee programs for prescription drugs and medical devices and establish user-fee programs for generic drugs and biosimilars (H.R. 5651), H3225 [30MY], E974• [5JN]

——— revise and extend the user-fee programs for prescription drugs and medical devices and establish user-fee programs for generic drugs and biosimilars (S. 3187), H3864 [20JN]

——— strengthen ability to seek advice from external experts on rare diseases, their burdens, and unmet medical needs of individuals with rare diseases, H3225 [30MY], H3864 [20JN]

Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission: release of report on causes of U.S. financial and economic crisis, H41 [18JA]

Health: reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (H.R. 5), H1456 [21MR], H1511, H1513 [22MR]

Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act: repeal health-care related provisions (H.R. 6079), H4728 [10JY]

Health care professionals: limit liability of volunteers who provide health care services in response to a disaster, H1511, H1513 [22MR]

House of Representatives: appreciation of opportunity to serve, H7568 [2JA], E2027• [1JA], E2036• [2JA]

Nobel Prize: recognition of the European Union for peace, E1913• [12DE]

Obama, President: evaluation of economic policies, H2041 [24AP]

OMB: establish the Federal Real Property Disposal Pilot Program (H.R. 665), H1405• [20MR]

Parliamentary inquiry, H5059 [19JY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: impact, H5209 [25JY]

——— repeal Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program (H.R. 1173), H331• [1FE]

——— repeal (H.R. 6079), H4728 [10JY]

——— repeal provisions providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board, H1456 [21MR]

Taxation: rates, H2041 [24AP]

Transportation Security Administration: require compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (H.R. 3670), H3240 [30MY]

Undertaking Spam, Spyware, and Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers Beyond Borders (U.S. SAFE WEB) Act: extend (H.R. 6131), H5830• [11SE]

Votes: position on missed, H1662• [28MR], H3389• [1JN], H4059• [26JN], H5262• [25JY]

Tributes

Berman, Alice Haigazian, E1901• [11DE]

Forsythe, Brian, E1910• [12DE]

Rutenberg, Barry, E1970• [19DE]

White, David A., E275• [29FE]