GERLACH, JIM (a Representative from Pennsylvania)

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

Afridi, Shakeel: recognize heroism and call for release from custody by Pakistan (see H. Res. 86), H701 [27FE]

Agriculture: reform sugar price support program (see H.R. 693), H545 [14FE]

American Fighter Aces: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 685), H7111 [14NO]

Animals: prohibit the sale or transport of equines or equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for human consumption (see H.R. 1094), H1356 [12MR]

Armed Forces: preserve tuition assistance programs for members by rescinding unobligated amounts for foreign assistance to Egypt (see H.R. 1039), H1550 [15MR]

Aviation: ensure any requirement providing for screening, testing, or treatment of an airman or air traffic controller for a sleep disorder is adopted pursuant to a rulemaking proceeding (see H.R. 3578), H7608 [9DE]

Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act: provide that military technicians (dual status) shall be included in military personnel accounts for purposes of any issued orders (see H.R. 1014), H2913 [22MY]

Boys Town (organization): mint coins in commemoration of anniversary (see H.R. 2866), H6999 [12NO]

Budget: constitutional amendment to require balanced (see H.J. Res. 1, 2), H32 [3JA]

——— establish biennial cycle (see H.R. 1869), H4488 [15JY]

——— exempt the Crime Victims Fund from sequestration (see H.R. 2238), H4309 [9JY]

C.W. Bill Young Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bay Pines, FL: designate (see H.R. 3302), H6674 [22OC]

China: call for an end to organ harvesting from prisoners, investigate organ transplant practices, end persecution of the Falun Gong, and issue warnings to U.S. citizens about organ transplant practices (see H. Res. 281), H5513 [11SE]

Commission To Accelerate the End of Breast Cancer: establish (see H.R. 1830), H2536 [8MY]

Committee To Investigate and Report on the Attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi, Libya (House, Select): establish (see H. Res. 36), H177 [18JA]

Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA: designate (see H.R. 454), H628 [25FE]

Crime: establish criminal offense for fraudulent claims about receipt of military decorations or medals (see H.R. 258), H372 [5FE]

——— prohibit attendance of an animal fighting venture (see H.R. 366), H278 [23JA]

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. 1563), H4214 [8JY]

Dept. of Defense: declare the attack at Fort Hood, TX, a terrorist attack and ensure victims of such attack and their families receive the same honors and benefits as those killed or wounded in overseas combat zones (see H.R. 3111), H6493 [10OC]

——— develop and implement a plan to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits as part of the TRICARE program (see H.R. 741), H5175 [30JY]

Dept. of Education: authorize grant program to promote physical education, activity, fitness, and nutrition, and ensure healthy students (see H.R. 2178), H6493 [10OC]

——— establish an awards program recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system employees providing services to students in pre-kindergarten through higher education (see H.R. 1763), H8112 [12DE]

——— increase accountability of nonprofit athletic associations by requiring member institutions to protect the health and education of student athletes (see H.R. 2903), H5341 [1AU]

——— limit authority to issue regulations, rules, grant conditions and guidance materials in order to support decision-making functions of local educational agencies (see H.R. 1386), H1861 [9AP]

Dept. of Energy: enhance the energy security of U.S. allies by approving exports of natural gas to NATO countries, Japan, or any country found that such exports would enhance U.S. national security (see H.R. 580), H550 [14FE]

Dept. of HHS: limit copayment, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing requirements applicable to prescription drugs in a specialty drug tier to the amount applicable to drugs in a non-preferred brand drug tier (see H.R. 460), H1958 [11AP]

——— provide for the participation of optometrists in the National Health Service Corps scholarship and loan repayment programs (see H.R. 920), H5884 [26SE]

——— reauthorize and restructure the adoption incentives grant program and extend Family Connection Grant Program (see H.R. 3205), H6677 [22OC]

Dept. of Homeland Security: establish conditions under which preclearance facilities may be established and preclearance operations may be conducted and provide customs services outside the U.S. (see H.R. 3488), H7109 [14NO]

Dept. of HUD: require section 8 rental assistance recipients to stay current with local taxes and authorize public housing agencies to divert such assistance to pay owners’ tax debts (see H.R. 1193), H1426 [14MR]

Dept. of Justice: make grants to States that have in place laws that terminate the parental rights of men who father children through rape (see H.R. 2772), H5436 [9SE]

Dept. of State: prioritize fight against human trafficking according to congressional intent in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act without increasing the size of the Federal Government (see H.R. 2283), H5589 [17SE]

Dept. of the Interior: authorize a National Heritage Area Program (see H.R. 445), H416 [6FE]

——— establish a program to build on and help coordinate funding for restoration and protection efforts of the Delaware River Basin region (see H.R. 644), H2775 [17MY]

Dept. of Transportation: ensure any requirement providing for screening, testing, or treatment of individuals operating commercial motor vehicles for sleep disorders is adopted pursuant to a rulemaking proceeding (see H.R. 3095), H5768 [19SE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: clarify presumptions relating to exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of Vietnam (see H.R. 543), H2913 [22MY]

——— repeal requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veterans’ dependency and indemnity compensation (see H.R. 32), H86 [14JA]

Diseases: foster more effective implementation and coordination of clinical care for people with pre-diabetes and diabetes (see H.R. 1074), H6643 [16OC]

EPA: clarify general duty clause of Clean Air Act as it applies to chemical facility accidental release prevention (see H.R. 888), H2719 [16MY]

——— require congressional review of certain rules (see H.R. 2916), H5342 [1AU]

European Union: support closer ties with Eastern Partnership countries, respect sovereign rights of states relative to international partnerships, and commend democratic reforms (see H. Res. 402), H7253 [19NO]

FAA: issue regulations on secondary cockpit barriers (see H.R. 1775), H6545 [11OC]

Families and domestic relations: strengthen families’ engagement in the education of their children (see H.R. 2662), H8112 [12DE]

Federal agencies and departments: include language in certain educational and advertising materials indicating that such materials are produced and disseminated at taxpayer expense (see H.R. 3308), H6829 [28OC]

——— provide that major rules of the executive branch shall have no force or effect unless a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law (see H.R. 367), H278 [23JA]

Federal aid programs: prevent concurrent receipt of unemployment benefits and Social Security disability insurance (see H.R. 1502), H4598 [17JY]

Federal employees: provide for investigative leave requirements relative to Senior Executive Service employees (see H.R. 2579), H4173 [28JN]

FEMA: delay increases in flood insurance premium rates under the National Flood Insurance Program until completion of affordability study, provide certain reimbursements, and accurately determine flood risk (see H.R. 3370), H7112 [14NO]

Financial institutions: improve examination of depository institutions (see H.R. 1553), H2396 [26AP]

Foreign trade: clarify that countervailing duties may be imposed to address subsidies relative to a fundamentally undervalued foreign currency (see H.R. 1276), H4039 [25JN]

FRS: require an audit of the Board of Governors and Federal Reserve banks (see H.R. 24), H224 [22JA]

Gettysburg National Military Park: revise boundaries to include the Gettysburg Train Station and certain land along Plum Run in Cumberland Township, PA, and limit means of acquiring such property (see H.R. 1513), H1956 [11AP]

Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund: ensure that amounts credited are used for harbor maintenance (see H.R. 335), H284 [23JA]

Health: improve access to emergency medical services (see H.R. 36), H1398 [13MR]

Highlands Conservation Act: extend authorization (see H.R. 712), H546 [14FE]

Holder, Attorney General: express no confidence and call for resignation due to lack of monitoring and actions relative to operations transferring firearms to drug cartels in Mexico (see H. Res. 35), H3991 [20JN]

Horse Protection Act: designate additional unlawful acts, strengthen penalties for violations, and improve Dept. of Agriculture enforcement (see H.R. 1518), H6545 [11OC]

House of Representatives: require that excess amounts from Members’ official allowances be applied to deficit or Federal debt reduction (see H.R. 106), H86 [14JA]

House Rules: require authorizing committees to hold annual hearings on GAO investigative reports on the identification, consolidation, and elimination of duplicative Government programs (see H. Res. 160), H2026 [15AP]

Insurance: condition provision of health insurance premium and cost-sharing subsidies upon a certification that a program to verify household income and other qualifications for such subsidies is operational (see H.R. 2775), H5090 [25JY]

——— preserve consumer and employer access to licensed independent insurance producers (see H.R. 2328), H4178 [28JN]

Iran: impose additional human rights and economic and financial sanctions to compel Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons (see H.R. 850), H2248 [23AP]

IRS: make the Free File Program permanent (see H.R. 495), H628 [25FE]

——— terminate employment of employees who take certain official actions for political purposes (see H.R. 2565), H4143 [27JN]

Israel: recognize Jerusalem as capital and support relocation of U.S. Embassy (see H.R. 104), H983 [5MR]

——— strengthen strategic alliance with the U.S. (see H.R. 938), H2248 [23AP]

Local Radio Freedom Act: support (see H. Con. Res. 16), H8132 [23DE]

Medicaid: require coverage of optometrists (see H.R. 855), H5884 [26SE]

Medicare: amend the application of secondary payer rules to workers’ compensation settlement agreements and set-asides under such agreements (see H.R. 1982), H5767 [19SE]

——— ensure continued access of beneficiaries to diagnostic imaging services (see H.R. 846), H1829 [21MR]

——— exclude customary prompt pay discounts from manufacturers to wholesalers from the average sales price for drugs and biologicals (see H.R. 800), H2570 [9MY]

——— provide comprehensive audiology services to beneficiaries (see H.R. 2330), H3355 [12JN]

——— provide entitlement to immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients (see H.R. 1428), H5348 [1AU]

Medicare/Medicaid: curb waste, fraud, and abuse (see H.R. 2305), H5834 [25SE]

——— exclude pathologists from incentive payments and penalties relative to the meaningful use of electronic health records (see H.R. 1309), H4598 [17JY]

——— implement a demonstration project to examine costs and benefits of providing payments for health care services provided by purpose-built, continuing care retirement communities to beneficiaries (see H.R. 2376), H6412 [8OC]

Mental Health Month: designate (see H. Res. 212), H2574 [13MY]

Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act: reauthorize (see H.R. 262), H2803 [20MY]

National Museum of the American People: support formation of a bipartisan Presidential commission to study establishment (see H. Con. Res. 27), H1630 [19MR]

National Nurses Week: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 201), H2437 [6MY]

National Oilheat Research Alliance Act: reauthorize and improve (see H.R. 1985), H5262 [31JY]

National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: designate (see H. Res. 301), H5513 [11SE]

National Park Service: mint coins in commemoration of anniversary (see H.R. 627), H661 [26FE]

Navy: encourage commissioning of U.S.S. Somerset (LPD–25) in Philadelphia, PA (see H. Res. 125), H1568 [18MR]

Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act: reauthorize (see H.R. 1291), H1718 [20MR]

Nicklaus, Jack: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 2203), H5403 [2AU]

NIH: provide for a pediatric research initiative through use of funds saved by terminating taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns and party conventions (see H.R. 2019), H3216 [5JN]

——— reauthorize and extend Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (see H.R. 594), H1322 [6MR]

Olympic Games: disapprove International Olympic Committee proposal to eliminate wrestling from the Summer Olympic Games, urge its reinstatement, and commend U.S. Olympic Committee support of wrestling (see H. Res. 71), H1360 [12MR]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: authorize health insurance issuers to continue to offer for sale current individual health insurance coverage in satisfaction of individual health insurance mandate (see H.R. 3350), H6999 [12NO]

——— delay implementation (see H.R. 2809), H5803 [20SE]

——— delay implementation of the employer health insurance mandate (see H.R. 2667), H4482 [11JY]

——— delay implementation of the individual health insurance mandate (see H.R. 2668), H4482 [11JY]

——— ensure that personal and private information of those enrolling in exchanges is secured with proper privacy and data security safeguards (see H.R. 3299), H7053 [13NO]

——— exempt emergency services volunteers from employer health insurance mandate (see H.R. 3685), H7627 [10DE]

——— modify definition of full-time employee relative to employer health insurance mandate (see H.R. 2575), H4173 [28JN]

——— protect personal and financial information by requiring certain certifications by entities awarded funds to operate a navigator program or other exchange activities (see H.R. 3429), H6999 [12NO]

——— repeal amendments which disqualify expenses for over-the-counter drugs under health savings accounts and health flexible spending arrangements (see H.R. 2835), H5088 [25JY]

——— repeal annual fee on health insurance providers (see H.R. 763), H2404 [3MY]

——— repeal certain limitations on health care benefits (see H.R. 1248), H1629 [19MR]

——— repeal provisions providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board (see H.R. 351), H278 [23JA]

Pennsylvania State University: tribute to IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) to raise money for the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital Four Diamonds Fund (see H. Res. 103), H1320 [6MR]

Postal Service: provide for the computation of normal-cost percentage for postal employees as a separate and distinct class and the disposition of certain excess retirement contributions (see H.R. 961), H2913 [22MY]

Power resources: use revenues from offshore energy production to create jobs, reduce the deficit, invest in clean and renewable energy, clean up the environment, and rebuild infrastructure (see H.R. 787), H6676 [22OC]

Privacy: update privacy protections for electronic communications information that is stored by third-party service providers in order to protect consumer privacy while meeting law enforcement needs (see H.R. 1852), H2914 [22MY]

Public debt: require Dept. of the Treasury reports to Congress on status of the debt, deficit reduction proposals, and impact of debt ceiling increase prior to potential debt ceiling increases (see H.R. 3579), H7353 [21NO]

Public safety officers: extend public safety officers’ death benefits to fire police officers (see H.R. 1828), H3289 [11JN]

Social Security: establish a procedure to safeguard the surpluses of the Social Security and Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Funds (see H.R. 1713), H2297 [24AP]

——— expand permissive exclusion from participation in Federal health care programs to individuals and entities affiliated with sanctioned entities (see H.R. 2925), H5342 [1AU]

——— prohibit the display of account numbers on Medicare cards (see H.R. 781), H2656 [15MY]

——— repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (see H.R. 1795), H8112 [12DE]

——— revise medical criteria for evaluating disability in a person with Huntington’s disease and waive Medicare waiting period for individuals disabled by Huntington’s disease (see H.R. 1015), H2125 [17AP]

Tariff: increase and adjust for inflation the maximum value of articles that may be imported duty-free by one person on one day (see H.R. 1020), H2067 [16AP]

Taxation: clarify treatment of general welfare benefits provided by Indian tribes (see H.R. 3043), H5398 [2AU]

——— establish ABLE accounts to pay for qualified disability expenses of family members with disabilities (see H.R. 647), H500 [13FE]

——— exempt certain stock of real estate investment trusts from the tax on foreign investment in U.S. real property interests (see H.R. 2870), H5259 [31JY]

——— extend and expand the deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers (see H.R. 3490), H8113 [12DE]

——— extend and increase exclusion for benefits provided to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders (see H.R. 3747), H8108 [12DE]

——— extend and modify the railroad track maintenance credit (see H.R. 721), H1829 [21MR]

——— permanently extend and expand deduction for charitable contributions of food inventory (see H.R. 2945), H5343 [1AU]

——— provide collegiate housing and infrastructure grants (see H.R. 1449), H1911 [10AP]

——— repeal estate and generation-skipping taxes (see H.R. 2429), H3927 [19JN]

——— repeal excise tax on medical devices (see H.R. 523), H410 [6FE]

Telephones: restrict any State or local jurisdiction from imposing a new discriminatory tax on cell phone services, providers, or property (see H.R. 2309), H3286 [11JN]

Ukraine: support sovereignty and closer relations with Europe, condemn violence against peaceful protesters, and urge a peaceful solution to current political and economic crisis (see H. Res. 447), H8117 [16DE]

Veterans: allow certain veterans with service-connected disabilities to travel on military aircraft (see H.R. 164), H550 [14FE]

——— expand eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay or combat-related compensation with service-connected disability benefits and eliminate phase-in period for such benefits (see H.R. 333), H1398 [13MR]

——— require college courses that are approved for purposes of Dept. of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs to charge veterans tuition and fees at the in-State tuition rate (see H.R. 357), H2958 [23MY]

World War II: award Congressional Gold Medal to members of the Civil Air Patrol (see H.R. 755), H3760 [18JN]

——— award Congressional Gold Medal to the First Special Service Force (see H.R. 324), H1322 [6MR]

Bills and resolutions introduced

Animal Welfare Act: provide further protection for puppies (see H.R. 847), H700 [27FE]

Dept. of Justice: establish the Office of Public Advocate (see H.R. 1533), H1991 [12AP]

Medicare: delay enforcement of two-midnight rule for short inpatient hospital stays until the implementation of a new payment methodology for short inpatient hospital stays (see H.R. 3698), H7687 [11DE]

——— establish smart card pilot program (see H.R. 3024), H5397 [2AU]

——— repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps (see H.R. 713), H546 [14FE]

Pharmaceuticals: clarify the orphan drug exception to the annual fee on branded prescription pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers (see H.R. 2315), H3287 [11JN]

Secondary School Student Athletes’ Bill of Rights: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 72), H596 [15FE]

Taxation: include vaccines against seasonal influenza within the definition of taxable vaccines (see H.R. 475), H341 [4FE]

——— make permanent the special rule for contributions of qualified conservation contributions (see H.R. 2807), H5049 [24JY]

——— provide relief for small businesses (see H.R. 886), H814 [28FE]

——— reduce excise tax rate on beer produced domestically by certain qualifying producers (see H.R. 494), H370 [5FE]

World War II: officially recognize the service and sacrifice of African-American soldiers of the 333d Field Artillery Battalion who were massacred during the Battle of the Bulge (see H. Con. Res. 68), H7507 [4DE]

Constitutional authority statements

Animal Welfare Act: provide further protection for puppies (H.R. 847), H702 [27FE]

Dept. of Justice: establish the Office of Public Advocate (H.R. 1533), H1992 [12AP]

Medicare: delay enforcement of two-midnight rule for short inpatient hospital stays until the implementation of a new payment methodology for short inpatient hospital stays (H.R. 3698), H7688 [11DE]

——— establish smart card pilot program (H.R. 3024), H5401 [2AU]

——— repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps (H.R. 713), H549 [14FE]

Pharmaceuticals: clarify the orphan drug exception to the annual fee on branded prescription pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers (H.R. 2315), H3288 [11JN]

Taxation: include vaccines against seasonal influenza within the definition of taxable vaccines (H.R. 475), H343 [4FE]

——— make permanent the special rule for contributions of qualified conservation contributions (H.R. 2807), H5051 [24JY]

——— provide relief for small businesses (H.R. 886), H816 [28FE]

——— reduce excise tax rate on beer produced domestically by certain qualifying producers (H.R. 494), H371 [5FE]

Remarks

Boyertown Area Multi-Service, Inc.: anniversary, E707• [21MY]

Charlestown Historical Society, Inc.: anniversary, E774• [3JN]

East Pikeland Township, PA: anniversary, E1642• [13NO]

Fillippo, Tom: Chester County, PA, Economic Development Council Hall of Fame Award recipient, E382• [9AP]

Phoenixville, PA: anniversary of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, E1483• [10OC]

——— tribute to Clinic of Phoenixville for reaching medical care milestone, E1537• [22OC]

Reading, PA: anniversary of Rotary Club of Reading, E1702• [19NO]

Taxation: include vaccines against seasonal influenza within the definition of taxable vaccines (H.R. 475), H3704, H3705 [18JN]

Votes: position on missed, E168• [15FE], E615• [8MY], E1361• [23SE], E1519• [16OC], E1815• [9DE]

Tributes

Binnington, Sydney M., E1010• [28JN]

Eichert, Dana, E708• [21MY]

Kuhn, Kevin, E772• [3JN]

Motel, Andy, E772• [3JN]