WELCH, PETER (a Representative from Vermont)

Amendments

Dept. of Defense: authorizing appropriations for military activities, prescribing personnel strengths, and military construction (H.R. 1960), H3586 [13JN]

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

Abortion: limit restrictions on the provision of abortion services to protect a women’s right to determine whether and when to bear a child or end a pregnancy (see H.R. 3471), H7051 [13NO]

Africa: assist sub-Saharan African countries develop mix of power solutions for more broadly distributed electricity access to support poverty alleviation and drive economic growth (see H.R. 2548), H6957 [30OC]

Agriculture: provide for a uniform national standard for the housing and treatment of egg-laying hens (see H.R. 1731), H2536 [8MY]

American Fighter Aces: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 685), H5476 [10SE]

Animal Welfare Act: provide further protection for puppies (see H.R. 847), H1721 [20MR]

Animals: ensure that all dogs and cats used by research facilities are obtained legally (see H.R. 2224), H4599 [17JY]

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: preserve the Arctic coastal plain as wilderness (see H.R. 139), H1359 [12MR]

Armed Forces: ensure funds provided for operations in Afghanistan are only used for safe and orderly withdrawal of U.S. military forces and Dept. of Defense contractors (see H.R. 200), H52 [4JA]

——— expand use of telehealth under TRICARE program for active servicemembers, their dependents, retirees, and veterans (see H.R. 3507), H7151 [15NO]

——— limit use of funds for introduction into hostilities (see H.R. 383), H6545 [11OC]

——— modify per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain active duty or service used to reduce minimum age at which Reserve component members may retire for non-regular service (see H.R. 690), H5435 [9SE]

——— repeal authority to use against those responsible for hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see H.R. 198), H4080 [26JN]

Army: close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (see H.R. 2989), H5396 [2AU]

BLM: designate certain portions of the red rock canyons of the Colorado Plateau and the Basin and Range Deserts in Utah as wilderness (see H.R. 1630), H3216 [5JN]

Blue Star Mothers of America Month: designate (see H. Res. 293), H5436 [9SE]

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

Budget: establish biennial cycle (see H.R. 1869), H3097 [4JN]

——— improve accuracy and transparency of the Federal budget process (see H.R. 1654), H2158 [18AP]

——— prohibit consideration of a concurrent resolution providing for adjournment unless the House has adopted a conference report on the budget resolution (see H. Res. 424), H7508 [4DE]

Burma: call for an end to the persecution of the Rohingya people and respect of internationally recognized human rights for all ethnic and religious minority groups (see H. Res. 418), H8127 [19DE]

Business and industry: empower States to require online retailers to collect and remit State sales and use taxes (see H.R. 684), H544 [14FE]

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

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: improve operations of recovery auditors under the Medicare Integrity Program to increase transparency and accuracy in audits conducted by contractors (see H.R. 1250), H2656 [15MY]

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]

Civil rights: award a Congressional Gold Medal to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley honoring the 50th anniversary of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing (see H.R. 360), H372 [5FE]

——— improve remedies for discrimination in the payment of wages based on sex (see H.R. 377), H279 [23JA]

——— prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity (see H.R. 1755), H2351 [25AP]

Coast Guard: mint coins in commemoration (see H.R. 2932), H6053 [30SE]

Commission on Government Transformation: establish (see H.R. 2675), H4599 [17JY]

Commission on the Advancement of Social Enterprise: establish (see H.R. 2043), H2773 [17MY]

Commission To Accelerate the End of Breast Cancer: establish (see H.R. 1830), H3289 [11JN]

Committee on POW and MIA Affairs (House, Select): establish (see H. Res. 231), H8118 [16DE]

Committee on Sexual Assault and Abuse in the Armed Forces (House, Special): establish (see H. Res. 213), H3358 [12JN]

Congo, Democratic Republic of the: call for an end to the ongoing conflict and support international efforts toward long-term peace, stability, and observance of human rights (see H. Res. 131), H4040 [25JN]

Conservation of energy: facilitate better alignment, cooperation, and best practices between commercial real estate landlords and tenants relative to energy efficiency in buildings (see H.R. 2126), H2952 [23MY]

——— promote energy efficiency via information and computing technologies (see H.R. 540), H411 [6FE]

——— promote energy savings in residential and commercial buildings and industry (see H.R. 1616), H2156 [18AP]

Controlled Substances Act: exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana (see H.R. 525), H703 [27FE]

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: ratification (see H. Res. 19), H53 [4JA]

Corporations: constitutional amendment to clarify authority of Congress and the States to regulate the expenditure of funds for political activity by corporations (see H.J. Res. 25), H413 [6FE]

——— constitutional amendment to exclude from rights given to natural persons, prohibit corporate spending on elections, and affirm power of Congress and States to regulate corporations and elections (see H.J. Res. 34), H1357 [12MR]

Courts: allow judges greater discretion in sentencing decisions in Federal cases involving mandatory minimum sentences (see H.R. 1695), H5834 [25SE]

——— provide for recovery of patent litigation costs in cases where the court finds the claimant did not have a reasonable likelihood of succeeding (see H.R. 845), H984 [5MR]

——— provide funds to State courts for the provision of legal representation to parents and legal guardians relative to child welfare cases (see H.R. 1096), H1993 [12AP]

Credit: address certain issues relative to the extension of consumer credit (see H.R. 990), H1318 [6MR]

——— exclude from consumer credit reports medical debt that had been in collection and has been fully paid or settled (see H.R. 1767), H3097 [4JN]

Crime: prevent identity theft and tax fraud (see H.R. 531), H2354 [25AP]

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

Defense of Marriage Act: repeal and ensure respect for State regulation of marriage (see H.R. 2523), H4078 [26JN]

Dept. of Agriculture: extend period during which Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are temporarily increased (see H.R. 3108), H6290 [4OC]

——— modify the definition of the term biobased product (see H.R. 979), H1317 [6MR]

——— oppose any legislation or Committee on Agriculture (House) proposal to reduce Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (see H. Res. 90), H1569 [18MR]

——— promote local and regional farm and food systems (see H.R. 1414), H1856 [9AP]

——— support crop insurance for specialty crops (see H.R. 1247), H2570 [9MY]

Dept. of Defense: establish centers of excellence in prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of health conditions relating to exposure to open-air burn pits (see H.R. 2510), H7312 [20NO]

——— improve prevention and response to sexual assaults (see H.R. 1593), H2123 [17AP]

——— provide certain TRICARE beneficiaries with opportunity to retain access to TRICARE Prime (see H.R. 1971), H3016 [3JN]

——— report the long-term costs of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (see H.R. 1238), H5435 [9SE]

——— require notification of congressional defense committees about certain sensitive military operations (see H.R. 1904), H6322 [5OC]

——— review discharge characterizations of former members of the Armed Forces discharged for sexual orientation (see H.R. 2839), H5088 [25JY]

Dept. of Education: extend the reduced interest rate for Federal Direct Stafford Loans (see H.R. 1433), H1857 [9AP] (see H.R. 1595), H2123 [17AP]

——— extend the reduced interest rate for Federal Direct Stafford Loans through Tax Code modifications relative to pension plans (see H.R. 2574), H4485 [11JY]

——— promote environmental education (see H.R. 2702), H5477 [10SE]

——— provide flexibility to school food authorities in meeting certain nutritional requirements for the school lunch and breakfast programs (see H.R. 1303), H2719 [16MY]

Dept. of Energy: establish Home Energy Savings Retrofit Rebate Program (see H.R. 2128), H2952 [23MY]

——— improve high-end computing research and development program (see H.R. 2495), H7608 [9DE]

——— provide guidance on utility energy service contracts used by Federal agencies (see H.R. 3587), H7353 [21NO]

Dept. of HHS: award certain asthma-related grants to States that permit trained school personnel to administer epinephrine (see H.R. 2094), H4178 [28JN]

——— establish Office of the National Nurse (see H.R. 485), H342 [4FE]

——— 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), H1993 [12AP]

——— provide for the participation of optometrists in the National Health Service Corps scholarship and loan repayment programs (see H.R. 920), H815 [28FE]

——— reauthorize grant programs for education and outreach on newborn screening and coordinated followup care once newborn screening has been conducted (see H.R. 1281), H6770 [23OC]

——— reduce preterm labor, delivery, and risk of pregnancy-related deaths and complications due to pregnancy, and reduce infant mortality caused by prematurity (see H.R. 541), H6545 [11OC]

Dept. of Labor: establish the National Full Employment Trust Fund (see H.R. 1000), H6412 [8OC]

Dept. of the Navy: redesignate as the Dept. of the Navy and Marine Corps (see H.R. 124), H2604 [14MY]

Dept. of the Treasury: extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program (see H.R. 2146), H5589 [17SE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: clarify presumptions relating to exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of Vietnam (see H.R. 543), H411 [6FE]

——— deem certain service in Reserve components as active service for purpose of certain administered laws (see H.R. 679), H2570 [9MY]

——— establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed at Fort McClellan, AL (see H.R. 411), H2299 [24AP]

——— establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed at or underwent training at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown to track possible exposure to toxins (see H.R. 1372), H1824 [21MR]

——— exempt reimbursements of expenses for accident, theft, loss, or casualty loss from annual income determinations relative to veterans’ pensions (see H.R. 1438), H1857 [9AP]

——— inter in national cemeteries individuals who supported the U.S. in Laos during the Vietnamese Conflict era (see H.R. 3369), H6901 [29OC]

——— 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), H5512 [11SE]

Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs: establish a specific timeline to achieve integrated electronic health records (see H.R. 2590), H4599 [17JY]

Diseases: require group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans to cover oral cancer drugs on terms no less favorable than for cancer medications administered by a health care provider (see H.R. 1801), H7608 [9DE]

Doolittle Tokyo Raiders: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 1209), H5922 [27SE]

Drugs: prohibit Federal prosecution of residents who are acting in accordance with their State’s marijuana laws (see H.R. 1523), H3097 [4JN]

——— reschedule marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act and allow for medicinal use of marijuana in accordance with State laws (see H.R. 689), H3096 [4JN]

Elections: constitutional amendment on the authority of Congress and the States to regulate contributions and expenditures in political campaigns and to enact public financing systems for such campaigns (see H.J. Res. 31), H547 [14FE]

Employment: allow Americans to earn paid sick time to address their own health needs and the health needs of their families (see H.R. 1286), H2396 [26AP]

——— allow Americans to earn paid sick time to address their own health needs and the health needs of their families, cosponsorship withdrawn (see H.R. 1286), H2536 [8MY]

EPA: amend the renewable fuel program to allow domestic alternative fuel to be used to satisfy a portion of the required applicable volume of renewable fuel (see H.R. 1959), H2602 [14MY]

——— clarify that fill material cannot be comprised of waste in order to protect water supplies (see H.R. 1837), H3655 [14JN]

——— eliminate certain requirements under the renewable fuel program and prohibit approval of gasoline that contains greater than a certain percentage of ethanol (see H.R. 1462), H1908 [10AP]

Equal Pay Day: observance (see H. Con. Res. 28), H1858 [9AP]

Executive departments: require the head of each agency to submit a report on the implementation of GAO reports on reducing duplication, achieving savings, and enhancing revenue within the Federal Government (see H.R. 2250), H4146 [27JN]

FAA: provide guidance and limitations relative to the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into U.S. airspace in order to inform the public and protect individual privacy (see H.R. 1262), H3357 [12JN]

Families and domestic relations: prohibit discrimination in adoption or foster care placements based on sexual orientation, gender identification, or marital status of any prospective parent or the child involved (see H.R. 2028), H6829 [28OC]

FCC: authorize a bipartisan majority of Commissioners to hold nonpublic collaborative discussions (see H.R. 539), H1860 [9AP]

——— reform and modernize Universal Service Fund Lifeline Assistance Program (see H.R. 1685), H2354 [25AP]

FDA: require that genetically engineered food and foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients be labeled accordingly (see H.R. 1699), H2297 [24AP]

Federal agencies and departments: create an expedited procedure to enact GAO recommendations for consolidation and elimination to reduce duplication (see H.R. 2506), H4599 [17JY]

——— improve energy efficiency in Federal facilities by encouraging entrance into energy savings performance contracts and utility energy service contracts (see H.R. 2689), H4522 [16JY]

——— modify the Do Not Pay Initiative and improve detection, prevention, and recover of improper payments to deceased individuals (see H.R. 3555), H7309 [20NO]

——— promote strategic sourcing principles (see H.R. 2694), H4726 [18JY]

——— reduce discretionary budget authority of any agency if financial statement for previous fiscal year does not receive a qualified or unqualified audit opinion by an independent auditor (see H.R. 559), H1911 [10AP]

——— reduce waste and implement cost savings and revenue enhancement (see H.R. 1999), H3760 [18JN]

——— review efforts to reduce travel expenses through the use of video conferencing (see H.R. 2643), H4369 [10JY]

Federal employees: provide certain benefits to domestic partners (see H.R. 3135), H5765 [19SE]

——— provide for the compensation of furloughed employees (see H.R. 3223), H6175 [2OC]

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), H6901 [29OC]

Financial institutions: provide exception from requirement for annual privacy notices for financial institutions which do not share personal information with affiliates (see H.R. 749), H983 [5MR]

——— restore certain provisions of law to separate investment banking from commercial banking (see H.R. 129), H284 [23JA]

Firearms: ensure prohibited purchasers are included in National Instant Criminal Background Check System, require background checks for commercial sales, and establish a National Commission on Mass Violence (see H.R. 1565), H2605 [14MY]

——— facilitate establishment of additional or expanded public target ranges in certain States (see H.R. 2463), H5404 [2AU]

Foreign aid: prohibit application of restrictive eligibility requirements to foreign nongovernmental organizations based on provision of certain health services (see H.R. 2738), H4724 [18JY]

——— require the President to establish guidelines for, and increase transparency of, foreign assistance programs (see H.R. 2638), H7446 [3DE]

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court: provide for designation of judges by the Speaker and minority leader of the House, the majority and minority leaders of the Senate, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (see H.R. 2586), H5052 [24JY]

Foreign trade: clarify that countervailing duties may be imposed to address subsidies relative to a fundamentally undervalued foreign currency (see H.R. 1276), H1717 [20MR]

FRS: require an audit of the Board of Governors and Federal Reserve banks (see H.R. 24), H416 [6FE]

FTC: establish the Office for the Prevention of Fraud Targeting Seniors (see H.R. 1953), H2574 [13MY]

Health: improve provision of telehealth services under Medicare and other Federal health care programs (see H.R. 3306), H6675 [22OC]

——— national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (see H.R. 676), H501 [13FE]

——— reauthorize certain programs related to traumatic brain injury and trauma research (see H.R. 1098), H2959 [23MY]

Health care professionals: extend authorization for certain health care workforce loan repayment programs (see H.R. 1827), H4145 [27JN]

Higher Education Regulatory Reform Task Force: establish (see H.R. 3412), H6952 [30OC]

Horse Protection Act: designate additional unlawful acts, strengthen penalties for violations, and improve Dept. of Agriculture enforcement (see H.R. 1518), H2438 [6MY]

House of Representatives: encourage Speaker to immediately request a conference and appoint conferees to complete fiscal year 2014 budget resolution with the Senate (see H. Res. 174), H2247 [23AP]

——— limit State redistricting after an apportionment of Representatives and require such redistricting be conducted by independent commissions (see H.R. 278), H6770 [23OC]

Housing Act: revise census data and population requirements for areas to be considered rural areas (see H.R. 858), H1430 [14MR]

Immigration: allow U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor their permanent partners for U.S. residence (see H.R. 519), H818 [28FE] (see H.R. 717), H546 [14FE]

——— permit certain alien elementary and secondary school students to attend U.S. public schools if such aliens reimburse the local educational agency for the cost of providing education (see H.R. 1139), H1396 [13MR]

——— provide a special rule for the period of admission of certain nonimmigrants employed as sheepherders, goat herders, or dairy farmers (see H.R. 1444), H1857 [9AP]

——— reaffirm U.S. commitment to protecting refugees who are fleeing persecution (see H.R. 1365), H1823 [21MR]

——— reform (see H.R. 15), H6289 [4OC]

Information technology: specify circumstances in which a person may acquire geolocation information through an electronic communications device (see H.R. 1312), H1821 [21MR]

Internet: affirm U.S. policy to preserve and advance the multistakeholder governance model (see H.R. 1580), H2065 [16AP]

Iran: appoint a high-level U.S. representative or special envoy for the purpose of ensuring U.S. diplomatic efforts to prevent acquisition of nuclear weapons and avoid war (see H.R. 783), H1632 [19MR]

——— condemn persecution of Baha’is and continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights, impose sanctions for such violations, and call for release of religious prisoners (see H. Res. 109), H4215 [8JY]

——— use parts of fines levied against companies that do business with Iran to establish a fund to pay claims to Americans held hostage in Iran and their families identified in a certain court case (see H.R. 904), H1360 [12MR]

Kennedy, John F.: designate May 29, 2014, as a national day of remembrance honoring the late President (see H. Res. 427), H7354 [21NO]

LIHEAP: reauthorize (see H.R. 835), H659 [26FE]

Mandela, Nelson R.: tribute (see H. Res. 434), H7689 [11DE]

Medal of Honor: award to Bennie G. Adkins, Donald P. Sloat, and certain other veterans who were previously recommended (see H.R. 3304), H6675 [22OC]

Medicaid: apply the primary care payment rate to additional physician providers of primary care services (see H.R. 1838), H4858 [22JY]

——— provide access to certified professional midwives for enrollees (see H.R. 1976), H5436 [9SE]

——— require coverage of optometrists (see H.R. 855), H5089 [25JY]

Medicare: count a period of outpatient observation in a hospital toward satisfying the 3-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing facility services (see H.R. 1179), H2535 [8MY]

——— create incentives for innovative diagnostics by improving process for determining payment rates for new tests (see H.R. 2085), H5403 [2AU]

——— distribute additional residency positions (see H.R. 1201), H3990 [20JN]

——— ensure continued access of beneficiaries to diagnostic imaging services (see H.R. 846), H2719 [16MY]

——— ensure more timely access to home health services for beneficiaries (see H.R. 2504), H6676 [22OC]

——— establish a market pricing program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) (see H.R. 1717), H3655 [14JN]

——— extend Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program and increase payments under the Medicare low-volume hospital program (see H.R. 1787), H2391 [26AP]

——— extend the hold harmless provision for small rural hospitals and sole community hospitals under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services (see H.R. 2578), H6545 [11OC]

——— increase diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias to improve care and outcomes (see H.R. 1507), H2300 [24AP]

——— provide eligible individuals with single chronic diseases access to medication therapy management under the part D prescription drug program (see H.R. 1024), H3096 [4JN]

——— reduce incidence of diabetes among beneficiaries (see H.R. 962), H2027 [15AP]

——— repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps (see H.R. 713), H1568 [18MR]

——— strengthen and protect hospice programs (see H.R. 2302), H4599 [17JY]

Medicare/Medicaid: curb waste, fraud, and abuse (see H.R. 2305), H6644 [16OC]

——— delay implementation schedule of the reductions of disproportionate share hospital payments (see H.R. 1920), H4599 [17JY]

Members of Congress: prohibit automatic salary adjustments for the remainder of the 113th Congress (see H.R. 636), H550 [14FE]

——— prohibit receipt of pay after October 1 of any fiscal year in which a concurrent budget resolution and regular appropriations bills have not been approved (see H.R. 310), H4598 [17JY]

Merit Systems Protection Board: extend right of appeal to certain Postal Service employees (see H.R. 1431), H5175 [30JY]

Middle East: reaffirm support for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (see H. Res. 365), H6958 [30OC]

Minimum wage: increase, and index future increases to the consumer price index (see H.R. 1010), H1319 [6MR]

Municipal bonds: tribute to history, anniversary of tax exemption, and important contribution to economic growth and wellbeing in States and municipalities (see H. Res. 112), H2965 [24MY]

National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers: reform (see H.R. 1155), H2913 [22MY]

National Digital Literacy Day: designate (see H. Res. 81), H659 [26FE]

National Infrastructure Development Bank: establish (see H.R. 2553), H4142 [27JN]

National Oilheat Research Alliance Act: reauthorize and improve (see H.R. 1985), H2653 [15MY]

National security: prohibit use of drones as a weapon while operating in the national airspace system (see H.R. 1083), H6676 [22OC]

News media: maintain free flow of information to the public by providing conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of information by persons connected with the news media (see H.R. 1962), H3289 [11JN]

NIH: establish and maintain an undiagnosed diseases network (see H.R. 1591), H2536 [8MY]

——— expand research activities for functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders (see H.R. 842), H2958 [23MY]

——— 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), H2716 [16MY]

——— reauthorize and extend Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers (see H.R. 594), H629 [25FE]

Northern Border Regional Commission: extend authorization (see H.R. 922), H815 [28FE]

Patent and Trademark Office: provide for permanent funding (see H.R. 3349), H7253 [19NO]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: establish a public health insurance option (see H.R. 261), H168 [15JA]

Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation: authorize establishment of a commemorative work in the District of Columbia (see H.R. 915), H2396 [26AP]

Pharmaceuticals: preserve effectiveness of medically important antimicrobials used in treatment of human and animal diseases (see H.R. 1150), H2570 [9MY]

Political campaigns: provide for additional disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and other entities (see H.R. 148), H5435 [9SE]

——— reform financing of House of Representatives elections (see H.R. 269), H169 [15JA]

——— reform the financing of congressional elections by encouraging grassroots participation in the funding of campaigns (see H.R. 268), H372 [5FE]

——— require shareholder authorization before a public company may make certain political expenditures (see H.R. 1734), H5435 [9SE]

Pope Francis: congratulate on election and recognize inspirational statements and actions (see H. Res. 440), H8113 [12DE]

Postal Service: enhance long-term profitability through enhanced innovation, operational flexibility, workforce realignment, and regulatory relief (see H.R. 2690), H5090 [25JY]

——— ensure continuation of 6-day mail delivery service (see H. Res. 30), H504 [13FE]

——— 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), H2027 [15AP]

——— recalculate and restore retirement annuity obligations, eliminate Retiree Health Benefits Fund prefunding requirement, restrict closure of facilities, create innovation incentives, and maintain level of service (see H.R. 630), H1568 [18MR]

——— reinstate overnight delivery standards for market-dominant products (see H.R. 2459), H3988 [20JN]

Privacy: prevent mass collection of records of innocent Americans and provide greater accountability and transparency of Government surveillance activities and programs (see H.R. 2399), H3687 [17JN]

——— prohibit employers from requiring employees to provide access to personal online accounts (see H.R. 2077), H2838 [21MY]

——— reform Federal authority to require production of business records, conduct surveillance, and certain forms of information gathering for foreign intelligence, counterterrorism, and criminal purposes (see H.R. 3361), H6900 [29OC]

——— 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), H3688 [17JN]

Pro Football Hall of Fame: mint coins in recognition and celebration (see H.R. 1653), H3760 [18JN]

Public debt: eliminate statutory ceiling and place limitations on the purposes for which public debt may be issued (see H.R. 290), H170 [15JA]

——— provide for an orderly process by which the debt ceiling is increased by permitting the Dept. of the Treasury to increase the debt ceiling unless blocked by a supermajority of Congress (see H.R. 233), H173 [15JA]

——— temporarily suspend the public debt ceiling (see H.R. 3284), H6546 [11OC]

Puerto Rico: set forth the process to be admitted as a State (see H.R. 2000), H2914 [22MY]

Rural areas: recognize that access to hospitals and other health care providers for patients in rural areas is essential to the survival and success of communities (see H. Res. 356), H6053 [30SE]

Schools: address and take action to prevent bullying and harassment of students (see H.R. 1199), H5175 [30JY]

——— end discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools (see H.R. 1652), H2158 [18AP]

Social Security: prevent use of chained consumer price index (CPI) to calculate the cost-of-living adjustments in benefits (see H. Con. Res. 34), H2159 [18AP]

——— repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (see H.R. 1795), H2804 [20MY]

——— treat permanent partnerships between individuals of the same gender as marriage for purposes of determining entitlement to Federal old-age, survivors, and disability insurance benefits (see H.R. 3050), H5398 [2AU]

Sudan: develop strategy to end human rights violations, create incentives for governments and persons to end support, and reinvigorate peace efforts (see H.R. 1692), H2297 [24AP]

Syria: restrict funds relative to escalating U.S. military involvement in Syria (see H.R. 2494), H4037 [25JN]

Taxation: allow a credit against tax for qualified manufacturing facility construction costs (see H.R. 616), H5476 [10SE]

——— allow a deduction for contributions to tax-exempt Housing Equity Savings Accounts (see H.R. 2929), H5342 [1AU]

——— allow manufacturing businesses to establish tax-free manufacturing reinvestment accounts to assist them in providing for new equipment and facilities and workforce training (see H.R. 1737), H5802 [20SE]

——— deny certain tax benefits to persons responsible for an oil spill if such person commits certain additional violations (see H.R. 1887), H2533 [8MY]

——— 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), H5408 [6SE]

——— extend and modify the American Opportunity Tax Credit (see H.R. 1738), H2350 [25AP]

——— extend and modify the railroad track maintenance credit (see H.R. 721), H1550 [15MR]

——— extend energy credit for certain property under construction (see H.R. 2502), H5175 [30JY]

——— extend publicly traded partnership ownership structure to energy power generation projects and transportation fuels (see H.R. 1696), H2297 [24AP]

——— impose a tax on certain trading transactions (see H.R. 880), H813 [28FE]

——— include biomass heating appliances for tax credits available for energy-efficient building property and energy property (see H.R. 2715), H4597 [17JY]

——— increase the rehabilitation credit for commercial buildings and provide a rehabilitation credit for principal residences (see H.R. 2042), H2959 [23MY]

——— make permanent and increase credit for increasing research activities and increase domestic production activities deduction for property for which research and development occurred in the U.S. (see H.R. 3537), H7252 [19NO]

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

——— make qualified biogas property eligible for the energy credit and permit new clean renewable energy bonds to finance qualified biogas property (see H.R. 860), H8126 [19DE]

——— modify taxation of hard cider (see H.R. 2921), H5554 [16SE]

——— permanently extend lower threshold for refundable portion of child tax credit and adjust credit for inflation (see H.R. 769), H594 [15FE]

——— provide a tax incentive for installation and maintenance of mechanical insulation property (see H.R. 184), H2575 [13MY]

——— provide an additional religious exemption from the individual health coverage mandate (see H.R. 1814), H2393 [26AP]

——— provide an energy investment credit for energy storage property connected to the grid (see H.R. 1465), H4214 [8JY]

——— reduce excise tax rate on beer produced domestically by certain qualifying producers (see H.R. 494), H2248 [23AP]

——— reduce tax on beer (see H.R. 1918), H3289 [11JN]

——— reduce the depreciation recovery periods for energy efficient commercial buildings (see H.R. 2598), H4174 [28JN]

——— reduce the Federal budget deficit by imposing a minimum effective tax rate for high-income taxpayers (see H.R. 766), H703 [27FE]

——— reduce tobacco smuggling (see H.R. 2990), H5396 [2AU]

——— repeal fossil fuel subsidies for large oil companies (see H.R. 609), H454 [12FE]

——— repeal tax deferral on income of controlled foreign corporations attributable to imported property (see H.R. 1086), H1550 [15MR]

——— restrict use of abusive tax shelters and offshore tax havens to inappropriately avoid Federal taxation (see H.R. 1554), H2025 [15AP]

Terrorism: deter and provide justice for victims by ensuring foreign sponsors of terrorism are held accountable to their victims in U.S. courts (see H.R. 3143), H6344 [7OC]

Travel and tourism: facilitate international travel to the U.S. by reforming visa procedures for certain foreign nationals (see H.R. 1354), H1861 [9AP]

U.S. Office for Contingency Operations: establish (see H.R. 2606), H4371 [10JY]

Veterans: develop guidelines for use of unofficial sources of information to determine eligibility for benefits and decorations when service records are incomplete due to damage while in Dept. of Defense possession (see H.R. 3397), H7395 [2DE]

——— extend work opportunity tax credit for hiring veterans, assist small businesses owned by veterans, and improve enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services (see H.R. 3453), H8113 [12DE]

——— extend work opportunity tax credit to certain veterans, improve coordination of job training services, and improve Federal contracting with small businesses owned by disabled veterans (see H.R. 2056), H2802 [20MY]

——— improve ability of health care professionals to treat veterans via telemedicine (see H.R. 2001), H7188 [18NO]

Veterinarians: allow transport and dispensing of controlled substances in the usual course of veterinary practice outside of the registered location (see H.R. 1528), H2300 [24AP]

Violence Against Women Act: reauthorize (see H.R. 11), H221 [22JA]

Voting: modernize voter registration, promote access to voting for disabled individuals, and protect the right to vote (see H.R. 12), H277 [23JA]

Water pollution: require disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing and repeal the oil and gas industry exemption from the Safe Drinking Water Act (see H.R. 1921), H4080 [26JN]

Women: combat international violence against women and girls (see H.R. 3571), H8127 [19DE]

——— constitutional amendment to ensure equal rights (see H.J. Res. 56), H5344 [1AU]

——— remove deadline for ratification of constitutional amendment to ensure equal rights (see H.J. Res. 43), H3991 [20JN]

World War II: award Congressional Gold Medal to members of the Civil Air Patrol (see H.R. 755), H2400 [30AP]

——— award Congressional Gold Medal to the First Special Service Force (see H.R. 324), H1828 [21MR]

Bills and resolutions introduced

Afghanistan: condition U.S. assistance on bilateral agreement exempting work performed by U.S. contractors from taxation by Afghanistan (see H.R. 2008), H2654 [15MY]

Agriculture: support maple syrup production research and education, sustainability of maple syrup resources, promotion of maple products, and access to lands for maple sugaring activities (see H.R. 1272), H1630 [19MR]

Conservation of energy: provide for utilizing energy savings performance contracts and utility energy service contracts (see H.R. 1659), H2159 [18AP]

Credit: provide for affordable refinancing of mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (see H.R. 736), H547 [14FE]

Dept. of Agriculture: conduct a pilot program for purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables for schools and service institutions by giving certain States the option of receiving grants for that purpose (see H.R. 1720), H2298 [24AP]

——— eliminate limitation on the period for which borrowers are eligible for guaranteed assistance under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (see H.R. 2007), H2654 [15MY]

——— expand the noninsured crop assistance program to provide coverages for eligible crops (see H.R. 1589), H2066 [16AP]

——— reauthorize and improve the Rural Energy for America Program (see H.R. 1273), H1630 [19MR]

Dept. of Education: simplify the process for determining the need and eligibility of students for financial assistance (see H.R. 2040), H2717 [16MY]

FAA: provide guidance and limitations relative to the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into U.S. airspace in order to inform the public and protect individual privacy (see H.R. 2868), H5173 [30JY]

House Rules: reinstate ‘‘Gephardt rule’’ setting debt ceiling automatically at level projected by concurrent budget resolution (see H. Res. 11), H33 [3JA]

——— require that any extension of debt ceiling only be considered in a stand-alone bill (see H. Res. 12), H33 [3JA]

Medicare: allow retail community pharmacies to deliver diabetic testing supplies to beneficiaries (see H.R. 2845), H5093 [26JY]

——— eliminate delay in including oral-only end-stage renal disease-related drugs in the prospective payment system (see H.R. 413), H281 [23JA]

——— require the Dept. of HHS to negotiate lower covered part D prescription drug prices for beneficiaries (see H.R. 1102), H1357 [12MR]

Missisquoi and Trout Rivers: designate segments as components of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System (see H.R. 2569), H4143 [27JN]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: allow an earlier start for State health care coverage innovation waivers (see H.R. 1841), H2436 [6MY]

Taxation: disallow deductions for payment of compensatory and punitive damages to a government (see H.R. 3445), H6954 [30OC]

——— extend the nonbusiness energy property credit to include insulated siding (see H.R. 3378), H6901 [29OC]

——— increase quarterly wages paid threshold for classification as an agricultural labor employer for purposes of unemployment taxes (see H.R. 2899), H5261 [31JY]

——— increase residential energy property expenditures limitation relative to heat pumps for purposes of the nonbusiness energy property credit (see H.R. 3772), H8109 [12DE]

Thaddeus Stevens Post Office, Danville, VT: designate (see H.R. 1865), H2484 [7MY]

Constitutional authority statements

Afghanistan: condition U.S. assistance on bilateral agreement exempting work performed by U.S. contractors from taxation by Afghanistan (H.R. 2008), H2655 [15MY]

Agriculture: support maple syrup production research and education, sustainability of maple syrup resources, promotion of maple products, and access to lands for maple sugaring activities (H.R. 1272), H1632 [19MR]

Conservation of energy: provide for utilizing energy savings performance contracts and utility energy service contracts (H.R. 1659), H2161 [18AP]

Credit: provide for affordable refinancing of mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (H.R. 736), H549 [14FE]

Dept. of Agriculture: conduct a pilot program for purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables for schools and service institutions by giving certain States the option of receiving grants for that purpose (H.R. 1720), H2299 [24AP]

——— eliminate limitation on the period for which borrowers are eligible for guaranteed assistance under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (H.R. 2007), H2655 [15MY]

——— expand the noninsured crop assistance program to provide coverages for eligible crops (H.R. 1589), H2066 [16AP]

——— reauthorize and improve the Rural Energy for America Program (H.R. 1273), H1632 [19MR]

Dept. of Education: simplify the process for determining the need and eligibility of students for financial assistance (H.R. 2040), H2719 [16MY]

FAA: provide guidance and limitations relative to the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into U.S. airspace in order to inform the public and protect individual privacy (H.R. 2868), H5174 [30JY]

Medicare: allow retail community pharmacies to deliver diabetic testing supplies to beneficiaries (H.R. 2845), H5093 [26JY]

——— eliminate delay in including oral-only end-stage renal disease-related drugs in the prospective payment system (H.R. 413), H283 [23JA]

——— require the Dept. of HHS to negotiate lower covered part D prescription drug prices for beneficiaries (H.R. 1102), H1359 [12MR]

Missisquoi and Trout Rivers: designate segments as components of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System (H.R. 2569), H4145 [27JN]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: allow an earlier start for State health care coverage innovation waivers (H.R. 1841), H2437 [6MY]

Taxation: disallow deductions for payment of compensatory and punitive damages to a government (H.R. 3445), H6956 [30OC]

——— extend the nonbusiness energy property credit to include insulated siding (H.R. 3378), H6902 [29OC]

——— increase quarterly wages paid threshold for classification as an agricultural labor employer for purposes of unemployment taxes (H.R. 2899), H5262 [31JY]

——— increase residential energy property expenditures limitation relative to heat pumps for purposes of the nonbusiness energy property credit (H.R. 3772), H8111 [12DE]

Thaddeus Stevens Post Office, Danville, VT: designate (H.R. 1865), H2485 [7MY]

Pledge of Allegiance 

House of Representatives, H351 [5FE]

Senate, H4729 [19JY]

Remarks

Agriculture: reauthorize certain programs (H.R. 1947), H3951, H3960 [20JN]

——— reauthorize certain programs (H.R. 2642), H4461 [11JY]

——— reauthorize certain programs (H.R. 2642), consideration (H. Res. 295), H4393 [11JY]

Appropriations: making continuing (H.J. Res. 59), consideration of Senate amendment (H. Res. 366), H5983 [28SE]

——— making continuing (H.J. Res. 59), Senate amendment, H8075, H8082• [12DE]

——— making continuing (H.J. Res. 59), unanimous-consent request, H6554 [12OC]

——— making continuing (H.R. 933), consideration (H. Res. 99), H990 [6MR]

Armed Forces: appropriate funds necessary to ensure that members and supporting civilian and contractor personnel continue to receive pay for active service during a Government shutdown (H.R. 3210), consideration (H. Res. 366), H5983 [28SE]

——— ensure funding for operations in Afghanistan are only used for safe and orderly withdrawal of U.S. military forces and Dept. of Defense contractors, H4871 [23JY]

Budget: setting forth the Federal budget for 2013–2023, H8075, H8082• [12DE]

——— setting forth the Federal budget for 2014–2023 (H. Con. Res. 25), H1612 [19MR]

——— temporarily suspend the public debt ceiling and hold salaries of Members of Congress in escrow upon failure to agree to a budget resolution (H.R. 325), H245 [23JA]

Climate: global warming, H1640 [20MR], H4730 [19JY]

Conservation of energy: provide for utilizing energy savings performance contracts and utility energy service contracts (H.R. 1659), H2311 [25AP]

Dept. of Agriculture: allow States to implement a work requirement for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants, H3960 [20JN]

——— establish a dairy producer margin insurance program to protect producer income by paying producers when actual producer margins are less than a threshold level, H3951 [20JN]

——— reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commodity distribution programs, and other food and nutrition programs (H.R. 3102), consideration (H. Res. 351), H5675, H5680 [19SE]

——— Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding, H4393 [11JY]

Dept. of Defense: making appropriations (H.R. 2397), H5016 [24JY]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 2397), consideration (H. Res. 312), H4871 [23JY]

Dept. of Education: allow continuation of existing Federal student loan servicing contracts for not-for-profit servicers, H8075, H8082• [12DE]

——— establish interest rates for new student loans made on or after a certain date (H.R. 1911), H2931 [23MY]

——— extend the reduced interest rate for Federal Direct Stafford Loans, H4147 [28JN]

Dept. of Energy: establish Home Energy Savings Retrofit Rebate Program (H.R. 2128), H7267 [20NO]

Economy: impact of budget sequestration, H990 [6MR]

Government: shutdown relative to budget process, H5983 [28SE], H6554 [12OC], H6612 [16OC]

Internet: affirm U.S. policy to preserve and advance the multistakeholder governance model (H.R. 1580), H2583 [14MY]

Iran: support full implementation of U.S. and international sanctions on Iran and urge the President to continue to strengthen enforcement of sanctions legislation, H7698 [12DE]

Klein, Stephen: National Council of State Legislatures Stephen D. Gold Award recipient, E1804• [5DE]

Lyndon State College: tribute, E481• [17AP]

NIH: funding, H7657 [11DE]

——— provide for a pediatric research initiative through use of funds saved by terminating taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns and party conventions (H.R. 2019), H7657 [11DE]

Patents: eliminate abusive patent litigation, increase transparency, modernize fee shifting, and provide for small business education and outreach (H.R. 3309), H7514 [5DE]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: implementation, H6612 [16OC]

Public buildings: provide for energy savings performance contracts and utility energy service contracts utilization, H3219 [6JN]

Public debt: disapprove President’s exercise of authority to suspend the debt ceiling (H.J. Res. 99), consideration (H. Res. 391), H6846 [29OC]

——— prioritize obligations on the debt held by the public in the event that the debt ceiling is reached, H5983 [28SE]

Syria: prohibit funding to escalate U.S. military involvement in Syria, H4871 [23JY], H5016 [24JY]

Tributes

Coen, David, E1665• [14NO]

Dolan, John, H6429 [9OC]

Mulhern, Joan, H352 [5FE]

Sullivan, Barry K., H7301 [20NO]