VELA, FILEMON (a Representative from Texas)

Amendments

Dept. of Defense: authorizing appropriations for military activities, prescribing personnel strengths, and military construction (H.R. 1735), H3221 [15MY]

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

Animals: outlaw the practice of animal crushing and production or distribution of any videos depicting such acts (see H.R. 2293), H7090 [21OC]

Armed Forces: grant family of members temporary annual leave during deployment of such members (see H.R. 1845), H2306 [16AP]

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection: authorize border, maritime, and transportation security responsibilities (see H.R. 878), H981 [11FE]

Civil rights: award a Congressional Gold Medal to participants in Bloody Sunday, Turnaround Tuesday, or the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March, which served as a catalyst for the Voting Rights Act (see H.R. 431), H535 [22JA]

——— improve remedies for discrimination in the payment of wages based on sex (see H.R. 1619), H2032 [25MR]

Cosmetics: phase out cosmetic animal testing and the sale of cosmetics tested on animals (see H.R. 2858), H7028 [20OC]

Crime: protect pets of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence (see H.R. 1258), H7027 [20OC]

Dept. of Agriculture: repeal country of origin labeling requirements for beef, pork, and chicken (see H.R. 2393), H3308 [18MY]

Dept. of Education: allow certain student loan borrowers to refinance current loans (see H.R. 1434), H5469 [23JY]

——— clarify Federal Pell Grant duration limits of borrowers who attend an institution of higher education that closes or commits fraud or other misconduct (see H.R. 3512), H6189 [22SE]

——— fund Federal Pell Grant Program through mandatory appropriations (see H.R. 1956), H2656 [29AP]

——— increase maximum Federal Pell Grant Program grant to match average cost of in-State tuition and fees and index future amounts for inflation (see H.R. 1957), H2656 [29AP]

——— provide certain long-term resident alien students with access to financial aid (see H.R. 1959), H2656 [29AP]

——— provide guidance on how dependent students with noncitizen parents without Social Security numbers may obtain Federal student assistance for college (see H.R. 1833), H2467 [23AP]

——— reinstate year-round access to Pell Grants (see H.R. 242), H187 [9JA] (see H.R. 1958), H2656 [29AP]

Dept. of Energy: enter into contracts for storage of certain high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, take title to such materials, and make certain expenditures from the Nuclear Waste Fund (see H.R. 3643), H7139 [22OC]

——— establish Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy as the lead Federal agency for coordinating Federal, State, and local assistance to promote the energy retrofitting of schools (see H.R. 756), H853 [5FE]

Dept. of HHS: anniversary of Head Start Program (see H. Res. 92), H855 [5FE]

——— build a stronger health care workforce (see H.R. 1006), H1069 [13FE]

——— increase number of permanent faculty in palliative care at allopathic and osteopathic health care professional schools, and other programs, and promote education in palliative care and hospice (see H.R. 3119), H9692 [17DE]

Dept. of Homeland Security: amend law establishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (see H.R. 877), H981 [11FE]

——— anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (see H. Res. 327), H4542 [18JN]

——— making appropriations (see H.R. 861), H1038 [12FE]

——— provide for compensation of furloughed employees in the event of a lapse in appropriations (see H.R. 1024), H1373 [26FE]

Dept. of Justice: establish grant program to help State and local law enforcement agencies reduce risk of injury and death from wandering characteristics of some children with autism and other disabilities (see H.R. 4253), H9692 [17DE]

Dept. of State: disapprove upgrading of Malaysia from Tier 3 country in Trafficking in Persons Report (see H. Con. Res. 65), H6229 [24SE]

——— submit to Congress a report on designation of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization (see H.R. 3646), H6789 [1OC]

Dept. of the Interior: provide technical or financial assistance to Hispanic-serving institutions for the establishment of historic preservation training and degree programs (see H.R. 1541), H2467 [23AP]

Dept. of Transportation: extend the positive train control system implementation deadline (see H.R. 3651), H6837 [6OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: clarify presumptions relating to exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of Vietnam (see H.R. 969), H5943 [10SE]

——— deem certain service in Reserve components as active service for purpose of certain administered laws (see H.R. 1384), H5173 [14JY]

——— ensure South Texas Veterans Affairs Health Care Center in Harlingen, TX, includes a full-service inpatient health care facility (see H.R. 1294), H1611 [4MR]

——— expand eligibility for, and benefits under, the family caregiver assistance program and enhance compensation for uniformed services members requiring assistance in everyday life (see H.R. 1969), H5118 [13JY]

——— improve provision of health care for women veterans (see H.R. 1356), H5173 [14JY]

——— 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. 1594), H5173 [14JY]

Discrimination: prohibit on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity (see H.R. 3185), H5465 [23JY]

Eximbank: reauthorize (see H.R. 1031), H1166 [25FE]

FBI: require an independent review of operation and administration of the Terrorist Screening Database and its subsets (see H.R. 4240), H9376 [16DE]

FCC: extend to private land use restrictions its rule relative to reasonable accommodation of amateur service communications (see H.R. 1301), H8646 [30NO]

Federal agencies and departments: modify the Do Not Pay Initiative and improve detection, prevention, and recovery of improper payments to deceased individuals (see H.R. 2003), H2463 [23AP]

Federal employees: provide for compensation of furloughed employees in the event of a lapse in appropriations (see H.R. 3635), H6704 [29SE]

Financial institutions: specify when bank holding companies may be subject to certain enhanced supervision (see H.R. 1309), H2420 [22AP]

Flag—U.S.: require purchase of domestically made U.S. flags for use by the Federal Government (see H.R. 916), H1032 [12FE]

Floresville Veterans Post Office Building, Floresville, TX: designate (see H.R. 891), H2155 [13AP]

Foreign trade: require foreign manufacturers of products imported into the U.S. to establish registered agents in the U.S. who are authorized to accept service of process against such manufacturers (see H.R. 3304), H5763 [29JY]

FRS: nullify certain guidance by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and provide requirements for guidance issued by the Bureau relative to indirect auto lending (see H.R. 1737), H3759 [2JN]

Higher Education Act: anniversary (see H. Res. 505), H7346 [29OC]

Hispanic Heritage Month: observance (see H. Res. 426), H6308 [28SE]

Horse Protection Act: designate additional unlawful acts, strengthen penalties for violations, and improve Dept. of Agriculture enforcement (see H.R. 3268), H5589 [28JY]

Immigration: eliminate time limit on motions to reopen removal proceedings if motion claims fraud, negligence, misrepresentation, or extortion, or the attempted, promised, or actual practice of law without authorization (see H.R. 3069), H5333 [21JY]

——— prohibit admittance of aliens from certain countries under the visa waiver program (see H.R. 4122), H8972 [2DE]

——— prohibit Executive agencies from using the term ‘‘alien’’ to refer to an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or national and establish a uniform definition for the term ‘‘foreign national’’ (see H.R. 3785), H7139 [22OC]

——— provide for appointment of additional immigration judges (see H.R. 77), H1624 [6MR]

——— require that supplemental certifications and identity verifications be completed prior to the admission of certain aliens as refugees (see H.R. 4079), H8646 [30NO]

Individuals With Disabilities Education Act: authorizing appropriations (see H.R. 551), H1038 [12FE]

Insurance: provide for a special enrollment period for pregnant women (see H.R. 2866), H4592 [23JN]

Juneteenth Independence Day: observance (see H. Res. 309), H4242 [11JN]

Land and Water Conservation Fund: reauthorize (see H.R. 1814), H5776 [29JY]

Law enforcement: direct the President to report to Congress on fugitives currently residing in other countries whose extradition is sought by the U.S. (see H.R. 2189), H3310 [18MY]

Local Radio Freedom Act: support (see H. Con. Res. 17), H3917 [4JN]

Medicaid: anniversary (see H. Res. 400), H5769 [29JY]

Medicare: anniversary (see H. Res. 400), H5769 [29JY]

——— expand coverage to include eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dental care (see H.R. 3308), H5763 [29JY]

——— prevent increase in part B premiums and deductibles (see H.R. 3696), H7175 [23OC]

——— provide coverage of an initial comprehensive care plan for beneficiaries newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (see H.R. 1559), H2036 [25MR]

——— provide coverage of pharmacist services in medically underserved areas (see H.R. 592), H8646 [30NO]

——— provide for the coordination of programs to prevent and treat obesity (see H.R. 2404), H5776 [29JY]

——— waive coinsurance for colorectal cancer screening tests, regardless of whether therapeutic intervention is required during the screening (see H.R. 1220), H6893 [7OC]

National Public Health Week: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 187), H2112 [26MR]

National September 11 Memorial: designate as a national memorial (see H.R. 3036), H8860 [1DE]

National Stress Awareness Month: designate (see H. Res. 221), H2465 [23AP]

New York, NY: reauthorize the World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (see H.R. 1786), H5943 [10SE]

NIH: prioritize funding to discover treatments and cures, maintain global leadership in medical innovation, and restore purchasing power (see H.R. 531), H1636 [13MR]

NLRB: strengthen protections for employees wishing to advocate for improved wages, hours, or other terms or conditions of employment and provide stronger remedies for interference with these rights (see H.R. 3514), H6837 [6OC]

NSF: establish program to support undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education at Hispanic-serving institutions (see H.R. 1924), H2354 [21AP]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: modify definition of small employer relative to employer health insurance mandate (see H.R. 1624), H5776 [29JY]

——— repeal excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage (see H.R. 2050), H6076 [16SE]

PFC Milton A. Lee Medal of Honor Memorial Highway, TX: designate (see H.R. 2559), H3561 [21MY]

Postal Service: ensure continuation of 6-day mail delivery service (see H. Res. 12), H2156 [13AP]

——— ensure continuation of door delivery for all business and residential customers (see H. Res. 28), H2156 [13AP]

——— restore pre-existing service standards relative to overnight mail deliveries and elimination of delays (see H. Res. 54), H2213 [14AP]

Puerto Rico: set forth the process to be admitted as a State (see H.R. 727), H2419 [22AP]

Roads and highways: amend laws relative to identification of high priority corridors on the National Highway System (see H.R. 301), H357 [13JA]

Schools: end discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools (see H.R. 846), H1116 [24FE]

——— require local school wellness policies to include a requirement that students receive a certain amount of school nutrition education per school year (see H.R. 3800), H7137 [22OC]

Ships and vessels: promote the recycling of vessels (see H.R. 2876), H4650 [24JN]

Silvis, IL: mint coins in recognition and celebration of Hero Street, USA (see H.R. 2525), H3559 [21MY]

Singapore: commemorate independence anniversary and reaffirm partnership with the U.S. (see H. Res. 374), H5467 [23JY]

Social Security: extend and improve State Children’s Health Insurance Program (see H.R. 919), H1166 [25FE]

——— merge the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (see H.R. 3150), H5783 [31JY]

——— repeal the windfall elimination provision and protect the retirement of public servants (see H.R. 711), H8281 [17NO]

Taxation: allow credit for amounts paid by a spouse of an Armed Forces member for a new State license or certification required due to permanent change in duty station of such member to another State (see H.R. 1100), H5117 [13JY]

——— extend and modify the American Opportunity Tax Credit (see H.R. 1260), H1610 [4MR]

——— extend and modify the railroad track maintenance credit (see H.R. 721), H1618 [4MR]

——— provide a charitable deduction for service of volunteer firefighters and emergency medical and rescue personnel (see H.R. 343), H6706 [29SE]

——— reform and reset the excise tax rate on beer produced domestically by certain qualifying producers (see H.R. 767), H3879 [3JN]

Veterans: 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. 303, 333), H2154 [13AP]

Voting: modernize voter registration, promote access to voting for disabled individuals, and protect the right to vote (see H.R. 12), H2035 [25MR]

Women: constitutional amendment to ensure equal rights (see H.J. Res. 52), H5850 [8SE]

World War II: award a Congressional Gold Medal to 23d Headquarters Special Troops known as the ‘‘Ghost Army’’ (see H.R. 2170), H3310 [18MY]

Bills and resolutions introduced

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection: submit a report on cross-border rail security (see H.R. 2786), H4382 [15JN]

Constitutional authority statements

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection: submit a report on cross-border rail security (H.R. 2786), H4383 [15JN]

Remarks

Armed Forces: actively recruit members who are separating from military service to serve as Customs and Border Protection Officers (H.R. 2835), H6286 [28SE]

Boswell, Chris: Rio Grande Council of the Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen of the Year award recipient, E1636• [17NO]

Brownsville, TX: anniversary of Brownsville Coffee Shop No. 2, E1635• [17NO]

——— anniversary of Brownsville Independent School District, E287• [2MR]

——— tribute to Simon Rivera Early College High School boys’ soccer team, E566• [23AP]

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection: submit a report on cross-border rail security (H.R. 2786), H6284 [28SE]

Cinco de Mayo: observance, E639• [1MY]

Community Development Corp. of Brownsville, TX: tribute, E1263• [11SE]

Dept. of HHS: anniversary of Head Start Program, E739• [18MY]

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. (H.R. 998), H5497 [27JY]

——— strengthen accountability for deployment of border security technology (H.R. 1634), H5495 [27JY]

National Women’s History Month: observance, E453• [13AP]

Tributes

Block, Harlon, E260• [26FE]

Garcia, Julieta V., E453• [13AP]

Lewis, Charles, E698• [13MY]

Osorio Ortiz, Juan, E263• [27FE]

Rangel, Irma, E453• [13AP]

Silva, David, E763• [20MY]