PITTS, JOSEPH R. (a Representative from Pennsylvania)

Addresses

Reading of U.S. Constitution, H165 [9JA]

Appointments

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, H3236 [15MY]

Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) Select Investigative Panel, H7170 [23OC]

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, H666 [30JA]

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

Abortion: prohibit a health care practitioner from failing to exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion (see H.R. 3504), H5980 [15SE]

——— prohibit Federal funding to entities that do not certify that they will not perform, or provide any funding to any other entity that performs, abortions (see H.R. 3197), H5466 [23JY]

——— prohibit solicitation or accepting donation of human fetal tissue for any purpose other than disposal of the tissue if the donation affects interstate commerce and the tissue is obtained pursuant to an abortion (see H.R. 3215), H5777 [29JY]

——— prohibit taxpayer funded abortions (see H.R. 7), H477 [21JA]

——— protect pain-capable unborn children (see H.R. 36), H190 [9JA]

Afghanistan: call for U.S. recognition of the Taliban as a foreign terrorist organization (see H. Con. Res. 13), H814 [4FE]

Africa: condemn Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army for crimes against humanity and mass atrocities and support efforts to end threat and remove the Lord’s Resistance Army from the battlefield (see H. Res. 394), H5769 [29JY]

Bahrain: prohibit arms sales (see H.R. 3445), H5847 [8SE]

Boys Town (organization): mint coins in commemoration of anniversary (see H.R. 893), H2115 [26MR]

Budget: constitutional amendment to require balanced (see H.J. Res. 1, 2), H105 [7JA]

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), H664 [28JA]

——— issue postage stamp in commemoration of Selma to Montgomery, AL, voting rights marches (see H. Con. Res. 23), H1663 [16MR]

Contraceptives: prohibit Federal family planning grants from being awarded to any entity that performs abortions (see H.R. 217), H155 [8JA]

Copyrights: provide fair treatment of radio stations and artists for the use of sound recordings (see H.R. 1733), H7090 [21OC]

Courts: prohibit recovery of damages in certain wrongful birth and wrongful life civil actions (see H.R. 281), H224 [12JA]

Dept. of Agriculture: prohibit use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to purchase marijuana products (see H.R. 2331), H3211 [14MY]

Dept. of HHS: award competitive grants to public and private entities to provide qualified sexual risk avoidance education to youth and their parents (see H.R. 453), H479 [21JA]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: clarify presumptions relating to exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of Vietnam (see H.R. 969), H1067 [13FE]

——— conduct a study on the burial of unclaimed remains of veterans in national cemeteries (see H.R. 1338), H3391 [19MY]

——— issue, upon request, veteran identification cards to certain veterans (see H.R. 91), H2310 [16AP]

Developing countries: provide assistance to support the rights of women and girls (see H.R. 2100), H2960 [13MY]

Diseases: mint coins in recognition of the fight against breast cancer (see H.R. 2722), H4135 [10JN]

District of Columbia: disapprove law on reproductive health non-discrimination (see H.J. Res. 43), H2271 [15AP]

——— disapprove law repealing exemption allowing religiously affiliated educational institutions to discriminate against gay and lesbian student groups (see H.J. Res. 44), H2420 [22AP]

Doherty, Glen: award Congressional Gold Medal posthumously (see H.R. 2567), H3561 [21MY]

EPA: disapprove rule on carbon pollution emission guidelines for existing electric utility generating units (see H.J. Res. 72), H8415 [19NO]

——— disapprove rule on standards of performance for greenhouse gas emissions from new, modified, and reconstructed electric utility generating units (see H.J. Res. 71), H8415 [19NO]

——— 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. 704), H858 [5FE]

——— prevent from exceeding its statutory authority in ways that were not yet contemplated by Congress (see H.R. 3880), H7623 [3NO]

Eximbank: reauthorize (see H.R. 597), H661 [28JA]

——— reauthorize and reform (see H.R. 3611), H6795 [5OC]

Families and domestic relations: constitutional amendment relative to definition of marriage (see H.J. Res. 32), H1035 [12FE]

——— prevent adverse treatment of any person on the basis of views held with respect to marriage (see H.R. 2802), H4490 [17JN]

FCC: prohibit reclassification of broadband Internet access service as a telecommunications service and from imposing certain regulations on providers of such service (see H.R. 1212), H1565 [3MR]

Federal-State relations: require Federal agencies to look at a person’s legal residence when determining marital status and ensure respect for State regulation of marriage (see H.R. 824), H915 [10FE]

Financial institutions: amend securities, commodities, and banking laws to make information reported to financial regulatory agencies electronically searchable (see H.R. 2477), H4493 [17JN]

Flowers: recognize the daisy as the flower for military caregivers (see H. Con. Res. 49), H3561 [21MY]

Freedom of religion: improve U.S. ability to advance religious freedom globally through enhanced diplomacy, training, counterterrorism, and foreign assistance and through stronger responses to violations and extremism (see H.R. 1150), H2155 [13AP]

Freedom of the press: deny U.S. entry visas to individuals responsible for intimidation of international journalists, censorship of news information, and state-owned media organization executives operating in the U.S. (see H.R. 2242), H2799 [5MY]

Freedom Riders: award a Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their unique contribution to civil rights, which inspired a revolutionary movement for equality in interstate travel (see H.R. 671), H754 [3FE]

FRS: replace the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with a 5-person commission and establish it as the Financial Product Safety Commission (see H.R. 1266), H2656 [29AP]

Health: accelerate discovery, development, and delivery of 21st century lifesaving cures and devices (see H.R. 6), H3386 [19MY]

——— protect rights of conscience relative to requirements for coverage of specific items and services and prohibit certain abortion-related discrimination in government activities (see H.R. 940), H1034 [12FE]

Human rights: express that those who commit or support targeted atrocities against Christians and other ethnic and religious minorities are committing ‘‘war crimes’’, ‘‘crimes against humanity’’, and ‘‘genocide’’ (see H. Con. Res. 75), H6837 [6OC]

——— impose sanctions relative to foreign persons responsible for gross violations of internationally-recognized human rights (see H.R. 624), H1074 [17FE]

Immigration: eliminate the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants and increase the per-country limitation for family-sponsored immigrants (see H.R. 213), H4862 [7JY]

——— require enactment of a joint resolution approving the number of refugees who may be admitted in any fiscal year (see H.R. 3573), H8242 [16NO]

——— require that supplemental certifications and background investigations be completed prior to the admission of certain aliens as refugees (see H.R. 4038), H8362 [18NO]

Iran: disapprove agreement with Iran relative to its nuclear program (see H. Res. 367), H5291 [16JY]

——— prohibit lifting of sanctions until Iran pays judgments against it for terrorism (see H.R. 3457), H6229 [24SE]

IRS: prohibit performance awards for employees who owe back taxes (see H.R. 1817), H2960 [13MY]

Israel: promote trade and commercial enhancement with the U.S. and discourage other U.S. trading partners from engaging in economic discrimination against Israel (see H.R. 825), H3254 [15MY]

Korean War Veterans Memorial: authorize and allow certain private contributions to fund a Wall of Remembrance (see H.R. 1475), H2959 [13MY]

Labor unions: protect the free choice of individual employees relative to participation in labor organizations (see H.R. 612), H661 [28JA]

Lewisberry, PA: tribute to Red Land Little League baseball team (see H. Res. 422), H6837 [6OC]

Local Radio Freedom Act: support (see H. Con. Res. 17), H1663 [16MR]

Medicare: establish annual rulemaking schedule for payment rates under Medicare Advantage (see H.R. 2507), H3558 [21MY]

——— extend annual comment period for payment rates under Medicare Advantage (see H.R. 3831), H7188 [26OC]

——— repeal the sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals (see H.R. 2), H1898 [24MR] (see H.R. 1470), H1801 [19MR]

Middle East: express that Christians are victims of genocide and offer those fleeing genocide priority in receiving refugee status and being admitted into the U.S. (see H. Res. 459), H6788 [1OC]

Mining and mineral resources: transfer certain funds to the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan and the United Mine Workers of America Pension Plan (see H.R. 2403), H5776 [29JY]

National Adoption Day: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 530), H8362 [18NO]

National Adoption Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 530), H8362 [18NO]

National Pregnancy Center Week: designate (see H. Res. 510), H7624 [3NO]

Occupational safety and health: allow employers a grace period to abate certain occupational health and safety violations before being subject to a penalty (see H.R. 1932), H3215 [14MY]

Pakistan: welcome Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif upon U.S. visit, support efforts to combat terrorism and strengthen democracy, and reaffirm friendship, partnership and ongoing cooperation with the U.S. (see H. Con. Res. 86), H6981 [16OC]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: modify definition of full-time employee relative to employer health insurance mandate (see H.R. 30), H36 [6JA]

——— repeal the individual and employer health insurance mandates (see H.R. 519), H532 [22JA]

——— require participation in health care exchanges by Supreme Court Justices and staff (see H.R. 2905), H4957 [8JY]

Pensions: prohibit Federal bailout of, or other Federal assistance to, State and local government pension plans (see H.R. 1476), H2036 [25MR]

Petroleum: remove restrictions on the export of crude oil from the U.S. (see H.R. 702), H3507 [20MY]

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.: provide for a moratorium on Federal funding relative to provision of abortion services (see H.R. 3134), H5330 [21JY]

POW: clarify that any action by the President in contravention of the restriction on transfer or release of individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is without legal effect (see H.R. 4126), H8972 [2DE]

Public debt: ensure payment of interest and principal of the debt of the U.S. (see H.R. 692), H4651 [24JN]

Public welfare programs: prohibit assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program from being accessed through an electronic benefit transfer card at stores that sell marijuana (see H.R. 2331), H3211 [14MY]

Religion: ensure organizations with religious or moral convictions are allowed to provide child welfare services (see H.R. 1299), H1612 [4MR]

Schools: reverse declining milk consumption in schools (see H.R. 2407), H4138 [10JN]

Senate Rules: end abuse of Standing Rules and improve debate and consideration of legislative matters (see H. Res. 545), H8971 [2DE]

Smith, Sean: award Congressional Gold Medal posthumously (see H.R. 2567), H3561 [21MY]

Social Security: extend State Children’s Health Insurance Program (see H.R. 2), H1898 [24MR]

Sound recording and reproducing: provide for direct payment of statutory sound recording performance royalties to record producers (see H.R. 1457), H7090 [21OC]

Specialist Ross A. McGinnis Memorial Post Office, Knox, PA: designate (see H.R. 433), H479 [21JA]

Stevens, J. Christopher: award Congressional Gold Medal posthumously (see H.R. 2567), H3561 [21MY]

Supreme Court: disagree with decision in Obergefell v. Hodges relative to requirement of a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex or to recognize an out-of-State same-sex marriage (see H. Res. 359), H5239 [15JY]

Syria: investigate and prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by parties to civil war and direct U.S. Representative to the U.N. to promote establishment of war crimes tribunal (see H. Res. 269), H3252 [15MY]

Taxation: extend and modify the railroad track maintenance credit (see H.R. 721), H7139 [22OC]

——— make members of health care sharing ministries eligible to establish health savings accounts (see H.R. 1752), H2152 [13AP]

——— make permanent the special rule for contributions of qualified conservation contributions (see H.R. 641), H814 [4FE]

——— provide for a refundable adoption tax credit (see H.R. 2434), H8414 [19NO]

——— repeal excise tax on medical devices (see H.R. 160), H41 [6JA]

——— terminate Internal Revenue Code (see H.R. 27), H105 [7JA]

Telephones: restrict any State or local jurisdiction from imposing a new discriminatory tax on cell phone services, providers, or property (see H.R. 4287), H9690 [17DE]

Tibet: call for substantive dialogue, without preconditions, in order to address Tibetan grievances and secure a negotiated agreement for the Tibetan people (see H. Res. 337), H4650 [24JN]

——— promote access for U.S. officials, journalists, and citizens to Tibetan areas of China (see H.R. 1112), H1368 [26FE]

Trafficking Victims Protection Act: amend relative to efforts of foreign countries to reduce demand for commercial sex acts under the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking (see H.R. 611), H661 [28JA]

U.N.: condemn sexual violence against women and children of religious minorities by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization) and support international prosecution of such crimes (see H. Res. 447), H8155 [5NO]

U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change: express that any related protocol or other negotiated agreement dealing with targets and timetables is considered a treaty requiring the advice and consent of the Senate (see H. Con. Res. 97), H8411 [19NO]

Woods, Tyrone: award Congressional Gold Medal posthumously (see H.R. 2567), H3561 [21MY]

Bills and resolutions introduced

Agriculture: reform sugar price support program (see H.R. 1714), H2110 [26MR]

Dept. of Justice: curtail the use of changes in mandatory programs affecting the Crime Victims Fund (see H.R. 3984), H8151 [5NO]

Drugs: improve DEA scheduling process for new FDA-approved drugs under the Controlled Substances Act and registration process for use of controlled substances in clinical trials (see H.R. 639), H702 [2FE]

——— remove regulatory barriers to re-exportation of controlled substances among European Economic Area countries (see H.R. 2340), H3212 [14MY]

Families and domestic relations: recognize contributions of fathers in the healthy development of children, support responsible fatherhood, and encourage greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their children (see H. Res. 332), H4542 [18JN]

FDA: authorize priority review for breakthrough devices (see H.R. 2337), H3212 [14MY]

——— develop and use patient experience data to enhance structured risk-benefit framework in drug regulatory decisionmaking (see H.R. 2338), H3212 [14MY]

——— issue guidance on precision medicine (see H.R. 2455), H3388 [19MY]

Freedom of religion: call for global repeal of blasphemy laws (see H. Res. 290), H3757 [2JN]

——— express policy relative to, and strengthen advocacy on behalf of, freedom of religion or belief abroad and individuals persecuted in foreign countries due to religious belief (see H.R. 1323), H1613 [4MR]

Medicaid: clarify treatment of lottery winnings and other lump sum income for purposes of income eligibility (see H.R. 2339), H3212 [14MY]

Mongolia: anniversary of first democratic elections (see H. Res. 339), H4651 [24JN]

NIH: encourage a global pediatric clinical trial network (see H. Con. Res. 46), H3212 [14MY]

——— ensure sharing of data generated from research with the public (see H.R. 2456), H3388 [19MY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: notify individuals if personal and private information of those enrolling in exchanges is known to have been acquired or accessed as a result of a breach of security (see H.R. 903), H982 [11FE]

——— repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund (see H.R. 1085), H1163 [25FE]

Prisoners of Conscience Day: designate (see H. Res. 352), H4955 [8JY]

Social Security: reduce Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program fraud in U.S. territories (see H.R. 3444), H5847 [8SE]

Sports: deregulate interstate commerce relative to parimutuel wagering on horseracing (see H.R. 2182), H2769 [30AP]

——— improve integrity and safety of interstate horseracing (see H.R. 2641), H3877 [3JN]

Constitutional authority statements

Agriculture: reform sugar price support program (H.R. 1714), H2114 [26MR]

Dept. of Justice: curtail the use of changes in mandatory programs affecting the Crime Victims Fund (H.R. 3984), H8154 [5NO]

Drugs: improve DEA scheduling process for new FDA-approved drugs under the Controlled Substances Act and registration process for use of controlled substances in clinical trials (H.R. 639), H704 [2FE]

——— remove regulatory barriers to re-exportation of controlled substances among European Economic Area countries (H.R. 2340), H3213 [14MY]

FDA: authorize priority review for breakthrough devices (H.R. 2337), H3213 [14MY]

——— develop and use patient experience data to enhance structured risk-benefit framework in drug regulatory decisionmaking (H.R. 2338), H3213 [14MY]

——— issue guidance on precision medicine (H.R. 2455), H3390 [19MY]

Freedom of religion: express policy relative to, and strengthen advocacy on behalf of, freedom of religion or belief abroad and individuals persecuted in foreign countries due to religious belief (H.R. 1323), H1617 [4MR]

Medicaid: clarify treatment of lottery winnings and other lump sum income for purposes of income eligibility (H.R. 2339), H3213 [14MY]

NIH: ensure sharing of data generated from research with the public (H.R. 2456), H3390 [19MY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: notify individuals if personal and private information of those enrolling in exchanges is known to have been acquired or accessed as a result of a breach of security (H.R. 903), H983 [11FE]

——— repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund (H.R. 1085), H1165 [25FE]

Social Security: reduce Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program fraud in U.S. territories (H.R. 3444), H5848 [8SE]

Sports: deregulate interstate commerce relative to parimutuel wagering on horseracing (H.R. 2182), H2772 [30AP]

——— improve integrity and safety of interstate horseracing (H.R. 2641), H3879 [3JN]

Letters

Call for an end to the persecution of the Rohingya people in Burma and respect of internationally recognized human rights for all ethnic and religious minority groups: by, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, E575• [23AP]

Improving Regulatory Transparency for New Medical Therapies Act: Representative Goodlatte, Committee on the Judiciary (House), H1640 [16MR]

——— Representative Upton, Committee on Energy and Commerce (House), H1640 [16MR]

Pledge of Allegiance 

House of Representatives, H538 [26JA]

Remarks

Abortion: prohibit taxpayer funded abortions, H5072 [10JY]

——— prohibit taxpayer funded abortions (H.R. 7), H494, H495, H499, H506, H507 [22JA]

——— protect pain-capable unborn children (H.R. 36), H465 [21JA], H2889 [13MY]

Committee on Energy and Commerce (House): establish a Select Investigative Panel to investigate matters relative to fetal tissue procurement and abortion practices (H. Res. 461), H6873 [7OC]

Dept. of HHS: prevent and treat prenatal opioid abuse and neonatal abstinence syndrome (S. 799), H8180 [16NO]

Drugs: improve DEA scheduling process for new FDA-approved drugs under the Controlled Substances Act and registration process for use of controlled substances in clinical trials (H.R. 639), H1638, H1639, H1640, H1641 [16MR]

Eximbank: reauthorize, H4533 [18JN]

FDA: establish Federal labeling standards for food with genetically modified ingredients and natural foods (H.R. 1599), H5419 [23JY]

Foreign policy: develop strategy to combat threat of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization), H765 [4FE]

Gosnell, Kermit: anniversary of conviction for murder and violation of State law forbidding late-term abortions, H2889 [13MY]

Health: accelerate discovery, development, and delivery of 21st century lifesaving cures and devices (H.R. 6), H5009 [9JY], H5072, H5076 [10JY], E1046• [13JY], E1060• [14JY]

——— support the recording of Unique Device Identifiers at the point-of-care in electronic health record systems to enhance the availability of medical device data for post-market surveillance purposes, H5076 [10JY]

Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act: repeal health-care related provisions (H.R. 596), H723, H724, H726, H728 [3FE]

Human Rights Day: observance (H. Res. 562), H9215 [10DE]

India: religious persecution of Christians, H538 [26JA]

Iran: approve agreement with Iran relative to its nuclear program (H.R. 3461), H5879 [10SE]

——— secure verifiable nuclear agreement with Iran, H4017 [10JN]

March for Life: commend marchers and recognize the right to life, H465 [21JA]

Medicaid: allow for greater State flexibility relative to excluding providers who are involved in abortions (H.R. 3495), H6324, H6325, H6326, H6334 [29SE]

——— allow for greater State flexibility relative to excluding providers who are involved in abortions (H.R. 3495), motion to recommit, H6335 [29SE]

——— extend and expand emergency psychiatric demonstration project (S. 599), H8176, H8178 [16NO]

Medicare: establish annual rulemaking schedule for payment rates under Medicare Advantage (H.R. 2507), H4482• [17JN]

——— repeal the sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals (H.R. 2), H2045, H2071 [26MR]

Moldova: support European Union accession aspirations, E779• [21MY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: impact of implementation on health care, coverage, costs, and accessibility, H726 [3FE]

——— modify definition of small employer relative to employer health insurance mandate (H.R. 1624), H6265, H6266 [28SE]

——— notify individuals if personal and private information of those enrolling in exchanges is known to have been acquired or accessed as a result of a breach of security (H.R. 903), H989 [12FE]

——— repeal (H.R. 596), H723, H724, H726, H728 [3FE]

——— repeal provisions providing for the Independent Payment Advisory Board (H.R. 1190), H4532, H4533, H4534 [18JN]

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.: prohibit funding, H6324, H6325, H6334 [29SE]

——— provide for a moratorium on Federal funding relative to provision of abortion services (H.R. 3134), H6158 [18SE]

——— women’s health care services funding, H6158 [18SE]

Social Security: extend State Children’s Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), H2045, H2071 [26MR]

Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act: reauthorize (H.R. 2820), Senate amendment, H9333, H9334 [16DE]

Supreme Court: anniversary of Roe v. Wade decision, H465 [21JA]

——— hearing of arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges relative to requirement of a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex or to recognize an out-of-State same-sex marriage, H2481 [28AP], H4446 [17JN]

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission: appreciation for appointment, H711 [3FE]

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: anniversary (H. Res. 562), H9215 [10DE]

Women: allow continued access to healthcare services, H6335 [29SE]

Summaries

Religious Persecution Incidents Targeting Christians in India: Evangelical Fellowship of India (organization), E112•–E114• [26JA]

Tributes

DeMott, Joseph, E1777• [11DE]

Pelosi, Representative, H2073 [26MR]