BENNET, MICHAEL F. (a Senator from Colorado)
Amendments
Budget: setting forth the Federal budget for 2016–2025 (S. Con. Res. 11), S1734 [23MR], S1744, S1790, S1804, S1825 [24MR], S1844, S1875, S1877, S1883, S1908, S1916, S1918, S1928, S1942, S1953 [25MR], S1983, S1991, S1995, S1997, S2021, S2044, S2061, S2067, S2068 [26MR]
Congress: approve permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline (S. 1), S215 [13JA], S284, S297 [20JA], S318, S360 [21JA], S438 [22JA], S526 [27JA]
Crime: provide justice for victims of human trafficking (S. 178), S1442 [11MR], S1498 [12MR]
Dept. of Defense: authorizing appropriations for military activities, prescribing personnel strengths, and military construction (H.R. 1735), S3661, S3701 [3JN], S3778, S3785 [4JN], S3879 [8JN], S3946, S3947, S3965 [9JN], S4023 [10JN], S4139 [15JN], S4253 [17JN], S4265, S4270 [18JN]
Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 2029), S7864 [9NO], S7880, S7919 [10NO], S8889 [18DE]
Elementary and Secondary Education Act: reauthorize (S. 1177), S4692, S4780, S4795, S4798, S4799, S4800 [7JY], S4828, S4862, S4875 [8JY], S4955, S4972, S4975, S4978, S4979 [9JY], S5013, S5015 [13JY], S5033, S5080, S5082, S5085, S5086, S5087 [14JY], S5095, S5097, S5099 [15JY]
Intelligence services: enhance sharing of information about cybersecurity threats (S. 754), S6303 [4AU]
IRS: provide for a right to administrative appeal relative to adverse determinations of tax-exempt status of certain organizations (H.R. 1314), S2976, S2987 [18MY], S3081 [19MY], S3185 [20MY]
Medicare: repeal the sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals (H.R. 2), S2176, S2178, S2180 [14AP]
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (H.R. 22), S5692, S5693 [24JY], S5873 [26JY]
——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), S8348, S8380, S8394 [3DE]
Social Security: extend State Children’s Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), S2176, S2178, S2180 [14AP]
Appointments
Conferee: S. 1177, Every Child Achieves Act, S8034 [18NO]
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 S. 217), S347 [21JA]
Alcoholic beverages: reform taxation (see S. 1562), S4842 [8JY]
Americans With Disabilities Act: anniversary (see S. Con. Res. 20), S6074 [28JY]
Animals: designate the North American bison as the national mammal of the U.S. (see S. 2032), S7006 [29SE]
——— outlaw the practice of animal crushing and production or distribution of any videos depicting such acts (see S. 1831), S7006 [29SE]
Armed Forces: ensure women members and their families have access to contraception and family planning (see S. 358), S771 [4FE]
Armenia: observe anniversary, support an equitable relationship with Turkey based on acknowledgment of facts, and ensure that U.S. policy reflects appropriate understanding relative to the Armenian Genocide (see S. Res. 140), S2302 [21AP]
Biden, Joseph R., III (Beau): tribute (see S. Res. 191), S3679 [3JN]
BLM: designate certain portions of the red rock canyons of the Colorado Plateau and the Basin and Range Deserts in Utah as wilderness (see S. 1375), S7304 [19OC]
Boys Town (organization): mint coins in commemoration of anniversary (see S. 301), S1202 [27FE]
Brooke, Edward W.: tribute (see S. Res. 19), S12 [6JA]
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: adjust the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program in order to avoid disproportionate penalties for hospitals treating vulnerable populations (see S. 688), S1529 [16MR]
Charleston, SC: condemn attack and offer condolences to the community, families, and victims of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting, and support community efforts towards healing (see S. Res. 212), S4602 [24JN]
Chattanooga, TN: condemn shootings at military sites, honor Armed Forces members who lost their lives, commend those caring for injured and investigating incident, and express condolences to those affected (see S. Res. 227), S5210 [21JY]
Chavez, Cesar E.: tribute (see S. Res. 124), S2041 [26MR]
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 S. 527), S983 [12FE]
——— improve remedies for discrimination in the payment of wages based on sex (see S. 862), S2111 [13AP]
Colorado: authorize, direct, expedite, and facilitate a land exchange in El Paso and Teller Counties (see S. 1941), S6379 [5AU]
——— require a land conveyance involving the Elkhorn Ranch and White River National Forest (see S. 1942), S7724 [3NO]
Commission To Accelerate the End of Breast Cancer: establish (see S. 746), S4954 [9JY]
Conservation of energy: promote energy savings in residential and commercial buildings and industry (see S. 128), S151 [12JA] (see S. 535), S1031 [23FE]
——— promote energy savings in residential buildings and industry (see S. 720), S1439 [11MR]
Controlled Substances Act: exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana (see S. 134), S3861 [8JN]
CPSC: issue regulations requiring safer, child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine products (see S. 142), S100 [8JA]
Cuba: lift travel restrictions (see S. 299), S2934 [14MY]
Defense of Marriage Act: repeal and ensure respect for State regulation of marriage (see S. 29), S11 [6JA]
Dept. of Agriculture: authorize a summer electronic benefits transfer for children program under the National School Lunch Program and allow State flexibility in providing summer meals (see S. 1966), S6380 [5AU]
——— publish a strategy to significantly increase the role of volunteers and partners in National Forest System trail maintenance (see S. 1110), S2472 [28AP]
Dept. of Defense: review discharge characterizations of former members of the Armed Forces discharged for sexual orientation (see S. 1766), S5129 [15JY]
Dept. of Education: allow certain student loan borrowers to refinance current loans (see S. 793), S1629 [18MR]
——— promote environmental education (see S. 492), S982 [12FE]
——— recruit, support, and prepare principals to improve student academic achievement at high-need schools (see S. 476), S982 [12FE]
——— simplify college financial aid application and repayment processes, streamline Federal grant and loan programs, reinstate year-round access to Pell Grants, and discourage over-borrowing (see S. 108), S59 [7JA]
Dept. of Energy: establish a grant program allowing National Laboratories provision of vouchers to small businesses to improve commercialization of technologies developed at National Laboratories and their economic impact (see S. 1259), S2730 [7MY]
——— provide certainty relative to timing of decisions to approve or deny applications to export natural gas (see S. 33), S11 [6JA]
Dept. of HHS: authorize grants for mental health first aid training programs (see S. 711), S1438 [11MR]
——— coordinate Federal research efforts for, and improve public education and awareness of, congenital heart disease (see S. 2248), S8080 [18NO]
——— ensure access to screening mammography (see S. 1926), S8161 [19NO]
——— establish a National Family Caregiving Project (see S. 1719), S4840 [8JY]
——— increase access to Medicare data (see S. 679), S1709 [23MR]
Dept. of Homeland Security: improve homeland security by enhancing requirements for participation in the visa waiver program (see S. 2337), S8241 [1DE]
Dept. of Justice: improve compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program for workers involved in uranium mining (see S. 331), S697 [2FE]
Dept. of Labor: extend the Trade Adjustment Assistance program (see S. 568), S1118 [25FE]
——— phase out issuance of special wage certificates to entities providing employment to disabled individuals at rates of pay below the Federal minimum wage (see S. 2001), S6811 [17SE]
Dept. of State: rename the Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking as the Bureau To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and provide for an Assistant Sec., to head such Bureau (see S. 1876), S6073 [28JY]
Dept. of the Interior: restore mandatory funding status of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program (see S. 517), S983 [12FE] (see S. 1925), S6296 [4AU]
Dept. of Veterans Affairs: carry out a program to support veterans in contact with the criminal justice system by discouraging unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and other nonviolent crimes (see S. 2120), S7102 [1OC]
——— evaluate mental health care and suicide prevention programs and require a loan repayment pilot program for psychiatrists (see S. 167), S698 [2FE]
——— expand eligibility for, and benefits under, the family caregiver assistance program and enhance compensation for uniformed services members requiring assistance in everyday life (see S. 1085), S6188 [30JY]
——— extend authorization for construction of medical center in Aurora, CO, and enter into an agreement with the Corps of Engineers to manage such construction (see S. 285), S589 [28JA] (see S. 997), S2353 [22AP]
——— extend authorization to replace existing medical center in Denver, CO, and authorize transfers of certain funding to replace such medical center (see S. 1568), S4103 [11JN]
——— improve disability compensation evaluation procedures for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma (see S. 865), S1891 [25MR]
——— improve provision of health care for women veterans (see S. 471), S6187 [30JY]
——— increase number of graduate medical education positions and improve compensation of health care providers, medical directors, and directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks (see S. 1676), S6606 [10SE]
——— reduce backlog of appeals of disability claims by facilitating pro bono legal assistance for veterans and provide authority to address unreasonably delayed claims (see S. 1286), S2759 [11MY]
——— repeal requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veterans’ dependency and indemnity compensation (see S. 979), S8495 [8DE]
——— suspend and remove employees for performance or misconduct that is a threat to public health or safety and improve accountability of employees (see S. 1856), S6383 [5AU]
——— transfer authority for construction of future major medical facility projects to the Corps of Engineers (see S. 997), S2353 [22AP]
——— use authorities to furnish health care at non-departmental facilities to veterans who live more than a certain distance from the closest departmental facility that furnishes the necessary care (see S. 207), S2850 [13MY]
Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs: improve reproductive assistance to severely wounded, ill, or injured Armed Forces members, veterans, and their spouses or partners and make child care program permanent (see S. 469), S926 [11FE]
Depts. of the Interior and Agriculture: provide for wildfire suppression and prevention operations (see S. 235), S420 [22JA]
Dia de los Niños—Celebrating Young Americans: designate (see S. Res. 164), S2568 [30AP]
Dinosaur National Monument Day: designate (see S. Res. 271), S6975 [28SE]
Discrimination: prohibit on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity (see S. 1858), S5526 [23JY]
Drugs: end Federal ban of medical marijuana, allow importation of certain derivatives, allow banks to work with medical marijuana businesses, enable medicinal research, and allow prescription to veterans (see S. 683), S2850 [13MY]
——— exclude cannabidiol and cannabidiol-rich plants from the definition of marijuana (see S. 1333), S2850 [13MY]
Education: provide relief to State education budgets during a recovering economy and help fulfill the Federal mandate to provide higher education opportunities for Native Americans (see S. 1390), S3183 [20MY]
Elections: constitutional amendment on contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections (see S.J. Res. 5), S348 [21JA]
Employment: allow Americans to earn paid sick time to address their own health needs and the health needs of their families (see S. 497), S2760 [11MY]
EPA: provide compensation to injured persons relating to the Gold King Mine spill and amend CERCLA to address mining-related issues (see S. 2063), S6893 [22SE]
Europe: express concern regarding anti-Semitism and encourage greater cooperation with European governments, European Union, and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to prevent and respond to anti-Semitism (see S. Res. 87), S1118 [25FE]
FAA: amend the Pilot’s Bill of Rights to facilitate appeals and to apply to other issued certificates, and revise the third class medical certification regulations (see S. 571), S6810 [17SE]
FDA: create a limited population pathway for approval of certain antibacterial drugs (see S. 185), S238 [16JA]
——— provide for expedited development of and priority review for breakthrough devices (see S. 1077), S2400 [23AP]
Federal agencies and departments: strengthen employee cost savings suggestion programs (see S. 1378), S3310 [22MY]
Federal aid programs: encourage and support partnerships between the public and private sectors to improve our nation’s social programs (see S. 1089), S2431 [27AP]
Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act: reauthorize (see S. 2189), S7413 [21OC]
FEMA: prohibit recouping of certain assistance (see S. 634), S1586 [17MR]
Financial institutions: create protections for depository institutions that provide financial services to marijuana-related businesses (see S. 1726), S4953 [9JY]
——— enhance ability of community financial institutions to foster economic growth and serve their communities, boost small businesses, and increase individual savings (see S. 812), S7273 [8OC]
Ford, Wendell H.: tribute (see S. Res. 38), S421 [22JA]
Forests: provide cancellation ceilings for stewardship end result contracting projects (see S. 326), S673 [30JA]
France: condemn terrorist attacks in Paris, offer condolences to families of the victims, express solidarity with the people of France, and support pursuit of justice against those involved in such attacks (see S. Res. 313), S7966 [16NO]
——— tribute to U.S. citizens and other individuals who helped foil a terrorist attack on a French train (see S. Res. 259), S6810 [17SE]
Health: enhance patient engagement in medical product development process (see S. 1597), S4250 [17JN]
Hispanic Heritage Month: observance (see S. Res. 254), S6651 [15SE]
Horse Protection Act: designate additional unlawful acts, strengthen penalties for violations, and improve Dept. of Agriculture enforcement (see S. 1121), S2731 [7MY]
Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act: amend (see S. 209), S833 [5FE]
Insurance: increase maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program (see S. 170), S1119 [25FE]
——— provide an exception from certain group health plan requirements to allow small businesses to use pre-tax dollars to assist employees in the purchase of policies in the individual market (see S. 1697), S8794 [17DE]
——— provide for a special enrollment period for pregnant women (see S. 2220), S7655 [29OC]
Iran: provide congressional review and oversight of any agreements with Iran relative to its nuclear program (see S. 615), S1385 [10MR]
——— provide for greater congressional oversight of Iran’s nuclear program (see S. 2119), S7102 [1OC]
IRS: clarify that all Internal Revenue Code provisions shall apply to legally married same-sex couples in the same manner as other married couples (see S. 1740), S4953 [9JY]
Israel: express solidarity with people, condemn Palestinian terrorist attacks, support right to self-defense, call for a stop to violence by Palestinians and an end to Israeli-Palestinian conflict (see S. Res. 302), S7722 [3NO]
Juneteenth Independence Day: designate (see S. Res. 201), S4137 [15JN]
Lafayette, LA: condemn attack and offer condolences to community, families, and victims of movie theater shooting and commend first responders and those caring for the injured and investigating the incident (see S. Res. 231), S5928 [27JY]
Land and Water Conservation Fund: provide consistent and reliable authority and funding to maximize effectiveness for future generations (see S. 890), S2041 [26MR]
——— reauthorize (see S. 338), S697 [2FE] (see S. 1925), S6296 [4AU] (see S. 2101), S7005 [29SE] (see S. 2165, 2169), S7272 [8OC]
Medicaid: anniversary (see S. Res. 25), S100 [8JA]
Medicare: add physical therapists to the list of providers allowed to utilize locum tenens arrangements (see S. 313), S3925 [9JN]
——— anniversary (see S. Res. 25), S100 [8JA]
——— cover marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services (see S. 1830), S8021 [17NO]
——— ensure continued access of beneficiaries to diagnostic imaging services (see S. 1020), S6850 [21SE]
——— ensure more timely access to home health services for beneficiaries (see S. 578), S4202 [16JN]
——— extend annual comment period for payment rates under Medicare Advantage (see S. 2351), S8548 [9DE]
——— extend certain long-term care hospital payment rules and the moratorium on establishment of certain hospitals and facilities (see S. 2108), S7046 [30SE]
——— extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program (see S. 607), S1201 [27FE]
——— improve risk adjustment under Medicare Advantage program (see S. 2197), S7470 [22OC]
——— increase limit on length of an agreement under the Medicare independence at home medical practice demonstration program (see S. 971), S2244 [16AP]
——— prevent increase in part B premiums and deductibles (see S. 2148), S7219 [7OC]
——— promote health care technology innovation and access to medical devices and services for which patients choose to self-pay (see S. 1757), S5061 [14JY]
——— provide coverage of an initial comprehensive care plan for beneficiaries newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (see S. 857), S2402 [23AP]
——— provide coverage of certain disposable medical technologies (see S. 1253), S2730 [7MY]
——— provide for coverage and payment for complex rehabilitation technology items (see S. 1013), S4687 [7JY]
——— provide for coverage of continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) (see S. 804), S5130 [15JY]
——— provide for coverage of home as a site of care for infusion therapy (see S. 275), S1247 [3MR]
——— provide for the non-application of competitive acquisition rates to complex rehabilitative wheelchairs and accessories (see S. 2196), S8080 [18NO]
——— remove the physician certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services (see S. 258), S1303 [4MR]
——— repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps (see S. 539), S1304 [4MR]
——— require reporting of certain data by providers and suppliers of air ambulance services for purposes of reforming reimbursements for such services (see S. 1149), S2567 [30AP]
——— require State licensure and bid surety bonds for entities submitting bids under the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive acquisition program (see S. 148), S151 [12JA]
——— strengthen intensive cardiac rehabilitation programs (see S. 2382), S8547 [9DE]
——— treatment of patient encounters in ambulatory surgical centers in determining meaningful electronic health records use (see S. 1347), S2933 [14MY]
——— waive coinsurance for colorectal cancer screening tests, regardless of whether therapeutic intervention is required during the screening (see S. 624), S2111 [13AP]
Medicare/Medicaid: 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 S. 395), S7160 [6OC]
——— improve payments for complex rehabilitation technology and radiation therapy services, extend hardship exemptions from electronic health record meaningful use requirements, and strengthen Medicaid integrity (see S. 2425), S8883 [18DE]
——— improve payments for durable medical equipment (see S. 2312), S8548 [9DE]
Mental health: reauthorize and improve programs related to mental health and substance use disorders (see S. 1893), S6136 [29JY]
Middle East: prevent Hezbollah and associated entities from gaining access to international financial and other institutions (see S. 1617), S7471 [22OC]
Mining and mineral resources: modify requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands (see S. 2254), S7814 [5NO]
National Bison Day: designate (see S. Res. 300), S7594 [28OC]
National Charter Schools Week: support goals and ideals (see S. Res. 171), S2688 [6MY]
National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week: designate (see S. Res. 255), S6651 [15SE]
National Park Service: refund to States all State funds used to reopen and temporarily operate a unit of the National Park System during the Government shutdown (see S. 145), S150 [12JA]
Native Americans: provide for the repair, replacement, and maintenance of certain Indian irrigation projects (see S. 438), S927 [11FE]
New Horizons (spacecraft): congratulate NASA and its partners for successful mission to Pluto and recognize importance of such mission, robotic space exploration, and scientific and engineering research (see S. Res. 240), S6239 [3AU]
New York, NY: reauthorize the World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (see S. 928), S6382 [5AU]
NIH: improve, coordinate, and enhance rehabilitation research (see S. 800), S1660 [19MR]
Nonprofit organizations: clarify that organizations such as Habitat for Humanity can accept donated mortgage appraisals (see S. 1344), S3407 [1JN] (see S. 2085), S6974 [28SE]
Older Americans Act: reauthorize (see S. 192), S5009 [13JY]
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: exempt emergency services volunteers from individual health insurance mandate (see S. 420), S899 [10FE]
——— provide States with flexibility in determining the size of employers in the small group market (see S. 1099), S2731 [7MY]
——— repeal excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage and ensure resulting revenue loss is offset (see S. 2075), S6938 [24SE]
Political campaigns: provide for additional disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and other entities (see S. 229), S348 [21JA]
——— reform financing of Senate elections (see S. 1538), S8495 [8DE]
Power resources: invest in clean energy, empower and protect consumers, modernize energy infrastructure, cut pollution and waste, and invest in research and development (see S. 2089), S6975 [28SE]
Public lands: provide service-learning opportunities on public lands, restore natural, cultural, historic, archeological, recreational, and scenic resources, and train new land managers (see S. 1160), S2568 [30AP]
——— reduce the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced on Federal lands (see S. 2031), S8192 [30NO]
Rabin, Yitzhak: tribute (see S. Res. 299), S7725 [3NO]
Renewable energy: establish a Federal renewable electricity standard (see S. 1264), S2759 [11MY]
Rocky Mountain National Park: anniversary (see S. Res. 221), S4953 [9JY]
Roseburg, OR: express condolences for victims of shooting at Umpqua Community College (see S. Res. 287), S7472 [22OC]
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act: reauthorize and amend (see S. 262), S1384 [10MR]
Safe Drinking Water Act: reauthorize provision of technical assistance to small public water systems (see S. 611), S1201 [27FE]
SBA: increase access to capital for veteran entrepreneurs to help create jobs (see S. 957), S4649 [25JN]
Schools: address and take action to prevent bullying and harassment of students (see S. 311), S3776 [4JN]
——— encourage growth and replication of successful charter school models (see S. 316), S653 [29JA]
——— end discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools (see S. 439), S900 [10FE]
Schweiker, Richard S.: tribute (see S. Res. 250), S6533 [9SE]
Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act: reauthorize (see S. 517), S983 [12FE] (see S. 1925), S6296 [4AU]
Small Business Saturday: observance (see S. Res. 304), S7816 [5NO]
Social Security: anniversary (see S. Res. 246), S6381 [5AU]
——— disregard, for purposes of eligibility for SSI and Medicaid, compensation for participation in clinical trials for rare diseases or conditions (see S. 139), S1629 [18MR]
——— extend State Children’s Health Insurance Program (see S. 522), S983 [12FE]
——— invest child welfare funds to help keep children safe and supported at home with their families to reduce the prevalence and length of foster care (see S. 1964), S6380 [5AU]
——— provide States with the option of providing services to children with medically complex conditions under Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program through a care coordination program (see S. 298), S590 [28JA]
——— 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 S. 968), S8636 [14DE]
Sports: protect and enhance opportunities for recreational fishing, hunting, and shooting (see S. 405), S1384 [10MR]
——— tribute to U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (see S. Res. 218), S4841 [8JY]
Taxation: allow deductions and credits relative to expenditures in connection with marijuana sales conducted in compliance with State law (see S. 987), S2244 [16AP]
——— enhance the dependent care credit to make child care more affordable (see S. 661), S6074 [28JY]
——— extend and modify the railroad track maintenance credit (see S. 637), S7546 [27OC]
——— extend publicly traded partnership ownership structure to energy power generation projects and transportation fuels (see S. 1656), S4601 [24JN]
——— extend the work opportunity tax credit for veterans (see S. 1517), S3776 [4JN]
——— facilitate water leasing and water transfers to promote conservation and efficiency (see S. 384), S832 [5FE]
——— make permanent the special rule for contributions of qualified conservation contributions (see S. 330), S1217 [2MR]
——— prevent homeowners from being forced to pay taxes on forgiven mortgage loan debt (see S. 608), S2569 [30AP]
——— provide an additional religious exemption from the individual health coverage mandate (see S. 352), S736 [3FE]
——— provide an exemption from tax on early distributions for certain Bureau of Prisons correctional officers who retire before age 55 (see S. 380), S832 [5FE]
——— provide an exemption from tax on early distributions for certain Federal law enforcement officers, firefighters, and air traffic controllers who retire before age 55 (see S. 969), S2244 [16AP]
——— provide exclusion for assistance provided to certain veterinary student loan repayment or forgiveness program participants (see S. 440), S900 [10FE]
——— provide for an energy equivalent of a gallon of diesel in the case of liquefied natural gas for purposes of the Inland Waterways Trust Fund financing rate (see S. 2378), S8546 [9DE]
——— provide tax relief for certain major disasters and make certain tax relief provisions permanent (see S. 1795), S5170 [16JY]
——— reduce excise tax rate on beer produced domestically by certain qualifying producers (see S. 375), S1247 [3MR]
——— reform and reset the excise tax rate on beer produced domestically by certain qualifying producers (see S. 807), S1660 [19MR]
——— strengthen the earned income tax credit and make permanent certain tax provisions under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (see S. 1012), S2272 [20AP]
Thompson, Fred: tribute (see S. Res. 309), S7815 [5NO]
Tritak, Kathleen Alvarez: tribute (see S. Res. 82), S984 [12FE]
21st Century Conservation Service Corps: establish (see S. 1993), S6381 [5AU]
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 S. 271), S6074 [28JY]
Voting: revise criteria for determining which States and political subdivisions are subject to certain protections against racial discrimination in voting (see S. 1659), S6383 [5AU]
Women: condemn violence that targets healthcare for women (see S. Res. 327), S8379 [3DE]
——— ensure timely access to affordable birth control (see S. 1532), S3925 [9JN]
Bills and resolutions introduced
Arapaho National Forest: adjust boundary (see S. 1295), S2794 [12MY]
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: preserve the Arctic coastal plain as wilderness (see S. 2341), S8306 [2DE]
Cinco de Mayo: observance (see S. Res. 158), S2568 [30AP]
Corp. for National and Community Service: establish National Service for Schools Program (see S. 2428), S8883 [18DE]
Courts: authorize additional district judgeships for the district of Colorado (see S. 1962), S6380 [5AU]
Dept. of Agriculture: expand authority to sell or exchange small parcels of National Forest System land to enhance management and resolve minor encroachments (see S. 1712), S4686 [7JY]
Dept. of Education: establish an alternative, outcomes-based process for authorizing innovative higher education providers to receive Federal education funding (see S. 2111), S7047 [30SE]
——— invest in innovation for education (see S. 605), S1162 [26FE]
Dept. of HHS: provide States with flexibility to use certain Federal foster care funding for child welfare programs to improve safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes for all children needing welfare services (see S. 1932), S6296 [4AU]
FDA: allow the sponsor of an application for the approval of a targeted drug to rely upon data and information with respect to such sponsor’s previously approved targeted drugs (see S. 2030), S6651 [15SE]
——— provide for the regulation of patient records and certain decision support medical software (see S. 1101), S2431 [27AP]
Federal agencies and departments: create a framework to expedite recruitment of highly qualified information technology and cybersecurity personnel (see S. 2007), S6434 [6AU]
FEMA: provide for wildfire mitigation grants and financial assistance in certain areas affected by wildfires (see S. 1997), S6381 [5AU]
Firearms: facilitate establishment of additional or expanded public target ranges in certain States (see S. 721), S1439 [11MR]
Lobbyists: prohibit current Members of Congress, and increase restrictions on congressional staff, from becoming lobbyists, ban lobbyists from joining congressional staff, and improve disclosure requirements (see S. 1959), S6380 [5AU]
——— prohibit Members of Congress and candidates from soliciting campaign contributions while Congress is in session, eliminate bundling of large contributions, and reform registration process (see S. 1480), S3456 [2JN]
National Forest Foundation Act: reauthorize (see S. 1671), S4602 [24JN]
Senate Rules: require Senate to be in session during a Government shutdown and compel presence of Senators (see S. Res. 101), S1495 [12MR]
Senior citizens: provide equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older individuals (see S. 1765), S5061 [14JY]
Taxation: permanently extend and increase expensing limitations (see S. 1399), S3183 [20MY]
——— provide for equalization of the excise tax on liquefied natural gas and per energy equivalent of diesel (see S. 344), S736 [3FE]
——— provide for the issuance of exempt facility bonds for qualified carbon dioxide capture facilities (see S. 2305), S8159 [19NO]
——— strengthen the child tax credit (see S. 2264), S7912 [10NO]
Motions
Budget: setting forth the Federal budget for 2016–2025 (S. Con. Res. 11), S2204 [15AP]
Medicare: repeal the sustainable growth rate and improve payments for physicians and other professionals (H.R. 2), S2158 [14AP]
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), S8349 [3DE]
Social Security: extend State Children’s Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), S2158 [14AP]
Privilege of the floor
Bowen, Jessica, S4894 [8JY]
Sherman, Laura, S842 [5FE]
Remarks
Budget: setting forth the Federal budget for 2016–2025 (S. Con. Res. 11), S1751 [24MR], S1870 [25MR], S1991, S2001 [26MR]
Children and youth: improve the public school system to help the disadvantaged and reduce child poverty, S1053–S1055 [24FE]
Climate: establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to respond to economic and national security threats posed by human-induced climate change, S2001 [26MR]
Colorado Springs, CO: condemn attack and offer condolences to the community, families, and victims of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., clinic shooting, S8209 [1DE]
Congress: approve permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline (S. 1), S323 [21JA], S566 [28JA], S622 [29JA]
Dept. of Defense: authorizing appropriations for military activities, prescribing personnel strengths, and military construction (H.R. 1735), S3736 [4JN], S4270 [18JN]
Dept. of Education: simplify college financial aid application and repayment processes, streamline Federal grant and loan programs, reinstate year-round access to Pell Grants, and discourage over-borrowing (S. 108), S62, S65 [7JA]
Dept. of Homeland Security: anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, S4643 [25JN]
Dept. of the Interior: limit designation of new federally protected land, S323 [21JA]
Dept. of Veterans Affairs: access of veterans to care and infrastructure funding through imposition of a minimum effective tax rate for high-income taxpayers, S8349 [3DE]
——— extend authorization to replace existing medical facility in Denver, CO (H.R. 2496), S3289 [22MY]
——— require GAO audits of major medical facilities construction projects, S3736 [4JN]
Education: require States to establish a limit on the aggregate amount of time spent on assessments, S5045 [14JY]
Elementary and Secondary Education Act: amend accountability provisions, S5106, S5108 [15JY]
——— reauthorize, S1053–S1055 [24FE]
——— reauthorize (S. 1177), S4811, S4812, S4814 [8JY], S5033, S5036, S5045 [14JY], S5106, S5108 [15JY]
——— reauthorize (S. 1177), conference report, S8532–S8535 [9DE]
——— Title I funding formula reform, S5038 [14JY]
Greeley, CO: tribute to Greeley Holocaust Memorial Observances, S2213• [15AP]
Iran: disapprove agreement with Iran relative to its nuclear program, S6576 [10SE]
Land and Water Conservation Fund: reauthorize, S566 [28JA], S622 [29JA]
——— reauthorize (S. 338), S817 [5FE]
Lynch, Loretta E.: nomination to be Attorney General, S1646 [19MR]
Medicaid: establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to improve health outcomes and lower the costs of caring for medically complex children, S1751 [24MR]
Medicare: create a point of order against any legislation that would privatize Medicare, cut benefits, increase out-of-pocket spending, or turn Medicare into a premium support plan, S1870 [25MR]
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (H.J. Res. 61), S6576 [10SE]
——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), S8349 [3DE]
San Juan National Forest: designate certain Hermosa Creek watershed lands as wilderness, S324 [21JA]
Taxation: establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to permanently increase small business expensing allowance, S1991 [26MR]