BILIRAKIS, GUS M. (a Representative from Florida)

Appointments

Conferee: S. 524, Dept. of Justice grants to address prescription opioid abuse and heroin use, H2458 [17MY]

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

Abortion: prohibit certain abortion-related discrimination in government activities (see H.R. 4828), H3754 [13JN]

——— prohibit discrimination against the unborn on the basis of sex or race (see H.R. 4924), H1679 [13AP]

AID: implement policies to end preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths globally (see H.R. 3706), H3817 [14JN]

Apollo space program: mint coins in commemoration of anniversary of first manned moon landing (see H.R. 2726), H1737 [14AP]

Arlington National Cemetery: establish 50th Anniversary Apollo 1 Memorial (see H.R. 6147), H5863 [22SE]

——— provide for burial of cremated remains of persons who served as Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) (see H.R. 4336), H651 [9FE]

Aviation: increase local funding of airport development projects (see H.R. 5563), H4181 [24JN]

Capital punishment: provide additional aggravating factors for the imposition of the death penalty relative to killing law enforcement officers or first responders (see H.R. 814), H176 [7JA]

China: condemn Dog Meat Festival in city of Yulin and urge end to the dog meat trade (see H. Res. 752), H6366 [29NO]

Corps of Engineers: expedite completion of repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike in Florida (see H.R. 4667), H1766 [15AP]

Cuba: provide that certain Cuban entrants are ineligible to receive refugee assistance (see H.R. 4247), H2282 [11MY]

Dept. of HHS: carry out a grant program for co-prescribing opioid overdose reversal drugs (see H.R. 3680), H2152 [29AP]

——— expand and improve childhood cancer treatments, research, surveillance, and quality of life for survivors (see H.R. 3381), H2386 [13MY]

——— increase preference given in awarding certain asthma-related grants to States that permit trained school personnel to administer epinephrine and asthma-related rescue medication (see H.R. 4662), H2343 [12MY]

Dept. of Justice: reauthorize Missing Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Alert Program and promote initiatives to reduce risk of injury and death from wandering characteristics of some children with autism (see H.R. 4919), H5867 [22SE]

Dept. of Labor: prevent finalization of rule reforming overtime and Federal wage and hour standards that limits employer and employee opportunities and assess economic impact of any proposed reforms (see H.R. 4773), H1803 [18AP]

Dept. of the Treasury: establish Economic Sanctions Strategy, Coordination, and Planning Group (see H.R. 5910), H6109 [28SE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: carry out a pilot program establishing a patient self-scheduling appointment system (see H.R. 4352), H950 [25FE]

——— carry out pilot program to provide service dogs to certain veterans with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (see H.R. 4764), H3565 [8JN]

——— increase certain veteran funeral benefits (see H.R. 1911), H6108 [28SE]

——— make certain improvements in laws (see H.R. 6416), H7118 [1DE]

——— provide for removal or demotion of employees based on performance or misconduct (see H.R. 5620), H5098 [6SE]

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. 2739), H5162 [7SE]

Doby, Lawrence E.: award Congressional Gold Medal posthumously (see H.R. 5621), H4575 [8JY]

Drugs: prevent regulatory oversight from disrupting ability of emergency medical personnel to administer certain controlled substances (see H.R. 4365), H1152 [7MR]

——— promote development of safe drugs for neonates (see H.R. 5182), H4928 [13JY]

EPA: alleviate the ethanol blend wall under the renewable fuel program (see H.R. 5180), H4468 [6JY]

European Union: designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and impose sanctions on it and its members (see H. Res. 750), H3265 [25MY]

FCC: eliminate daily newspaper cross-ownership rule (see H.R. 6474), H7397 [7DE]

FDA: expand tropical disease product priority review voucher program to encourage treatments for Zika virus (see H.R. 4400), H1152 [7MR]

——— extend market exclusivity periods for certain drugs developed or labeled so as to reduce drug abuse (see H.R. 5127), H2148 [29AP]

——— grant authority to modify predicate/grandfather date for regulation of certain newly deemed tobacco products (see H.R. 2058), H3296 [26MY]

Federal agencies and departments: prohibit funding for purchase of heavy water from Iran (see H.R. 5119), H3817 [14JN]

FEMA: delay increases in flood insurance premium rates under the National Flood Insurance Program for certain properties (see H.R. 4866), H1582 [23MR]

Fernandez, Jose: tribute (see H. Res. 902), H6103 [28SE]

Floods: clarify that any private flood insurance policy accepted by a State shall satisfy the mandatory purchase requirement (see H.R. 2901), H1084 [1MR]

FRS: require an audit of the Board of Governors and Federal Reserve banks (see H.R. 24), H1802 [18AP]

Government-sponsored enterprises: ensure that increases in guarantee fees of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shall not be used to offset provisions that increase the deficit (see H.R. 4893), H4550 [7JY]

Great Britain: encourage return of Parthenon Marbles to Greece (see H. Con. Res. 162), H5913 [26SE]

Holocaust: ensure victims live with dignity, comfort, and security in their remaining years and urge Germany to reaffirm commitment to address health and welfare needs of victims (see H. Con. Res. 129), H2215 [10MY]

Holovits, Laszlo, Jr.: confer honorary citizenship (see H.J. Res. 94), H5256 [9SE]

Insurance: clarify treatment of pediatric dental coverage in the individual and group markets outside exchanges established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (see H.R. 3463), H3665 [9JN]

IRS: nullify proposed regulations that would eliminate valuation discounts on liquidation of an interest relative to estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes (see H.R. 6100), H6180 [14NO]

Israel: recognize importance of the U.S.-Israel economic relationship and encourage new areas of cooperation (see H. Res. 551), H102 [6JA]

——— support expeditious consideration and finalization of long-term memorandum of understanding on U.S. military assistance to Israel (see H. Res. 729), H2701 [17MY]

Lake Berryessa: transfer recreational management authority from Bureau of Reclamation to BLM (see H.R. 4521), H709 [10FE]

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), H2110 [28AP]

Levinson, Robert: urge intensified cooperation by Iran on the case of the disappearance of former FBI agent while on business trip in Iran (see H. Res. 148), H652 [9FE]

Medicaid: extend rules regarding supplemental needs trusts for beneficiaries to trusts established by such beneficiaries (see H.R. 670), H4927 [13JY]

Medicare: eliminate Medicare Advantage provision that inadvertently penalizes Medicare Advantage plans for providing high quality care to beneficiaries (see H.R. 4275), H3969 [16JN]

——— ensure fairness in hospital payments by establishing a floor for the area wage index applied relative to certain hospitals (see H.R. 4428), H2282 [11MY]

——— establish a Community-Based Institutional Special Needs Plan demonstration program to target home and community-based care to eligible beneficiaries (see H.R. 4212), H2342 [12MY]

——— expand Medicare Advantage coverage for individuals with end-stage renal disease (see H.R. 5659), H4547 [7JY]

——— improve patient access to durable medical equipment (see H.R. 5210), H3817 [14JN]

——— improve process whereby administrative contractors issue local coverage determinations (see H.R. 5721), H6366 [29NO]

——— modernize payments for ambulatory surgical centers (see H.R. 1453), H1464 [17MR]

——— prohibit further action on proposed rule on testing of part B prescription drug models (see H.R. 5122), H4928 [13JY]

——— provide coverage of an initial comprehensive care plan for beneficiaries newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (see H.R. 1559), H4927 [13JY]

——— suspend implementation of a comprehensive care for joint replacement (CJR) payment model for episode-based payment for lower extremity joint replacement (LEJR) in a budget neutral manner (see H.R. 4848), H1637 [12AP]

Medicare/Medicaid: ensure prompt coverage of breakthrough devices (see H.R. 5009), H1896 [20AP]

Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act: reauthorize and improve (see H.R. 731), H950 [25FE]

Middle East: provide relief for victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Iraq and Syria (see H.R. 5961), H6240 [15NO]

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: mint coins in commemoration of anniversary (see H.R. 4592), H5097 [6SE]

National Lineman Appreciation Day: designate (see H. Res. 674), H1738 [14AP]

National parks and recreation areas: make the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass available at a discount to veterans (see H.R. 1505), H950 [25FE]

National Prostate Cancer Council on Screening, Early Detection, Assessment, and Monitoring of Prostate Cancer: establish (see H.R. 2730), H433 [1FE]

National Small Business Week: observance (see H. Res. 713), H2149 [29AP]

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: designate (see H. Res. 850), H5256 [9SE]

NATO: reaffirm commitment (see H. Res. 739), H2844 [18MY]

Nicaragua: oppose loans at international financial institutions unless effective steps are taken to hold free, fair, and transparent elections (see H.R. 5708), H5023 [18JY]

Orlando, FL: condemn shooting at Pulse nightclub, express condolences and support for victims and their families and friends, commend law enforcement and first responders, and stand united against terrorism and hatred (see H. Res. 827), H4926 [13JY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: require States awarded grants to establish an exchange and that terminate such exchange provide an audit of use of grant funds and return funds to Federal Government (see H.R. 4262), H3565 [8JN]

Pharmaceuticals: increase competition in the pharmaceutical industry (see H.R. 4784), H1461 [17MR]

Postal Service: ensure continuation of 6-day mail delivery service (see H. Res. 12), H5163 [7SE]

——— ensure continuation of door delivery for all business and residential customers (see H. Res. 28), H5338 [12SE]

Public Health Service: designate the Chief Nurse Officer as the National Nurse for Public Health (see H.R. 379), H1766 [15AP]

Science: prohibit human-animal chimeras (see H.R. 6131), H5863 [22SE]

Sergeant First Class William ‘Kelly’ Lacey Post Office, Laurel Hill, FL: designate (see H.R. 4987), H1801 [18AP]

Social Security: eliminate waiting period for disability insurance benefits for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (see H.R. 5183), H5017 [14JY]

Sports: improve integrity and safety of interstate horseracing by requiring a uniform anti-doping program to be enforced by an independent Thoroughbred Horseracing Anti-Doping Authority (see H.R. 3084), H5525 [15SE]

Syria: halt slaughter of Syrian people, encourage a negotiated settlement, and hold human rights abusers accountable for their crimes (see H.R. 5732), H5644 [19SE]

Tariff: provide for a deferral of payment of duty upon the sale of certain used yachts (see H.R. 4065), H2387 [13MY]

Taxation: limit authority of States to tax certain income of employees for employment duties performed in other States (see H.R. 2315), H4054 [21JN]

——— oppose Federal efforts to establish a carbon tax on fuels for electricity and transportation (see H. Con. Res. 89), H1853 [19AP]

——— provide a reduced excise tax rate for portable electronically-aerated bait containers (see H.R. 5840), H5008 [14JY]

——— provide families with more discretion in the use of, and contributions to, flexible spending accounts for healthcare services (see H.R. 1185), H1146 [3MR]

U.N.: disapprove U.N. Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements and U.S. failure to veto such resolution and affirm U.S. commitment to Israel (see H. Res. 957), H7637 [30DE]

U.S. Commission on OPEC: establish (see H.R. 4559), H1600 [11AP]

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: modernize funding of wildlife conservation (see H.R. 4818), H5712 [20SE]

Ukraine: contain, reverse, and deter Russian aggression and assist democratic transition (see H.R. 5094), H2108 [28AP]

Venezuela: express concern about political, economic, and humanitarian crisis, urge release of political prisoners, and call for respect of constitutional and democratic processes (see H. Res. 851), H5224 [8SE]

Vietnamese Conflict: presume those who served in the bays, harbors, and territorial seas of Vietnam have been exposed to Agent Orange and should be eligible for all benefits under the Agent Orange Act (see H. Con. Res. 161), H6366 [29NO]

World War II: award a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of Filipino veterans (see H.R. 2737), H5225 [8SE]

——— award a Congressional Gold Medal to the U.S. Merchant Marine of World War II (see H.R. 2992), H3095 [24MY]

——— award a Congressional Gold Medal to U.S. military personnel who fought in the Pacific theater and who died or were imprisoned by the Japanese military (see H.R. 4766), H1803 [18AP]

——— award Congressional Gold Medal to members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) (see H.R. 3929), H1636 [12AP]

——— officially recognize service and sacrifice of African-American soldiers of the 333d Field Artillery Battalion who were massacred during Battle of the Bulge (see H. Con. Res. 141), H4816 [12JY]

Bills and resolutions introduced

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: establish a registry of women who are diagnosed during pregnancy as having been infected with Zika virus and the children of such women (see H.R. 6010), H5435 [13SE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: require adequate verification procedures to ensure that advance payments under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are made only for enrollees who have paid their premiums (see H.R. 6011), H5435 [13SE]

FTC: require an annual plan and a report on elder fraud (see H.R. 5098), H2108 [28AP]

Medicaid: exclude abuse-deterrent formulations of prescription drugs from additional rebate requirement for new formulations of prescription drugs (see H.R. 5145), H2149 [29AP]

Constitutional authority statements

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: establish a registry of women who are diagnosed during pregnancy as having been infected with Zika virus and the children of such women (H.R. 6010), H5436 [13SE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: require adequate verification procedures to ensure that advance payments under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are made only for enrollees who have paid their premiums (H.R. 6011), H5436 [13SE]

FTC: require an annual plan and a report on elder fraud (H.R. 5098), H2109 [28AP]

Medicaid: exclude abuse-deterrent formulations of prescription drugs from additional rebate requirement for new formulations of prescription drugs (H.R. 5145), H2151 [29AP]

Letters

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act: National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations, H1490 [21MR]

Pledge of Allegiance 

House of Representatives, H7067 [1DE]

Remarks

Abortion: prohibit certain abortion-related discrimination in government activities, H4853 [13JY]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: establish a registry of women who are diagnosed during pregnancy as having been infected with Zika virus and the children of such women (H.R. 6010), H5504 [15SE]

Corps of Engineers: implement Anclote River dredging project, H5176 [8SE]

——— improve rivers and harbors and provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, H7189 [6DE]

Dept. of HHS: coordinate Federal research efforts for, and improve public education and awareness of, congenital heart disease (H.R. 3952), H661 [10FE]

Dept. of Justice: award grants to address prescription opioid abuse and heroin use (S. 524), conference report, H4558 [8JY], E1183• [6SE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: ensure that each medical facility complies with veterans’ health care appointments scheduling requirements and improve uniform application of directives, H4558 [8JY]

——— improve appeals process, H5394 [13SE]

——— improve use of opioids in treating veterans, improve patient advocacy, and expand availability of complementary and integrative health, H4558 [8JY], E1183• [6SE]

——— improve use of opioids in treating veterans, improve patient advocacy, and expand availability of complementary and integrative health (H.R. 4063), H2170 [10MY]

——— provide for removal or demotion of employees based on performance or misconduct (H.R. 5620), H5394 [13SE]

Diseases: making emergency supplemental appropriations to address threat of Zika virus (H.R. 5958), H5216 [8SE]

Drugs: establish inter-agency taskforce to review, modify, and update best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication (H.R. 4641), H2237 [11MY]

FCC: prohibit from regulating the rates charged for broadband Internet access service (H.R. 2666), H1747 [15AP]

FDA: improve and clarify certain disclosure requirements for restaurants and similar retail food establishments and amend authority to bring certain proceedings (H.R. 2017), H792 [12FE]

FEMA: establish a modernized integrated public alert and warning system (S. 1180), H1490 [21MR]

Florida: tribute to 12th Congressional District Heroes Among Us event, H1689 [14AP]

Florida Inventors Hall of Fame: tribute to inductees, E1223• [8SE]

Foreign policy: develop strategy to combat threat of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (terrorist organization), H5646 [20SE]

GAO: submit to Congress a report on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in the U.S. and its treatment under Medicaid (H.R. 4978), H2261 [11MY]

George P. Kazen Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Laredo, TX: designate (S. 612), H7189 [6DE]

Greece: independence anniversary, H1641 [13AP]

Health: accelerate discovery, development, and delivery of 21st century lifesaving cures and devices, H6997 [30NO]

——— accelerate discovery, development, and delivery of 21st century lifesaving cures and devices (H.R. 6), H6274 [17NO]

Hurricanes: encourage citizens to establish hurricane preparedness plan, H3580 [9JN]

Law enforcement officers: tribute to officers killed in the line of duty, H2848 [19MY]

Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse Dean Dept. of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, Laughlin, NV: designate (H.R. 3969), H2931, H2932 [23MY]

Medicare: remove consideration of certain pain-related issues from calculations under the hospital value-based purchasing program to eliminate a potential penalty on physicians who refuse to overprescribe opioid drugs (H.R. 4499), H4826 [13JY]

Mental health: make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals diagnosed with mental illness and families in mental health crisis (H.R. 2646), H4320 [6JY], H5923 [27SE]

Motor vehicles: allow automotive industry employees who provide information on motor vehicle defects or noncompliance to receive a percentage of monetary penalties resulting from enforcement actions (S. 304), H4853 [13JY]

National Police Week: observance, H2848 [19MY]

National Volunteer Week: observance, H1689 [14AP]

NOAA: authorize and strengthen tsunami detection, forecast, warning, research, and mitigation program (H.R. 34), Senate amendment, H6997 [30NO]

Orlando, FL: express condolences for victims of shooting at Pulse nightclub, H3768 [14JN]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), consideration of Senate amendment (H. Res. 579), H47 [6JA]

——— use of budget reconciliation to repeal (H.R. 3762), veto, H444 [2FE]

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.: provide for a moratorium on Federal funding relative to provision of abortion services, H47 [6JA]

Private First Class Felton Roger Fussell Memorial Post Office, Elfers, FL: designate (H.R. 3953), H2923 [23MY]

Veterans Expedited Recovery Commission: establish to examine mental health treatment models and potential benefits of incorporating certain alternative treatments, E1183• [6SE]

Votes: position on missed, H355• [13JA], H2316• [12MY]

Tributes

Christopoulos, Steve, E119• [4FE]

Curry, Austin, H6013 [28SE]

Diacogianni, Catherine, E119• [4FE]

Mick, Jamie, H1508 [22MR]

Poumakis, George, E1447• [14NO]

Rogers, Willie, H7068 [1DE]

Rousakis, James, E119• [4FE]