VELA, FILEMON (a Representative from Texas)

Amendments

Dept. of Defense: authorizing appropriations for military activities, prescribing personnel strengths, and military construction (H.R. 5515), H4615 [23MY]

Appointments

Conferee: H.R. 2, Agriculture and Nutrition Act, H6501 [18JY]

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

Armed Forces: extend certain morale, welfare, and recreation privileges to certain veterans and their caregivers and improve electronic physical access control system used by military commissaries and exchanges (see H.R. 5467), H3146 [11AP]

——— require a full military honors ceremony for certain deceased veterans (see H.R. 6734), H8733 [17SE]

Bankruptcy: allow full subrogation, including subrogation to the priority rights of the U.S., of claims for the payment of customs duties (see H.R. 4657), H1477 [7MR]

Bureau of the Census: establish task force to review new decennial census questions and the impact on accuracy, response rates for minorities, legislative redistricting, and distribution of Federal funds (see H.R. 5292), H1651 [15MR]

Bush, Barbara Pierce: tribute (see H. Res. 838), H3505 [24AP]

Bush, George: tribute (see H. Res. 1172), H9820 [10DE]

CDC: create a modern infrastructure for the prevention, treatment, and care of Alzheimer’s and related dementias and preservation of brain health (see H.R. 4256), H9691 [28NO]

Chavez, Cesar E.: tribute (see H. Res. 799), H2041 [22MR]

Climate: address disparate impact of climate change on women and support efforts of women globally to address climate change (see H.R. 4932), H9092 [26SE]

Coast Guard: mint coins in commemoration (see H.R. 2317), H3707 [26AP]

Cosmetics: phase out cosmetic animal testing and the sale of cosmetics tested on animals (see H.R. 2790), H7824 [4SE]

Crime: expedite disposition of animals seized in animal fighting or gambling cases (see H.R. 398), H7870 [5SE]

——— specify lynching as a hate crime (see H.R. 6086), H7735 [31JY]

Democracy: improve access to voting and protect election integrity, strengthen Government ethics laws, and reform political campaign finance system (see H. Res. 975), H5975 [28JN]

Dept. of Agriculture: establish feeding program under National School Lunch Program to provide nutritious food to at-risk students on weekends and extended school holidays during the school year (see H.R. 7185), H9690 [28NO]

——— include eating disorders prevention within Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program (see H.R. 7136), H9821 [10DE]

——— remove certain limitations relative to commodity assistance for school breakfast programs (see H.R. 3738), H4981 [7JN]

Dept. of Commerce: transmit documents and Dept. of Justice letter relative to decision to include a question on citizenship in the decennial census (see H. Res. 877), H3833 [8MY]

Dept. of Defense: study servicemembers’ exposure to open burn pits and toxic airborne chemicals while on active duty to ensure appropriate treatment for health effects (see H.R. 5671), H4777 [5JN]

Dept. of Education: address and take action to prevent bullying and harassment of students (see H.R. 1957), H8739 [20SE]

——— authorize borrowers of Federal Direct Loan Program loans to modify interest rate to be equal to interest rate at time of modification (see H.R. 1614), H3887 [9MY]

——— ensure needs of college students with disabilities are taken into account in campus efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assault (see H.R. 5241), H4850 [6JN]

——— expand access to school-wide arts and music programs (see H.R. 6137), H5284 [19JN]

——— improve structure of Federal Pell Grant Program by providing for mandatory funding and reinstating and expanding eligibility for certain students (see H.R. 2451), H4733 [25MY]

——— make grants to educational organizations for Holocaust educational programs (see H.R. 5460), H9463 [2NO]

——— permanently reauthorize mandatory funding programs for historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions (see H.R. 6876), H8883 [25SE]

——— provide for refinancing and recalculation of certain Federal student loans (see H.R. 4001), H3507 [24AP]

——— provide guidance on how dependent students with noncitizen parents without Social Security numbers may obtain Federal student assistance for college (see H.R. 2070), H9152 [27SE]

——— provide States with option of using grant funds to supply menstrual hygiene products to students (see H.R. 6953), H9150 [27SE]

Dept. of HHS: promote child care and early learning (see H.R. 3773), H9152 [27SE]

——— protect information obtained relative to placement of unaccompanied alien children from being used for any purpose other than providing safe and secure placements (see H.R. 7030), H9414 [2OC]

——— provide for a grant program to support access to free eye care services for students attending public elementary and secondary schools (see H.R. 6960), H9151 [27SE]

——— provide for and support liver illness visibility, education, and research (see H.R. 7063), H9430 [12OC]

——— repeal provision prohibiting sponsorship of research on gun violence (see H.R. 1478), H1373 [5MR]

Dept. of Homeland Security: establish a vulnerability disclosure policy and a bug bounty program (see H.R. 7327), H10335 [19DE]

——— modify authority for pay and work schedules of Border Patrol agents (see H.R. 5896), H4284 [21MY]

——— provide for certain protections for aliens granted temporary protected status or deferred enforced departure (see H.R. 4253), H4850 [6JN]

——— use alternatives to detention for certain vulnerable immigrant populations (see H.R. 6692), H7825 [4SE]

Dept. of Justice: establish and carry out a Veteran Treatment Court Program (see H.R. 4345), H1179 [14FE]

——— limit ability to remove a special counsel (see H.R. 3654), H1699 [19MR]

——— require a report of any Special Counsel who is removed from office (see H.R. 5533), H5225 [15JN]

——— require judicial review of executive branch ability to remove a special counsel (see H.R. 5476), H3317 [13AP]

Dept. of Labor: list employers that relocate call centers overseas, make such companies ineligible for Federal grants and loans, and require call center employees to disclose their physical location (see H.R. 1300), H8886 [25SE]

Dept. of State: establish a Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Peoples in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (see H.R. 6033), H9153 [27SE]

——— facilitate reunification of Central American families, report on, and develop a strategy to reduce, gender-based and gang violence, and address impact of family separation on Central American children (see H.R. 6193), H5580 [22JN]

Dept. of the Interior: establish National Park Service and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund to address maintenance backlog of the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, BLM, and Bureau of Indian Education (see H.R. 6510), H7735 [31JY]

——— expand workforce of veterinarians specialized in care and conservation of wild animals and ecosystems and develop educational programs focused on wildlife and zoological veterinary medicine (see H.R. 159), H9431 [12OC]

——— make supplemental funding available for management of fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need as determined by State fish and wildlife agencies (see H.R. 4647), H6264 [16JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: establish a center of excellence in prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of health conditions relative to exposure to burn pits (see H.R. 1279), H4849 [6JN]

——— improve provision of services and benefits for veterans who experience domestic violence or sexual assault (see H.R. 6869), H8883 [25SE]

——— 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. 846), H784 [5FE]

Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs: submit report on open burn pits (see H.R. 5920), H4778 [5JN]

DIPG Awareness Week: designate (see H. Res. 69), H7689 [25JY]

District of Columbia: statehood (see H.R. 1291), H8739 [20SE]

Drugs: clarify how synthetic drugs known as analogues are to be regulated (see H.R. 2851), H4850 [6JN]

Education: ensure public school teacher compensation is comparable to other college graduates and increase investment in public education (see H. Res. 876), H3833 [8MY]

Elections: protect elections for public office by providing financial support and enhanced security for infrastructure used to carry out such elections (see H.R. 5011), H1342 [1MR]

Emancipation National Historic Trail: designate (see H.R. 4745), H9744 [29NO]

Employment: prohibit forced arbitration in employment disputes (see H.R. 7109), H9460 [30OC]

——— recognize importance of funding workforce development programs (see H. Res. 1100), H9406 [28SE]

EPA: establish a grant program for funding of water recycling and reuse projects (see H.R. 5127), H3097 [10AP]

——— exempt certain pesticides and air emissions from animal waste at farms from certain reporting requirements under CERCLA (see H.R. 5275), H1607 [14MR]

Executive Office of the President: establish National Office for Cyberspace (see H.R. 5822), H7759 [21AU]

FAA: establish grant program to improve preparation and representation of certain students in aviation-related fields (see H.R. 6005), H4850 [6JN]

Families and domestic relations: prohibit discrimination in adoption or foster care placements based on sexual orientation, gender identification, or marital status of any prospective parent or the child involved (see H.R. 2640), H9408 [28SE]

FCC: facilitate a spectrum pipeline for commercial use and require a portion of proceeds from spectrum auctions to go to wireless broadband infrastructure buildout in unserved and underserved rural areas (see H.R. 4953), H3444 [18AP]

FDA: strengthen regulation of compounding drugs by pharmacies (see H.R. 2871), H3507 [24AP]

Federal Acquisition Security Council: establish to provide executive agencies with authorities relative to mitigating supply chain risks in procurement of information technology (see H.R. 7327), H10335 [19DE]

Federal employees: increase rates of pay for General Schedule and prevailing rate employees (see H.R. 4775), H9420 [5OC]

——— provide for compensation of furloughed employees in the event of a lapse in appropriations (see H.R. 4827), H584 [19JA] (see H.R. 4961), H973 [7FE] (see H.R. 5391), H2041 [22MR] (see H.R. 7368), H10510 [20DE]

Federal firefighters: provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits (see H.R. 3733), H1653 [15MR]

FEMA: establish a contractor review process for vendors seeking disaster response contracts (see H.R. 4995), H1074 [8FE]

——— reauthorize Port Security Grant Program (see H.R. 6609), H7723 [26JY]

Fish and fishing: prohibit sale of shark fins (see H.R. 1456), H9415 [2OC]

Floods: codify standards to ensure infrastructure projects that receive Federal funding are built to withstand flood damage (see H.R. 7024), H9414 [2OC]

Freedom of religion: ensure laws intended to protect religious freedom do not infringe upon laws intended to protect civil rights (see H.R. 3222), H8739 [20SE]

FTC: prohibit unfair and deceptive practice of commercial sexual orientation or gender identity conversion therapy (see H.R. 2119), H8739 [20SE]

George P. Kazen Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Laredo, TX: designate (see H.R. 5280), H3783 [7MY]

Gleason, Stephen M.: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 5499), H10337 [19DE]

Global Food Security Act: reauthorize (see H.R. 5129), H7728 [26JY]

Health: improve health care coverage under vision and dental plans for certain self-funded, non-Federal Government plans (see H.R. 1606), H3506 [24AP]

Hispanic Americans: recognize heritage, culture, and contributions of Latinas in the U.S. (see H. Res. 768), H1501 [8MR]

Hispanic Heritage Month: observance (see H. Res. 1068), H8726 [13SE]

House of Representatives: authorize certain committees of the House to intervene in Texas v. U.S., No. 4—18-cv-00167-O (N.D. Tex.) (see H. Res. 1031), H9758 [30NO]

Immigration: appoint counsel to children and vulnerable individuals, provide legal orientation programs to detainees, and identify number of persons represented by counsel and receiving legal orientation presentations (see H.R. 6527), H7686 [25JY]

——— limit separation of families at or near ports of entry (see H.R. 6135), H5284 [19JN]

——— oppose zero tolerance policy that prosecutes all adults entering the U.S. illegally and leads to family separation for parents attempting to enter with children (see H. Res. 927), H4980 [7JN]

——— protect children affected by immigration enforcement actions or proceedings against their parents (see H.R. 5950), H4693 [23MY]

——— provide mental health services to every child who was separated from their parents due to zero tolerance policy that prosecutes all adults entering the U.S. illegally (see H.R. 6180), H5817 [27JN]

——— require reunification of families separated as a result of the zero tolerance policy that prosecutes all adults entering the U.S. illegally (see H.R. 6594), H7722 [26JY]

——— temporarily restrict the removal of alien parents separated from their children (see H.R. 6326), H7728 [26JY]

Indianapolis (U.S.S.): award a Congressional Gold Medal to the crew (see H.R. 4107), H8886 [25SE]

Individuals With Disabilities Education Act: authorizing appropriations (see H.R. 2902), H9425 [9OC]

Investments: protect the investment choices of American investors (see H.R. 2319), H1178 [14FE]

Iran: condemn human rights violations and issue targeted sanctions, support antigovernment protesters and freedoms of speech, press, and assembly, and promote access to communications technology and social media (see H. Res. 676), H19 [8JA]

——— impose sanctions against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (see H.R. 5132), H3835 [8MY]

Israel: authorize military assistance, support ability to address conventional and emerging threats, and enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest (see H.R. 5141), H3835 [8MY]

Juneteenth Independence Day: observance (see H. Res. 948), H5285 [19JN]

Law enforcement: reform benefits for public service officers (see H.R. 5060), H7735 [31JY]

Lucas Lowe Post Office, Hardin, TX: designate (see H.R. 7331), H10335 [19DE]

Medicare: distribute additional residency positions (see H.R. 2267), H7728 [26JY]

——— provide coverage of certain lymphedema compression treatment items as items of durable medical equipment (see H.R. 930), H6196 [13JY]

——— require reporting of certain data by providers and suppliers of air ambulance services for purposes of reforming reimbursements for such services (see H.R. 3378), H975 [7FE]

Members of Congress: ensure access to Federal facilities in order to exercise oversight responsibilities (see H.R. 6260), H5973 [28JN]

NASA: award Congressional Gold Medals to Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden and posthumously to Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson for contributions during the ‘‘Space Race’’ (see H.R. 6795), H9569 [16NO]

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 1104), H9406 [28SE]

National Law Enforcement Museum: mint coins in commemoration of opening (see H.R. 4732), H7759 [21AU]

National Media Diversity Month: designate (see H. Res. 888), H7729 [26JY]

National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: designate (see H. Res. 1095), H9151 [27SE]

National Small Business Week: designate (see H. Res. 857), H3741 [27AP]

National Voting Rights Month: designate (see H. Res. 1058), H8170 [12SE]

National Wildlife Refuge Week: designate (see H. Res. 1122), H9436 [16OC]

National Workforce Development Month: observance (see H. Res. 1100), H9406 [28SE]

Native Americans: restore opportunity for tribal economic development by the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Tribe on terms that are equal and fair (see H.R. 4985), H5153 [13JN]

NLRB: establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations (see H.R. 5728), H5225 [15JN]

——— strengthen protections for employees to organize and collectively bargain for improved wages and working conditions, sanction violations of such rights, and reform collective bargaining process (see H.R. 4548), H5094 [12JN]

Office of the Director of National Intelligence: determine if Iran has used funds from sanctions relief or certain payments to sponsor terrorist organizations, for illicit narcotics activities, or military operations in Syria (see H.R. 6774), H8728 [13SE]

——— determine if Iran has used funds from sanctions relief to sponsor terrorist organizations, for illicit narcotics activities, or military operations in Syria, cosponsorship withdrawn (see H.R. 6774), H9092 [26SE]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: allow for certain third party payments (see H.R. 3976), H5987 [3JY]

——— repeal excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage (see H.R. 173), H5094 [12JN]

Postal Service: ensure that the Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the Federal Government and is not subject to privatization (see H. Res. 993), H6651 [23JY]

Powell, Barbara R. Johns: award Congressional Gold Medal posthumously (see H.R. 5561), H9408 [28SE]

Product safety: require Federal and State mandated information declarations and labeling requirements applicable to chemical composition of, and radiation emitted by, consumer products meet minimum scientific standards (see H.R. 6022), H4848 [6JN]

Schools: end discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools (see H.R. 5374), H1754 [21MR]

——— prohibit stigmatization of children who are unable to pay for meals (see H.R. 2401), H4739 [1JN]

Smithsonian Institution: establish the National Museum of the American Latino (see H.R. 2911), H1507 [9MR]

Social Security: eliminate waiting periods for disability insurance benefits and Medicare coverage for individuals with metastatic breast cancer (see H.R. 6114), H9153 [27SE]

——— protect system and improve benefits (H.R. 1902), consideration (see H. Res. 968), H5748 [26JN]

——— replace windfall elimination provision with a formula equalizing benefits for certain individuals with non-covered employment (see H.R. 6933), H9420 [5OC]

Sports: mint coins in commemoration of anniversary of integration of baseball (see H.R. 6469), H6648 [23JY]

Taxation: expand availability of employee stock ownership plans in S corporations (see H.R. 2092), H4694 [23MY]

——— extend earned income tax credit to caregivers and qualifying students and establish a Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Matching Grant Program (see H.R. 6873), H9420 [5OC]

——— increase deduction for certain elementary and secondary school teacher expenses (see H.R. 5814), H3976 [15MY]

Trump, President: censure and condemn for alleged disparaging remarks relative to countries of origin of certain immigrants and call for a retraction and apology for such remarks (see H. Res. 700), H553 [18JA]

U.S.-European Union-Norway-Iceland Air Transport Agreement: ensure permits issued to foreign air carriers to operate in the U.S. comply with certain labor standards or labor-related rights and principles (see H.R. 2150), H7871 [5SE]

Veterans: encourage, enhance, and integrate Green Alert plans throughout the U.S. to help locate missing at-risk veterans (see H.R. 5945), H4736 [29MY]

——— make homebuyers aware of all loan options by providing veterans with a written comparison of Dept. of Veterans Affairs, FHA, and conventional loan options and provide counseling on housing benefits (see H.R. 2777), H9152 [27SE]

Veterans Crisis Response Corps (VetCorps): establish (see H.R. 5951), H7732 [27JY]

Violence Against Women Act: reauthorize (see H.R. 6545), H7720 [26JY]

Voting: develop academic curriculum on importance, history of suppression, and current restrictive laws, issue stamp recognizing efforts supporting the right to vote, and promote elections and automatic registration (see H. Res. 1058), H8170 [12SE]

Women: constitutional amendment to ensure equal rights (see H.J. Res. 33), H1508 [9MR]

World War II: award a Congressional Gold Medal to Chinese American veterans in recognition of dedicated service (see H.R. 2358), H8886 [25SE]

——— award a Congressional Gold Medal to U.S. merchant mariners of World War II (see H.R. 5879), H9408 [28SE]

Bills and resolutions introduced

Dept. of Homeland Security: establish pilot programs for, and develop policies on, use of body-worn cameras by officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (see H.R. 7028), H9414 [2OC]

——— increase number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and staff and require reports that identify staffing, infrastructure, and equipment needed to enhance security at ports of entry (see H.R. 4940), H901 [6FE]

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park: adjust boundaries and authorize donation of land for additions (see H.R. 6078), H5093 [12JN]

Constitutional authority statements

Dept. of Homeland Security: establish pilot programs for, and develop policies on, use of body-worn cameras by officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (H.R. 7028), H9415 [2OC]

——— increase number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and staff and require reports that identify staffing, infrastructure, and equipment needed to enhance security at ports of entry (H.R. 4940), H902 [6FE]

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park: adjust boundaries and authorize donation of land for additions (H.R. 6078), H5094 [12JN]

Remarks

Animals: establish a working group to determine ways to develop a domestic canine breeding network to produce high quality explosives detection canines (H.R. 4577), H33 [9JA]

Aviation: provide for third-party testing of airport security screening technology (H.R. 4561), H37, H38 [9JA]

Brownsville, TX: anniversary of Housing Authority of the City of Brownsville, E1462• [26OC]

Dept. of Homeland Security: authorize certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection counter terrorist networks activities (H.R. 4578), H35, H41 [9JA]

——— require an overseas personnel enhancement plan (H.R. 4567), H35 [9JA]

Gonzalez, Victoria: Girl Scouts Gold Award recipient, E146• [6FE]

Immigration: oppose zero tolerance policy that prosecutes all adults entering the U.S. illegally and leads to family separation for parents attempting to enter with children, H5149• [13JN]

Kingsville, TX: tribute to Santa Gertrudis Academy girls’ softball team, E1058• [24JY]

Nobel Prize: recognition of James P. Allison for physiology or medicine, E1393• [12OC]

Rangel, Victor: Congressional Award Gold Medal recipient, E1166• [21AU]

Texas A&M University-Kingsville: tribute to men’s track and field team, E1053• [24JY]

——— tribute to women’s volleyball team, E1059• [24JY]

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley: tribute to chess club, E1055• [24JY]

Remarks in House relative to

Leave of absence: granted, H401 [16JA], H475 [17JA]

Tributes

Chilton, Carl, E1057• [24JY], E1421• [16OC]

Guerra, Marla M., E1397• [12OC]

Peña, Bertha A., E850• [15JN]

Rhodes, Jesse T. (Tom), H6469 [18JY]

Torres, Margot Cisneros, E144• [6FE]