In Congress: Actions taken by our federal lawmakers last week

Here’s a summary of actions taken by federal lawmakers representing the local community in Washington, D.C. during the week just ended. Source: Congress.gov website.

First Congressional District Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) this week in the House of Representative (Jan. 8-11):

Voted yes on the following bills:

H.R. 269: Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act

H.R. 251: Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act

H.R. 226: Clarity on Small Business Participation in Category Management Act

S. 24: Government Employee Fair Treatment Act 

H.R. 221: Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act

Voted no on the following bills:

H. Res. 6: On agreeing to Title III of House Rules, authorizing legal action by the House to intervene in litigation involving Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act.

H.R. 264: Making appropriations for financial services and general government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019

H.R. 267: Making appropriations for the Department of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019

H.R. 265: Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019

H.R. 266: Making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019

Sponsored or cosponsored the following bills:

H.R. 377: A bill to establish new zip codes for certain communities. Sponsor: Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-25] (Introduced 01/09/2019) Cosponsors: (4)

H.R. 384: A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase the penalties applicable to aliens who unlawfully reenter the United States after being removed. Sponsor: Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4] (Introduced 01/09/2019) Cosponsors: (13)

H.R. 416: A bill to amend section 524(c) of title 18, United States Code, to use lawfully forfeited drug seizures to increase border security. Sponsor: Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5] (Introduced 01/09/2019) Cosponsors: (8)

H.R. 450: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an additional tool to prevent certain frauds against veterans. Sponsor: Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-25] (Introduced 01/09/2019) Cosponsors: (4)

H.R.451: To repeal the section of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 that requires the Federal Communications Commission to reallocate and auction the T-Band spectrum. Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] (Introduced 01/10/2019) Cosponsors: (3)

H.R. 491: To amend title 37, United States Code, to provide for the continuance of pay and allowances for members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components thereof, during lapses in appropriations.Sponsor: Rep. Gohmert, Louie [R-TX-1] (Introduced 01/11/2019) Cosponsors: (18)

Votes of U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D) last week:

There were two roll call votes, both to invoke cloture (limit debate) and proceed on the bill “Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act.” Both Schumer and Gillibrand voted no. Both cloture motions failed. (Invoking cloture requires a 3/5 — 60 vote — majority).

Bills and resolutions sponsored or cosponsored by Schumer:

S. 72: A bill to suspend the enforcement of certain civil liabilities of Federal employees and contractors during a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (Introduced 01/09/2019) Cosponsors: (15)

S.66: A bill to regulate assault weapons, to ensure that the right to keep and bear arms is not unlimited, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] (Introduced 01/09/2019) Cosponsors: (28)

S.62: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate fair prescription drug prices under part D of the Medicare program. Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (Introduced 01/09/2019) Cosponsors: (33)

S.42: A bill to require a background check for every firearm sale. Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (Introduced 01/08/2019) Cosponsors: (41)

S.23: National Commission on the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico Act of 2019. Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (Introduced 01/03/2019) Cosponsors: (5)

S.J.Res.2: A joint resolution disapproving the President’s proposal to take an action relating to the application of certain sanctions with respect to the Russian Federation. Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] (Introduced 01/04/2019) Cosponsors: (0)

S.Res.16: A resolution relative to the death of John Chester Culver, former United States Senator for the State of Iowa. Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] (Introduced 01/10/2019) Cosponsors: (99)

S.Res.13 :A resolution to constitute the minority party’s membership on certain committees for the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, or until their successors are chosen. Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] (Introduced 01/09/2019) Cosponsors: (0)

Bills and resolutions sponsored or cosponsored by Gillibrand:

S.102: A bill to significantly lower prescription drug prices for patients in the United States by ending government-granted monopolies for manufacturers who charge drug prices that are higher than the median prices at which the drugs are available in other countries. Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 01/10/2019) Cosponsors: (5)

S.99: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the negotiation of lower covered part D drug prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries and the establishment and application of a formulary by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under Medicare part D, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 01/10/2019) Cosponsors: (7)

S.97: A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow for the importation of affordable and safe drugs by wholesale distributors, pharmacies, and individuals. Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 01/10/2019) Cosponsors: (23)

S.96: A bill to revise the authorized route of the North Country National Scenic Trail in northeastern Minnesota and to extend the trail into Vermont to connect with the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (Introduced 01/10/2019) Cosponsors: (8)

S.73: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to deny the deduction for advertising and promotional expenses for prescription drugs. Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (Introduced 01/10/2019) Cosponsors: (20)

S.66: A bill to regulate assault weapons, to ensure that the right to keep and bear arms is not unlimited, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] (Introduced 01/09/2019) Cosponsors: (28)

S.65: A bill to amend the Federal Reserve Act to require Federal Reserve banks to interview at least one individual reflective of gender diversity and one individual reflective of racial or ethnic diversity when appointing Federal Reserve bank presidents, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA] (Introduced 01/09/2019) Cosponsors: (4)

S.62: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate fair prescription drug prices under part D of the Medicare program. Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (Introduced 01/09/2019) Cosponsors: (33)

S.42: A bill to require a background check for every firearm sale. Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (Introduced 01/08/2019) Cosponsors: (41)

S.26: Vote By Mail Act of 2019 Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (Introduced 01/03/2019) Cosponsors: (14)

S.24: Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] (Introduced 01/03/2019) Cosponsors: (44)

S.23: National Commission on the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico Act of 2019. Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (Introduced 01/03/2019) Cosponsors: (5)

S.20: Presidential Tax Transparency Act. Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (Introduced 01/03/2019) Cosponsors: (20)

S.Res.16 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A resolution relative to the death of John Chester Culver, former United States Senator for the State of Iowa. Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] (Introduced 01/10/2019) Cosponsors: (99)