Daily Digest

Friday, March 10, 2017

The Senate was not in session and stands adjourned until 2:00 p.m., on Monday, March 13, 2017.

Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 20 public bills, H.R. 1491–1510; and 8 resolutions, H.J. Res. 87–88; and H.Res. 189–194 were introduced.
Pages H2051–52

Additional Cosponsors:
Pages H2053–54

Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:

H.R. 1181, to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the conditions under which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated mentally incompetent for certain purposes (H. Rept. 115–33);

H.R. 1259, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the removal or demotion of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs based on performance or misconduct, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–34, Part 1); and

H.R. 1367, to improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–35, Part 1).
Pages H2050–51

Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Jenkins (WV) to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
Page H2023

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017: The House passed H.R. 720, to amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to improve attorney accountability, by a recorded vote of 230 ayes to 188 noes, Roll No. 158.
Pages H2025–41

Rejected the Lofgren motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on the Judiciary with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a recorded vote of 186 ayes to 232 noes, Roll No. 157.
Pages H2039–40

Rejected:

Soto amendment (No. 1 printed in part A of H. Rept. 115–29) that sought to reinstate the FRCP 11(c)(2) safe harbor provision to allow parties to avoid penalties by withdrawing or correcting the claims within 14 days from when the alleged violation of rule 11(b) becomes known, anytime up until the end of the discovery period (by a recorded vote of 181 ayes to 225 noes, Roll No. 153);
Pages H2030–31, H2036

Jackson Lee amendment (No. 2 printed in part A of H. Rept. 115–29) that sought to strike the provision mandating the award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs, restoring judicial discretion to award such fees and costs, when warranted (by a recorded vote of 185 ayes to 225 noes, Roll No. 154);
Pages H2031–33, H2036–37

Conyers amendment (No. 3 printed in part A of H. Rept. 115–29) that sought to exempt from the bill civil actions alleging any violation of a constitutional or civil right (by a recorded vote of 190 ayes to 227 noes, Roll No. 155); and
Pages H2033–35, H2037–38

Jeffries amendment (No. 4 printed in part A of H. Rept. 115–29) that sought to exempt actions pertaining to whistleblowers (by a recorded vote of 189 ayes to 229 noes, Roll No. 156).
Pages H2035–36, H2038–39

H. Res. 180, the rule providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 720) and (H.R. 985) was agreed to yesterday, March 9th.

Meeting Hour: Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 12 noon on Tuesday, March 14th for Morning Hour debate.
Page H2044

United States Holocaust Memorial Council--Appointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the following Members on the part of the House to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council: Representatives Deutch and Schneider.
Page H2050

Quorum Calls--Votes: Six recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appearon pages H2036, H2037, H2037–38, H2038, H2039–40, H2040–41. There were no quorum calls.

Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

THE EFFECT OF SEQUESTRATION AND CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS ON MARINE CORPS MODERNIZATION AND READINESS

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces held a hearing entitled ``The Effect of Sequestration and Continuing Resolutions on Marine Corps Modernization and Readiness''. Testimony was heard from Lieutenant General Gary L. Thomas, Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, U.S. Marines.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee concluded a markup on H.R. 1293, to amend title 5, United States Code, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees; H.R. 1364, the ``Official Time Reform Act of 2017''; H.R. 653, the ``Federal Intern Protection Act of 2017''; H.R. 680, the ``Eliminating Pornography from Agencies Act''; H. Res. 38, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that offices attached to the seat of Government should not be required to exercise their offices in the District of Columbia; and H.R. 1387, the ``SOAR Reauthorization Act''. The following legislation was ordered reported, as amended: H.R. 1293, H.R. 1364, and H. Res. 38. The following legislation was ordered reported, without amendment: H.R. 653, H.R. 680, and H.R. 1387.

No joint committee meetings were held.

No meetings/hearings scheduled.

No hearings are scheduled.

Program for Monday: Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Seema Verma, of Indiana, to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, post-cloture, and vote on confirmation of the nomination at 5:30 p.m.

Program for Tuesday: To be announced.

HOUSE

Bishop, Sanford D., Jr., Ga, E314, E315

Blackburn, Marsha, Tenn., E317

Byrne, Bradley, Ala., E312

Clyburn, James E., S.C., E315

Conyers, John, Jr., Mich., E316

Curbelo, Carlos, Fla., E317

Frankel, Lois, Fla., E314

Griffith, H. Morgan, Va., E314

Hastings, Alcee L., Fla., E316

Hudson, Richard, N.C., E315

Jackson Lee, Sheila, Tex., E313

Marchant, Kenny, Tex., E313

Matsui, Doris O., Calif., E314

Meehan, Patrick, Pa., E312

Pallone, Frank, Jr., N.J., E316

Payne, Donald M., Jr., N.J., E314

Ryan, Paul D., Wisc., E309