MegaVote - For Connecticut's Third District

December 5, 2016 In this MegaVote for Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District: Recent Congressional Votes Senate: Health Care Videoconferencing – Passage House: Medical Research and Associated Activities - Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment with an Additional House Amendment House: Additional Committee Funding – Agreeing to Resolution House: Banking Regulations – Passage House: Fiscal 2017 Defense Authorization - Conference Report Upcoming Congressional Bills Senate: Medical Research and Associated Activities Senate: Fiscal 2017 Defense Authorization Senate: Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal 2017 Senate: Water Projects House: International Insurance Standards House: Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal 2017 House: Water Projects Recent Senate Votes Health Care Videoconferencing – Passage - Vote Passed (97-0, 3 Not Voting) The Senate passed the bill that would require the Health and Human Services secretary to examine distance education models that use videoconferencing to connect medical specialists with multiple other health care professionals. The examination also would need to look at the models' impacts on: addressing chronic disease, mental disorders, palliative care and other types of care; health care workforce issues; implementing public health programs; and health care services in rural and underserved communities. The secretary would be required to submit a report to Congress based on this examination. Sen. Christopher Murphy voted YES Sen. Richard Blumenthal voted YES Recent House Votes Medical Research and Associated Activities - Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment with an Additional House Amendment - Vote Passed (392-26, 16 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would reauthorize the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration, and would modify the FDA's drug and medical device review and approval process to accelerate the approval and distribution of new drugs and devices. The measure would create three dedicated offset funds within the Treasury into which $6.3 billion would be transferred over 10 years, through 2026. The accounts would include $4.8 billion for NIH medical research, $500 million for FDA approval and review modification and $1 billion for opioid addiction treatment and response. Funding for the accounts would not count against annual discretionary budget caps. Within the NIH funding, $1.8 billion would be for cancer therapy and test development, $1.5 would be for brain-related research and $1.5 billion would be for medical treatments related to genetic characteristics. The measure would also expand the Health and Human Services Department's oversight of mental health issues, would modify the Medicare program for hospitals, and would allow small employers to provide certain reimbursement plans for employees to purchase their own health insurance. The House replaced the original text of HR 34 with an amendment that consisted of the medical research and expedited drug approval legislative provisions. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO Additional Committee Funding – Agreeing to Resolution - Vote Passed (234-181, 19 Not Voting) The House agreed to the resolution that would allow the House Energy and Commerce Committee to spend an additional $800,000 in 2016 to cover expenses incurred by the committee's select panel investigating alleged sales of fetal tissue. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO Banking Regulations – Passage - Vote Passed (254-161, 19 Not Voting) The House passed the bill that would modify the 2010 financial regulatory overhaul law to eliminate the requirement that the Federal Reserve automatically review bank holding companies with assets greater than $50 billion. The measure would authorize the Financial Stability Oversight Council to require enhanced Federal Reserve supervision and regulation of any bank holding company based on the FSOC's determination of the individual institution's riskiness. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO Fiscal 2017 Defense Authorization - Conference Report - Vote Passed (375-34, 25 Not Voting) The House adopted the conference report on the bill that would authorize $611.2 billion for defense programs in fiscal 2017, including $59.5 billion for overseas operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. It would authorize $222.4 billion for operations and maintenance; $139.6 billion for military personnel; $7.9 billion for military construction and family housing; $10 billion for ballistic-missile defense; and $33.4 billion for defense health care programs, including $334 million from the overseas operations account. It would prohibit the use of funds for a new round of base closures. The bill would authorize a 2.1 percent pay raise for military personnel. It would elevate U.S. Cyber Command to an independent major command within the Defense Department. It would prohibit detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from being transferred to U.S. soil, and would prohibit the closing of the main base and detention facility at Guantanamo. It would extend, through fiscal 2017, the authority for several bonus and special payments for military members. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted YES Upcoming Votes Medical Research and Associated Activities - HR34 The Senate will vote on a bill that would reauthorize the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration, and would modify the FDA's drug and medical device review and approval process to accelerate the approval and distribution of new drugs and devices. The measure would create three dedicated offset funds within the Treasury into which $6.3 billion would be transferred over 10 years, through 2026. The accounts would include $4.8 billion for NIH medical research, $500 million for FDA approval and review modification and $1 billion for opioid addiction treatment and response. Funding for the accounts would not count against annual discretionary budget caps. Within the NIH funding, $1.8 billion would be for cancer therapy and test development, $1.5 would be for brain-related research and $1.5 billion would be for medical treatments related to genetic characteristics. The measure would also expand the Health and Human Services Department's oversight of mental health issues, would modify the Medicare program for hospitals, and would allow small employers to provide certain reimbursement plans for employees to purchase their own health insurance. The House replaced the original text of HR 34 with an amendment that consisted of the medical research and expedited drug approval legislative provisions. Fiscal 2017 Defense Authorization - S2943 The Senate will vote on the conference report to the bill that would authorize $611.2 billion for defense programs in fiscal 2017, including $59.5 billion for overseas operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. It would authorize $222.4 billion for operations and maintenance; $139.6 billion for military personnel; $7.9 billion for military construction and family housing; $10 billion for ballistic-missile defense; and $33.5 billion for defense health care programs, including $374 million from the overseas operations account. It would prohibit the use of funds for a new round of base closures. The bill would authorize a 2.1 percent pay raise for military personnel. It would elevate U.S. Cyber Command to an independent major command within the Defense Department. It would prohibit detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from being transferred to U.S. soil, and would prohibit the closing of the main base and detention facility at Guantanamo. It would extend, through fiscal 2017, the authority for several bonus and special payments for military members. Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal 2017 - The Senate will consider legislation that would extend current stopgap government spending until sometime after March 2017. The current continuing resolution expires on Dec. 9. Water Projects - S612 The House will likely take up the conference report on water resources development legislation that would authorize new water projects for construction by the Army Corps of Engineers. The measure has also been at the center of negotiations to provide aid to Flint, Mich., whose drinking water system has been contaminated by lead. The water resources bill is expected to include at least an authorization for that aid. The House replaced the original text of S 612 with an amendment that consisted of the water resource development legislative provisions. International Insurance Standards - HR5143 The House will vote on a bill that would prohibit the United States from agreeing to any international insurance standards unless the government first publicly publishes the proposal, seeks public comment and reports to Congress on the impact of those standards on U.S. markets and consumers. It also would prohibit the adoption of any international insurance capital standards until after the Federal Reserve issues domestic capital standards for insurance companies. Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal 2017 - The House will consider legislation that would extend current stopgap government spending until sometime after March 2017. The current continuing resolution expires on Dec. 9. Water Projects - S612 The House will likely take up the conference report on water resources development legislation that would authorize new water projects for construction by the Army Corps of Engineers. The measure has also been at the center of negotiations to provide aid to Flint, Mich., whose drinking water system has been contaminated by lead. The water resources bill is expected to include at least an authorization for that aid. The House replaced the original text of S 612 with an amendment that consisted of the water resource development legislative provisions.

January 9, 2017

In this MegaVote for Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution-Motion to Proceed
• House: Objecting to the United Nations Security Council Resolution Vote 2334 Concerning Israeli-Palestinian Peace
• House: Executive Regulations
• House: Midnight Rules

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• Senate: Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution
• House: Regulatory Accountability
• House: Private Market Investors
• House: Commodity Futures Trading Commission Reauthorization
• House: Securities and Exchange Commission Cost-Benefit Analyses
• House: Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution

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Recent Senate Votes

Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution-Motion to Proceed - Vote Agreed to (51-48, 1 Not Voting) The Senate agreed to the motion to proceed to the measure allowing for Senate debate on the concurrent resolution itself. The legislation would trigger the budget reconciliation process and enable the subsequent consideration of reconciliation legislation to repeal major portions of the 2010 health law. The measure would provide instructions to two Senate and two House committees to cut a minimum of $1 billion each during the next 10 years as part of budget reconciliation. Sen. Christopher Murphy voted NO Sen. Richard Blumenthal voted NO

Recent House Votes

Objecting to the United Nations Security Council Resolution Vote 2334 Concerning Israeli-Palestinian Peace - Vote Passed (342-80, 4 Present, 7 Not Voting) The House agreed to this resolution which would express the sense of the House that the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which criticized Israel for its continued expansion of settlements in occupied territories, and which the United States abstained from vetoing in the Security Council, undermined the long-standing position of the United States to oppose and veto U.N. Security Council resolutions that seek to impose solutions to Israeli-Palestinian final status issues, or that are one-sided and anti-Israel. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO Executive Regulations - Vote Passed (237-187, 9 Not Voting) The House passed a bill that would modify the federal rule-making process by preventing "major rules", those generally having an annual economic impact greater than $100 million, from being implemented unless Congress enacts legislation approving them. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO Midnight Rules - Vote Passed (238-184, 11 Not Voting) The House passed legislation that would permit a new Congress to use the Congressional Review Act to disapprove, en bloc, multiple regulations issued by a president in his final year in office, rather than just a single regulation at a time for rules issued during the final 60 session days of the previous Congress. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO

Upcoming Votes

Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution - SCONRES3 The concurrent resolution would trigger the budget reconciliation process and enable the subsequent consideration of reconciliation legislation to repeal major portions of the 2010 health law. The measure would provide instructions to two Senate and two House committees to cut a minimum of $1 billion each during the next 10 years as part of budget reconciliation. Regulatory Accountability - HR5 The bill would modify the federal rule-making process with a focus on reducing the possible economic costs of federal regulations, allow more legal challenges to rules and increase transparency. Among its provisions, it would require agencies to estimate the cost of proposed regulations and consider lower-cost alternatives, creating additional steps that agencies must follow when proposing "major" or "high impact" rules, including an opportunity for the public to challenge agency justifications and findings. It also automatically postpones the implementation of new federal rules costing $1 billion or more until all legal challenges are resolved. Private Market Investors - HR79 The bill would expand the circumstances under which events where businesses offer unregistered securities in the private market would not be considered "general solicitations" that otherwise require the issuer to verify that the individuals attending the events are accredited investors. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Reauthorization - HR238 The bill would reauthorize Commodity Futures Trading Commission operations through Fiscal 2021 and amends the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act to modify and clarify how the agency is to regulate derivatives and swaps. Among its provisions, it would ease certain regulatory requirements to ensure that some "end users" of derivatives (such as farmers and utilities that use derivatives to hedge market risk) are not regulated as swaps dealers and would require the agency to conduct cost-benefit analyses of its proposed rules. Securities and Exchange Commission Cost-Benefit Analyses - HR78 The bill would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct cost-benefit analyses of new regulatory proposals and existing rules and to modify or rescind those found to have a negative impact. Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution - SCONRES3 The chamber may take up a measure after expected Senate adoption that would trigger the budget reconciliation process and enable the subsequent consideration of reconciliation legislation to repeal major portions of the 2010 health law. The legislation would provide instructions to two Senate and two House committees to cut a minimum of $1 billion each during the next 10 years as part of budget reconciliation.

January 18, 2017

In this MegaVote for Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution-Klobuchar Amendment Concerning Drug Importation
• Senate: Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution
• Senate: Gen. James Mattis Secretary of Defense Waiver
• House: Private Market Investors
• House: Regulatory Accountability
• House: SEC Cost-Benefit Analyses
• House: CFTC Reauthorization
• House: Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution
• House: Gen. James Mattis Secretary of Defense Waiver

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• Senate: GAO Access and Oversight

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Editor's Note: The House is out of session until Jan. 20 when they will meet for a pro forma session.

Recent Senate Votes

Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution-Klobuchar Amendment Concerning Drug Importation - Vote Rejected (46-52, 2 Not Voting) The amendment would establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to lower prescription drug prices for Americans by importing drugs from Canada. Sen. Christopher Murphy voted YES Sen. Richard Blumenthal voted YES Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution - Vote Agreed to (51-48, 1 Not Voting) The concurrent resolution would trigger the budget reconciliation process and enable the subsequent consideration of reconciliation legislation to repeal major portions of the 2010 health law. The measure would provide instructions to two Senate and two House committees to cut a minimum of $1 billion each during the next 10 years as part of budget reconciliation. Sen. Christopher Murphy voted NO Sen. Richard Blumenthal voted NO Gen. James Mattis Secretary of Defense Waiver - Vote Passed (81-17, 2 Not Voting) The bill would provide for an exception to a limitation against appointment of persons as secretary of Defense within seven years of relief from active duty as a regular commissioned officer of the Armed Forces. Sen. Christopher Murphy voted NO Sen. Richard Blumenthal voted NO

Recent House Votes

Private Market Investors - Vote Passed (344-73, 17 Not Voting) The bill would expand the circumstances under which events where businesses offer unregistered securities in the private market would not be considered "general solicitations" that otherwise require the issuer to verify that the individuals attending the events are accredited investors. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO Regulatory Accountability - Vote Passed (238-183, 13 Not Voting) The bill would modify the federal rule-making process with a focus on reducing the possible economic costs of federal regulations, allowing more legal challenges to rules and increasing transparency. Among its provisions, it would require agencies to estimate the cost of proposed regulations and consider lower-cost alternatives, creating additional steps that agencies must follow when proposing "major" or "high impact" rules, including an opportunity for the public to challenge agency justifications and findings. It also automatically would postpone the implementation of new federal rules costing $1 billion or more until all legal challenges are resolved, and it effectively would overturn two Supreme Court decisions that require courts to give substantial deference to an agency's interpretation of a rule or underlying law. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted Not Voting SEC Cost-Benefit Analyses - Vote Passed (243-184, 7 Not Voting) The bill would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct cost-benefit analyses of new regulatory proposals and existing rules, and to modify or rescind those found to have a negative impact. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO CFTC Reauthorization - Vote Passed (239-182, 13 Not Voting) The bill would reauthorize operations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission through fiscal 2021 and amend the 2010 financial regulatory overhaul law to modify and clarify how the CFTC is to regulate derivatives and swaps. Among its provisions, it would ease certain regulatory requirements to ensure that some "end users" of derivatives are not regulated as swaps dealers, require the CFTC to conduct cost-benefit analyses of its proposed rules and allow for the development of rules regarding the interaction of U.S. swaps rules to international requirements. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO Fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution - Vote Passed (227-198, 10 Not Voting) The concurrent resolution would trigger the budget reconciliation process and enable the subsequent consideration of reconciliation legislation to repeal major portions of the 2010 health law. The measure would provide instructions to two Senate and two House committees to cut a minimum of $1 billion each during the next 10 years as part of budget reconciliation. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO Gen. James Mattis Secretary of Defense Waiver - Vote Passed (268-151, 1 Present, 14 Not Voting) The bill that would provide for an exception to a limitation against appointment of persons as secretary of Defense within seven years of relief from active duty as a regular commissioned officer of the Armed Forces. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO

Upcoming Votes

GAO Access and Oversight - HR72 The bill would grant the Government Accountability Office access to the National Directory of New Hires. The directory contains information from states about new employees.

January 30, 2017

In this MegaVote for Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: GAO Access and Oversight Act
• Senate: Confirmation of Gen. James Mattis to be Secretary of Defense
• Senate: Confirmation of Gen. John Kelly to be secretary of Homeland Security
• Senate: Confirmation of Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
• Senate: Confirmation of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to be ambassador to the United Nations
• House: Abortion Funding

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• Senate: Nomination of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State
• Senate: Nomination of Elaine Chao to be Secretary of Transportation
• House: Disapprove Interior Department’s Stream Buffer Rule
• House: Disapprove SEC Oil and Gas Anti-Bribery Rule
• House: Disapprove Instant Criminal Background Check Rule
• House: Disapprove Labor Law Rule
• House: Disapprove Venting and Flaring Rule

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Recent Senate Votes

GAO Access and Oversight Act - Vote Passed (99-0, 1 Not Voting) The bill would grant the Government Accountability Office access to the National Directory of New Hires. The directory contains information from states about new employees. Sen. Christopher Murphy voted YES Sen. Richard Blumenthal voted YES Confirmation of Gen. James Mattis to be Secretary of Defense - Vote Confirmed (98-1, 1 Not Voting) The Senate confirmed Gen. James Mattis to be secretary of Defense. Sen. Christopher Murphy voted YES Sen. Richard Blumenthal voted YES Confirmation of Gen. John Kelly to be secretary of Homeland Security - Vote Confirmed (88-11, 1 Not Voting) The Senate confirmed Gen. John Kelly to be secretary of Homeland Security. Sen. Christopher Murphy voted YES Sen. Richard Blumenthal voted NO Confirmation of Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency - Vote Confirmed (66-32, 2 Not Voting) The Senate confirmed Kansas Republican Rep. Mike Pompeo to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Sen. Christopher Murphy voted Not Voting Sen. Richard Blumenthal voted Not Voting Confirmation of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to be ambassador to the United Nations - Vote Confirmed (96-4) The Senate confirmed South Carolina Republican Gov. Nikki R. Haley to be the representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of ambassador, and the representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations. Sen. Christopher Murphy voted YES Sen. Richard Blumenthal voted YES

Recent House Votes

Abortion Funding - Vote Passed (238-183, 11 Not Voting) The bill would permanently prohibit the use of federal funds to pay for abortion or abortion coverage. It also would not allow federal medical facilities and health professionals from providing abortion services, and prohibit individuals and small businesses from receiving federal subsidies and tax credits under the 2010 health overhaul law to purchase health care plans that cover abortions. Rep. Rosa DeLauro voted NO

Upcoming Votes

Nomination of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State - PN25 The Senate is expected to take up the nomination of Rex Tillerson to be secretary of State. Nomination of Elaine Chao to be Secretary of Transportation - PN35 The Senate is expected to take up the nomination of Elaine Chao to be secretary of Transportation. Disapprove Interior Department’s Stream Buffer Rule - HJRESXXXX This measure would disapprove, under terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA), the Interior Department's Stream Buffer Rule requiring that surface coal mining operations be designed to minimize the amount of waste placed outside the mined-out area, thus minimizing the amount of land disturbed. Disapprove SEC Oil and Gas Anti-Bribery Rule - HJRESXXXX The measure would disapprove, under terms of the CRA, a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule issued in July 2016 that requires resource extraction issuers (companies that extract oil, natural gas or minerals) that are registered in the United States to provide detailed, public reporting of certain payments to governments that equal or exceed $100,000 per project annually. Disapprove Instant Criminal Background Check Rule - HJRESXXXX The measure would disapprove, under terms of the CRA, a December 2016 Social Security Administration rule that could make it easier for certain mentally challenged individuals to be placed on the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), thereby restricting them from purchasing firearms. Disapprove Labor Law Rule - HJRESXXXX The measure would disapprove, under terms of the CRA, a Defense Department, General Services Administration and NASA rule that requires federal contractors to self-certify violations of 14 specified federal labor laws and equivalent state laws. The laws include the Fair Labor Standards Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, National Labor Relations Act, Davis-Bacon Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act, among others. Disapprove Venting and Flaring Rule - HJRESXXXX The measure would disapprove, under terms of the CRA, a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule issued in November 2016 that requires oil and gas producers to implement measures that reduce natural gas waste.