Floor Action:
Appropriations– On September 12, the Senate approved, 92-5, the conference report for H.R. 5895, a minibus package that contains the FY2019 Energy and Water; Legislative Branch; and Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs, and Related Agencies spending bills. The House passed the spending measure on September 13 by a vote of 377-20. The votes clear the measure for the president’s signature.
The House Appropriations Committee approved an earlier version of the Legislative Branch spending bill (H.R. 5894) on May 8; the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version (S. 3071) on June 14 (see The Source, 6/15/18).
The House version of the Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs, and Related Agencies spending bill (H.R. 5786) cleared the House Appropriations Committee on May 8, while the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version of the legislation (S. 3024) on June 7 (see The Source, 5/11/18 and 6/8/18).
Health- On September 12, the Senate passed, by unanimous consent, S. 3029, the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Reauthorization Act. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee approved the legislation on June 26 (see The Source, 6/29/18).
Mark-Ups:
Child Protection- On September 13, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved en bloc, by voice vote, S. 2961, the Victims of Child Abuse Reauthorization Act, as amended, S. 3170, the Cyber Tipline Modernization Act, and S. 3354, the Missing Children’s Assistance Act.
Human Trafficking- On September 13, the House Financial Services Committee approved several bills, including H.R. 6729, the Empowering Financial Institutions to Fight Human Trafficking Act. The legislation was approved by a vote of 44-5.
STEM– On September 13, the House Judiciary Committee approved several bills, including H.R. 6758, the Study of Underrepresented Classes Chasing Engineering and Science Success (SUCCESS) Act, as amended. The committee approved H.R. 6758 by voice vote. The measure would require the U.S. Patent Office and the Small Business Administration to study efforts to increase the number of women and minorities applying for and obtaining patents, and participating in entrepreneurship activities.
