MAJORITY WHIPLINE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

Floor Schedule and Procedure:

Motion to Go to Conference and Republican Motion to Instruct Conferees on S. 1790 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.

Suspensions (6 bills):

1. H.R. 2211 – STURDY Act (Rep. Schakowsky – Energy and Commerce)

This bill would protect children from tip-over related death or injury by requiring the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to promulgate a mandatory consumer product safety standard for clothing storage units.

1. H.R. 1618 – Nicholas and Zachary Burt Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2019 (Rep. Kuster – Energy and Commerce)

This bill directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to establish a grant program for states to purchase and install carbon monoxide detectors in dwelling units of low-income families or the elderly; facilities that commonly serve children or the elderly, including childcare facilities, public schools, and senior centers; or student dorms owned by public universities, and to assist in enforcement and education efforts related to carbon monoxide detectors.

1. H.R. 806 – Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2019 (Rep. Thompson (CA) – Energy and Commerce)

This bill directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue a mandatory standard that requires flame mitigation devices in portable fuel containers.  It further directs the CPSC to conduct an education campaign to alert consumers to the dangers of using or storing portable fuel containers near ignition sources.  The legislation also amends the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act to expand existing child-resistance requirements for closures for portable gasoline containers to include portable kerosene and diesel fuel containers and component parts.

1. H.R. 4285 – Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2019 (Rep. Brindisi – Veterans’ Affairs)

This bill extends 4 expiring authorities: Sec. 2– one-year extension of VA’s authority relating to vendee loans. The VA Vendee Loan Program offers qualified borrowers the option of purchasing real estate owned by VA through foreclosures with little to no money down; Sec. 3– one-year extension of VA’s authority to operate a Regional Office in the Philippines; Sec. 4– two-year extension of authority to fund financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing (authorizes appropriations at $380 million); Sec. 5– one-year extension of VA’s authority to temporarily expand payments and allowances for beneficiary travel in connection with veterans receiving care from vet centers.

1. H.R. 2134 – Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act of 2019, as amended (Rep. Pocan – Education and Labor)

This bill reauthorizes the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC). HKNC provides intensive vocational rehabilitation services on a national bases for individuals who are deaf-blind through a comprehensive rehabilitation training center and 10 regional field offices

1. H.R. 2486 – FUTURE Act, as amended (Rep. Adams – Education and Labor)

This bill provides for a two-year reauthorization of Higher Education Act Title III, Part F funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges or Universities, and other Minority-Serving Institutions. Collectively, institutions receiving Title III, Part F funds account for more than a quarter of all U.S. undergraduate students.

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Barack Obama