December 04, 2020

Weekly Wrap-Up

Week 49 (December 4)

The House is back in session and continuing to fight for the American people. As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the House is working to provide necessary relief for the American people and secure an omnibus package to prevent a government shutdown.

Additionally, Members are wrapping up the final days of the 116th Congress by finalizing plans to hit the ground running on January 3 and passing critical legislation on the House floor.

This week, the House passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which decriminalizes marijuana and reinvests in communities harmed by the longstanding War on Drugs. This historic legislation also included Congressman Correa’s amendment to expand research of cannabis for veterans suffering PTSD, chronic pain, and other service-connected injuries. Learn more here.

This Week’s Votes

This week, the House passed:

H.R. 3884 – The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act

  • Decriminalizes marijuana, expunges certain cannabis offenses and prevents cannabis from being a basis for denial of public benefits and immigration protections. 

  • Amends the Controlled Substances Act to remove marijuana and THC from statutes regarding controlled substances.

  • Requires the Attorney General to remove marijuana and THC from the schedule of controlled substances.

  • Requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to collect and publicly report demographic data of cannabis business owners and employees.

  • Creates an Opportunity Trust Fund funded by a tax on cannabis products to provide cannabis small business loans, job training for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and other programs designed to reinvest in communities most adversely impacted by the War on Drugs.

S. 4054 – U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020 (Sen. Roberts – Agriculture)

  • This bill reauthorizes the U.S. Grain Standards Act, to ensure Federal standards may continue to be set for grain quality assessments, handling, and inspection.

S. 945 – Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (Sen. Kennedy (LA) – Financial Services)

  • This bill would require the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to identify companies: (a) that retain a public accounting firm located in a foreign jurisdiction; and (b) which foreign authorities prevent the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) from inspecting their accounting firm.  During the years the PCAOB is unable to inspect the company’s accounting firm, the company would be required to make certain disclosures, including disclosing any board members who are officials of the Chinese Communist Party. After three consecutive non-inspection years, S. 945 would prohibit certain companies from listing and trading their securities on any U.S. securities exchanges (or through any other method regulated by the SEC).

Senate Amendment to H.R. 1830 – National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act (Rep. Sean Maloney – Financial Services)

  • This bill directs the U.S. Mint to issue commemorative coins for FY 2022 to commemorate the extraordinary sacrifice of American servicemen and servicewomen who were killed or wounded by enemy action. Surcharges from the sale of these coins will benefit the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor which collects and preserves the stories of Purple Heart recipients and serves as a living memorial to their sacrifices. The suspension text amends HR 1830 to update the year of implementation from “2021” to “2022”, includes financial assurance language, and directs surcharge disbursement to The National Purple Heart Honor Mission, Inc.

H.R. 7995 – Coin Metal Modification Authorization and Cost Savings Act of 2020 (Rep. Amodei – Financial Services)

  • This bill authorizes the Director of the Mint to modify the metallic composition of circulating coins if the modification will reduce costs to taxpayers and operate interchangeably (“seamlessly”) with existing coin acceptors that use electromagnetic signature technology, such as vending machines or laundromats. The Director must submit a report to Congress of the proposed modifications at least 90 days before proposed enactment.

H.R. 7903 – To Amend The Small Business Act To Establish The Community Advantage Loan Program, As Amended (Rep. Chu – Small Business)

  • This Bill Authorizes And Modernizes The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Community Advantage Loan Program For Five Years (FY2021-FY2025).  

H.R. 8211 – 504 Modernization And Small Manufacturer Enhancement Act Of 2020, As Amended (Rep. Craig – Small Business)

  • This Bill Amends The Small Business Investment Act To Increase The Maximum Loan Amount For Manufacturing Loans From $5.5 Million To $6.5 Million, Increases SBA Outreach To Small Manufacturers, And Streamlines The Administrative Closing Process For 504 Loans. 

H.R. 8199 – 504 Credit Risk Management Improvement Act Of 2020 (Rep. Bishop (NC) – Small Business)

  • This Bill Amends The Small Business Investment Act To Shift Loan Closing File Review Responsibilities To The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office Of Credit Risk Management (OCRM).

H.R. 8229 – Parity For HUBZone Appeals Act Of 2020 (Rep. Radewagen – Small Business)

  • This Bill Directs The Small Business Administration (SBA) To Issue Regulations, No Later Than A Year After Its Enactment, To Grant The Office Of Hearings And Appeals (OHA) Jurisdiction Over HUBZone Status Appeals.

H.R. 5517 – Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative Act, As Amended (Rep. Lewis (GA) – Foreign Affairs)

  • This Bill Authorizes The State Department, In Cooperation With The Indian Government, To Establish An Annual Educational Forum For Scholars From Both Countries That Focuses On The Teachings Of Mohandas Gandhi And Martin Luther King, Jr; Establish A Professional Development Training Initiative On Conflict Resolution Based On The Principles Of Nonviolence; And Establish A Joint Development Foundation To Address Social, Environmental, And Health Priorities In India.    

H.R. 1819 – War Crimes Rewards Expansion Act (Rep. Foxx – Foreign Affairs)

  • This Bill Amends Current Law To Clarify That The Secretary Of State Is Authorized To Pay A Reward To Any Individual Who Furnishes Information Leading To The Arrest, Conviction, Or Transfer To An International Criminal Tribunal Of A Foreign National For War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, Or Genocide As Such Crimes Are Defined Under The Law Of The Applicable Country, International Tribunal, Or The United States.

H.R. 3571 – City And State Diplomacy Act, As Amended (Rep. Lieu – Foreign Affairs)

  • This Bill Requires The Department Of State To Establish An Office Of Subnational Diplomacy Headed By A Senior Department Official Reporting Directly To The Under Secretary For Political Affairs To Support The Interactions Of State And Municipal Governments In The United States With Foreign Governments. It Also Requires That Office To Provide Annual Reports To The Congress On Its Activities.  

H.Res. 996 – Expressing The Sense Of Congress That The Activities Of Russian National Yevgeniy Prigozhin And His Affiliated Entities Pose A Threat To The National Interests And Security Of The United States And Of Its Allies And Partners, As Amended (Rep. Engel – Foreign Affairs)

  • This Resolution Condemns Russian Interference In The Domestic Politics Of The United States And Other Countries And The Various Malign Activities Of Yevgeniy Prigozhin.  It Urges Countries To End Business And Other Dealings With Him, Supports Current United States And EU Sanctions Designations, Calls For Additional Efforts To Target Prigozhin And His Affiliates, And Urges Continued Coordination Between The U.S. And Its Allies And Partners.  

H.Res. 958 – Condemning The Practice Of Politically Motivated Imprisonment And Calling For The Immediate Release Of Political Prisoners In The Russian Federation And Urging Action By The United States Government To Impose Sanctions With Respect To Persons Responsible For That Form Of Human Rights Abuse (Rep. Engel – Foreign Affairs)

  • This Resolution Condemns The Practice Of Politically Motivated Imprisonment By The Russian Government And Calls For The Immediate Release Of All Political Prisoners In Russia.  It Also Calls On State And Treasury To Use The Sergei Magnitsky Rule Of Law Accountability Act Of 2012, The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, And Other Authorities To Designate Russian Officials Who Are Responsible For Human Rights Abuses In The Form Of Politically Motivated Imprisonment.  

H.Res. 17 – Expressing Concern Over The Detention Of Austin Tice, And Other Purposes, As Amended (Rep. Green (TX) – Foreign Affairs)

  • This Resolution Describes The Circumstances Surrounding The Forced Disappearance And Prolonged Detention Of American Citizen And Journalist Austin Tice As Well As American Citizen And Psychotherapist Majd Kamalmaz In Syria And Expresses Concern About Their Well-Being. It Encourages The Department Of State, The Office Of The Special Presidential Envoy For Hostage Affairs, And Other U.S. Government Entities To Work Jointly And Engage With Syria To Facilitate Their Safe Release And Return. 

H.Res. 1115 – Calling For The Immediate Release Of Trevor Reed, A United States Citizen Who Was Unjustly Sentenced To 9 Years In A Russian Prison, As Amended (Rep. Conaway – Foreign Affairs)

  • This Resolution Calls For The Immediate Release Of Trevor Reed, A U.S. Citizen Convicted On July 30, 2020, Of Trumped Up Resisting Arrest And Assault Charges In Russia And Sentenced To Nine Years In A Russian Prison Camp. It Expresses Support For All Unjustly Detained Prisoners In Russia, Condemns The Practice Of Politically Motivated Imprisonment, And Urges U.S. Officials To Raise The Case During All Interactions With The Russian Government.  

H.R. 1049 – National Heritage Area Act Of 2020, As Amended (Rep. Tonko – Natural Resources)

  • This Bill Establishes A National Heritage Areas System To Bring The Fifty-Five Existing National Heritage Areas (NHAs) Into One Cohesive System And Standardize The Process For Establishing New NHAs. The System Would Provide A Framework For Studying, Designating, Evaluating, And Funding NHAs While Establishing A Clear And Consistent Statutory Framework For The National Park Service’s Role In Administering The National Heritage Area Program.

S. 199 – Leech Lake Band Of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act (Sen. Smith – Natural Resources)

  • This Bill Directs The Department Of Agriculture To Transfer To The Administrative Jurisdiction Of The Department Of The Interior All Right, Title, And Interest Of The United States In And To Approximately 11,760 Acres Of Identified Federal Land In The Chippewa National Forest In Cass County, Minnesota. Immediately Upon Transfer, The Federal Land Shall Be Held In Trust For The Benefit Of The Leech Lake Band Of Ojibwe And Considered As A Part Of Its Reservation.

S. 212 – Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act Of 2020, As Amended (Sen. Hoeven – Natural Resources)

  • This Bill Amends Three Federal Laws Relating To Business, Economic, And Trade Development In Indian Communities. These Amendments Are Intended To Increase Access To Capital For Indian Tribes And Businesses, Increase Opportunities For Indian Business Promotion, And Create Mechanisms And Tools To Attract Investments In Indian Communities.

S. 914 – Coordinated Ocean Observations And Research Act Of 2020, As Amended (Sen. Wicker – Natural Resources)

  • This Bill Reauthorizes The Integrated Coastal And Ocean Observation System (ICOOS) Act Of 2009 Through Fiscal Year 2025.  The Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Is A National-Regional Coordinated Network Implemented By The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) That Generates And Disseminates Continuous Data Models And Services On Coastal Waters And The Great Lakes. The Bill Strengthens Post-Storm Data Sharing Between NOAA And FEMA, And Codifies The Operations Of The National Water Center.

S. 1342 – Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Act Of 2020, As Amended (Sen. Peters – Natural Resources)

  • This Bill Directs The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration To Update At Least Once Every Seven Years Its Environmental Sensitivity Index Products For Each Coastal Area Of The Great Lakes. An Environmental Sensitivity Index Product Is A Map Or Similar Tool That Is Utilized To Identify Sensitive Shoreline Resources Prior To An Oil Spill Event.

H.R. 306 – Kettle Creek Battlefield Survey Act, As Amended (Rep. Hice – Natural Resources)

  • This Bill Directs The Secretary Of The Interior To Conduct A Reconnaissance Survey Of The Site Of The Kettle Creek Battlefield In Wilkes County, Georgia, And Adjacent Property. In Conducting The Survey, Interior Shall Evaluate The Likelihood That Resources Within The Site Boundary Would Meet Specified Criteria For New Parklands

S. 2981 – National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments Act Of 2020 (Sen. Sullivan – Natural Resources)

  • This Bill Reauthorizes The NOAA Corps Act Of 2002 And Provides Authorities For More Flexible Management Of Grade Distribution, Appointments, And The Overall Fitness Of The NOAA Corps. It Also Improves Recruitment And Retention Of Officers And Increases Parity With Other Uniformed Services With Respect To Member Service Obligations And Benefits. This Bill Also Authorizes Current And Former NOAA Corps Officers To Apply For Jobs Within The Department Of Commerce Filled Under Merit Hiring Procedures.

H.R. 3682 – Land Grant-Mercedes Traditional Use Recognition And Consultation Act, As Amended (Rep. Ray Lujan – Natural Resources)

  • This Bill Provides For Greater Consultation Between The Federal Government And The Governing Bodies Of Land Grants-Mercedes And Acequias In New Mexico And Provides For A Process For Recognizing The Historic-Traditional Boundaries Of Land Grant-Merced Communities.

H.R. 4153 – Health Care Access For Urban Native Veterans Act (Rep. Khanna – Natural Resources)

  • This Bill Authorizes The Department Of Veterans Affairs (VA) And The Department Of Defense (DOD) To Enter Arrangements For The Sharing Of Medical Facilities And Services With Urban Indian Organizations. The VA And DOD Shall Reimburse An Urban Indian Organization Where Services Are Provided To Beneficiaries Eligible For Services From Either Department.

H.R. 7045 – To Require The Secretary Of Agriculture To Conduct A Study On Lands That Could Be Included In A National Forest In Hawai'i, And For Other Purposes (Rep. Case – Natural Resources)

  • This Bill Requires The Secretary Of Agriculture To Conduct A Study On Lands That Could Be Included In A National Forest In Hawai‘i.

H.R. 8810 – National Landslide Preparedness Act, As Amended (Rep. DelBene – Natural Resources)

  • This Bill Creates A National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program To Identify Risks And Reduce Losses From Landslide Hazards And To Improve Emergency Preparedness. The Bill Authorizes The Existing National 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) To Update And Produce Publicly Accessible 3D Elevation Data For The U.S. This 3DEP Authorization Assesses Landslide Hazards And Can Identify Other Geologic Hazards. The Bill Establishes Two Committees To Oversee And Coordinate The Activities Of The Programs.

H.R. 1380 – Big Cat Public Safety Act, As Amended (Rep. Quigley – Natural Resources)

  • This Bill Amends The Lacey Act Of 1981 To Improve Conditions For Captive Big Cats And To Reduce Public Contact With Big Cats To Protect People And Animals.

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Looking Ahead

Next week Congressman Correa will be back in the community helping distribute food for Thanksgiving. Stay tuned for more updates!