Full Committee Markup
Ranking Member Cummings's Statement on H.R. 1293, a bill to require and annual report on the use of Official Time
Ranking Member Cummings's Statement on H.R. 653, the Federal Intern Protection Act
Ranking Member Cummings's Statement on H.R. 680, the Eliminating Pornography from Agencies Act
H.R. 1364, Official Time Reform Act of 2017
The bill was reported favorably to the House, as amended, by a recorded vote of 23 Ayes to 17 Noes.
Voting Aye: Chaffetz, Duncan, Issa, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Gowdy, Farenthold, Foxx, Massie, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Blum, Hice, Russell, Grothman, Palmer, Comer, and Mitchell.
Voting No: Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Cooper, Kelly, Lawrence, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Demings, Krishnamoorthi, Raskin, Welch, Cartwright, DeSaulnier, and Sarbanes.
Foxx Amendment on Bonuses
Ms. Foxx offered an amendment that prevents employees engaged in 80% or more official time from getting bonuses. The amendment was agreed to by a recorded vote of 18 Ayes to 11 Noes.
Voting Aye: Chaffetz, Duncan, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Farenthold, Foxx, Massie, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Hice, Russell, Comer, and Mitchell.
Voting No: Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Krishnamoorthi, Welch, Cartwright, and Sarbanes.
Connolly Amendment on Whistleblowers
Mr. Connolly offered an amendment that exempts the use of official time by whistleblowers. The amendment was defeated by a recorded vote of 12 Ayes to 21 Noes.
Voting Aye: Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Krishnamoorthi, Raskin, Welch, Cartwright, and Sarbanes.
Voting No: Chaffetz, Duncan, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Farenthold, Foxx, Massie, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Blum, Hice, Russell, Grothman, Palmer, Comer, and Mitchell.
Krishnamoorthi Amendment on National Security Whistleblowers
Mr. Krishnamoorthi offered an amendment that exempts the use of official time by national security whistleblowers. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 15 Ayes to 21 Noes.
Voting Aye: Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Cooper, Kelly, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Krishnamoorthi, Raskin, Welch, Cartwright, DeSaulnier, and Sarbanes.
Voting No: Chaffetz, Duncan, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Farenthold, Foxx, Massie, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Blum, Hice, Russell, Grothman, Palmer, Comer, and Mitchell.
Kelly Amendment on Conflicts of Interests
Ms. Kelly offered an amendment that exempts the use of official time addressing conflicts of interests. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 15 Ayes to 21 Noes.
Voting Aye: Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Cooper, Kelly, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Krishnamoorthi, Raskin, Welch, Cartwright, DeSaulnier, and Sarbanes.
Voting No: Chaffetz, Duncan, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Farenthold, Foxx, Massie, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Blum, Hice, Russell, Grothman, Palmer, Comer, and Mitchell.
Lynch Amendment on Benefit Reductions
Mr. Lynch offered an amendment that exempts categories from benefit reductions in the underlying bill. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 17 Ayes to 21 Noes.
Voting Aye: Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Cooper, Kelly, Lawrence, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Demings, Krishnamoorthi, Raskin, Welch, Cartwright, DeSaulnier, and Sarbanes.
Voting No: Chaffetz, Duncan, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Farenthold, Foxx, Massie, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Blum, Hice, Russell, Grothman, Palmer, Comer, and Mitchell.
Raskin Amendment on Conflicts of Interests
Mr. Raskin offered an amendment that exempts the use of official time addressing conflicts of interests. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 17 Ayes to 21 Noes.
Voting Aye: Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Cooper, Kelly, Lawrence, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Demings, Krishnamoorthi, Raskin, Welch, Cartwright, DeSaulnier, and Sarbanes.
Voting No: Chaffetz, Duncan, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Farenthold, Foxx, Massie, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Blum, Hice, Russell, Grothman, Palmer, Comer, and Mitchell.
Plaskett Amendment on Sexual Harassment
Ms. Plaskett offered an amendment that exempts official time spent fighting sexual harassment. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 17 Ayes to 22 Noes.
Voting Aye: Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Cooper, Kelly, Lawrence, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Demings, Krishnamoorthi, Raskin, Welch, Cartwright, DeSaulnier, and Sarbanes.
Voting No: Chaffetz, Duncan, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Gowdy, Farenthold, Foxx, Massie, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Blum, Hice, Russell, Grothman, Palmer, Comer, and Mitchell.
Lawrence Amendment on Discrimination
Ms. Lawrence offered an amendment that provides exceptions to the underlying bill regarding discrimination. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 17 Ayes to 22 Noes.
Voting Aye: Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Cooper, Kelly, Lawrence, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Demings, Krishnamoorthi, Raskin, Welch, Cartwright, DeSaulnier, and Sarbanes.
Voting No: Chaffetz, Duncan, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Gowdy, Farenthold, Foxx, Massie, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Blum, Hice, Russell, Grothman, Palmer, Comer, and Mitchell.
Cummings Amendment on Non-Union Members in Grievances
Ms. Norton (for Mr. Cummings) offered an amendment that exempts employees representing non-union members in grievances. The amendment was defeated by a recorded vote of 17 Ayes to 23 Noes.
Voting Aye: Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Cooper, Kelly, Lawrence, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Demings, Krishnamoorthi, Raskin, Welch, Cartwright, DeSaulnier, and Sarbanes.
Voting No: Chaffetz, Duncan, Issa, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Gowdy, Farenthold, Foxx, Massie, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Blum, Hice, Russell, Grothman, Palmer, Comer, and Mitchell.
H.R. 653, Federal Intern Protection Act of 2017;
The bill was favorably reported to the House by a voice vote.
Cummings Amendment that adds a Reporting Requirement
Requires reporting on official time used to work on behalf of non-union members.
The amendment was agreed to by a voice vote.
H.R. 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;
The bill was favorably reported to the House, as amended, by a recorded vote of 21 Ayes to 19 Noes.
Voting Aye: Chaffetz, Duncan, Issa, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Gowdy, Farenthold, Foxx, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Blum, Hice, Grothman, Palmer, Comer, and Mitchell.
Voting No: Russell, Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Cooper, Connolly, Kelly, Lawrence, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Demings, Krishnamoorthi, Raskin, Welch, Cartwright, DeSaulnier, and Sarbanes.
Blum Amendment that Changes the Word “Should” to “May”
Mr. Blum offered an amendment that changes the word “should” to “may” with regard to agencies relocating to clarify that agency relocation should be based on case-by-case determinations. Inserts the requirement that agencies conduct an analysis of the costs associated with relocating outside of the District.
The amendment was agreed to by a voice vote.
Norton Amendment Requiring 30-year Cost Analysis
Ms. Norton offered an amendment that requires federal agencies to conduct a 30-year cost analysis and relocate only if the cost is net neutral and then only to property already owned by the federal government.
The amendment was defeated by a voice vote.
H.R. 680, Eliminating Pornography from Agencies Act;
The bill was favorably reported to the House by a voice vote.
H.R. 1387, SOAR Reauthorization Act;
The bill was reported favorably to the House by a voice vote.
Connolly Amendment on Research Design for the Scholarship Program
Mr. Connolly offered an amendment that would require the use of the strongest possible research design for determining the effectiveness of the opportunity scholarship program. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 17 Ayes to 23 Noes.
Voting Aye: Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Cooper, Kelly, Lawrence, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Demings, Krishnamoorthi, Raskin, Welch, Cartwright, DeSaulnier, and Sarbanes.
Voting No: Chaffetz, Duncan, Issa, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Gowdy, Farenthold, Foxx, Massie, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Blum, Hice, Russell, Grothman, Palmer, Comer, and Mitchell.
Watson Coleman Amendment to Insert Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity into the List of Protected Classes
Ms. Watson Coleman offered an amendment that would insert sexual orientation and gender identity into the list of protected classes under the SOAR Act. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 17 Ayes to 22 Noes.
Voting Aye: Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Cooper, Kelly, Lawrence, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Demings, Krishnamoorthi, Raskin, Welch, Cartwright, DeSaulnier, and Sarbanes.
Voting No: Chaffetz, Duncan, Issa, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Gowdy, Farenthold, Foxx, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Blum, Hice, Russell, Grothman, Palmer, Comer, and Mitchell.
DeSaulnier Amendment on Civil Rights Laws
Mr. DeSaulnier offered an amendment that would require protection of students and applicants under civil rights laws. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 18 Ayes to 23 Noes.
Voting Aye: Cummings, Maloney, Norton, Clay, Lynch, Cooper, Connolly, Kelly, Lawrence, Watson Coleman, Plaskett, Demings, Krishnamoorthi, Raskin, Welch, Cartwright, DeSaulnier, and Sarbanes.
Voting No: Chaffetz, Duncan, Issa, Jordan, Sanford, Amash, Gosar, DesJarlais, Gowdy, Farenthold, Foxx, Massie, Meadows, DeSantis, Ross, Walker, Blum, Hice, Russell, Grothman, Palmer, Comer, and Mitchell.
Statements from groups on H.R. 1364:
Irma Westmoreland, who is an RN in the VA, and is the chair of the Veterans Council at NNU:
“Official time is critical to the functioning of hospitals in the VA system” said Irma Westmoreland, RN, chair of the Veterans Council at National Nurses United. “The staff nurses who use official time on behalf of their co-workers in the VA work to ensure quality patient care is delivered. They use official time to advocate for patient and nurse injury prevention, protect against discrimination, and represent employees in grievances and disciplinary actions. They also make sure that the collective voice of the nurses who provide care is heard in decision making and that their hospitals run smoothly.
“By undermining official time, veterans who receive their healthcare through the VA system will lose out,” Westmoreland continued. “HR 1364 will hinder RN recruitment efforts of VA hospitals, which already struggle to hire talented and experienced nurses, and will negatively impact day-to-day protection of quality patient care.”
From Danielle Brian, Executive Director, Project On Government Oversight
“A number of whistleblowers count on their union representatives as advocates in whistleblower retaliation employment disputes and as support through the whistleblower process. I’m deeply concerned that H.R. 1364 may have unintended consequences that will negatively impact the ability of federal whistleblowers to receive the protection and remedies they deserve. By declaring time spent fulfilling union representative duties, such as counseling or accompanying whistleblowers, as non-creditable time, this bill may essentially cut off access to a union representative for whistleblowers. I urge the committee to reconsider moving forward with this legislation and to consider the effect it may have on federal whistleblowers.”