Washington, D.C. got back to work this week after its spring recess. While there were plenty of procedural maneuvers to avoid a government shutdown, there were interesting things happening off the House and Senate floors as well. New Jersey senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez urged Trump administration Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to visit our state’s aging rail infrastructure so she could better understand why federal funding is needed here, while Booker and Verona’s former congressman, Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-10) called for more economic development funding for New Jersey small businesses. Menendez issued a statement condemning President Donald Trump’s tax plan and revved up his opposition to coastal drilling.
500,000 fishing families on the Atlantic have said no to offshore drilling. @Interior shld listen & #KilltheDrill pic.twitter.com/ks0uLmGs88
— Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) April 27, 2017
As for Verona’s current congressman, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11), he said he will be hosting another Telephone Town Hall during the week of May 8-12. Constituents register their phone number with a service, which dials them at the time of the call. Previous calls have lasted about an hour. If you want to participate, use the button on the right-hand side of Frelinghuysen’s website or call one of his offices, 973-984-0711 or 202-225-5034 to be put on the call list. Frelinghuysen had nothing to say about an amendment advanced by a fellow New Jersey Republican that would end insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions as part of a second Republican run at repealing the Affordable Care Act.
“Verona In Washington” is a weekly column summing up the activity of Verona’s representatives in Congress. Here are the legislative actions by Verona’s federal representatives, both major and procedural, during the week of April 24-28:
Apr 24, 2017 — Introduced
S.Res. 136: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Sponsor: Sen. Robert “Bob” Menéndez [D-NJ]
This resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
Apr 24, 2017 5:31 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN90: Sonny Perdue, of Georgia, to be Secretary of Agriculture
Nomination Confirmed 87/11
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Nay
Apr 24, 2017 6:01 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Rod J. Rosenstein, of Maryland, to be Deputy Attorney General: Rod J. Rosenstein, of Maryland, to be Deputy Attorney General
Cloture Motion Agreed to 92/6
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Yea
Apr 24, 2017 — Bill Text
S.Res. 136: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
This resolution’s text is now available.
Sen. Robert “Bob” Menéndez [D-NJ] is the sponsor of this resolution.
Apr 25, 2017 5 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN56: Rod J. Rosenstein, of Maryland, to be Deputy Attorney General
Nomination Confirmed 94/6
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Yea
Apr 25, 2017 6:52 p.m. — Vote
H.Res. 187: Relating to efforts to respond to the famine in South Sudan.
Passed 411/2
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
This non-binding House resolution asks the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to increase emergency funding by $100,000,000 to respond to the famine in South Sudan by providing food and other resources.
In 2011, the Republic of South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011. In December 2013, a political power struggle emerged between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his former deputy Riek Machar, as the President accused Machar and others of attempting a coup. In August 2015, a peace agreement was signed under the threat of sanctions from the United Nations which resulted in Machar being appointed Vice President. Violence later broke out again and Machar was replaced and fled the country.
Apr 25, 2017 7:08 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 876: Aviation Employee Screening and Security Enhancement Act of 2017
Passed 409/0
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
This bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to study and implement better screening for TSA’s 900,000 employees following attempts by TSA employees to detonate a bomb at an airport, gun and drug smuggling, and employees who became involved in terrorist activities overseas. The new screening would include creating a national database of employees who have had either their airport or aircraft operator-issued badge revoked for failure to comply with aviation security requirements.
Apr 26, 2017 11:32 a.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of R. Alexander Acosta, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor: R. Alexander Acosta, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor
Cloture Motion Agreed to 61/39
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Yea
Apr 26, 2017 1:45 p.m. — Vote
a href=”https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/115-2017/h224″ target=”_blank”>On Ordering the Previous Question: H.Res. 275: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1695) to amend title 17, United …
Passed 234/191
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Apr 26, 2017 1:53 p.m. — Vote
H.Res. 275: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1695) to amend title 17, United States Code, to provide additional responsibilities for the Register of Copyrights, and for other purposes.
Passed 237/186
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
Apr 26, 2017 3:22 p.m. — Vote
On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 1 to H R 1695
Agreed to 410/14
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
Apr 26, 2017 3:32 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 1695: Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act of 2017
Passed 378/48
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Apr 26, 2017 3:40 p.m. — Vote
On Approving the Journal
Passed 237/161
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Apr 26, 2017 — Introduced
H.J.Res. 99: Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2017, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]
This resolution was referred to the House Committee on Appropriations which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11] is the chairman of the committee.
Apr 27, 2017 1:59 p.m. — Vote
On Ordering the Previous Question: H.Res. 280: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1694) to require additional entities to …
Passed 230/193
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Apr 27, 2017 2:07 p.m. — Vote
H.Res. 280: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1694) to require additional entities to be subject to the requirements of section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), and for other purpose
Passed 226/192
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
Apr 27, 2017 2:17 p.m. — Vote
S. 496: A bill to repeal the rule issued by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration entitled “Metropolitan Planning Organization Coordination and Planning Area Reform”.
Passed 417/3
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Apr 27, 2017 3:25 p.m. — Vote
On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 2 to H R 1694
Agreed to 410/5
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
Apr 27, 2017 3:35 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 1694: Fannie and Freddie Open Records Act of 2017
Passed 425/0
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Apr 27, 2017 3:43 p.m. — Vote
On Approving the Journal
Passed 249/163
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
Apr 27, 2017 6:11 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN88: R. Alexander Acosta, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor
Nomination Confirmed 60/38
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Yea
Apr 26, 2017 10:59 p.m. — Legislation Coming Up
H.J.Res. 99: Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2017, and for other purposes.
This resolution has been added to the House’s schedule for the coming week, according to the House Majority Leader. See the week ahead.
Last Action: This resolution was assigned to a congressional committee on April 26, 2017, which will consider it before possibly sending it on to the House or Senate as a whole.
Apr 27, 2017 — Introduced
S. 986: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit hospitals in all-urban States to be considered Medicare dependent hospitals, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Robert “Bob” Menéndez [D-NJ]
This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
Sen. Robert “Bob” Menéndez [D-NJ] is a member of the committee.
Apr 27, 2017 — Introduced
S.Res. 146: A resolution designating April 30, 2017, as El Dia de Los Ninos-Celebrating Young Americans.
Sponsor: Sen. Robert “Bob” Menéndez [D-NJ]
This resolution is in the first stage of the legislative process. It will typically be considered by committee next.
Apr 28, 2017 10:21 a.m. — Vote
H.Res. 289: Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 99) making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2017, and for other purposes.
Passed 235/178
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Apr 28, 2017 11:29 a.m. — Vote
H.J.Res. 99: Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2017, and for other purposes.
Passed 382/30
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
Sen. Robert “Bob” Menendez is a Democrat who has represented New Jersey in the United States Senate since 2006. You can read more about Menendez’ record on GovTrack, an independent developer of open data resources on Congress.
Sen. Cory Booker is a Democrat who has represented New Jersey in the United States Senate since 2013. You can read more about Booker’s record on GovTrack, an independent developer of open data resources on Congress.
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, a Republican, represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional district. Verona has been part of this district since a gerrymandering in 2012. You can read more about Frelinghuysen’s record on GovTrack, an independent developer of open data resources on Congress.
