Republican Cloakroom RSS Articles

Amendments to H.R. 3791 - Fire Grants Authorization Act of 2009

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

1. Rep. Titus (D-NV): The amendment would expand the scope of the Assistance to Firefighter Grants program to allow the acquisition of new equipment that reduces the use of water in fighting fires and training firefighters.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

2. Rep. Perlmutter (D-CO): Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a nationwide survey of all fire departments to determine their compliance with national voluntary consensus standards for staffing, training, safe operations, personal protective equipment, and fitness. The amendment also establishes a task force to make recommendations to Congress on ways to increase compliance with those firefighter safety standards.

Y 358

N 75

3. Rep. Flake (R-AZ): The amendment would prohibit earmarking of funds appropriated under the Act.

Y 371 N 63

4. Rep. Holden (D-PA): The amendment would make river rescue organizations eligible for funding under the definition of a rescue organization. The amendment defines a river rescue organization as one that provides emergency search and rescues services to a person affected by a flood, a water-related accident, or another disaster for which services, including water rescue and patrol, dive rescue and recovery, emergency first response, flood recovery, or fire and rescue services on the water, are required.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

5. Rep. Cardoza (D-CA): The amendment would require the Director to consider the unemployment rates of the area affected when awarding grants to fire departments. This consideration would be in addition to considering the overall financial situation of fire departments.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

Amendments

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

None Pending

Amendments - H.R. 3962 Affordable Health Care for America Act

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Stupak/Pitts Pro-life amendment

Y 240 N 194 P 1

Boehner Republican Substitute

Y 176

N 258

Amendments - H.R. 2868 Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Thompson (MS): Amendment #1 Makes technical corrections and fixes typos and verbiage issues in the underlying legislation.

Y 253

N 168

Barton (TX): Amendment # 2 Places provisions in the bill allowing the new federal chemical facility regulations enacted by the bill to preempt State and local laws that hinder, pose obstacles to, or frustrate the purpose of the federal program.

FAILED

Y 165

N 262

Hastings (FL): Amendment #3 Establishes a point of contact within the Office of Chemical Facility Security responsible for interagency coordination. Requires the Secretary to liaise with State Emergency Response Commissions and Local Emergency Planning Committees to update emergency planning and training procedures.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

Dent (PA): Amendment #4 Strikes Title I, affecting chemical facilities, and replaces it with an extension through October 1, 2012, of DHS' current regulatory authority under section 550(b) of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007.

FAILED

Y 186

N 241

Dent (PA): Amendment #5 Strikes a section from the bill (Sec. 2111) which requires assessments and implementation of methods to reduce the consequences of a terrorist attack.

FAILED

Y 193

N 236

Flake (AZ): Amendment #6 Prevents earmarking in the worker training grant program established in the bill, and would clarifies that Congress presumes that grants awarded through that program will be awarded on a competitive basis, and if they are not, requires the Secretary to submit a report to Congress as to why not.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

Schrader (OR): Amendment #7 Requires DHS to conduct a study on the scope and potential impacts of the provisions that require the use of safer processes or chemicals on manufacturers or retailers of pesticide or fertilizer.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

McCaul (TX): Amendment #8 Strikes the citizen enforcement section of the bill (Sec. 2116).

Y 196

N 232

Halvorson (IL): Amendment #9 Permits the Secretary to provide guidance, tools, methodologies, or software to assist small covered chemical facilities in complying with the security requirements.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

Foster (IL): Amendment # 10 Directs the Secretary to establish appropriate protocols and security procedures for covered chemical facilities that are also universities and academic labs, separate from commercial chemical facilities.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

Amendments - H.R. 3639 Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Hensarling (TX): Amendment no.1 Clarifies that changes to a credit card agreement that reduce a customer's interest rate or other fees can be implemented immediately, instead of being subject to the 45-day waiting period required under the CARD Act of 2009.

Y 427

N 0

McCarthy (NY): Amendment no. 2 If a credit card issuer does not increase an annual percentage rate, fee or finance charge applicable to any existing or future balance, it will not need to comply with the bill’s requirement that payments above the minimum generally be allocated first to that balance with the highest rate until February 2010

Y    427 N    0

Maffei (NY): Amendment no.3 Removes the bill’s expedited implementation for limits on fees, statement requirements, increased disclosure requirements, and provisions dealing with younger consumers. These requirements would be implemented in February, as the CARD Act requires.

Y    251 N    174

Sutton (OH): Amendment no.4 Requires that if a consumer pays off his credit card balance and closes his account after being charged “a new fee”, the action of that consumer having closed their account may not negatively impact the consumer’s credit report.

Y    353 N    71

Sutton (OH) for Stupak (MI): Amendment no. 5 Accelerates to the date of enactment of H.R. 3639 the restrictions on increasing annual percentage rates, fees and finance charges, and restrictions on changing the terms for repayment of outstanding balances on credit card accounts that are imposed by the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009

Y 249

N 173

Amendments to H.R. 3854 - Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

1. Rep. Velazquez (D-NY): The Manager’s Amendment would make technical changes and require reports on the business stabilization program, existing loan size limits, and the state of private sector lending for small businesses. The amendment would also enable SBA to provide loans for the purchase of unoccupied manufacturing centers of equipment. The health IT financing program would also be expanded to provide eligibility for home health care providers.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

2. Rep. Schock (R-IL): Require SBA to pay the claim of a lender who demonstrates it followed the requirements of the National Lender Training Program, unless SBA has clear evidence that the lender failed to comply.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

3. Rep. Schock (R-IL): Requires quarterly reports on the Administrator’s progress towards the expansion of the Renewable Energy Capital Investment Program; and requires the Administrator to establish regulations necessary to carry out the program within 180 days after enactment.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

4. Rep. Bright (D-AL): Requires each SBA district office that contains a rural area to establish a marketing plan for rural businesses regarding financing and investment alternatives, designate an employer as a Rural Business Outreach Specialist, and host at least one annual outreach seminar

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

5. Rep. Flake (R-AZ): Prohibits the earmarking of grants made available through the Small Business Early-Stage Investment program.

Y 370

N 55

6. Rep. Kosmas (D-FL): Adds “photonics technology” to the list of targeted business sectors qualified to receive grants under the Small Business Early-Stage Investment Program. Photonics is technology that uses light, often from a laser.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

7. Rep. Gingrey (R-GA): Increases from five years to seven years the period to participate in the Small Business Health Information Technology Financing Program.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

8. Rep. Kratovil (D-MD): Provides SBA with authority under the 7(a) program to guarantee 100 percent of loans made to veteran owned small businesses, up to $3 million.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

9. Rep. Paulsen (R-MN): Requires a study and a report to Congress to determine the feasibility of a program to increase investment in the research, development and commercialization of medical technology by small businesses.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

10. Rep. Massa (D-NY): Creates a Young Entrepreneur program in the SBA to assist the development of new businesses by young people who remain in their local area. Repayment on such loans would be deferred for six months.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

11. Rep. Foxx (R-NC): Sunsets all programs established or extended in the bill at the end of their authorizations or after five years, whichever is earlier. The Administrator would maintain the authority to carry out responsibilities regarding all outstanding loans, grants, and other outstanding commitments made before the authorization expiration.

Withdrawn

12. Rep. Kissell (D-NC): Allows for repayment of SBA 7(A) loans (granted to small businesses after enactment of this bill) to be deferred for a maximum of 12 months from receipt of final loan disbursement if that small business concern is classified in sector 23 of the North American Industry Classification System (construction).

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

13. Rep. Peters (D-MI): Increases the maximum amount of stabilization loans in high unemployment areas to $75,000 and delays repayment of stabilization loans in high unemployment areas to 18 months for new loans made after enactment of the Act. Would give the Administrator the ability to designate high unemployment areas eligible for operating assistance grants under the New Market Venture Capital program.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

14. Rep. Miller (MI) for Brown-Waite (R-FL): Requires individuals directly engaged in loan application analysis and/or underwriting under the new Capital Backstop program to have at least two years of experience in those activities.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

15. Rep. Miller (MI) for Brown-Waite (R-FL): Clarifies that the Capital Backstop Program is authorized to start immediately upon enactment through September 30, 2011.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

16. Reps. Nye (D-VA) and Buchanan (R-FL): Allows the Administrator to make loans to homeowners to be used for the repair or replacement of toxic drywall manufactured in China.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

Amendments - H.R. 3585 — The Solar Technology Roadmap Act

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

1. Rep. Gordon (D-TN): (30 minutes of debate) The amendment would make the following technical changes:
a. Includes photovoltaics and related electronic components, including inverters, charge controllers, and energy monitors under eligible research areas for the Secretary programs.
b. Includes federally funded research and development centers as eligible entities for grants for research and development from the Department of Energy.
c. Limits all awards offered to be limited to research and development in the United States.
d. Requires the Committee to research ways to reduce regional disparities in the use of solar technologies; look into improving the cost effectiveness and quality control of domestic manufacturing of implements and devices used in the production of solar energy; and identify best practices for Department of Energy national laboratories of higher education and private industry to more efficiently and effectively bring new solar technologies to the marketplace.
e. Requires the Committee to consult with the Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, the Department of Defense, and the General Services Administration on the potential for solar demonstration projects on federal lands.
f. Requires the Secretary to consider individuals that represent diverse geographic regions of the U.S. for membership of the Committee.
g. Limits the Committee to providing guidance on technical goals and activities but cannot recommend or select specific recipients.
h. Adds to the areas of research under the Solar Technology Demonstration Projects those projects located in geographically dispersed regions of the country that are not concentrated in any single geographical region.
i. Among the recommended uses for the demonstration grants, the amendment adds projects that promote accessibility and community implementation of demonstrated technologies.
j. Requires that at least one demonstration project be awarded in Fiscal Year 2011 for the demonstration of organic photovoltaic cell technologies.
k. Requires a new study from the Secretary on the potential applications of micro power stations using solar technology in underserved communities and make recommendations to Congress for increasing access to and implementation of solar technology in such communities.
l. Establishes a new pilot program within the Department of Energy to provide grants for projects to protect against solar technology equipment theft, including projects for mapping large-scale solar projects and equipment serial number registries.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

2. Rep. Broun (R-GA): Reduces the amount authorized to $250 million for each of the three years, from 2011 to 2013. The bill authorizes $2.25 billion over the years 2011 to 2015.

Y 162

N 256

3. Rep. Hastings (D-FL): The amendment would require that a representative from a minority-serving institution is a member of the Solar Technology Roadmap Committee.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

4. Rep. Cardoza (D-CA): The amendment would expand the types of technology the Energy Secretary can consider from “solar thermal electric technology” to “solar thermal power technology.” It also would require the Secretary, in carrying out demonstration projects, to include at least two solar thermal technology projects, with thermal storage, that generate between one and three megawatts continuously for a 24-hour period from energy provided entirely by the sun.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

5. Rep. Kaptur (D-OH): The amendment would require the Roadmap Committee to provide recommendations to strengthen the link between solar technology research and the commercialization of those technologies (including the retooling and reworking of the nation’s existing technological and manufacturing base, as well as coordinating the national strategy in regions where solar technology currently exist); and provide recommendations to federal agencies on strategies to accelerate domestic commercialization of newly developed solar technologies.

Y 395

N 24

6. Rep. Marshall (D-GA): The amendment would require the Secretary, when carrying out solar technology demonstration projects, to evaluate the potential to establish large photovoltaic facilities that produce at least 100 gigawatts, including an evaluation of the electrical grid, current, voltage, and energy storage requirements associated with large photovoltaic facilities.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

7. Rep. Klein (D-FL): The amendment would include development of storage technology that can be used to increase the usefulness and value of solar technologies as eligible for funding under the Secretary of Energy’s research and development program.

Y 414

N 5

8. Reps. Titus (D-NV) / Teague (D-NM) / Cohen (D-TN): The amendment would add to the focuses of the bill research and development of solar technology products that are water efficient.

Y 407

N 9

9. Rep. Heinrich (D-NM): The amendment would require the Solar Technology Roadmap Committee to release a draft Roadmap to the public at least one month prior to a final publication in order to receive input from the public.

Y 420

N 0

10. Rep. Himes (D-CT): The amendment would include solar thermal technologies and concentrating solar photovoltaic technologies within the scope of the research and development programs authorized by the bill.

Y 410

N 6

11. Rep. Murphy (D-NY): The amendment would require the Solar Technology Roadmap Committee to submit an annual report to the Secretary of Energy and the Congress on its activities over the prior 12-month period.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

Amendments - H.R. 3619 - Coast Guard Authorization

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Oberstar (MN) Amendment #1 (Manager's amendment) makes the following technical and substantive changes to the bill:

Requires a GAO report on the USCG's effort to recruit minorities.

Requires the USCG and the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study on new technology to reduce air emissions from water vessels.

Prohibits the use of Loran-C radio navigation stations if the USCG certifies that the termination of the station would not adversely impact maritime safety.

Authorizes the Secretary to delegate the American Bureau of Shipping or other classification societies the authority to review and approve plans for offshore facilities.

Modifies the bills waiver of liability against a person using force against a pirate. The amendment adds language stating that a person could be held liable for harm caused against anyone engaged in piracy if the person using force "knew at the time that it was substantially in excess of what was reasonable."

Requires the Secretary to conduct a study on the use of facial and iris recognition to identify individuals for security purposes.

Requires the Secretary, acting through the USCG, to initiate a study to identify measures to improve transportation of dangerous materials.

Amends the bill's requirement that the USCG escort all LNG, LPG, Ammonium Nitrate, Anhydrous Ammonia, and Chlorine shipments. The amendment requires that the USCG be responsible for the enforcement around dangerous cargo vessels and allocate available resources to deter and respond to any security incident. The amendment is meant to provide more flexibility to the USCG to respond to urgent search and rescue cases.

Requires the Secretary to assess the feasibility of efforts to mitigate the threat of small boat attacks in security zones of major ports and report the findings to Congress.

Requires GAO to conduct a study on background checks and determine whether State and local background checks for transportation security duplicate federal efforts.

Requires the Secretary to allow any individual with a pending application for a transportation security card, who needs to work in secure a area, to have access to such an area for that purpose through an escort by another individual with a security card.

Prohibits a State from requiring separate background checks for any individual with a TWIC.

Authorizes the USCG to establish centers of maritime security to educate and train in maritime security.

Requires the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute to evaluate the employment base supported by Great Lakes marine transportation.

Requires the USCG to issue a report on human errors that cause oil spills.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

Mica (FL) Amendment #2 Requires the GAO to submit a report containing a review of background checks required under State and local transportation security programs, a determination of whether those checks conflict with federal programs, and a determination of whether those background checks assist State and local governments in carrying out security responsibilities. The amendment would also require the report to include recommendation on how to reduce redundant background checks and facilitate background sharing. Finally, the amendment states that the Secretary may not prohibit States from requiring separate background checks.

Rejected Voice

N ✓

Oberstar (MN) for Hastings (FL) Amendment #3 Requires a study examining the Coast Guard's ability to respond to effects resulting from changes in U.S. immigration policy toward Haiti.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

LoBiondo (NJ) Amendment #4 Requires a study on military family housing and military unaccompanied housing available to members of the Coast Guard. Authorizes the USCG to use funds to provide child development services. Authorizes the Navy Secretary to provide support services to chaplain-led programs for Coast Guard members, including activities that build and maintain a strong family structure. Authorizes the President to award a Coast Guard cross and silver star when a Coast Guard member distinguishes himself or herself in armed conflict.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

LoBiondo (R-NJ) Amendment #5 Requires the Secretary to study whether there is a continued need for a supplemental air and maritime navigation systems, such as Loran-C, as a backup to Global Positioning Satellites (GPS).

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

Himes (CT) Amendment #6 Establishes the America's Waterway Watch Program within the Department of Homeland Security and authorizes $3 million for the program through FY 2015. The program would function as a citizen watch program that promotes voluntary reporting of suspected terrorist activity and suspicious behavior along our waterways.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

Flake (AZ) Amendment #7 Prohibits funds in the Fishing Safety Training Grants Program from being earmarked.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

Flake (AZ) Amendment #8 Prohibits funds in the Fishing Safety Research Training Grants Program from being earmarked.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

Kirkpatrick (AZ) Amendment #9 Requires the Secretary to develop a strategy to combat the flow of contraband through the use of submersible vessels.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

Kratovil (MD) Amendment #10Requires the USCG to conduct a study on the facility infrastructure requirements need to fulfill the Coast Guard's missions and capabilities and report the findings within 180 days.

Y 398

N 0

Nye (VA) Amendment # 11 States that the safety provisions of the bill shall not be construed to impair the Coast Guard's homeland security missions.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

Stupak (MI Amendment # 12 Requires the USCG to conduct a study and analysis of the feasibility of the restoring the Fresnel Lens in the Presque Isle Light House in Michigan to operating condition to meet the safety needs of commerce and submit the report within 180 days.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

LoBiondo (NJ) Amendment #13 States that an owner, operator, time charterer, master, or mariner who uses force to defend a vessel of the U.S. against an act of piracy shall not be liable for injury or death cause by the use of force. Requires the Coast Guard to work through the International Maritime Organization to establish agreements to promote coordinated action among flag- and port-states to protect against piracy.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

Amendments - H.R. 3246 Advanced Vehicle Technology Act

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Gordon (TN): Amendment #1 To require the Secretary of Energy to report to Congress after 18 months, and annually thereafter through 2015, on the technologies developed, the success of the adopted technologies for commercial applications, and whether those technologies are manufactured in the United States. The amendment also amends certain reporting requirements to clarify that the Secretary must submit the report to Congress annually; and it expands the non-road systems program from heavy duty non-road equipment to mobile non-road equipment.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

Hall (TX)/Broun (GA): Amendment #2 Freezes authorization amounts at FY 2010 levels through FY 2013 and cut funding in FY 2014.

Y 179

N 253

Broun (GA): Amendment #3 To require that at the end of each fiscal year the Secretary must submit to the relevant Congressional committees an annual report describing activities undertaken in the previous year, active industry participants, efforts to recruit new participants, progress of the program in meeting goals and timelines, and a strategic plan for funding of activities across agencies.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

Polis (CO): Amendment #4 To include retrofitting advanced vehicle technologies to existing vehicles as an area of research under the bill.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

Posey (FL)/Kosmas (FL): Amendment #5 To create a new grant program, the Innovative Automotive Demonstration Program, within the Vehicle Technologies Program, to make competitively awarded grants for the purpose of demonstrating and bringing to market very high efficiency vehicles achieving at least 70 miles per gallon.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

Gordon (TN)/Kennedy (RI): Amendment #6 To require industry participation in the vehicle research and development program to include manufacturers of all qualified plug-in electric vehicles.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

Gordon (TN)/Holt (NJ): Amendment #7 To include agricultural and construction equipment in the non-road systems pilot program.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

Marshall (GA): Amendment #8 To require that research into refueling and recharging infrastructure for alternative and hybrid fuel vehicles include the "unique challenges facing rural areas."

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

Cohen (TN): Amendment #9 Adds multiple battery chemistries and novel energy storage devices, including nonchemical batteries and electromechanical storage technologies such as hydraulics, flywheels, and compressed air storage to the list of eligible technologies for the proposed program.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

Donnelly (IN)/Souder (IN)/ DeFazio (OR): Amendment #10 To include recreational vehicles as eligible under the Medium and Heavy Duty Commercial and Transit Vehicles research and development program.

Y 368 N 63

Sestak (PA): To require the Secretary of Energy to research and develop methods of reducing waste and emissions from advanced battery technology and methods to increase advanced battery calendar and cycle life.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

Massa (NY): To authorize support for public-private partnerships and industry programs that seek to overcome barriers to commercial production and application of transformational vehicle technologies that utilize such industry-led facilities.

Y 416

N 14

Amendments - H.R. 3221 Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Miller (CA): Amendment #1 [Managers amendment] permits part-time students to receive year-round Pell Grants so long as these students are using the extra grant to accelerate their course work. This privilege was extended to full-time students in H.R. 4137, the Higher Education Act reauthorization bill passed last Congress.

The amendment clarifies that guaranty agencies, their nonprofit subsidiaries and nonprofit servicers are eligible sub-grantees under the State Innovation Completion Grant and the Innovation in College Access and Completion National Activities.

The amendment includes language to clarify that States should allow private, nonprofit institutions to voluntarily participate in the State's efforts to increase college enrollment and completion.

The amendment merges the new discretionary Veterans Resource Officer Grants program with the current discretionary program to award grants to campuses to create Centers of Excellence for Veterans Student Success.

The amendment permits the Pell-eligible children of fallen public safety officers to automatically receive the maximum Pell Grant award.

The amendment creates a new discretionary program to provide grants to local educational agencies for the improvement of teacher excellence.

The amendment clarifies language in the nonprofit carve out for loan servicing related to the definition of an eligible servicer, the cost of the servicing and the ability of servicers to hold on to existing loans.

The amendment provides $50 million in fiscal year 2010 for the Secretary to give technical assistance to institutions of higher education to assist as the institutions transition to the Direct Loan program.

The amendment makes technical changes in the early childhood program, including requiring States to include on their applications a description of how the State will implement a process to improve the quality of early learning services being provided to abused or neglected children.

With regard to the Community College Program, the amendment makes Tribal Colleges and Universities eligible to receive funds under the American Graduation Initiative. The amendment allows grantees to use funds to increase the availability of library services for students. The amendment permits the Secretary to develop a model system that would allow students to determine the transferability of their courses.

The amendment includes $1 million for the National Research Council to conduct a study on the quality of online education.

Adopted Voice

Y ✓

Hoesktra (MI): Amendment #2 Strikes the school construction programs under the bill, which authorize $6.6 billion in new mandatory spending to create three federal school construction programs for elementary and secondary public schools and institutions of higher education, and applies the savings to reduce the federal deficit.

FAILED

Y 161

N 262

Cardoza (CA): Amendment #3 Directs the Secretary of Education to prioritize community colleges located in areas with high unemployment rates when awarding grants for community college reform.

Adopted Voice Y    ✓ N

McMorris-Rodgers (WA): Amendment #4 Limits the ability of certain schools that received funding under the economic stimulus package for school construction from receiving additional money through the new federal school construction program authorized under this bill. The amendment also prohibits funds under the bill from being used to repair or renovate stadiums, or other facilities used for athletic contests or public exhibitions where admission is charged; improve or build administrative or operations facilities; or purchase carbon offsets.

FAILED Y    167 N    251

Pingree (ME): Amendment #5 Adds to the list of reserved funds (five percent) for distressed areas and areas affected by natural disaster those local educational agencies that serve a geographic area that contains a military installation selected for base closure.

Adopted Voice Y    ✓ N

Pingree (ME): Amendment #6 Removes the prohibition of funding to community colleges who received funds for construction, modernization, renovation, and repair under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or under the Higher Education Act of 1965. This amendment would allow community colleges to double-dip for construction funds.

Adopted Voice Y    ✓ N

Foxx (NC): Amendment #7 Strikes the American Graduation Initiative, while maintaining the privacy provisions that apply to the whole Act. The amendment would direct all the savings toward deficit reduction. (The privacy provisions ensure that student information is protected from individuals not authorized to view it, and that students cannot be identified by any unique identifier.)

FAILED Y    126 N    301

Reyes (TX): Amendment #8 Allows community colleges to use grant money to increase the provision for members of the National Guard and Reserves, and men and women returning from active duty.

Adopted Voice Y    ✓ N

Etheridge (NC): Amendment #9 Clarifies that borrower services, including delinquency prevention, default aversion services, financial aid counseling, career and education counseling, financial literary, guidance counselor and financial aid officer training services, and other outreach services are allowed uses of grant funds under the bill. The amendment also explicitly authorizes the Department of Education to contract directly with guaranty agencies for funded services.

Adopted Voice Y    ✓ N

Driehaus (OH): Amendment #10 Encourages states receiving State Innovation Completion Grants to design policies to improve the rates of enrollment and re-enrollment of dislocated workers in postsecondary education. The amendment refers to the definition for "dislocated worker" in the Workplace Investment Act of 1998.

Adopted Voice Y    ✓ N

Cuellar (TX): Amendment #11 Requires the Secretary to conduct outreach activities to inform students and families about the transition to the DL program. The amendment would require that the Secretary operate and maintain a website where individuals can obtain information on the switch from FFEL to DL; develop and disseminate information to high school seniors and their families regarding student loans and student aid; provide assistance to institutes of higher education to educate students on the repayment of DL; and ensure that all outreach efforts are developed using "plain language and are culturally- and language-appropriate."

Adopted Voice Y    ✓ N

Murphy (CT): Amendment #12 Clarifies that States may use funds awarded as Quality Pathways Grants to establish or support partnerships with institutions of higher education for training early learning providers.

Adopted Voice Y    ✓ N

Childers (MS): Amendment # 13To merge the new discretionary program, the Veterans Resource Officer Grants, with the current discretionary program to award grants to campuses who create Model Programs for Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success. The amendment also requires that the Veterans Resource Officer duties include serving as a liaison between veteran students, faculty and staff, local facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and mental health care providers at the VA. The amendment would also require the Officer to organize and advise veteran student organizations and host veteran-oriented group functions on campus; distribute news and information to all veterans (newsletters, list serves, etc.); assist in the training of VA certifying officials.

Adopted Voice Y    ✓ N

Adler (NJ): Amendment #14 Gives priority for State Innovation Completion grants to entities that promote activities to increase degree or certificate completion for students who are veterans.

Adopted Voice Y    ✓ N

Himes (CT): Amendment # 15 Includes as a eligible use for State Innovation Completion Grants "programs to provide financial literacy education and counseling to elementary, secondary, and postsecondary students that include an examination of how financial planning may impact a student ability to pursue postsecondary education." The amendment also includes as an eligible use of Innovation in College Access and Completion National Activities Grants activities that enhance financial literacy especially to students who are "traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education." The amendment includes among the outreach activities required under the bill delivering a wide range of financial literacy and counseling tools to equip students with the information "necessary to make prudent decisions concerning their educational success and financial well-being."

ADOPTED Y    428 N    2

Kilroy (OH): Amendment #16 Includes among the organizations to partner with under the Grants to Eligible Entities for Community College Reform organizations who are focused on serving low-income, non-traditional students, or students who are dislocated workers or those who do not have a bachelor's degree. The amendment gives priority to those organizations as well under the Grants to Eligible States for Community College Programs.

Adopted Voice Y    ✓ N

Minnick (ID): Amendment #17 Allows servicemen and women to transfer academic credits earned while serving in the Armed Forces between institutions of higher education.

ADOPTED Y    428 N    0

Perriello (VA): Amendment # 18 Requires States to evaluate and report disparities by geographic area (rural and urban) of available high-quality early learning programs for low-income children, and steps the State will take to address the disparity.

Adopted Voice Y    ✓ N

Schauer (MI): Amendment #19 Gives priority for grants to schools, States, and non-profits that encourage dislocated workers to complete their degrees.

ADOPTED Y    425 N    5

Teague (NM): Amendment # 20 Adds veterans to the list of priority grantees under the American Graduate Initiative. The amendment also adds to the allowable uses of funds programs that prepare students to enter careers serving veterans in the Veterans Administration, and occupations in energy-related fields.

Adopted Voice Y    ✓ N

Teague (NM): Amendment #21 Requires "all savings in federal expenditures not otherwise expended as a result of the enactment of this Act shall be made available for the reduction of the federal deficit." As was noted in the Legislative Digest on H.R. 3221, because most of the bill's "savings" are poured back into more entitlement spending, and the increased cost of the Pell Grant program, it is very likely that the bill increases federal spending over five and ten years and there would not be any further savings.

ADOPTED Y    425 N    0

Souder (IN): Amendment #22 Strikes section 123(d), "Suspension of eligibility for drug-related offenses," and reinstate current law. Current law states that if a student is convicted of drug possession, they are ineligible for federal financial aid for one year. If the student is convicted twice, they are ineligible for two years. After the third conviction, the student is no longer eligible for federal financial aid, unless they undergo certain rehabilitation requirements. H.R. 3221 would allow students who receive student aid and are convicted of drug possession to maintain their student aid eligibility.

Not Offered

Flake (AZ): Amendment #23 Prohibit funds appropriated under the bill to be used for Congressional earmarks.

Adopted Voice Y ✓ N

Guthrie (KY)/Kline (MN): Amendment # 24 [Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute] Would extend the programs under H.R. 5715, the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans (ECASLA), through 2014, and create a commission to develop a new private sector model for student lending.

FAILED

Y 165

N 265