Congress Returns as House Takes Up Debt Collection Reforms, Protections for Pregnant Workers While Senate Considers Nominees

by This Week in Congress | 5.14.21

What’s happening in Congress?

• Lawmakers from both chambers of Congress will return to the Capitol this week for the first week of floor business this month.

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate starts its week Monday with a procedural vote on the nomination of Andrea Palm to be deputy secretary of health and human services. If it succeeds a confirmation vote will likely occur Tuesday.
• It’s also expected to consider the nomination of Cynthia Marten to be deputy secretary of education, and additional votes on nominations or legislation are possible.
• Committees will hold hearings on efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, federal cybersecurity after the SolarWinds hack, and actions to address unaccompanied minors at the Southern border.

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• After a day off on Monday, the House will convene Tuesday for debate and votes on a series of bills under the fast-track suspension of the rules process, including several suicide prevention bills.
• The rest of the week will feature additional votes on suspension bills, including a bill to provide service dogs for veterans’ therapy and another bill to establish a national memorial at the site of the Pulse Nightclub shooting.
• Before the end of the week, the House is expected to vote on bills to reform debt collection practices and expand workplace protections for pregnant workers.
• Committees will hold hearings on the Capitol riot, the preparedness of Capitol police surveillance, and small business innovation.

Check below throughout the week to see the vote results and updates to the schedule.

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

HOUSE

Monday 

• No votes are expected.

Tuesday after 6:30pm (under suspension of the rules)

• H.R. 1629: Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act Failed 250-168 (two-thirds required).
• H.R. 433: Family Support Services for Addiction Act of 2021 Vote postponed.
• H.R. 586: STANDUP Act of 2021 Vote postponed.
• H.R. 721: Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2021, as amended Vote postponed.
• H.R. 768: Block, Report, And Suspend Suspicious Shipments Act of 2021 Vote postponed.
• H.R. 1205: Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act of 2021 Vote postponed.
• H.R. 1260: Bipartisan Solution to Cyclical Violence Act of 2021 Vote postponed.
• H.R. 1324: Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act of 2021 Vote postponed.
• H.R. 1475: Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act Vote postponed.
• H.R. 1480: HERO Act Vote postponed.
• H.R. 2862: Campaign to Prevent Suicide Act Vote postponed.
• H.R. 2877: Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act of 2021 Vote postponed.
• H.R. 2981: Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act of 2021 Vote postponed.

Wednesday after 12pm

• H.R. 1448: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, as amended Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 49: To designate the National Pulse Memorial located at 1912 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida, 32806, and for other purposes Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 958: Protecting Moms Who Served Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2955: Suicide Prevention Act Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 297: To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the establishment of, and the potential land that could be included in, a unit of the National Forest System in the State of Hawaii, and for other purposes Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 478: Blackwater Trading Post Land Transfer Act Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 810: To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Chief Standing Bear National Historic Trail, and for other purposes Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 1688: Native American Child Protection Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 2208: Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas Equal and Fair Opportunity Settlement Act Passed by voice vote.
• H.R. 433: Family Support Services for Addiction Act of 2021 Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 586: STANDUP Act of 2021 Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 721: Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2021, as amended Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 768: Block, Report, And Suspend Suspicious Shipments Act of 2021 Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 1205: Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act of 2021 Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 1260: Bipartisan Solution to Cyclical Violence Act of 2021 Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 1324: Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act of 2021 Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 1475: Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 1480: HERO Act Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 2862: Campaign to Prevent Suicide Act Passed en bloc 349-79.
• H.R. 2981: Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act of 2021 Passed en bloc 349-79.

Thursday after 12pm

• H.R. 2547: Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act Passed 215-207.
• H.R. 2877: Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act of 2021 Passed 323-93.

Friday between 9am and 3pm

• H.R. 1065: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Passed 315-101.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Andrea Palm to be Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Invoked 62-35.

Tuesday after 11:30am

• Confirmation of Andrea Palm as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Confirmed 61-37.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Cynthia Marten to be Deputy Secretary of Education Invoked 54-44.
• Confirmation of Cynthia Marten as Deputy Secretary of Education Confirmed 54-44.
• S.J.Res. 15: True Lender CRA Adopted 52-47.

Wednesday after 12pm

• Motion to discharge the nomination of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Agreed to 51-48.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Ronald Stroman to be a Governor of the U.S. Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2021 Invoked 68-30.
• Confirmation of Ronald Stroman as a Governor of the U.S. Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2021 Confirmed 69-30.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Ronald Stroman to be reappointed as a Governor of the U.S. Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2028 Invoked 67-32.
• Confirmation of Ronald Stroman as a Governor of the U.S. Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2028 Confirmed 66-32.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Amber McReynolds to be a Governor of the U.S. Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2026 Invoked 60-38.

Thursday

• Confirmation of Amber McReynolds to be a Governor of the U.S. Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2026 Confirmed 59-38.
• Confirmation of Donet Dominic Graves, Jr. as Deputy Secretary of Commerce Confirmed 89-7.

Tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills and share your thoughts below!

— Eric Revell