The Independent View: Congress Weekly Update May 15-19 2017

H.R. 115: Thin Blue Line Act - Sponsor: Rep. Vern Buchanan [R, FL-16]. The Bill would require Federal Courts to consider the murder, attempted murder, or targeting of a Law Enforcement official or first Responder as an aggravating circumstance when determining if a Death sentence is warranted for a Convicted Felon.

H.R. 145: Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives regarding the fight against corruption in Central America - Sponsor: Rep. Norma Torres [D, CA-35].

H.R. 194: Federal Agency Mail Management Act of 2017 - Sponsor: Rep. Steve Russell [R, OK-5]. The Legislation would amend Federal Law to clarify that the General Services Administration (GSA) has the responsibility for promoting and recommending efficient practices for processing Mail among Federal Agencies. GSA already performs this function.

H.R. 195: Federal Register Printing Savings Act of 2017 - Sponsor: Rep. Steve Russell [R, OK-5]. The Bill would amend federal Law to prohibit the Government Printing Office (GPO) from furnishing a Printed copy of the Federal Register without Charge to a Member of Congress or any Employee of the U.S. Government unless specifically requested.

H.R. 510: Rapid DNA Act of 2017 - Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner [R, WI-5]. The Bill would direct the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to issue Standards and Procedures for the use of certain Automated processes to analyze DNA samples.

H.R. 653: Federal Intern Protection Act of 2017 - Sponsor: Rep. Elijah Cummings [D, MD-7].
The Bill would amend Federal Law to provide that Unpaid Federal Interns are protected from workplace Harassment and Discrimination. Paid Interns are already considered Employees for those purposes.

H.R. 672: Combating European Anti-Semitism Act - Sponsor: Rep. Nita Lowey [D, NY-17]. This bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) it is in the U.S. National interest to combat Anti-Semitism at Home and Abroad; (2) there is a need to ensure the Security of European Jewish Communities, including Synagogues, Schools, and Cemeteries; and (3) the United States should continue to emphasize the importance of Combating Anti-Semitism in multilateral bodies. The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 is Amended to require the Department of State's Annual Report on International Religious Freedom to include, for each European Country in which threats or attacks against Jewish Persons, Schools, and Religious Institutions are particularly significant, a description of: the Security Challenges and needs of European Jewish Communities and European Law Enforcement Agencies; U.S. efforts to partner with European Law Enforcement Agencies and Civil Society groups to combat Anti-Semitic incidents; Educational programming and Public awareness initiatives that impart values of Pluralism and Tolerance, Showcase the positive contributions of Jews, and pay special attention to Population segments that exhibit a high degree of Anti-Semitic Animus; and efforts by European Governments to adopt and apply a working definition of Anti-Semitism.

H.R. 984: Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act - Sponsor:
Rep. Robert Wittman [R, VA-1]. The Bill would grant Federal recognition to six Virginia Indian Tribes that were among the first to greet English settlers in 1607: Chickahominy, the Eastern Chickahominy, the Upper Mattaponi, the Rappahannock, the Monacan, and the Nansemond Tribes.

H.R. 1039: Probation Officer Protection Act of 2017 - Sponsor: Rep. David Reichert [R, WA-8]. The Bill would allow Probation Officers to give Orders and make Arrests.

H.R. 1177: Removing Outdated Restrictions to Allow for Job Growth Act - Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Poliquin [R, ME-2].

H.R. 1428: American Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 2017 - Sponsor: Rep. Will Hurd [R, TX-23]. The Bill will incentivize State and Local Governments to hire American Veterans as new Law Enforcement Officers.

H.R. 1616: Strengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act of 2017 - Sponsor: Rep. John Ratcliffe [R, TX-4]. The Bill would establish in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a National Computer Forensics Institute to Educate and Train State and Local Law Enforcement Officers, Prosecutors, and Judges on matters relating to Cyber and Electronic Crime and to share information with such Personnel in the Prevention and Investigation of those Crimes. The Department is currently carrying out Activities similar to those required by the Bill.

H.R. 1677: Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017 - Sponsor: Rep. Eliot Engel [D, NY-16]. The House will vote this week on a Bipartisan Bill to impose new Sanctions on Syria and supporters of the Assad Regime, begin investigations into War Crimes, and encourage a Negotiated Solution. The Bill was scheduled for a Vote in 2016 but the Obama White House leaned on Democrats to Withdraw Support to allow then-Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts to Negotiate a Ceasefire continue. The Bill is named after Syrian Defector, Code name: Ceasar, a Forensic Photographer who, in 2014, disclosed 55,000 photos documenting Assad’s Mass Torture and Murder of Civilians. To raise awareness, the photos were displayed at the United Nations and in the Halls of Congress.

H.R. 1892: Honoring Hometown Heroes Act - Sponsor: Rep. John Larson [D, CT-1]. The Bill would amend Federal Law to allow a U.S. Flag to be flown at Half-Staff following the death of a first Responder in any State, Territory, Possession, or the District of Columbia.

H.R. 2154: To Rename the Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center in Fargo, North Dakota, as the Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center - Sponsor: Rep. Kevin Cramer [R, ND].

H.R. 2169: Improving Fusion Centers’ Access to Information Act - Sponsor: Rep. John Katko [R, NY-24]. To Amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance Information Sharing in the Department of Homeland Security State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative, and for other purposes.

H.R. 2213: Anti-Border Corruption Reauthorization Act - Sponsor: Rep. Martha McSally [R, AZ-2]. To Amend the Anti-Border Corruption Act of 2010 to Authorize certain Polygraph Waiver Authority, and for other purposes.

H.R. 2227: Managing Government Technology (MGT) Act - Sponsor: Rep. Will Hurd [R, TX-23]. The bill would establish new budget accounts to fund efforts to modernize government information technology (IT) systems. New accounts would include a working capital fund at each major agency that would be used to retire and replace older IT systems and a single government-wide technology and modernization fund to update federal IT systems and make them more secure. It also would establish a board of managers to oversee, evaluate, make recommendations, and monitor federal IT spending.

H.R. 2266: Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2017 - Sponsor: Rep. John Conyers [D, MI-13]. Increasing the number of bankruptcy judges by converting temporary bankruptcy judges to permanent bankruptcy judges and authorize the appointment of additional bankruptcy judges.

H.R. 2281: Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act - Sponsor: Rep. Filemon Vela [D, TX-34]. To Amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to Reauthorize the Border Enforcement Security Task Force program within the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.