A week of tragedies throughout the country and lots of legislating on the Hill…

Twelve police officers and two civilians were shot by snipers in Dallas, following police-involved killings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota. House passed long-awaited mental health bill. House approved conference report regarding opioid abuse and addiction legislation. Senate passed bill creating national, mandatory standard for labeling foods containing genetically modified organisms. House passed financial services bill, including provision barring funding for changes to Selective Service registration requirements. Senate failed to invoke cloture on two immigration measures. House and Senate reached compromise on FAA funding reauthorization, just in time for July 15 deadline. House passed bill addressing federal agencies’ management of information systems.

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House passed long-awaited mental health bill

On Wednesday, House passed broad mental health bill by vote of 422-2, with Reps. Justin Amash [R, MI-3] and Thomas Massie [R, KY-4] in opposition. Bill marks first congressional effort to tackle federal policies on specific, serious mental illnesses. 

Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (H.R. 2646) 

Sponsor: Rep. Tim Murphy [R, PA-18]

The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act was introduced by Rep. Tim Murphy [R, PA-18], a licensed child psychologist. The bill has 207 cosponsors and was first introduced in 2013, following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Conference committee on opioid legislation met for the first time

The opioid epidemic was center stage once more this week. The Department of Health & Human Services announced it would raise the limit on how much opioid addiction medication healthcare providers can prescribe, while the conference committee on opioid abuse legislation met formally for the first time.

Members of the House and Senate met Wednesday to negotiate a final bipartisan bill to combat the opioid epidemic. Compromise bill is the most expansive federal legislation to date for addiction support services. Lawmakers reviewed sixteen proposed amendments, several of which passed with bipartisan support.

Main dispute involved how to fund the bill's provisions. Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Chair Lamar Alexander [R, TN] advocated for funding the bill through the normal appropriations process. Democrats said this process would take too long. House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone [D, NJ-6] and Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Ranking Member Patty Murray [D, WA] sponsored amendments to increase funding, but both amendments failed along party lines. 

Today, House approved conference report by vote of 407-5, with all Democrats voting in favor of the bill.

"[The bill] does not do nearly enough from a funding perspective, but it makes some important steps that will allow us to begin to address the opioid addiction crisis that is impacting our nation."
–House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone [D, NJ-6] 

Senate is expected to take up the bill next week, before adjourning for 7-week recess.

Refresher: Conference committees comprise lawmakers from both chambers and parties, with the purpose of resolving differences on specific legislation. Conferees meet, discuss differences, vote on amendments, and create compromise version of the bill, the conference report, to be voted on by both chambers. According to U.S. Constitution, chambers must pass identical legislation for bill to become law.

Senate passed GMO labeling bill

Yesterday, Senate passed S. 764, legislative vehicle for genetically modified organisms (GMO) labeling bill, by vote of 63-30. The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Sens. Pat Roberts [R, KS] and Debbie Stabenow [D, MI], creates a national, mandatory standard for disclosing foods that contain GMO ingredients. Bill requires food containing GMO ingredients to be labeled using print, pictures, or scannable bar codes. Bill pre-exempts state labeling laws, such as Vermont law that required GMO labeling in grocery stores.

Several lawmakers praised the legislation, saying inconsistencies between state regulations were confusing and expensive for both producers and consumers. However, Sen. Bernie Sanders [I, VT] expressed frustration that the bill overrides more stringent state regulations. Additionally, Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR] said allowing companies to label via barcodes requires smartphones, excluding people unable to pay for such technology.

Next, the bill goes to the House, where it is expected to pass despite previous calls for voluntary labeling laws.

House passed financial services, general government spending bill

In late night vote on Thursday, House passed financial services and general government spending bill, largely along party lines. Bill included 70 amendments slated for floor debate.

Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2017 (H.R. 5485) 

Sponsor: Rep. Ander Crenshaw [R, FL-4]

Bill provides annual funding for Internal Revenue Service, Treasury Department, Judiciary, and other federal agencies. This year’s financial services spending bill reduces total funding by $1.5B (compared to last year’s enacted level). Bill reduces IRS funding by $236M and SEC funding by $50M.

House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers [R, KY-5] said the goal is “to make wise investments with taxpayer dollars… and to tightly hold the reins on the over-spending and overreach within federal bureaucracies.”

Bill includes several limitations on the IRS, including:

• Prohibition on funds for bonuses or to rehire former employees (unless employee conduct and tax compliance are given consideration)
• Prohibition on funds for the IRS to target groups or individuals based on ideological beliefs or expression of First Amendment rights
• Prohibition on regulations concerning tax-exempt status of 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations

House approved Davidson amendment 217-203 to bar funding to change registration requirements for the Selective Service System. Amendment is designed to block provision in Senate FY17 NDAA that would require women turning 18 on or after January 1, 2018 to register for Selective Service.

Bill subjects Dodd-Frank created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Financial Stability Oversight Council to annual appropriations process, giving Congress greater control over regulators. Additionally, the bill restricts D.C. from using funds for abortions or marijuana legalization efforts. Critics worry this undermines the principle of home rule or self-governance in D.C.

What’s Next?
The bill now heads to the Senate. White House has threatened to veto the legislation.

Senate failed to invoke cloture on two immigration measures

Two immigration measures sponsored by Republican lawmakers failed to pass procedural hurdles in the Senate this week.

Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act (S. 3100) 

Sponsor: Sen. Pat Toomey [R, PA]

Toomey bill would have blocked federal funding for “sanctuary cities,” cities or counties that bar local enforcement from complying with federal immigration authorities. Bill failed to reach cloture by vote of 53-44.

Next up — Kate's Law, named after Kate Steinle, a San Francisco resident who was shot and killed by an illegal immigrant who had been deported multiple times.

#DataDrop

• 52% of U.S. adults report being "extremely proud" to be American, record low in Gallup's 16-year trend.
• New Veterans Affairs stats report about 20 veterans a day commit suicide.
• President Obama announced he's slowing the pace of withdrawal for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. U.S. will reduce troop levels to 8,400 troops, compared to previous exit plan of reducing levels to 5,500 by end of presidency.
• U.S. created 287,000 jobs in June, significantly topping analyst expectations. National unemployment rate rose slightly more than expected, to 4.9%.
• New from PEW: More than 7-in-10 U.S. adults follow national and local news somewhat or very closely.

Legislative Lowdown: States Edition

• Hawaii Gov. David Ige [D] signed bill that would deprive rapists of parental rights if there is “clear and convincing evidence” that they committed sexual assault. Before the new law, rapists could maintain their parental rights unless they were convicted of rape, a conviction that requires a higher evidentiary standard.
• Arizona became the only state in the nation to limit cash assistance from the Temporary Aid to Needy Families program to one year.
• 140,000 New Hampshire Medicaid recipients became eligible for substance abuse disorder services last week due to revisions to the state’s medicaid program.
• Virginia law banning child marriage took effect. Before the passage of this law, it was possible for a girl as young as 13 to get married if she had parental consent and was pregnant. The law sets the minimum marriage age at 18, or at 16 if the child is emancipated by court order.
• A group of California parents and nonprofit have filed a lawsuit against a state law mandating that all school children be vaccinated. Prior to the passage of the current law last year, the state allowed families to opt out for personal or religious reasons.
• San Francisco lawmakers are considering a 1.5% payroll tax on tech companies to pay for disruptive effects the industry has had on the city. 
• After revisiting bill, North Carolina lawmakers left controversial "bathroom bill" largely intact, repealing workplace lawsuit provision. Bill now goes to Gov. Pat McCrory [R] who requested changes to the bill. DOJ asked federal judge to block North Carolina from enforcing parts of the bill.
• Georgia's Supreme Court said KKK can continue its effort to"adopt" a state highway, dismissing state's appeal of a lower court ruling. Read ruling.
• Three University of Texas professors filed federal lawsuit to halt state law allowing concealed handguns in classrooms. Law is set to take effect August 1.

New Bills on the Block

• House Democrats introduced a resolution aimed at allowing independent cameras in the chamber.
• Senate Republicans introduced legislation that would revoke Hillary Clinton's security clearance.
• House Veterans' Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller introduced VA accountability bill, aimed at strengthening protections for whistleblowers and reforming disability benefits appeals process.
• Democrats introduced bills to increase oversight of the derivatives market. See Warren bill, Cummings bill.
• New Young-Dingell bill would increase funding to conserve more than 12,000 species by $1.3B.

#ICYMI

• House indefinitely postponed a vote on counterterrorism package that includes gun-control provision.
• Twelve police officers and two civilians were shot by snipers in Dallas, during protest against police-involved killings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota. DOJ is investigating police shooting death of Alton Sterling and monitoring investigation of Philando Castile's death. President Obama addressed nation, calling Police shootings "an American issue."
• House Ways and Means advanced Jenkins bill to provide regulatory relief to rural hospitals.
• Obama administration announced new regulations on Arctic exploratory oil and gas drilling, tightening safety measures. 
• Imprisoned Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning was rushed to the hospital after suicide attempt.
• Washington Post visualized Europe's many alliances as a Metro system.
• Sens. Heinrich and Murphy are sticking with the metro, despite SafeTrack delays, overcrowding, and service interruption.
• Long-awaited Chilcot report says UK chose to join Iraq invasion before peaceful options for disarming Saddam Hussein had been exhausted and that at the time, Hussein posed "no imminent threat." The Guardian is accepting help reading through the 2.6M word-long report.
• Jennifer Lopez and Lin-Manuel Miranda teamed up to record Orlando benefit song.
• Official White House photographer Pete Souza compiled his favorite shots of President Obama.
• House Ways and Means advanced Roskam bill to restrict ability of the IRS to force businesses to surrender funds to the government. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley introduced similar civil asset forfeiture bill last month.
• Pfizer agreed to written code of conduct for marketing of its opioid drugs, including warning that narcotic painkillers carry serious risk of addiction.
• Egypt "abolished" daylight savings time this year, canceling the time-change practice just three days before it was set to begin.
• House passed McHenry bill by vote of 394-4, aimed at reworking crowdfunding rules, including raising limits on the money companies can raise.
• On the rise: number of former Members in the influence industry, despite revolving door legislation.
• University of Tennessee-Knoxville agreed to pay $2.48M in Title IX sexual assault suit involving student athletes, ending dispute between eight young women and the football program.
• Someone using a U.S. Congress computer updated Australian election Wikipedia page to include note about Harambe, the gorilla shot at the Cincinnati Zoo.
• House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi named Rep. Joaquin Castro [D, TX-20] to House Intelligence, following resignation of Rep. Luis Gutiérrez [D, IL-4] from the committee.
• So many adorable furry friends were on the Hill this week looking for forever homes. 
• Big win for NASA — Juno spacecraft entered Jupiter's orbit after five-year mission.
• ISIS has lost many of the key places it once controlled, shifting attention to overseas terror.
• In stark break from previous years, White House barred Cabinet members from addressing Democratic National Convention, avoiding appearance that final months of presidency are being consumed by the campaign.
• For the first time, U.S. imposed sanctions on North Korea Leader Kim Jong-un. Obama administration also blacklisted 10 other senior North Korea officials for aiding in running prison camps and torture chambers.

Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill does not imply POPVOX endorsement in any way. As always, our goal is to offer one more way to help you stay informed about the complex U.S. legislative system.