Wednesday, November 20 in the U.S. House of Representatives

The House will meet at 10 a.m. for Morning Hour and at noon for Legislative Business. First votes and last votes are expected at 4:45 p.m.

The House will consider the following under Suspension of Rules

• H.R. 3012 – North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2023, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) / Foreign Affairs Committee) This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 various activities to promote human rights in North Korea. These activities include (1) providing grants to nonprofit organizations to promote human rights, democracy, rule of law, and the development of a market economy in North Korea; (2) increasing the availability of sources of information inside North Korea that are not controlled by North Korea's government; and (3) supporting organizations that provide humanitarian assistance to North Koreans who are outside of North Korea without the permission of North Korea's government.
• H.R. 8234 – To authorize the Secretary of State to designate additional persons eligible to serve as passport acceptance agents, and for other purposes, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) / Foreign Affairs Committee) This bill authorizes the Department of State to expand certain passport application processing services and directs related changes. The bill requires the State Department to increase (1) the number of companies certified to provide expedited processing (formally known as hand-carry courier services) of passport applications, and (2) the daily maximum number of passport applications that passport offices may accept from certified passport expeditors. The bill also authorizes the State Department to designate notaries public, among others, as passport acceptance agents. Additionally, the bill provides that passports issued 180 days or more after the bill's enactment shall expire on the passport holder's birthday.
• H.R. 8368 – Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts Authorization Act of 2024, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) / Foreign Affairs Committee) This bill requires the Department of State to appoint a Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts to be responsible for (1) relocating and resettling eligible Afghan allies, (2) facilitating the departure from Afghanistan of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who request assistance, and (3) ensuring integrated support for such efforts within the State Department and across the federal government. The bill authorizes the coordinator to hire temporary personnel who are U.S. Citizens, to enter into personal services contracts, and to extend and maintain personal services contracts previously entered into under a separate authority. The provisions of the bill expire three years after enactment.
• H. Res. 554 – Affirming the nature and importance of the support of the United States for the religious and ethnic minority survivors of genocide in Iraq, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) / Foreign Affairs Committee) This resolution affirms that the fundamental human right and dignity of the religious and ethnic minority communities of Iraq should be a policy priority of the United States and the international community.
• H. Res. 837 – Reaffirming the ties between the United States and the Philippines, as amended (Sponsored by Del. James C. Moylan (R-GU) / Foreign Affairs Committee) This resolution states that the House of Representatives reaffirms the United States commitment to invoke the 1951 U.S.-Philippines mutual defense treaty if Philippine assets are attacked in the South China Sea. The resolution also calls on the United States and the Philippines to begin joint patrols in the South China Sea, objects to Chinese sovereignty claims to the South China Sea, and welcomes swift implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (a 2014 agreement enabling the U.S. and Philippine militaries to train together, respond to humanitarian crises, and modernize military capabilities).
• H. Res. 1328 – Recognizing the actions of the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias in the Darfur region of Sudan against non-Arab ethnic communities as acts of genocide (Sponsored by Rep. John James (R-MI) / Foreign Affairs Committee) This resolution condemns atrocities being committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias against the Masalit people and other non-Arab ethnic groups in the Darfur region of Sudan. The resolution also (1) calls for an immediate end to all violence in Sudan; (2) urges the United States to take immediate action along with the international community to protect civilians in Sudan; and (3) supports international criminal investigations to hold the RSF and allied militias accountable for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. 
• H. Res. 1449 – Condemning the global rise of antisemitism and calling upon countries and international bodies to counter antisemitism (Sponsored by Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC) / Foreign Affairs Committee) This resolution condemns the rise of antisemitism around the world and encourages greater international cooperation to counter antisemitism. The resolution also welcomes the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism (an international framework launched in July 2024 that includes policies to monitor and combat antisemitism) and calls upon states and international bodies to embrace these guidelines.
• H. Res. 915 – Urging the Government of Ukraine to review and modify its decision to suspend adoption by foreign nationals with a view to resuming such adoptions, particularly in cases where the mutual concerns of the Governments of Ukraine and of the United States can be substantially addressed (Sponsored by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) / Foreign Affairs Committee) This resolution urges Ukraine to resume allowing certain U.S. citizens to adopt and to receive pre-adoptive placements of Ukrainian children. Specifically, the resolution: 
  • recommends Ukraine consider, as particularly urgent, cases where prospective U.S. parents have completed Ukraine's adoption process and received approval prior to the suspension of adoptions by non-Ukrainians on March 13, 2022; 
  • recommends that, in cases where Ukrainian children had already been placed in hosting programs, prospective U.S. parents be allowed to initiate the adoption process; and 
  • recommends that prospective U.S. parents be allowed to apply to receive, in a pre-adoptive placement, Ukrainian children that previously participated in hosting programs and that have an uncertain legal status regarding adoption.

• Passed (210-199) a Yea-And-Nay On Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 1576, Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1449) the CLEAN Act; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 9495) the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act
  • All 199 'Nay' votes were cast by Democrats. None voted 'Yea'.
  • 24 members did not vote, 10 Republican and 14 Democrats.
• Passed (212-203) a Recorded Vote on Agreeing to the Resolution, H. Res. 1576 (above).
• Failed (200-210) a Recorded Vote on Agreeing to Grijalva of Arizona Amendment No. 1 to H.R. 1449, Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act or the CLEAN Act [Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID)], This bill requires the Department of the Interior to increase the frequency of lease sales under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 and establishes deadlines for consideration of geothermal drilling permits. Specifically, Interior must increase the frequency of competitive geothermal lease sales in any state that has pending nominations of federal land to be leased for certain geothermal energy projects. Currently, Interior must hold lease sales at least once every two years. This bill requires Interior to hold a sale at least once a year. If a lease sale is canceled or delayed, then Interior must conduct a replacement sale during the same year. In conducting a lease sale in a state, Interior must offer all nominated parcels eligible for geothermal development and utilization under the resource management plan in effect for the state. In addition, this bill requires Interior to notify an applicant whether or not its application for a geothermal drilling permit is complete within 30 days of receiving the application. If Interior determines that the application is complete, then it must issue a final decision on the application within 30 days of the date Interior sent the notification.  
  • Only one Democrat, Jared Golden (D-ME), voted 'Nay'.
• Failed (196-215) a Recorded Vote on Agreeing to Grijalva of Arizona Amendment No. 2 to H.R. 1449 (above).
• Failed (202-211) a Yea-and-Nay on Motion to Recommit H.R. 1449 (above) back to Committee.
• Passed (244-171) a Yea-and-Nay on Passage of H.R. 1449 (above).
  • All Republicans and 31 Democrats voted 'Yea'.
  • 7 Republicans and 11 Democrats did not vote.