Legislative Grab Bag; Two Cabinet Confirmations
By Amy West, GovTrack.org, Jan 24, 2025
This week one bill completed the process to pass both chambers and will be signed soon by President Trump. The House passed a number of other bills, most with Democratic support and the Senate confirmed the first two cabinet positions for the new administration.
Laken Riley Act
S. 5: Laken Riley Act passed the House this week 263-156. It goes to the President next for signing.
Other Legislation
H.R. 165: Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act, which would reduce taxes on the relevant land, passed 416-0.
H.R. 187: MAPWaters Act of 2025, which would "provide for the standardization, consolidation, and publication of data relating to public outdoor recreational use of Federal waterways among Federal land and water management agencies", passed 413-0.
H.R. 375: Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025, which would continue to provide support for efforts to address a disease affecting native trees in Hawaii, passed 359-62.
H.R. 471: Fix Our Forests Act[(https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/119/hr47), which would primarily allow logging companies to bypass environmental reviews, passed 279-141. There are a number of provisions in the bill and differing attitudes towards its central provisions. The Oregon Capital Chronicle provides a good overview of the bill's contents.
Republican Priority Legislation
In the House Rules resolution for the 119th Congress, Republicans listed twelve pieces of legislation they considered the highest priority for passage. So far, they've passed six of them; all with Democratic support, although not necessarily much Democratic support. The Laken Riley Act noted above covers two of the priority bills after an amendment added by the Senate. This week, they added one more (the sixth of twelve) with the
H.R. 21: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act which would require health care providers to provide care for any fetus that survived an attempted abortion, passed 217-204. One Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX28) voted in support of the bill. This bill has come up repeatedly in the last decade. This article from Fact Check notes that reports of this situation are extraordinarily rare. Some states go years without a single instance reported despite tens of thousands of abortions.
Trump Cabinet Confirmations
So far, two Cabinet nominees have been confirmed: Marco Rubio for Secretary of State and John Ratcliffe for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
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Hawaii Congressional Delegation
Jan 14, 2025 9:10 p.m. — Legislation Coming Up
H.R. 375: Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025
This bill has been added to the House’s schedule for the coming week, according to the House Majority Leader. See the week ahead.
Last Action: This bill passed in the House on January 23, 2025 and goes to the Senate next for consideration.
Jan 20, 2025 — Introduced
H.R. 562: To advance a comprehensive, long-term United States strategy and policy for the Pacific Islands, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ed Case ]D-HI1[
This bill was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Natural Resources, and one other committee which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
3 cosponsors are on those committees.
Jan 20, 2025 5:42 p.m. — Vote
S.Amdt. 8 (Ernst) to S. 5: To include crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury to the list of offenses that, if committed by an inadmissible alien, require mandatory detention.
Amendment Agreed to 75/24
Sen. Hirono ]D-HI[: Nay
Sen. Schatz ]D-HI[: Nay
Jan 20, 2025 6:12 p.m. — Vote
S. 5: Laken Riley Act
Bill Passed 64/35
Sen. Hirono ]D-HI[: Nay
Sen. Schatz ]D-HI[: Nay
This bill would detain people unlawfully in the United States if they are arrested for shoplifting or or other more serious crimes, likely followed by deportation. The individual would not need to be either charged or found guilty. The bill would also allow states to sue the federal government if it fails to do so.
The bill's main provision, as originally introduced (see also H.R. 29), would change the Immigration and Nationality Act to read:
Detention of criminal aliens. The Attorney General shall take into custody any alien who is inadmissible ... and is charged with, is arrested for, ]or[ is convicted of ... burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting offense
After an amendment in the Senate, "assault of a …
Jan 20, 2025 6:35 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN11-13: Marco Rubio, of Florida, to be Secretary of State
Nomination Confirmed 99/0
Sen. Hirono ]D-HI[: Yea
Sen. Schatz ]D-HI[: Yea
Jan 21, 2025 — Introduced
H.R. 593: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude certain health professions education scholarship and loan payments from gross income.
Sponsor: Rep. Jill Tokuda ]D-HI2[
This bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
3 cosponsors are on that committee.
Jan 21, 2025 6:16 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Proceed to Legislative Session
Motion to Proceed Agreed to 54/46
Sen. Hirono ]D-HI[: Nay
Sen. Schatz ]D-HI[: Nay
Jan 21, 2025 6:46 p.m. — Vote
On the Motion to Proceed PN11-7: Peter Hegseth, of Tennessee, to be Secretary of Defense
Motion to Proceed Agreed to 53/45
Sen. Hirono ]D-HI[: Nay
Sen. Schatz ]D-HI[: Nay
Jan 21, 2025 6:58 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 186: Hershel Woody Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act
Passed 414/0
Rep. Case ]D-HI1[: Yea
Rep. Tokuda ]D-HI2[: Yea
Jan 21, 2025 7:04 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 187: MAPWaters Act of 2025
Passed 413/0
Rep. Case ]D-HI1[: Yea
Rep. Tokuda ]D-HI2[: Yea
Jan 22, 2025 — Introduced
S. 193: A bill to repeal the Alien Enemies Act.
Sponsor: Sen. Mazie Hirono ]D-HI[
This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
Sen. Mazie Hirono ]D-HI[ is a member of the committee.
Jan 22, 2025 1:56 p.m. — Vote
On Ordering the Previous Question: H.Res. 53: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 471) to expedite under the National …
Passed 214/204
Rep. Case ]D-HI1[: Nay
Rep. Tokuda ]D-HI2[: Nay
Jan 22, 2025 2:04 p.m. — Vote
H.Res. 53: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 471) to expedite under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and improve forest management activities on National Forest System lands, on public lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau o
Passed 213/204
Rep. Case ]D-HI1[: No
Rep. Tokuda ]D-HI2[: No
Jan 22, 2025 2:38 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to S.6
Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected 52/47
Sen. Hirono ]D-HI[: Nay
Sen. Schatz ]D-HI[: Nay
Jan 22, 2025 4:55 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 165: Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act
Passed 416/0
Rep. Case ]D-HI1[: Yea
Rep. Tokuda ]D-HI2[: Yea
Jan 22, 2025 5:01 p.m. — Vote
S. 5: Laken Riley Act
Passed 263/156
Rep. Case ]D-HI1[: Nay
Rep. Tokuda ]D-HI2[: Nay
This bill would detain people unlawfully in the United States if they are arrested for shoplifting or or other more serious crimes, likely followed by deportation. The individual would not need to be either charged or found guilty. The bill would also allow states to sue the federal government if it fails to do so.
The bill's main provision, as originally introduced (see also H.R. 29), would change the Immigration and Nationality Act to read:
Detention of criminal aliens. The Attorney General shall take into custody any alien who is inadmissible ... and is charged with, is arrested for, ]or[ is convicted of ... burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting offense
After an amendment in the Senate, "assault of a …
Jan 23, 2025 — Introduced
H.R. 665: To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt certain noncontiguous trade from the coastwise laws.
Sponsor: Rep. Ed Case ]D-HI1[
This bill was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
Jan 23, 2025 — Introduced
H.R. 663: To oppose the permitting of deep seabed mining and exploration for deep seabed mining, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ed Case ]D-HI1[
This bill was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
Jan 23, 2025 — Introduced
H.R. 664: To prohibit certain mining activities on the deep seabed and Outer Continental Shelf, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ed Case ]D-HI1[
This bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
Jan 23, 2025 — Introduced
H.R. 667: To amend title 46, United States Code, to allow transportation of merchandise in noncontiguous trade on foreign-flag vessels, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ed Case ]D-HI1[
This bill was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce and House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
Jan 23, 2025 — Introduced
H.R. 666: To provide a definition of reasonable rate for noncontiguous domestic ocean trade, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ed Case ]D-HI1[
This bill was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
Jan 23, 2025 11:11 a.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: John Ratcliffe to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: John Ratcliffe, of Texas, to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Cloture Motion Agreed to 72/26
Sen. Hirono ]D-HI[: Nay
Sen. Schatz ]D-HI[: Nay
Jan 23, 2025 1:51 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN11-19: John Ratcliffe, of Texas, to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Nomination Confirmed 74/25
Sen. Hirono ]D-HI[: Nay
Sen. Schatz ]D-HI[: Nay
Jan 23, 2025 2:32 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense: Peter Hegseth, of Tennessee, to be Secretary of Defense
Cloture Motion Agreed to 51/49
Sen. Hirono ]D-HI[: Nay
Sen. Schatz ]D-HI[: Nay
Jan 23, 2025 3:35 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 375: Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025
Passed 359/62
Rep. Case ]D-HI1[: Yea
Rep. Tokuda ]D-HI2[: Yea
Jan 23, 2025 3:42 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 471: Fix Our Forests Act
Passed 279/141
Rep. Case ]D-HI1[: Nay
Rep. Tokuda ]D-HI2[: Nay
Jan 23, 2025 3:48 p.m. — Vote
On Motion to Recommit: H.R. 21: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Failed 205/216
Rep. Case ]D-HI1[: Yea
Rep. Tokuda ]D-HI2[: Yea
Jan 23, 2025 3:55 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 21: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Passed 217/204
Rep. Case ]D-HI1[: Nay
Rep. Tokuda ]D-HI2[: Nay
Jan 24, 2025 — Introduced
S.Res. 37: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the people of the United States should have continuous access to timely, up-to-date, and accurate health information.
Sponsor: Sen. Brian Schatz ]D-HI[
This resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
2 cosponsors are on that committee.
Jan 24, 2025 8:57 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN11-7: Peter Hegseth, of Tennessee, to be Secretary of Defense
Nomination Confirmed 51/50
Sen. Hirono ]D-HI[: Nay
Sen. Schatz ]D-HI[: Nay
Jan 24, 2025 9:50 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security: Kristi Noem, of South Dakota, to be Secretary of Homeland Security
Cloture Motion Agreed to 61/39
Sen. Hirono ]D-HI[: Nay
Sen. Schatz ]D-HI[: Nay
Jan 25, 2025 11:30 a.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN11-11: Kristi Noem, of South Dakota, to be Secretary of Homeland Security
Nomination Confirmed 59/34
Sen. Hirono ]D-HI[: Nay
Sen. Schatz ]D-HI[: Not Voting
Jan 25, 2025 11:59 a.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Scott Bessent to be Secretary of the Treasury: Scott Bessent, of South Carolina, to be Secretary of the Treasury
Cloture Motion Agreed to 67/23
Sen. Hirono ]D-HI[: Nay
Sen. Schatz ]D-HI[: Nay
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