Congresswoman Beatty Renews Call for Senate Action on 300+ House-Passed Bills in New Year

Statement

This week, as the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate convene for the 2nd session of the 116th Congress, U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) is urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to allow votes on the more than 300 pieces of legislation passed by the House in 2019, including more than 275 bipartisan bills still awaiting consideration in the Republican-controlled Senate.

"Last year, the American people elected a Democratic House Majority to deliver real results for the people and families of Ohio's Third Congressional District and all Americans--and that is exactly what we have done," Beatty said. "In 2019, House Democrats honored our pledge by passing key initiatives in our "For the People' agenda that also have the overwhelming support of the American people. Yet, instead of listening to the will of the American people, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is doing just the opposite by refusing to bring these key bills to the Senate floor for a simple up or down vote." Beatty continued, "That is why I join my House Democratic colleagues in demanding that McConnell do his job and allow all Senators the opportunity to vote on these important priorities."

Among the numerous bills gathering dust on Senate Leader Mitch McConnell's desk are:

-H.R. 1, For the People Act, to restore confidence in our democracy, including by cracking down on dark money in campaigns;
-H.R. 3, Lower Drug Costs Now Act, sweeping legislation to dramatically reduce drug prices by giving Medicare the power to negotiate directly with the drug companies; making lower drug prices negotiated by Medicare available to Americans with private insurance, not just Medicare beneficiaries; and stopping drug companies from ripping off Americans while charging other countries less for the same drugs;
-H.R. 4, Voting Rights Advancement Act, to finally restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act after the disastrous 2013 Shelby v. Holder Supreme Court decision;
-H.R. 5, Equality Act, to finally and fully end discrimination against LGBTQ Americans;
-H.R. 6, The American Dream and Promise Act, to provide a pathway to lawful permanent residence (and eventual citizenship) to those who have lived most of their lives in this country, including Dreamers and TPS and DED holders;
-H.R. 7, Paycheck Fairness Act, to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work;
-H.R. 8, Bipartisan Background Checks Act, a commonsense measure to require background checks for all gun sales, closing the gun show and online loopholes;
-H.R. 9, Climate Action Now Act, to ensure that the U.S. honors our commitments on climate action detailed in the Paris Agreement;
-H.R. 987, Protecting People with Pre-Existing Conditions/Lowering Drug Costs, an omnibus bill that includes several provisions to strengthen protections for pre-existing conditions, end ACA sabotage, and bring down drug costs;
-H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025, raising the wages of up to 33 million hardworking Americans;
-H.R. 5430, U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement Implementing Legislation;
-H.R. 397, Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act (The Butch Lewis Act);
-H.R. 1585, Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, a strong improvement and long-term reauthorization of VAWA; and
-H.R. 1112, Enhanced Background Checks; to close the Charleston loophole.

Of note, among the 300 bills awaiting Senate consideration are two bills authored by Beatty: (1) the Ensuring Diverse Leadership Act, H.R. 281; and (2) her affordable housing bill, H.R. 2162. If enacted into law, H.R. 281, also known as the "Beatty Rule,' would require that at least one gender diverse candidate and one racially or ethnically diverse candidate are interviewed when there is a vacancy among the Federal Reserve Bank presidents. Beatty's affordable housing bill would give first-time homebuyers who complete a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-certified counseling course a discount on their Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance premium of 25 basis points (or 0.25 percent).

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