Appropriations Riders, F.Y. 2017

OUR POSITION: Congress should pass clean appropriations bills with no harmful policy riders.

Every year, Congress must pass a series of appropriations bills that fund our government for the year ahead. The complex and secretive nature of the budgeting process allows lawmakers to sneak unpopular and controversial measures into this must-pass legislation.

Conservative lawmakers have threatened to attach hundreds of harmful policy riders to appropriations legislation. Most of these riders are just sweetheart deals for big corporations and special favors for ideological extremists. They have nothing to do with funding our government and could not become law on their own merits.

Some would roll back Wall Street reforms; some would block clean air and clean water protections; others would attack women’s health care and fundamental civil rights. What these measures have in common is that they harm American workers, consumers and families.

Poison pill policy riders have no place in federal funding legislation. That is why hundreds of organizations have joined together to form the Clean Budget Coalition. We’re calling on Congress and the White House to finish the appropriations process this year and reject the harmful riders. Access coalition resources from last year.

 

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Take Action

Tell Congress: Keep Our Budget Free of Ideological Riders!

Twitter Hashtags: #NoRiders #CleanBudget

 

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Coalition Releases, Letters and Resources

‘Omnibus Map’ Delivered to Hill Offices Spotlights Dangerous Budget Riders
Clean Budget Coalition: November 16, 2016

304 Organizations Say No Backdoor Giveaways to Wall Street
Americans for Financial Reform: November 15, 2016

Obama Shouldn’t Let Republicans Dismantle His Legacy of Protecting the Public on His Last Watch
Coalition for Sensible Safeguards Editorial Board Memo: November 11, 2016

260 Groups Strongly Oppose Hundreds of Harmful Policy Riders in Appropriations Legislation
Clean Budget Coalition Press Release: November 4, 2016

260 Groups Oppose Ideological Riders, Call for Clean Budget This Year
Clean Budget Coalition Letter: November 4, 2016

750 Poison Pill Policy Riders Attached to F.Y. 2017 Appropriations
Clean Budget Coalition Fact Sheet: November 4, 2016

Nine Environmental Groups Oppose Continuing Resolution that has No Flint Funding
Natural Resources Defense Council: September 27, 2016

Broad Coalition Urges Sen. McConnell to Drop Secret-Money Rider
Corporate Reform Coalition: September 26, 2016

Support a Clean, Short-Term Continuing Resolution
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: September 19, 2016

Budget Priorities and Recommendations
AFSCME: August 1, 2016

Appropriations Update: Republicans Fail to Make Tangible Progress
White House: July 14, 2016

Letter Opposing Ideological Riders in Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: July 12, 2016

Letter Opposing Riders in the Financial Services and General Government Funding Bill
Public Citizen: June 29, 2016

2016 Anti-Environmental Budget Riders by Appropriations Bill
Natural Resources Defense Council: June 28, 2016

Letter to Congress Urging Opposition to Financial Services Govt Funding Bill
National Association of Consumer Advocates: June 23, 2016

Letter Opposing Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Riders
Americans for Financial Reform: June 22, 2016

Letter Against Campaign Finance Reform Riders
Democracy 21: June 22, 2016

Letter on Amendments to the Senate CJS Appropriations Bill
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: June 21, 2016

Letter Opposing Amendments to Reduce Funding for the Census Bureau; Opposing Any Rider to Make American Community Survey Voluntary
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: June 21, 2016

Letter on Protecting the Census, Opposing the Vitter Amendment
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: June 21, 2016

Health and Medical Organizations Letter on House Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill
American Lung Association: June 13, 2016

Letter Opposing Biomass Riders
American Lung Association: June 11, 2016

Letter Against Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Riders
AFSCME: June 8, 2016

Letter Opposing H.R. 5055, the FY17 Energy and Water Appropriations Act
Natural Resources Defense Council: May 23, 2016

Senior Lawmakers and Clean Budget Coalition Leaders Urge Congress to Reject Poison Pill Appropriations Riders
Clean Budget Coalition Press Release: May 18, 2016

254 Organizations Oppose Financial Policy Riders
Americans for Financial Reform Letter: May 18, 2016

Letter Opposing the Lee Amendment to Block Fair Housing Rule
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: May 12, 2016

Letter Against Any Legislation That Reduces the Authority of the CFPB to Regulate Forced Arbitration
Americans for Financial Reform: May 10, 2016

Letter Regarding Senate’s FY2017 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
Natural Resources Defense Council: April 29, 2016

172 House Lawmakers Oppose FY 2017 Appropriations Riders
House Democratic Letter: April 19, 2016

172 House Lawmakers Oppose FY 2017 Appropriations Riders
House Democratic Press Release: April 19, 2016

Statement on House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Action to Undermine Tobacco Control Act
American Lung Association Press Release: April 19, 2016

Letter to House Appropriations Committee on Riders to Weaken FDA’s Tobacco Authority
American Lung Association: April 18, 2016

More Than 100 Groups Oppose Harmful FY17 Appropriations Riders
Clean Budget Coalition Letter: April 5, 2016

Letter to House Appropriators Opposing Tobacco Policy Riders
American Lung Association: April 4, 2016

Senate Democratic Leadership Letter on FY 2017 Appropriations
Senate Democratic Leadership: March 7, 2016

Clean Budget Coalition Opposes FY 2017 Appropriations Riders
Clean Budget Coalition Letter: February 8, 2016

More Than 100 Groups Insist on No Riders in Spending Legislation
Clean Budget Coalition Press Release: February 8, 2016

LCCHR Opposes Ideological Riders to FY 2017 Appropriations Bills (House)
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Letter: February 8, 2016

 

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Coalition Op-Eds, Blogs and Press Statements

The Big Three Threats to Progress on Added Sugar Transparency
Union of Concerned Scientists: December 2, 2016

Open Letter to the U.S. Senate: Oppose All Campaign Finance Riders to Funding Bills
Brennan Center for Justice in the SE Texas Record: November 22, 2016

Government Spending Showdown May Include Money in Politics Provision
People For the American Way: November 18, 2016

Ask President Obama to Reject Anti-Wildlife Riders!
Natural Resources Defense Council: November 15, 2016

Warren Shows Leadership by Asking Obama to Remove SEC Chair
Public Citizen in The Hill: November 2, 2016

Chamber of Commerce Wages War Against Political Transparency
U.S. Chamber Watch in The Hill: October 20, 2016

The Fight to Protect Alaska’s Predators
The Humane Society: October 19, 2016

The Defense Bill’s Anti-LGBT Poison Pill
ACLU in The Hill: October 19, 2016

McConnell Threatens Shutdown to Keep Corporate Political Spending Secret
Public Citizen in The Hill: September 26, 2016

Why You Should Be Paying Attention to the Upcoming Budget Fight
Union of Concerned Scientists: September 12, 2016

Stop the Cigar Lobbyists’ Back Room Deal
American Lung Association: September 7, 2016

What the Heck Is a “Rider?”
American Lung Association: September 6, 2016

8 Anti-Conservation “Riders” Poisoning Federal Budget Process
The Wilderness Society: August 8, 2016

A Free Ride: How Special Interests Are Undermining Chemical Facility Safety
Union of Concerned Scientists: August 1, 2016

Will Congress Use the Budget to Pass These Damaging Campaign Finance Rules?
National Priorities Project: July 26, 2016

Poison Pill Riders: The Latest Tools in the Republican War on Public Protections
Public Citizen: July 26, 2016

ESA Champs Keep on Fighting in 2016
League of Conservation Voters: July 22, 2016

Search & Destroy: The Republican (Anti-)Environmental Agenda
Natural Resources Defense Council: July 21, 2016

Congress Shouldn’t Dismantle Energy Regulations That Protect Public Health
The Wilderness Society in the Morning Consult: July 18, 2016

It’s Hard Out Here for a Lobo
Defenders of Wildlife: July 18, 2016

An Open Letter to Members of Congress
Coalition on Human Needs in The Huffington Post: July 13, 2016

Cruel Summer: The War on Wildlife Continues in Appropriations Bills
Defenders of Wildlife in The Huffington Post: July 12, 2016

Spending Bills Laden with Anti-Conservation Riders
The Wilderness Society: July 12, 2016

The Endangered Species Act Under Attack: Relentless Riders Rise Again
League of Conservation Voters: July 11, 2016

Two Political Trainwrecks in the Making
Earthjustice in The Huffington Post: July 6, 2016

Delayed CFPB/Other Wall Street Reform Rollbacks Happening Today on House Floor
U.S. PIRG: July 6, 2016

Does Congress Pass or Fail on Conservation? You Decide
Defenders of Wildlife: June 30, 2016

Tell Congress to Stop Sneak Attacks on Working People
SEIU: June 30, 2016

This 2016 Keep the Federal Budget Clean
Sierra Club: June 27, 2016

Will We Have a Clean Budget or Poison Pills?
NETWORK: June 27, 2016

White House Takes a Stand Against Bill Riders Targeting the FCC
Public Knowledge: June 22, 2016

House Launches Frenzy of Attacks on CFPB, Public Protections
U.S. PIRG: June 22, 2016

Congress Should Quit Playing With Appropriations and Do Its Job
Free Press: June 22, 2016

Republicans Can’t Help Themselves—Must Attack Environment
Natural Resources Defense Council: June 22, 2016

Appropriations Bills Would Block Clean Water and Farmworker Safety Rules
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: June 22, 2016

The Connection Between Lung Cancer and Outdoor Air Pollution
American Lung Association: June 21, 2016

U.S. Senate Must Reject Forest Biomass Rider
Natural Resources Defense Council: June 20, 2016

The Substance and Impact of the H-2B Guestworker Program Appropriations Riders Some Members of Congress Are Trying to Renew
Economic Policy Institute: June 17, 2016

FCC Must Proceed: Don’t Let Congress Stop the Clock on Unlocking the Box
Public Knowledge: June 15, 2016

Paul Ryan Proposes Blocking Amendments That Could Kill Spending Bills
Politico: June 8, 2016

Budget Bills Provide Another #DoYourJob Moment For GOP Congress
People For the American Way: June 7, 2016

Spending Bills Laden with Anti-Conservation Riders
The Wilderness Society: June 6, 2016

Zombie Bills: The Ongoing Congressional Attacks on Net Neutrality
Free Press in the Huffington Post: May 26, 2016

Financial Services Appropriations Bill Is a Right-Wing Wish List
Public Citizen: May 24, 2016

House Energy and Water Bill Loaded with Policy Riders
Natural Resources Defense Council: May 24, 2016

What You Need to Know About Ideological Riders —  and Why They’re Bad for Americans
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: May 12, 2016

Ten Reasons Why Poison Pill Riders Don’t Belong in the Budget
Public Citizen: May 9, 2016

Congress’s Spending Bills
League of Conservation Voters in The New York Times: May 9, 2016

Finally — Commonsense Protections for Our Kids From Tobacco
American Lung Association in The Huffington Post: May 6, 2016

Hiding the Tea Party/Polluter Agenda in Funding Bills — Again
Natural Resources Defense Council: May 2, 2016

How Conservatives Sell Off the Federal Budget, Bit by Bit, to the Highest Bidder
Center for Progressive Reform: May 2, 2016

Congress Begins Pushing ‘Poison-Pill’ Riders Once Again
Earthjustice in The Huffington Post: April 28, 2016

The Defense Authorization’s Mission Creep
Natural Resources Defense Council: April 26, 2016

Science-Bashing Riders Are One More Reason to Focus Intently on the Federal Budgeting Process
Daily Kos: April 25, 2016

The Budget Process Shouldn’t Be a Playground for Special Interests
Union of Concerned Scientists: April 22, 2016

Protecting Our Climate and Health on Earth Day
American Lung Association: April 22, 2016

Anti-Environmental & Other Harmful Policy Riders Have No Place in Spending Bills
League of Conservation Voters: April 19, 2016

Paul Ryan Failed to Pass a Republican Budget Resolution—But That’s Good News
Economic Policy Institute: April 18, 2016

Congress Must Reinvest in Conservation and Resist Bad Riders
The Wilderness Society: April 14, 2016

100 Ways to Harm Endangered Species
Defenders of Wildlife in The Hill: April 13, 2016

The Danger from Appropriations Riders
Public Citizen in The Huffington Post: March 17, 2016

 

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News Clips, Editorials and Columnist Analysis

Don’t Ignore the Lame Duck. Policy Fights Are Raging in Congress That Will Affect Millions.
Vox: December 2, 2016

Government Stopgap Talks Intensify With Deadline One Week Off
Bloomberg BNA: December 2, 2016

Balancing Risk and Reward in Trump’s Surprising First Hill Battle
Roll Call: November 30, 2016

Incoming Dem Lawmakers Urge Rejection of Campaign Finance ‘Riders’
The Hill: November 29, 2016

GOP Senators Voice Misgivings About Short-Term Spending Bill
The Hill: November 29, 2016

GOP Senators Slam House for Funding Bill Decision
The Hill: November 17, 2016

Keep CFPB Reform Out of Budget Bills: Dem Lawmakers
National Mortgage News: November 17, 2016

GOP Opts for Short-Term Spending Bill
The Hill: November 17, 2016

Congress Punts to Let Trump Decide Current-Year Federal Spending
Bloomberg: November 17, 2016

Pro-Regulatory Groups Urge Congress to Pass ‘Clean’ Spending Bill
The Hill: November 16, 2016

304 Organizations Say No Backdoor Giveaways to Wall Street
ValueWalk: November 16, 2016

Stalled House Appropriations Awaiting Trump
Defense News: November 15, 2016

Lawmakers May Punt on Major Spending Decisions
E&E News: November 14, 2016

People Are Wildly Underestimating Trump’s Destructive Impact on the Environment
CNBC: November 14, 2016

Congress Prepares a Year-End Blitz Ahead of Trump Inauguration
The Washington Post: November 14, 2016

Long-Term CR Looms as Pelosi Pans Ryan’s ‘Minibus’ Plan
Federal Times: October 24, 2016

‘Godzilla’ Omnibus Seen Lumbering Forward After Election
Bloomberg BNA: October 21, 2016

Conservationists Target Clean Spending Bill Despite Riders
Bloomberg BNA: October 19, 2016

After the Election, There’s This Spending Thing That Congress Needs to Settle
Bloomberg BNA: October 19, 2016

Ryan, McConnell’s Spending Hopes Could Be Dashed — Again
Roll Call: October 13, 2016

What’s Next? Top 10 Takeaways From Stopgap Fight
Bloomberg BNA: October 3, 2016

Congress Probably Won’t Be That Productive After the Election Is Over
BuzzFeed: October 2, 2016

Democrats Won the Latest Budget Battle. But Republicans Have Won the War.
The New Republic: September 30, 2016

Elizabeth Warren Says Barack Obama Must Veto Budget If It Includes Anti-Transparency ‘Dark Money’ Provision
International Business Times: September 29, 2016

A Look at Congress’ to-Do List for This Year and Next
ABC News: September 29, 2016

Obama Signs Continuing Resolution to Keep Agencies Running Through Dec. 9
Federal News Radio: September 29, 2016

Congress Approves Spending Bill, Averting Government Shutdown
The New York Times: September 28, 2016

House Reaches Flint Deal as Congress Tries to Avert Shutdown Saturday
CBS News: September 28, 2016

GOP Risking a Government Shutdown to Avoid Revealing Corporate Spending
Care2: September 28, 2016

Over Elizabeth Warren’s Objections, Republicans Move to Help Corporations Hide Their Political Spending
International Business Times: September 28, 2016

Senate Fails to Avert Government Shutdown
Federal News Radio: September 27, 2016

Leaders Battle to Brink of Shutdown With No Deal in Sight
Bloomberg BNA: September 27, 2016

Is Congress Headed Toward a Government Shutdown?
Roll Call: September 26, 2016

White House Says Obama Objects to Campaign-Donation Measure in Spending Bill
The Washington Times: September 23, 2016

White House to Congress: It’s on You to Avoid Another Shutdown
Roll Call: September 23, 2016

Reid: GOP ‘Getting Warmed Up’ for Shutdown
The Hill: September 22, 2016

Stopgap Talks Still Mired as Democrats Slam Senate GOP’s Plan
Roll Call: September 22, 2016

Government Shutdown Suddenly Looming as Lawmakers Have Trouble Making a Deal
The Huffington Post: September 22, 2016

Government Funding Talks Stall Ahead of Next Week’s Shutdown Deadline
CNN: September 22, 2016

Reid: ‘We’re Not Going to Have a CR Loaded With Riders. One Is Too Many’
CNS News: September 21, 2016

Senate Delays Spending Bill Vote
The Hill: September 20, 2016

Republicans Want to Use Zika Funding Bill to Keep Truckers on the Road Longer
The Huffington Post: September 20, 2016

Senate Advances Budget Deal That Doesn’t Exist Yet
Politico: September 20, 2016

Senate Votes to Consider Funding Bill No One Has Seen
The Huffington Post: September 20, 2016

Congress Must Avoid Temptation of Extended CR
The Hill: September 19, 2016

Cruz Internet, Other Policy Fights Hold Up Government-Funding Deal
The Hill: September 19, 2016

Pelosi: Minibuses Could Be Part of Spending Deal
Roll Call: September 15, 2016

Sneaky Rider: Defense Authorization Bill Would Threaten Sage Grouse
The Missoula Independent: September 15, 2016

Snags Emerge on Budget Bill
The Hill: September 14, 2016

House Republicans Face New Tests of Their Irrelevance
Bloomberg: September 14, 2016

Government Funding Talks Stall
The Hill: September 13, 2016

Hoyer: House Democrats Want Omnibus After Short-Term CR
Roll Call: September 13, 2016

Obama, Congressional Leaders Close on Funding Resolution
Bloomberg BNA: September 13, 2016

First Look at Stopgap Nears as Senate Leaders Ready Bill
Bloomberg BNA: September 12, 2016

Congress Inches Toward Spending Deal as Conservatives Fume
Politico: September 12, 2016

House GOP Clashes Over Plan to Avoid Government Shutdown
Politico: September 9, 2016

House GOP Plots Way Forward to Avoid a Government Shutdown
BuzzFeed: September 9, 2016

Undermining Sage Grouse Preservation With Rider Is Shameful
Albuquerque Journal: September 9, 2016

Cruz Considers Stopgap-Funding Rider as Deadline Nears
Bloomberg BNA: September 9, 2016

Health Groups Urge Congress Not to Weaken E-Cigarette Rules
The Hill: September 8, 2016

EPA Ozone Standards Could Be Issue in Funding Negotiations
Bloomberg BNA: September 8, 2016

McConnell Confirms Plan For Stopgap Funding Until December
Talking Points Memo: September 7, 2016

GOP Leaders Throw Down Gauntlet Against Conservatives on Spending Bill
Talking Points Memo: September 6, 2016

The Coming Week: For Congress, It’s About Getting Out on Time
Morning Consult: September 2, 2016

Reid Warns of Government Shutdown
Politico: September 1, 2016

Reid: Dems Will Block Long-Term Spending Bill
The Washington Examiner: September 1, 2016

Rank-and-File Republicans Fear Lame-Duck Vote on Pricey Funding Bill
The Hill: August 29, 2016

Endgame Strategy in Flux as GOP Works to Avert Funding Lapse
Bloomberg BNA: August 26, 2016

CRFB Supports Enzi’s Proposed Changes to Senate Budget Process
Morning Consult: August 11, 2016

Obama Tells Congress To ‘Do Its Job’ On Zika
The Huffington Post: August 4, 2016

Health Secretary Details How Congress Is Screwing Over Americans Who Get Zika
The Huffington Post: August 3, 2016

Koch Brothers Network Urges Long-Term Spending Bill
Morning Consult: August 3, 2016

Mitch McConnell Admits Zika Legislation Is Not Clean
The Huffington Post: August 2, 2016

E-Cigarette Industry Eyes Bill for Regulatory Rollback
CQ Roll Call: July 31, 2016

Rep. Kusters Knows We Need to Fully-Fund Environmental Safeguards
The Laconia Daily Sun: July 29, 2016

Can’t-Do Congress Leaves Work for Vacation
Tulsa World: July 21, 2016

Funding for Zika, ‘Cures’ Remains Key Challenge for Congress in Fall
Bloomberg BNA: July 19, 2016

Congress Shameful on Zika Inaction
Brandenton Herald: July 19, 2016

See You in September, Funding Fights
Politico: July 18, 2016

Zika Meets Congressional Dysfunction
Palm Beach Post: July 17, 2016

Committee OKs Bill to Block Labor Initiatives
Bloomberg BNA: July 15, 2016

Exercise in Futility: There Is No Way Obama Will Sign the EPA Budget the House Wants
ThinkProgress: July 14, 2016

Congress Will Go the Rest of the Summer Without Passing Anything on Zika
The Huffington Post: July 14, 2016

Congress Skips Town With a Long List of Unfinished Business
The Washington Post: July 14, 2016

Our Completely Inept Congress
The Hill: July 14, 2016

Approps Keeps Going and Going
Politico: July 14, 2016

The Zika Crisis: How Congress Abandoned Its Duty to Govern
Los Angeles Times: July 13, 2016

Appropriations Day
Politico: July 13, 2016

Give Consumers Their Day in Court: Hold Financial Services Accountable
Los Angeles Sentinel: July 13, 2016

Almost 100 Groups Send Letter to House Opposing Interior-Environment Spending Bill
Morning Consult: July 12, 2016

Groups Criticize EPA Funding Bill Ahead of Floor Vote
Bloomberg BNA: July 12, 2016

Defense Filibuster Brings Budget Appropriations Season to a Halt
Politico: July 8, 2016

House Passes D.C. Appropriations Bill Containing Anti-Home Rule Riders
Washington City Paper: July 8, 2016

Senate Democrats Threaten to Block Spending Bills
Politico: July 7, 2016

House Spending Bill Includes Provision to Kill DOL Fiduciary Rule
Investment News: July 7, 2016

House Appropriations Bill Takes Aim at FCC Rules, Policies
Morning Consult: July 6, 2016

House Considers Workplace Safety Agency Spending Cuts
Bloomberg BNA: July 6, 2016

Most Americans Want Zika Funding, Poll Finds
Morning Consult: June 30, 2016

Partisan Politics Block Zika Funding in Senate
McClatchy DC: June 29, 2016

Bill to Provide $1.1 Billion Zika Funding Dies in Senate Vote
USA Today: June 28, 2016

Paul Ryan’s Bad Idea
The American Conservative: June 28, 2016

When Democrats Sat in, Republicans Took Them Hostage
The New Republic: June 24, 2016

White House Hammers FCC-Targeted Appropriations Riders
Multichannel News: June 22, 2016

White House to Congress: Leave D.C. Alone
City Paper: June 22, 2016

Udall Opposes Poison Pill Riders In Interior And Environment Appropriations Bill
Los Alamos Daily Post: June 21, 2016

Rider Cowboys: This Is How Congress Dictates Policy to D.C.
DCist: June 21, 2016

Appropriations Process in Knots on Capitol Hill
AMI Newswire: June 16, 2016

Senate Financial Services Spending Bill Avoids Poison Pills
Morning Consult: June 15, 2016

Spending Bill Blocking EPA Regulations Heads to the House Floor
The Hill: June 15, 2016

Rider-Filled House Interior, EPA Bill Advances Over Democrats’ Objections
Morning Consult: June 15, 2016

Greens Slam Senate’s Interior Appropriations Bill
Morning Consult: June 14, 2016

Congressional Dems, GOP Clash Over Wall Street Reforms
AMI Newswire: June 14, 2016

Appropriations Bill ‘Handcuffs’ IRS on Political Group Activities
Bloomberg BNA: June 13, 2016

Fight Over Riders Returns With Bicameral Interior-EPA Action
E&E Publishing: June 13, 2016

House Appropriations Bill Would Undermine Wall Street Regulation
Value Walk: June 10, 2016

Sorry Ted Cruz, It Doesn’t Look Like GOPers Want To Defund Obamacare This Year
Talking Points Memo: June 9, 2016

Ryan’s Gamble for Order in the House
Roll Call: June 6, 2016