The state’s congressional delegation had a busy week with the House passing more than 35 bills focused on tackling the opioid crisis, while the Senate churned through the annual defense policy bill, which is expected to pass the chamber next week.

Most of the opioid bills, 32, were passed by voice vote. One measure, which was co-sponsored last week by Rep. Jacky Rosen as a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, would create a new category in federal law for synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl. The legislation passed 239 to 142, with Rosen and Rep. Mark Amodei, a Republican, supporting it and Reps. Dina Titus and Ruben Kihuen, both Democrats, voting against the bill.

"The bill was opposed by most Democrats including leadership and the Ranking members of Judiciary and Energy and Commerce" Committees, said Kihuen spokesperson Karlee Talbot in an email. "While the bill was well intentioned, there were concerns that it expanded penalties for drug offenses, provided a large amount of unchecked power to the [attorney general], and undermined scientific and medical analysis and interagency collaboration in the process of scheduling" synthetic drugs.

"The legislation includes expansion of mandatory minimums as well as circumventing the regulatory process," said Titus spokesman Ben Rosenbaum in an email. "There are established ways at getting at drugs of concern and this legislation short-changes that process creating potential barriers to scientific research."

In a release, Rosen said, “This bipartisan legislation will help our law enforcement officers get the support they need to save lives and tackle this devastating epidemic in communities across Nevada.”

Meanwhile, plans by House GOP leaders to hold votes next week on a conservative immigration bill and a compromise measure negotiated with moderate Republicans, including Amodei, were thrown into disarray after President Donald Trump said on Fox and Friends Friday morning that he would not sign the compromise bill. Trump’s comments caught Republicans off guard after House Speaker Paul Ryan said he had been working with the White House on the compromise. Rep. Michael McCaul, of Texas and Jeff Dunham, of California, both Republicans, said they expected the president to “clarify” his comments. The White House later released a statement that said Trump would sign either the compromise or the conservative bill. Rep. Mark Meadows, who is chairman of the conservative Freedom Caucus, said he expects talks to continue through the weekend and into next week. Meadows did not rule out votes on the bills next week.

Amodei, on Thursday, said he hopes House GOP leaders allow for amendments to be offered to the two bills. Without an open amendment process “I think you’re looking for a way for not either one of them to pass.” But, he said, that would still be better than no votes at all.

Democrats, including Titus, were disappointed that the moderate Republicans did not go through with their plan to join with House Democrats to force a vote on four bills through a process known as a discharge petition. Under that process, a vote would have taken place in this month had 218 members, including 25 Republicans, signed on to the petition. But the deadline for that came and went last week after House GOP leaders managed to keep the last two GOP members from signing the petition by negotiating directly with moderates, many who represent districts with immigrant communities and see a vote on the issue helpful to their re-election efforts.

“Republicans have had to rely on the entirety of the House Democratic Caucus to try and bring a fair process to the House floor with the ‘Queen-of-the-Hill’ rule discharge petition, which Speaker Ryan has done everything he can to crush,” Titus said.

The delegation’s Democrats also were critical this week of the Trump administration policy resulting in the separation of all undocumented immigrants from their children and they marked the sixth anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the program that shields young undocumented immigrants, known as DREAMers, from deportation and that President Trump announced he would end last year.

“It is heartless and simply wrong for the Trump Administration to block victims of gang violence and domestic abuse from claiming asylum in our country,” said Kihuen in a tweet. “I stand with those seeking refuge and believe that we must use our leadership position in the world to help these victims.”

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto lauded DACA and said it has made it possible for DREAMers to contribute to their communities as teachers, engineers, military-service members, business owners, parents and friends.

“To America’s DREAMers and their families, I say: I stand with you and you belong here,” she said in a statement.

In the Senate, Sen. Dean Heller, a Republican, and Cortez Masto voted to advance the annual defense policy bill, which is set to be approved Monday.

Heller also wrote an op-ed last week seeking support for the Family Violence Prevention Services Act, which he introduced in April. The bill supports services including emergency shelters, crisis hotlines, counseling and programs for under-served communities throughout the nation.

“The bipartisan Family Violence Prevention Services Act ensures that these programs and services alike can remain operational,” Heller wrote.

Heller also celebrated the passage of legislation he supported to protect survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence from emotional and psychological trauma caused by violence against their pets. The measure passed was included in the agriculture bill approved by the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee.

Following the Las Vegas Golden Knights’ amazing inaugural season and their disappointing loss in the Stanley Cup finals to the Washington Capitals, Titus made good on her bet with Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton. Titus and her staff wore D.C. statehood t-shirts and provided Norton with a gift basket of local Las Vegas delicacies. The basket featured treats from Ethel M Chocolate Factory, CraftHaus Brewery, playing cards from a local casino and a variety of gifts and mementos celebrating Las Vegas.

“I congratulate Congresswoman Norton and the Capitals on their championship,” Titus in a release. “The Golden Knights faced seemingly insurmountable odds from Day 1, but through determination and teamwork they fought all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. Today I’m proud to stand with the 700,000 residents of Washington, DC, in support of statehood and will continue to fight until this injustice is righted.”

For a full rundown of the measures the delegates supported or opposed this week, check out The Nevada Independent’s congressional vote tracker and other information below.

SEN. CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO
Legislation co-sponsored:
S. 3064 – A bill to amend the National Labor Relations Act, the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, 1959, and for other purposes.
S. 3046 – Tribal Food Sovereignty Act of 2018
REP. MARK AMODEI
Legislation sponsored:
H.R. 6113 – To establish new ZIP codes for certain communities, and for other purposes.
REP. JACKY ROSEN
Legislation co-sponsored:
H.R. 6043 – STATES Act
REP. RUBEN KIHUEN
Legislation sponsored:
H.R. 6080 – To amend the National Labor Relations Act, the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, 1959, and for other purposes.