House slams North Korea, Iran in late Tuesday votes

“North Korea’s expanding nuclear and missile proliferation threaten not only our allies in the Pacific, but potentially our own people as well,” she said.

{mosads}She and ranking member Howard Berman (D-Calif.) called on North Korea to spend less time on its missile program, and more time attending to the needs of its citizens.

“Instead of pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into its so-called space program, nuclear programs and massive military, North Korea should instead work to feed its own citizens and improve its dismal economy,” Berman said.

The House passed the North Korea resolution, H.Con.Res. 145, by voice-vote late Tuesday, after voting on the Senate’s fiscal-cliff bill. Passage of the concurrent resolution sends it to the Senate, which might not have time to pass it before the 112th Congress ends this week.

In a separate voice-vote, members approved H.Res. 134, which condemns Iran for mistreating its Baha’i minority population.

“Baha’i are the largest non-Muslim minority in Iran, numbering over 300,000 members in Iran alone,” Ros-Lehtinen said during Monday debate. “This resolution marks the 12th congressional action urging the Iranian regime to end its persecution of the Baha’i minority, and still Baha’is do not have the freedom to practice their religion.”

She and Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) argued that Iran unfairly prevents Baha’i people business licenses or enrollment in school, and said Baha’i children are routinely harassed.

“No human being deserves this type of treatment at the hands of their government,” Engel said.

The House has also approved a resolution, H.Res. 834, that urges European countries to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) initially called for a recorded vote on this resolution, but agreed to a voice vote and said he would insert a statement in the record.

Several other suspension bills were passed late Tuesday in what could be the last votes of the 112th Congress. The bills are:

H.R. 2076, the Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act, allowing federal law enforcement agencies to assist states and localities in the investigation of mass shootings in public buildings.

H.R. 6029, the Foreign and Economic Espionage Penalty Enhancement Act, increasing penalties for economic espionage.

H.R. 6328, the Clothe a Homeless Hero Act, requiring the Transportation Security Administration to donate unclaimed clothing at airports to homeless veterans.

H.R. 6621, correcting the Leahy-Smith America Invents patent reform law.

S. 2318, the Department of State Rewards Program Update and Technical Corrections Act, authorizing the State Department to offer rewards for information leading to the arrest of international criminals.

S. 3331, the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act, amending a 2000 law to expand accreditation standards to cover all international adoptions.

S. 3472, the Uninterrupted Scholars Act, expanding access to educational records of foster children to child welfare groups and other entities.

S.J.Res. 44, a joint resolution that gives consent to an agreement between several states and Canadian provinces on the provision of emergency management assistance.