House passes veterans COLA, fishing rights bills

Also by unanimous consent, members passed S. 982, the Freedom to Fish Act. This bill prohibits the Army Corps of engineers from restricting fishing rights in waters in Tennessee and Kentucky.

{mosads}This bill passed the House last week by unanimous consent, so House passage sends the bill to the Senate for President Obama’s signature.

Both bills were approved after easy debates in which both parties agreed in their support for the bill. However, Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) was the lone voice against the Freedom to Fish bill, and argued that the Army Corps should have the right to restrict fishing in areas where river waters can be dangerous.

The House also set up votes on several other veterans-related bills today, and was expected to hold roll call votes on those measures later this afternoon.

Also by unanimous consent, members passed S.Con.Res. 16, authorizing use of Capitol for the unveiling a Frederick Douglass statue.