House passes bills on federal contracting, space launch liability

The House Tuesday evening approved two suspension bills, including one that makes it the job of the Labor Department to process claims for overtime pay by government contractors.

By a 361-3 vote, members approved H.R. 6371, the Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act. This bill would let the Labor Department, not the Government Accountability Office (GAO), process claims for overtime pay by contractors.

And in a voice vote, the House passed H.R. 6586, which would extend a limitation on liability against commercial space launch companies through 2014.

The House was expected to debate another bill as early as Tuesday that would allow the sale of about one million asthma inhalers, which were banned this year to comply with the Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol on ozone depleting substances. Work on that bill is expected later in the week.

In between the votes, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) swore in three new members, who will take office immediately and work during the lame duck session of Congress.

The three are Reps. David Curson (D-Mich.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).

The House adjourned shortly after the last vote, just after 7:30 p.m.

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