Legislative Activity Senate to Take Up Temporary Tax Extenders Package; House Takes Different Approach During the week of May 12, the Senate is expected to take up the EXPIRE Act (S. 2260), which provides a two-year extension for certain tax extenders, which expired on January 1. The Senate’s approach for dealing with tax extenders differs … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Student Loan Interest Rates A bipartisan group of senators, led Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), announced another agreement on student loan interest rates last week. The deal, which represents a new scheme that shifts to market-driven variable interest rates, was announced after Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) ultimately agreed to support it. According to reports, … Continue Reading
The Senate will convene at 10:00 am on Tuesday, July 23. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is expected to renew his motion to proceed on the FY 2014 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies appropriations bill (S. 1243). The time until 12:00 pm will be equally divided and controlled between Majority Leader … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Appropriations Action Last week the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation/Housing and Urban Development approved its spending bill for FY 2014. The bill provides $44.1 billion ($13.9 billion less than the President requested) and reflects the automatic spending cuts required under sequestration. Although the bill largely protects core funding for surface transportation programs … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate This week Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is expected to conclude the debate and amendment process on the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744) and bring the bill to a final vote on the Senate floor before Congress departs for the Fourth of July recess. Cloture votes are … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Farm Bill. Last Thursday, June 20, the House failed to pass its version of the Farm Bill by a vote of 195 to 234. Overall, 171 Republicans voted for the measure and 62 opposed the measure due to concerns that there was still too much spending on farm subsidies and the Supplemental … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) filed cloture on the motion to proceed to debate on the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744) last Thursday, and the Senate will vote on the motion on Tuesday, June 11. Majority Leader Reid plans to allow an open amendment process and up … Continue Reading
The Senate will convene today, Monday, June 10, at 2:00 pm. After any Leader remarks, the Senate will continue with consideration of the motion to proceed to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill (S. 744). Until 5:00 pm, time will be divided, and at 5:00 pm, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 954, the Farm … Continue Reading
The Senate will convene today, Monday, June 3, at 2:00 pm and begin a period of morning business. Thereafter, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 954, the Farm Bill, provided that alfalfa amendment S.A. 987, offered by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and food aid amendment S.A. 1079, offered by Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) will … Continue Reading