Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, December 5, at 3:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the House Message to accompany H.R.34 (Cures). The filing deadline for first degree amendments is 4:00pm. At 5:30pm, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Potential Energy Legislation After the House proposed a narrow version of the energy bill to the Senate, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) proposed a broader bill once again. After a meeting last week with House Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT), Chairman Murkowski appeared confident she will get a … Continue Reading
Congressional Activity Congress, NHTSA, and Outside Organizations Continue to Evaluate DOT’s Automated Vehicles Policy Congress continues its oversight of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Automated Vehicles policy, and a House Committee Roundtable is scheduled for this Tuesday, December 6. Many Members of Congress have lauded the expected benefits of automated vehicles on the economy and … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, November 28, at 3:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no roll call votes. By consent, at 11:00am on Tuesday, November 29. the Senate … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Obama Administration DOT to Continue Issuing Regulations The Obama Administration’s Department of Transportation (DOT) is expected to continue issuing regulations until President-Elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Over the final two months of the Administration, DOT is expected to issue regulations banning cellphone calls on flights and requiring freight trains to use … Continue Reading
A New Administration and a New Congress: What to Expect On Tuesday, November 8, the American public elected Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States and elected one-third of the 100 Senators and all of the House Members who will make up the 115th Congress. As a result of the elections, … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity New Congress As a result of the November 8 elections, we will have a new Administration and Congress taking office on January 20, 2017. For a comprehensive view of what to expect for the energy, environment and natural resources community, click here for our 2016 Post-Election Analysis. WOTUS Also on Tuesday, November 8, … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity The text of the Fiscal Year 2017 continuing resolution (CR) was released by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on September 22. The $1.067 trillion spending legislation would provide full fiscal year funding for the Military Construction and Veterans Administration programs and run through December 9, 2016. The bill includes $1.1 billion for … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity No Trucking Rider in Continuing Resolution The current fiscal year ends on September 30, and Congress will need to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to continue funding the federal government. The Senate is expected to vote on a CR that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) introduced last week that does not include a … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, September 19, at 3:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.5325, the legislative vehicle for the short-term Continuing Resolution (CR). At 5:30pm, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Continuing Resolution Likely, with Potential Trucking Rider The current fiscal year ends on September 30, and Congress will need to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to continue funding the federal government. The Senate is expected to pass a CR this week that would fund the federal government through December 9. That approach would … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, September 12, at 3:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.2848, the Water Resources Development Act. By way of reminder, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has filed cloture on Inhofe-Boxer substitute amendment #4979 and on the on the underlying bill, S.2848. The filing … Continue Reading
Legislative Action Comprehensive Energy Bill Conferees met on last week on Thursday for the opening session to consider energy legislation, S. 2012, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2016. If passed, the bill would be the first piece of comprehensive energy legislation to emerge from Congress in almost a decade. The mood … Continue Reading
Congress to Continue Focus on Appropriations The current fiscal year ends on September 30, and Congress will need to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) in the next few weeks to continue funding the federal government. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) proposed advancing a CR that would extend funding for the federal government … Continue Reading
Note from Capital Thinking As Congress prepares to wrap up remaining business in Washington this week prior to adjourning until the Fall, please be advised that Capital Thinking will also be on recess until Congress returns. Expect our next post on Monday, September 12. Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, July 11, at 4:00pm. Following any … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Congress to Vote on Short-Term FAA Reauthorization This Week This week, Congress will vote on a short-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization that will reauthorize FAA programs through September 30, 2017. The short-term authorization includes some policy changes, but avoids many significant changes the House and Senate had been pursuing. While the Senate … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Short-Term FAA Reauthorization Likely Soon The current short-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extension expires on July 15, leaving just four weeks for Congress to pass another short-term extension or a long term reauthorization bill. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) recently admitted that Congress will have to pass another short-term … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, June 13, at 4:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.2943, the National Defense Authorization Act. There will be no roll call votes on today. By consent, all post-cloture time on S.2943 will expire at 11:00am on Tuesday, June 14, after which … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity FAA Reauthorization Deadline a Month Away The current short-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extension expires on July 15, leaving just over a month for Congress to pass a short-term extension or a long term reauthorization bill. While the Senate passed its reauthorization, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2016 (H.R. 636), by an overwhelming … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, June 6, at 2:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 4:00pm, during which senators will be permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. Following morning business, the motion to proceed to S.2943, the National Defense Authorization … Continue Reading
Legislative Action Comprehensive Energy Legislation To begin the process of reconciling the House and Senate energy bills, the House has voted to go to conference and has appointed its conferees, which will include 24 Republicans and 16 Democrats. However, the Senate has yet to do the same. Work continues in the Senate to clear potential … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity FAA Reauthorization Deadline Approaching, Amid Security Concerns The current short-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extension expires on July 15, leaving only 20 legislative days for Congress to pass a long-term reauthorization bill or another short-term extension. This also limits the opportunity that House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) has to … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House and Senate to Continue Appropriations Bills Markups, Floor Consideration The House and Senate Appropriations Committees will continue to markup appropriations bills this week, while the House is expected to consider its FY 2017 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill on the floor. It is unclear which appropriations bill the Senate will consider … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Appropriations Committee to Markup THUD Bill The House Appropriations Committee will mark up its FY 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Act on Tuesday, May 24, after an uneventful Subcommittee markup last week. This comes on the heels of the Senate passing its THUD Appropriations bill last … Continue Reading
