This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases. POTUS’ Schedule* *The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change. 2:15 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT participates in a roundtable with Hispanic Leaders | Cabinet Room 3:00 p.m. EDT … Continue Reading
This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases. POTUS’ Schedule* 9:00 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT departs Bedminster, NJ, en route to West Point, NY 10:25 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the 2020 United States Military Academy at West Point … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Likely to Take-Up Ex-Im Reauthorization, Legislation on DOL’s Fiduciary Rule After successfully getting enough signatures on his discharge petition to force a vote on reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, it is expected that this week – possibly as early as today – Representative Stephen Fincher (R-TN) will bring up his petition, where … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Tax-Writers Running Out of Time on Highway Bill Last week, the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 312-119 an $8 billion five-month highway patch that includes various tax compliance-related pay-fors, which themselves raise nearly $5 billion. If the House is successful in getting the Senate to agree to its short-term extension … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate Banking Committee Likely to Let Export-Import Bank Lapse, Timing Unclear for Regulatory Relief Last week, Senate Banking Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) noted that he does not “see any crying-out need for a markup” of legislation to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, making clear that he has no plans to markup the legislation that … Continue Reading
G-7 Summit President Barack Obama arrived in Germany on Sunday to attend the G-7 Summit. The leaders are expected to review the current situation in Ukraine; discuss continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; and underscore their support for a diplomatic solution based on full implementation of the Minsk agreements. Many expect the G-7 … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Lawmakers to Focus on Export-Import Bank Reauthorization This week, the Senate Banking and House Financial Services Committees will hold hearings to discuss the Export-Import Bank – the agency that finances the export of American goods and services. The hearings will include several of the same witnesses, including the Honorable Fred P. Hochberg, President … Continue Reading
Trade Promotion Authority On Tuesday, 12 May, the Senate failed, on a largely party line vote, to pass a motion to proceed to H.R. 1314, which includes Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). After the failed vote, negotiations between Republicans and Democrats continued in earnest to chart a way forward for the TPA-TAA … Continue Reading
Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) On Thursday, 16 April, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) released a draft Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill – The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (“TPA-2015”). The bill includes objectives on currency manipulation, settlement of investor-state disputes, intellectual property protections, … Continue Reading
Iran/Israel The disagreement between the Obama Administration and Prime Minister Netanyahu deepened last week. In advance of his address before a joint session of Congress this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the deal emerging from the ongoing P5+1 Talks will allow Iran to become a “nuclear threshold state.” National Security Adviser Susan Rice … Continue Reading