Legislative Activity Following a bad week for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) roll-out, with criticism of the deficiencies from Republicans and Democrats alike, this week will bring renewed calls for legislative action to delay implementation. Provisions that would extend the open enrollment period and a delayed tax enforcement of the individual mandate are getting the … Continue Reading
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY Farm Bill Conference This Wednesday, October 30, marks the official start to the farm bill conference, which will be a public meeting involving the 41 House and Senate conferees. For months, agriculture leadership and their staff have met behind the scenes on an informal basis to start conversations on reconciling the two farm … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Passes Water Resources Reform and Development Act Last week, the House passed its Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which provides federal funding for water and water-related infrastructure projects. The Senate passed its Water Resources and Development Act legislation in March. A conference committee will now be appointed to work out … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Rep. Goodlatte Introduces Patent Litigation Reform Bill Last Wednesday, October 23, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) introduced the Innovation Act (H.R. 3309), intended to curtail abusive patent litigation while fostering U.S. competitiveness. The bill has received bipartisan support from cosponsors including Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and is scheduled for a hearing … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Farm Bill This week, agriculture leadership in both chambers will likely announce a date for the farm bill conference to begin. Last week, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) shared that the farm bill conference would begin when both chambers are in session, which means that a date will likely be scheduled … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This past week has seen the evolution of the federal government shutdown and the slow emergence of a potential framework for a deal. Late in the week, President Barack Obama met separately with Senate Democrats, Senate Republicans, House Democrats and House Republicans. While President Obama continues to maintain he will not negotiate on … Continue Reading
Legislative and Regulatory Activity Senate Energy Committee Clears Two Nominees The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a business meeting in executive session on Tuesday, October 8 to consider the nominations of Mr. Michael Connor and Ms. Elizabeth Robinson to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Interior and Under Secretary of Energy, respectively. … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Impact of Government Shutdown on DHS The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) retained more staff than other agencies because many of its operations cover fields deemed “essential,” such as law enforcement and national security. However, DHS officials still report increased challenges due to the overall impact of the shutdown. In response, House … Continue Reading
Last Tuesday, October 1, Congress had been unable to come to an agreement on government spending legislation, resulting in a shutdown of the U.S. government. The Senate will convene today, Monday, October 7 at 2:00 pm, and following any leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business (for debate only) until … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Farm Bill As expected, early last week the Senate reappointed its farm bill conferees. The House, however, has yet to name its conferees. In late September, staff had indicated that the House would appoint conferees shortly after October 1. With the government shutdown, the appointment of conferees will likely be postponed until Congress … Continue Reading
Executive and Legislative Branch Activity Budget and the Debt Ceiling With no congressional consensus on a bill to fund the U.S. federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014, on Tuesday, October 1, the U.S. government partially shut down. Last week, the House attempted to advance its strategy of passing “mini” continuing resolutions (CR) to fund … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Thursday, October 10: The Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing titled, “Impact of a Default on Financial Stability and Economic Growth.” The presidents of the American Bankers Association (ABA), Investment Company Institute (ICI), National Association of Realtors, and Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) are scheduled … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Health reform provisions continue to impede resolution of the continuing resolution (CR) and an end to the government shutdown. With support from the Administration, Senate Democrats insist they will only consider a clean CR without Affordable Care Act (ACA) defunding or delay provisions. The Senate has also refused to take up a bill … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Impact of Government Shutdown on DHS Despite the government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) retained more staff than other agencies because much of its operations cover fields deemed to be “essential,” such as law enforcement and national security. However, DHS officials still report increased challenges due to the overall impact of … Continue Reading
The Senate will convene today, Monday, September 30, at 2:00 pm. After any leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:00 pm, with senators being permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. Senators will be notified when any votes are scheduled. Today, the House will convene at … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Privacy Working Group Holds Closed Door Meeting The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Privacy Working Group held a closed-door roundtable meeting last Thursday, September 26. The working group is co-chaired by Committee Vice Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), and provides a forum to evaluate privacy policy issues so committee members … Continue Reading
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY House Nutrition Title Bill Last week, the House passed its nutrition title bill, the Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act of 2013 (H.R. 3102), by a vote of 217 to 210. The bill would cut Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) funding by $39 billion over the next 10 years, … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Cybersecurity Legislation Last week, the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies marked up two cybersecurity bills – the Critical Infrastructure Research and Development Advancement (CIRDA) Act of 2013 (H.R. 2952) and the Homeland Security Cybersecurity Boots-on-the-Ground Act (H.R. 3107). The subcommittee passed both bills by voice vote and … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity CR Wrangling The House approved H. J. Res. 59 last week, a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through December 15 at sequester funding levels. As expected, the resolution includes a provision that would defund the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Senate will take up the CR this week, and is expected … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate Commerce Committee Evaluates FCC and FTC Nominees The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a hearing on Wednesday, September 18 to consider the nominations of Michael O’Rielly to serve as a Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Terrell McSweeny to serve as a Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate Cybersecurity Legislation Although the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has already completed its work on a cybersecurity bill this Congress, many stakeholders are waiting to see what the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is planning for its cybersecurity legislation. At a hearing last week, Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) laid … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Reauthorization Legislation On Tuesday, September 10, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held its first hearing this Congress to examine opportunities to improve education research and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), and committed to move forward with the reauthorization of the Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA), which created IES in 2002. … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate Banking Committee To Address Housing Finance Reform On Thursday, September 12 the Senate Banking Committee held a hearing titled, “Essential Elements of Housing Finance Reform.” During the hearing, the Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) stated that the committee plans to hold hearings focused on housing finance reform … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity The House will resume discussions this week about how to move a Continuing Resolution (CR) while appeasing conservative Republican members looking to attach a provision to block funding for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Last week, a scheduled vote on the CR was cancelled when the conference rejected a plan that would allow … Continue Reading
