LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY DHS 10-year Anniversary As the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hits the 10-year mark, the House and Senate are reviewing the progress and remaining challenges facing the Department since its inception. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee members from both sides of the aisle have acknowledged that Congress needs to reduce … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Retransmission Consent and Television Blackouts Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) circulated draft legislation entitled the Video CHOICE (Consumers Have Options in Choosing Entertainment) Act, which intends “to eliminate television blackouts caused by retransmission consent disputes,” among other policy goals. Permanent Extension of Internet Tax Freedom Act Introduced House Judiciary Committee Chairman Goodlatte (R-VA) introduced … Continue Reading
Today, Monday, September 9, the Senate will convene at 2:00 pm. The Senate will proceed to Executive Session at 5:00 pm to consider the following: Executive Calendar #184 – Nomination of Valerie E. Caproni to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; and Executive Calendar #185 – Nomination of Vernon … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Tuesday, September 10: The Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing on the nominations of Ms. Wanda Felton to be First Vice President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States and Ms. Katherine M. O’Regan to be an Assistant Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Tuesday, … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Cybersecurity Legislation The House Homeland Security Committee is currently circulating a revised draft of the National Cybersecurity and Critical Protection Act (NCCIP), the committee’s cybersecurity legislation. The bill would codify many of the current cybersecurity roles of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Upcoming Hearings: Tuesday, September 10: The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing titled “Implementing the Nuclear Waste Policy Act – Next Steps.” The hearing will be convened by the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy. Wednesday, September 18: The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing titled “The … Continue Reading
Executive and LEGISLATIVE Branch ACTIVITY Syria Last Wednesday, September 4, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, after a hearing and two days of debate held during a congressional recess, passed by a vote of 10-7 its Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Syria. Senators and Congressmen remain deeply divided on U.S. military action … Continue Reading
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY Farm Bill As Congress returns from the August recess, the House agenda for September will include floor consideration of a nutrition title bill that looks to enact major reforms to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps). The Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act aims to cut $40 billion … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Premium Subsidy Bill House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) will continue to drive legislation to undermine elements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and advance “patient-centered systems” when Congress returns to session. The strategy will continue to unfold this fall and kicks off with the House taking up H.R. 2775 this week, a … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Pell Grant Report The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report examining the recent growth of the Pell Grant Program and policy options to address the cost of the program. As lawmakers look to reauthorize the Higher Education Act in the coming year, there is no doubt the cost of the Pell Grant … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity Cybersecurity Legislation Last week, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John Rockefeller (D-WV) and Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD) introduced the Cybersecurity Act of 2013 (S. 1353) and also held a hearing related to the legislation. The bill would give authority to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to … Continue Reading
The Senate will convene today, Monday, July 29, at 2:00pm. After any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:30 pm, with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. After morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 1243, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies … Continue Reading
Legislative and Executive Branch Activity Defense Appropriations This week, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense will mark up its FY 2014 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill. Last week, the House passed its FY 2014 Defense spending measure (H.R. 2397). The House bill provides $3.55 billion less for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), which some say is … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Tuesday, July 30: The Senate Budget Committee will hold a hearing on “Containing Health Care Costs: Recent Progress and Remaining Challenges.” Wednesday, July 31: The House Committee on Energy and Commerce will mark up H.R. 2810, the sustainable growth rate and Medicare payment for physicians reform bill. Wednesday, July 31: … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senators Submit Tax Reform Letters to Finance Committee; Promised 50 Year Secrecy on Tax Expenditure Submissions Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) asked their Senate colleagues on June 27 to provide proposals in response to a “blank-slate” approach (i.e., assuming elimination of all tax expenditures from … Continue Reading
Legislative and Regulatory Activity FCC Process Reform Legislation In less than 10 minutes, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology favorably reported the committee prints for the “FCC Process Reform Act of 2013” and “FCC Consolidated Reporting Act of 2013,” each by voice vote. Perhaps more noteworthy, however, Chairman Greg Walden … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Transportation Appropriations Both the House (H.R. 2610) and Senate (S. 1243) Transportation-HUD appropriations bills are poised for floor consideration before the August recess. In the House, there has been delay in Rules Committee action and in bringing the bill to the floor, but the intention is to consider it before the month-long August … Continue Reading
Legislative and Regulatory Activity E-rate Modernization The FCC adopted a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) during its Open Meeting on July 19, seeking comment on rules to update and modernize the E-rate program in order to support high-speed broadband for digital educational technology in classrooms and libraries. FCC staff indicated that they have three goals … Continue Reading
Executive and Legislative Branch Activity Egypt The State Department continues to call for an end to perceived arbitrary arrests in Egypt. Despite reported calls in Egypt by Islamists and the opposition for U.S. Ambassador Ann Patterson to leave Cairo, the State Department maintains its support for the embattled veteran Foreign Service officer. Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Secretary of Homeland Security After Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano’s announcement last week that she will be stepping down from her position, it remains unclear who will be chosen to replace her as the head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Several names have been mentioned in connection with a possible … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Energy and Commerce and SGR Reform Last week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce released updated draft legislation that addresses physician payments under Medicare and reforms the sustainable growth rate. While Republicans Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Health Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA), and Michael Burgess (R-TX) have been active in the drafting … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate Banking Committee Approves SEC, FHFA, CEA, and NCUA Nominees On July 18, the Senate Banking committee approved via voice vote the nominations of Ms. Kara Stein and Dr. Michael Piwowar to be Commissioners of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), of Mr. Richard Metsger to be a Member of the National Credit Union … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity EPA Confirmation Hearings On Thursday, July 18, Gina McCarthy was confirmed as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator in a 59-40 Senate vote. Hearings will be held this week on Wednesday, July 24, by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to examine the nominations for additional positions at the EPA including Kenneth … 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
