What Happened Last Week: Commerce Secretary Raimondo’s Remarks on U.S.-China Competition Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said export controls will be “strategically and continuously” updated in remarks at MIT on November 30. Raimondo said the U.S. is working with allies on semiconductor tooling restrictions and hopes they “will take steps similar to ours” and emphasized … Continue Reading
Will the House complete consideration of all 12 fiscal year 2023 appropriations bills before the August recess? Will Senate appropriators keep pace with their House counterparts? What obstacles must the House and Senate overcome to complete spending bills following the mid-term elections? With the August congressional recess only weeks away, House and Senate appropriators are … 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* The President and the First Lady will remain in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The President has no public events scheduled.… Continue Reading
On Tuesday, the House Rules Committee advanced a structured rule for House floor consideration of 476 amendments to the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA provides annual authorization of appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) and defense-related activities at other federal agencies. Congressional appropriations committees are responsible for providing budget … Continue Reading
Businesses of all sizes should consider how the Biden Administration’s “Build Back Better” economic plan would affect international supply chains. His strategy to revitalize the American economy rests on two pillars: strengthening Buy American provisions and reforming the tax code to incentivize domestic production.… Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Armed Services Committee Introduces “By Request” NDAA Bill On June 7, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) introduced H.R. 2810, the “by request” version of the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This procedural measure is traditionally the first step in the legislative process … Continue Reading
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order last Thursday related to religion. Later that day, he traveled to New York, New York, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea and to meet with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The President spoke with President Vladimir Putin of Russia by telephone last … Continue Reading
Last Wednesday, the U.S. Senate approved Mr. Rex Tillerson to serve as the next Secretary of State. On his first day as Secretary of State, he met with German Vice Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel. Secretary Tillerson also spoke by phone with Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Approves DHS Provisions in Defense Authorizing Bill On Friday, December 2, the House of Representatives approved the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (S. 2943) conference report by a vote of 375 to 34. The bill’s homeland security provisions: Direct the Secretary of Defense to coordinate unmanned aerial systems training missions along … Continue Reading
Last week, Washington hosted the final U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) under the Obama Administration. On Saturday, President Barack Obama issued a statement on the death of former Cuban President Fidel Castro, as did several Members of Congress. This week, the House of Representatives has noted a possible vote on the reconciled … Continue Reading
U.S. President Barack Obama is in New York City for his speech to the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) this week, as well as attend the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees and the U.S.-Africa Business Forum. Secretary of the U.S. Department of State John Kerry is also in New York City this week, meeting on the margins of … Continue Reading
Last week, President Barack Obama returned to Washington early Friday morning from his Asia-Pacific trip, as the U.S. Congress advanced S. 2040, Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), to his desk. President Obama honored the victims of the 9/11 attack Sunday morning in a ceremony at the Pentagon. North Korea reportedly conducted its fifth … Continue Reading
President Barack Obama travelled to Warsaw, Poland, at the end of last week to attend the NATO Summit and meet with Polish government officials. In joint remarks to the press after a U.S.-EU meeting on Friday, President Obama emphasizing a close cooperation with the EU, including through the ongoing transatlantic free trade agreement negotiations, while … Continue Reading
President Barack Obama acknowledged from San Francisco early Friday morning that the British had exercised their sovereign rights and chosen to exit the European Union. Washington awoke to the news and the corresponding negative reaction of the international financial markets soon after. Secretary of State John Kerry changed his travel schedule, adding a stop in … Continue Reading
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Orlando, Florida, last Thursday to meet with the families of the 49 victims of the shooting at a gay nightclub last weekend. President Obama will participate in this week’s SelectUSA Investment Summit, which will be held in Washington, D.C. Secretary of State John Kerry affirmed … Continue Reading
President Barack Obama hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India last week, and the Prime Minister addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. The United States and China held their annual Strategic & Economic Dialogue last week in Beijing, issuing a joint statement at the conclusion. Congress was in session last week and will … Continue Reading
Washington will welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India this week, with President Obama hosting him at the White House. The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated North Korea as a primary money-laundering jurisdiction last week, imposing additional restrictions on the country’s financial sector. Congress was in recess last week in observance of the Memorial … Continue Reading
President Barack Obama departed on Sunday for what will be his 10th trip to Asia, with scheduled stops in Vietnam and Japan. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) released its much-anticipated report reviewing the Trans-Pacific Partnership’s (TPP) implications to the U.S. economy last Wednesday. The Administration immediately pointed to the report and called for Congress … Continue Reading
Last Friday, President Barack Obama hosted the Nordic Leaders Summit in Washington, with the Leaders affirming shared fundamental values and areas of collaboration, while also spotlighting Russia’s military activities in the Baltic Sea region and confirming multilateral sanctions imposed on Russia will remain in place. Secretary of State John Kerry attended the Global Anti-Corruption Summit … Continue Reading
Vice President Joe Biden hosted the U.S.-Caribbean and Central American Energy Summit last week, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to addressing energy security concerns in the Western Hemisphere. President Barack Obama will host the Nordic Leaders Summit in Washington on Friday to deepen U.S.-Nordic cooperation and affirm the U.S. commitment to European security, trans-Atlantic trade and the … Continue Reading
President Barack Obama travelled to Saudi Arabia last week, meeting with Saudi officials on Thursday and attending the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit on Friday to discuss crises in the Middle East. The President then travelled to the United Kingdom (UK), where he urged the UK to remain in the EU ahead of its June … Continue Reading
Tension between the United States and Russia remains heightened, particularly after recent reports of close military encounters in the Baltic Sea. The ceasefire agreements appear to be tenuous in both Ukraine and Syria, with intensified fighting reported in both countries. While in Washington for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual Spring Meeting, … Continue Reading
Combatting ISIL – Syria and Iraq Crises After Turkey downed a Russian fighter jet over its territory last Tuesday, President Barack Obama maintained Turkey had a right to defend its airspace. He spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that day, expressing U.S. and NATO support for Turkey’s right to defend its sovereignty. The two … Continue Reading
Terrorist Attacks – Paris and Beirut Last Friday evening, President Barack Obama addressed the nation as the press reported of numerous fatalities and injuries resulting from coordinated terrorist attacks at multiple locations in Paris, France. The President immediately offered U.S. assistance to France and said the attacks were “an attack on all of humanity and … Continue Reading
