Legislative Notices
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Legislative Notice: H.R. 5771 – Tax Increase Prevention Act/ABLE Act
Noteworthy Background: H.R. 5771 was introduced on December 1, 2014, and passed the House on December 3 by a vote of 378-46. In May 2014, the Senate debated S. 2260, the EXPIRE Act, which would have extended nearly all of these tax provisions for two years. In addition, the EXPIRE Act would have extended the handful of provisions that expire in 2014. The EXPIRE Act was passed out of the Senate Finance Committee by voice vote on April 3, 2014, but cloture on the vehicle for this bill failed in... Continue Reading
December 8, 2014
Legislative Notice: H.R. 3979 – Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Authorization Act
Noteworthy Background: The fiscal year 2015 defense authorization bill, H.R. 3979, has been completed. The Senate Armed Services Committee version of this bill, S. 2410, was reported out of committee on May 23, 2014, by a vote of 25-1 (Lee opposed). It was never considered by the Senate. The House approved H.R. 3979 on December 4, 2014, by a vote of 300-119. Floor Situation: Majority Leader Reid has indicated an interest in completing action on this bill prior to adjournment. Executive Summary:... Continue Reading
September 17, 2014
H. J. Res. 124 – Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015
Noteworthy Background: H.J.Res. 124, the continuing resolution, was introduced on September 9. The House passed the CR on September 17 by a vote of 319-108. Before passage, the House amended the CR with language that authorizes the secretary of defense, in coordination with the secretary of state, to provide assistance – including training, equipment, and supplies – to appropriately vetted elements of the Syrian opposition. Floor Situation: The exact timing of Senate consideration... Continue Reading
July 31, 2014
H.R. 3230 – Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act
Background: The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, is a result of a conference committee reconciling the differences between the House and Senate bills on this matter. It came out of conference committee without objection. The House passed it by a vote of 420-5. Floor Situation: It appears likely the Senate will consider this bill before departing for recess. Executive Summary: The bill’s main feature is to authorize a “Veterans choice card” for certain... Continue Reading
July 25, 2014
Legislative Notice: Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 (H.R. 5021)
Noteworthy Background: The Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014, H.R. 5021, was introduced in the House on July 8, 2014, and passed on July 15 by a 367-55 vote. On July 16, 2014, a hotline notice was issued informing all Senate offices of a unanimous consent request regarding Senate consideration of H.R. 5021. Under the suggested unanimous consent agreement, H.R. 5021 would be considered under a limited time agreement, with four first-degree amendments in order, all needing 60 votes... Continue Reading
July 14, 2014
S. 2244 – Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2014
Noteworthy Background: On June 3, 2014, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs reported S. 2244, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, out of committee by a vote of 22-0. Floor Situation: At a time to be determined, the Senate will begin consideration of S. 2244. The committee-reported amendments will be agreed to and considered as original text for the purpose of further amendment. The only amendments in order are: Coburn #3549 to extend the time for recoupment, which... Continue Reading
July 7, 2014
S. 2363 – Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2014
Noteworthy Background: Senators Hagan and Murkowski introduced the bill on May 20, 2014. The bill contains some provisions that were included in S. 3525, the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012, and resolves budgetary points of order that lay against that bill. Floor Situation: Senator Reid bypassed the committee process and placed the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act directly on the calendar through Rule XIV on May 21, 2014. Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill on June 25,... Continue Reading
June 17, 2014
H.R. 4660 – Vehicle for Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Transportation-HUD Appropriations
Noteworthy Background: On May 22, 2014, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported S. 2389, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 by a 30-0 vote. On June 5, the Committee reported S. 2437, the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill by a 30-0 vote and S. 2438, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) appropriations bill, by a 29-1 vote. The... Continue Reading
June 11, 2014
Legislative Notice: S. 2450 – Veterans Access to Care
Noteworthy Background: The Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014, S. 2450, was placed on the calendar on June 10, 2014. It did not go through committee. The House unanimously passed the Veterans Access to Care Act, H.R. 4810. That bill would require VA to offer non-VA care to certain veterans who cannot get an appointment within the VA wait-time goals. The government would then reimburse the provider for that care at the rate set by the VA,... Continue Reading
May 21, 2014
Legislative Notice: Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (Conference Report to H.R. 3080)
Noteworthy Background: On March 18, 2013, Chairman Boxer and Ranking Member Vitter of the Environment and Public Works Committee introduced S. 601, the Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (WRDA). The EPW Committee unanimously reported S. 601, as amended, on March 20, 2013. On May 15, 2013, the Senate voted, by a count of 83-14, to pass the bill. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 3080, the companion bill to S. 601, by a vote of 417-3, on October 23, 2013. After bicameral negotiations,... Continue Reading
May 9, 2014
Legislative Notice: H.R. 3474 – Vehicle for the Tax Extenders Package
Noteworthy Background: S. 2260, the Senate tax extenders bill, was passed out of the Senate Finance Committee by voice vote on April 3, 2014. The bill would extend many of the tax code’s individual, business, and energy provisions that have expired or will expire. The bill’s total score is $84.1 billion from 2014-2024. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to consider tax extenders during the week of May 12. On May 8 cloture was filed on H.R. 3474, the vehicle for S.... Continue Reading
April 8, 2014
Legislative Notice: S. 2199 – Paycheck Fairness Act
Noteworthy Background: The Paycheck Fairness Act has been introduced in various versions dating back to at least the 105th Congress. The Senate last voted on this issue in 2012, when the vote to invoke cloture failed 52 to 47 on a party-line vote. In 2010, the Senate voted 58 to 41 against cloture on a party-line vote with Sen. Ben Nelson joining Republicans and Sen. Murkowski not voting. In 2000, all Republicans voted to oppose waiving the Budget Act to allow for consideration of the Paycheck... Continue Reading
April 2, 2014
H.R. 3979 – Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2014
Noteworthy Background: Under existing law, the Unemployment Compensation (UC) program provides up to 26 weeks of benefits. Unemployment benefits may be extended for an additional 13 or 20 weeks under the permanent Extended Benefits (EB) program for states with higher rates of unemployment. Originally enacted in 2008, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program supplemented these existing programs with a temporary program to provide additional benefits. Since enactment, the EUC... Continue Reading
March 24, 2014
S. 2124 – Ukraine Support Act
Noteworthy Background: S. 2124 was marked-up by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 13, 2014, the same day final text was made available to the member offices of the committee. It was reported out of committee that day. Floor Situation: At 5:30 p.m. on Monday March 24, the Senate will vote whether to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill. Executive Summary: This bill is the Senate’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, support for an illicit referendum... Continue Reading
February 20, 2014
Legislative Notice: S. 1982 – Veterans Benefits Bill
Noteworthy Floor Situation: Cloture has been filed on the motion to proceed to calendar number 301, S. 1982. It is yet another example of Majority Leader Reid bypassing the committee process and placing a bill directly on the Senate calendar without committee consideration. S. 1982 is mostly a compilation of other bills that have been considered by the Veterans Committee in other legislative forms. There are, however, other elements of S. 1982 that have never been considered by the committee,... Continue Reading
January 26, 2014
S. 1926 – Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014
Noteworthy Floor Situation: On Monday, January 27, following the Leaders’ remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 1926, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, with the time until 5:30 p.m. equally divided. At 5:30p.m., the Senate will conduct a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S. 1926. On January 16, a unanimous consent agreement was circulated on the Hotline to allow for a specified number of amendments to be considered.... Continue Reading
January 15, 2014
Legislative Notice: H.R. 3547 – Vehicle for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014
Noteworthy Background: The Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2014 was released on January 13, 2014, as a House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3547. This omnibus bill would complete the appropriations process for fiscal year 2014, funding the federal government through September 30, 2014. Under H.J.Res. 106, the short-term continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House on January 14 and by the Senate on January 15, the federal government is funded through Saturday,... Continue Reading
December 16, 2013
Highlights of H.R. 3304: Final FY14 Defense Authorization Bill
Noteworthy Floor Situation: On Sunday, Majority Leader Reid filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to this bill. It seems highly likely he will block all opportunity for amendment before a final passage vote, meaning the Senate will have processed only two amendments during the entire consideration of the defense authorization bill. Executive Summary: The Administration’s fiscal year 2014 defense budget request was for $625.2 billion, composed... Continue Reading
December 16, 2013
Legislative Notice: Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013/Pathway for SGR Reform Act of 2013
Noteworthy Background: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (BBA) was introduced on December 10. Sponsored by Representative Paul Ryan, the Act is the result of his negotiations with Senator Patty Murray. The BBA is not a product of the budget resolution conference committee, and the BBA is not a budget resolution. The BBA takes the form of a House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.J.Res. 59, which was the original continuing resolution (CR) that went back and forth between the House and... Continue Reading
November 14, 2013
Legislative Notice: S. 1197 – FY14 Defense Authorization Bill
Noteworthy Background: S. 1197 was introduced by Senator Levin on June 20, 2013. The Senate Armed Services Committee passed the bill by a vote of 23-3 (Vitter, Lee, Cruz opposed). Floor Situation: Majority Leader Reid has filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill. Executive Summary: The Administration’s fiscal year 2014 defense budget request was for $625.2 billion, composed of $526.6 billion for the Department of Defense base budget, $80.7 billion for ongoing operations in the... Continue Reading