Legislative Notices
H.R. 3401 – Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Border
NOTEWORTHY Background: Due to an unprecedented surge of people crossing our southern border, the Department of Health and Human Services will run out of money to provide shelter and care for more than 13,000 unaccompanied children in the next few weeks. On May 1, President Trump requested $4.5 billion in emergency supplemental funding to provide humanitarian aid including shelter, food, and medical care to migrants. Floor Situation: The Senate Appropriations Committee adopted S.1900, the... Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
S.1900 – Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Border
NOTEWORTHY Background: Due to an unprecedented surge of people crossing our southern border, the Department of Health and Human Services will run out of money to provide shelter and care for more than 13,000 unaccompanied children in the next few weeks. On May 1, President Trump requested $4.5 billion in emergency supplemental funding to provide humanitarian aid including shelter, food, and medical care to migrants. Floor Situation: The Senate Appropriations Committee adopted S.1900, the... Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
S. 1790 – National Defense Authorization Act for FY2020
NOTEWORTHY Background: The Senate Armed Services Committee has filed S. 1790, the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. The committee voted on May 23 to advance this bill to the Senate floor by a vote of 25-2. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to begin debate on the NDAA during the week of June 17. Executive Summary: The fiscal year 2020 NDAA authorizes $741.6 billion for defense spending within the jurisdiction of the Armed Services Committee: $674 billion for the... Continue Reading
May 23, 2019
H.R. 2157, Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019
NOTEWORTHYBackground: This is the Senate’s third attempt to pass a disaster supplemental this year. During the partial government shutdown in January, dueling substitute amendments failed to achieve the 60 votes necessary to end debate. A second effort, which extended emergency relief to the flood and tornado-damaged Midwest, was similarly defeated in April. The disaster debate broadened when, on May 1, President Trump submitted a request for $4.5 billion in emergency supplemental funding to... Continue Reading
May 23, 2019
S.151, Traced Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: Many Americans routinely receive illegal and unwanted robocalls, and they are routinely cited by the FTC and FCC as their number-one category of complaints, with millions filed annually. One outside group cited by the FTC and FCC estimated that 4.1 billion robocalls were made in May 2018 alone. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to vote on passage of S. 151 today at 12:45 PM. Executive Summary: S. 151 strengthens enforcement against robocalls, requires the adoption... Continue Reading
March 28, 2019
H.R. 268, Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019
NOTEWORTHY Background: The House passed H.R. 268 on January 16 during the partial government shutdown. After two failed cloture votes in the Senate on side-by-side substitute amendments – Shelby amendment 5 and Schumer amendment 6 – the Senate turned its attention to other matters. Floor Situation: The Senate renewed consideration of H.R. 268 on March 26 when cloture was invoked on the motion to proceed by a vote of 90-10. The Senate adopted the motion to proceed by voice vote on March 28... Continue Reading
March 28, 2019
S. Res. 50: Consideration of Nominations in the Senate
NOTEWORTHY Background: In response to the unprecedented number of Democrat filibusters waged against presidential nominees, Senators Lankford and Blunt introduced S.Res. 50, a resolution to reduce post-cloture debate time for certain nominations. This concept is not new – a similar resolution was adopted by the Democrat-majority Senate in the 113th Congress. Floor Situation: S.Res. 50 was reported favorably (10-9) by the Rules Committee on February 13. The full Senate is expected to consider... Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2019
NOTEWORTHY Background: Seventy-five percent of fiscal year 2019 discretionary appropriations have been enacted. Agencies without full year appropriations, however, have been operating under a series of continuing resolutions: P.L. 115-245; P.L. 115-298; and P.L. 116-5. The inability to reach consensus on funding for the Department of Homeland Security before the statutory deadline led to a partial government shutdown lasting 35 days, from December 22, 2018, throughJanuary 25, 2019. On... Continue Reading
February 1, 2019
S. 47 – The Natural Resources Management Act of 2019
NOTEWORTHY Background: During the 115th Congress, Senators Murkowski and Cantwell drafted legislation combining more than 100 bills relating to public lands, natural resources, water projects, and infrastructure. That package was negotiated with the chairman and ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee. While it did not pass by the end of the 115th Congress, the final version of that package has now been reintroduced as S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act. Floor... Continue Reading
January 28, 2019
S. 1 – Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East
NOTEWORTHY Background: In the 115th Congress, a number of bipartisan foreign policy measures were not enacted despite passing one or both Houses of Congress easily. Senators Rubio, Risch, McConnell, Gardner, and Blunt combined four of these bills into the Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019. Floor Situation: The Senate voted three times in the last three weeks on proceeding to S.1. However, the Senate did not meet the 60-vote threshold for cloture on the... Continue Reading
January 23, 2019
End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: Seventy-five percent of fiscal year 2019 discretionary appropriations have been enacted. A partial shutdown that started on December 22, 2018, has affected departments and agencies funded by the other 25 percent. On January 19, 2019, President Trump announced this proposal to reopen the government and provide for border security. The Senate Appropriations Committee released the End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act on January 21. Floor Situation: H.R.... Continue Reading
December 17, 2018
S.756, Legislative Vehicle for First Step Act of 2018
Noteworthy Background: The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan recidivism reduction bill, the FIRST STEP Act, H.R.5682, on May 23, 2018, by a 360-59 vote. That bill did not have a sentencing reform component. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate on May 7, 2018, by Senator Cornyn. A separate bipartisan bill, the First Step Act, S.3649, was introduced in the Senate on November 15. It includes an amended version of the recidivism reduction aspect of the bill, as well as a... Continue Reading
December 10, 2018
S.J. Res. 63 – Disapproval of Donor Disclosure Rule
NOTEWORTHY Background: Senator Tester introduced S.J. Res.64, a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act of 1996. If enacted, the resolution would nullify Treasury Department guidance that limits the donor information that tax-exempt and certain non-exempt organizations must give to the Internal Revenue Service on their tax returns. It has 35 co-sponsors, all Democrats. Floor Situation: The Senate may consider S.J. Res. 64 soon. A vote on the motion to proceed has a... Continue Reading
October 17, 2018
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Substitute Amendment to S.140)
NOTEWORTHY Background: On April 18, a cloture motion on amendment number 2232, a substitute amendment to S. 140 (Coast Guard Reauthorization) failed by a vote of 56-42. That substitute amendment contained provisions from the House-passed Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act, H.R. 2825. It also included the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act, which relates to the regulation of ballast water discharges and other incidental discharges from vessels. This substitute amendment has a revised... Continue Reading
October 9, 2018
S.J. Res. 63 – Disapproval of Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance Rule
NOTEWORTHY Background: Senator Baldwin introduced S.J.Res. 63, a joint resolution of congressional disapproval under the Congressional Review Act of the final rule to deregulate short-term limited duration plans. The resolution currently has the support of all 49 Senate Democrats. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to conduct a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to S.J.Res. 63 this week. This vote is a simple majority threshold. Executive Summary: The resolution disapproves a final... Continue Reading
October 2, 2018
H.R. 6 – Support for Patients and Communities Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: On September 17, 2018, the Senate passed an amendment in the form of a substitute to H.R. 6 by a vote of 99-1. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 6 on September 28, 2018, by a vote of 393-8. Floor Situation: The Senate will likely consider H.R. 6 soon. Executive Summary: The House and Senate have advanced bipartisan legislation to address the opioid problem. The final bill authorizes critical funding to assist states, expands patient access to addiction... Continue Reading
October 2, 2018
S.3021, America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018
NOTEWORTHY Background: America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 was favorably reported by the Environment and Public Works Committee in a unanimous vote on May 22, 2018. The House of Representatives unanimously passed S. 3021 on September 13, 2018. Floor Situation: The Senate will likely consider S. 3021 soon. Executive Summary: Following President Trump’s call to rebuild American infrastructure, AWIA authorizes major water infrastructure projects that benefit nearly every state.... Continue Reading
September 25, 2018
H.R. 302 (as amended), FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
NOTEWORTHY Background: The current Federal Aviation Administration authorization law expires September 30. H.R. 302, as amended, is a pre-conference agreement on the FAA reauthorization and additional measures. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved its FAA reauthorization bill, S. 1405, by voice vote on June 29, 2017, and reported it on May 9, 2018. The House passed its version of an FAA reauthorization bill, H.R. 4, on April 27 by a vote of 393-13. Floor... Continue Reading
September 13, 2018
S. 2554 – Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: The Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act, legislation sponsored by Senators Collins and McCaskill, would prohibit the use of “gag clauses” in contracts for employer-sponsored and individual health insurance plans. The bill was introduced on March 14, 2018, and reported out of the HELP committee by voice vote on July 25, 2018. Floor Situation: The Senate will vote on the bill Monday, September 17. Executive Summary: The bill would ban the inclusion of pharmacy... Continue Reading
September 10, 2018
Senate Amendment to H.R. 6, The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018
NOTEWORTHY Background: The HELP, Finance, Judiciary, and Commerce committees have advanced bipartisan legislation to combat the opioid crisis. The bill is an amendment in the form of a substitute to H.R. 6, which the House passed in June. Read RPC’s recent paper on the opioid problem here. Floor Situation: The Senate may begin consideration of this legislation the week of September 10. Executive Summary: The legislation reauthorizes and expands state... Continue Reading
