Legislative Notices
Vehicle for Department of Defense and Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations
NOTEWORTHY Background: The House passed H.R. 6157, the Department of Defense appropriations act for fiscal year 2019, on June 28, 2018, by a vote of 359-49. The House has not considered H.R. 6470, the House version of the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill on the floor. It is expected that the Senate will join the Senate Appropriations Committee versions of the Defense and Labor-HHS-Education bills together for consideration on the floor. Both bills passed the committee on 30-1 votes. Floor... Continue Reading
July 30, 2018
H.R. 5515 – FY19 National Defense Authorization Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: The Senate version of the fiscal year 2019 John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act, S. 2987, passed on June 18, 2018, by a vote of 85-10. The House approved its version of the NDAA, H.R. 5515, on May 24, 2018, by a vote of 351-66. On July 10, the Senate agreed to go to conference by a vote of 91–8. The House approved the NDAA conference report on July 25, 2018 by a vote of 359-54. Floor Situation: The Majority Leader filed cloture on the NDAA conference... Continue Reading
July 23, 2018
H.R. 6147 – Vehicle for Agriculture, Financial Services, Interior, and Transportation-HUD Appropriations
NOTEWORTHY Background: The House passed H.R. 6147, their second “minibus” appropriations bill, on July 19 by a vote of 217-199. The House bill joined the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill with the Interior-Environment appropriations bill. It is expected that the Senate will consider a package of four bills that combine the two the House included, along with the Agriculture and the Transportation-Housing and Urban Development appropriations bills. All four... Continue Reading
June 22, 2018
S. 3042, Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
NOTEWORTHY Background: The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 was favorably reported by a 20-1 vote of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on June 13. Without reauthorization, the major Agriculture Department programs authorized by the 2014 farm bill will cease to exist on October 1. Floor Situation: The Senate will likely consider S. 3042 during the week of June 25. Executive Summary: The Agriculture Improvement Act renews the federal government’s major... Continue Reading
June 19, 2018
H.R. 3 – Spending Cuts To Expired And Unnecessary Programs Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: H.R. 3 was introduced on May 9, 2018, one day after the president transmitted a rescission proposal to Congress. The bill passed the House on June 7 by a vote of 210-206. Text of the bill as it passed the House is available here. Text of the president’s rescission messages are available from the Office of Management and Budget: original and supplemental messages. Floor Situation: The Senate may vote in relation to the motion to proceed to the bill during the week of... Continue Reading
June 15, 2018
H.R.5895, Minibus Appropriations (Energy-Water Development, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch)
NOTEWORTHY Background: The House passed H.R. 5895, the consolidated fiscal year 2019 appropriations act for Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies; and Legislative Branch and Related Agencies, on June 8, 2018, by a vote of 235-179. The Senate will use this vehicle to consider its versions of the three appropriations bills. The Senate Appropriations Committee favorably reported S. 2975, the Energy and Water Development... Continue Reading
June 5, 2018
S.2987 John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for FY2019
NOTEWORTHY Background The Senate Armed Services Committee filed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act on June 5, 2018. The committee voted on May 23 to advance this bill to the Senate floor by a vote of 25-2. The House passed its version of the NDAA, HR 5515, on May 24, 2018, by a vote of 351-66. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to begin debate on the NDAA as soon as June 6, 2018. Executive Summary: The fiscal year 2019 NDAA authorizes $707.7 billion for defense spending:... Continue Reading
May 21, 2018
S.2372 – VA Mission Act of 2018
NOTEWORTHY Background: The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed its amendment to S.2372, the John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act (VA MISSION Act) of 2018, by a vote of 347 to 70. This bill was negotiated between the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees. Floor Situation: On May 17, Majority Leader McConnell filed cloture on the motion to concur in the House Amendment... Continue Reading
April 18, 2018
S. 140, Coast Guard Authorization Act (Thune-Nelson-Sullivan Substitute Amendment)
NOTEWORTHY Background: S. 1129, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017 was favorably reported by the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on May 18, 2017. The Thune-Nelson-Sullivan substitute amendment would replace the text of an unrelated vehicle (S. 140, the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2017) with the updated text from S. 1129. The substitute amendment also incorporates several provisions from H.R. 2825, the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act, which passed the... Continue Reading
April 16, 2018
S. 140, Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: On May 8, 2017, the Senate passed S. 140 by unanimous consent. On January 10, 2018, the House passed S. 140 with an amendment by a vote of 239-173. As passed by the Senate, the bill amends the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 to change how WMAT Settlement Funds may be used. The House amended the bill to add language identical to that in S. 249, a bill related to tribal leasing introduced by Senator Tom Udall and passed by the Senate... Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act Of 2018
NOTEWORTHY Background: The Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act of 2018 would temporarily fund cost-sharing reduction subsidies and risk mitigation programs, and make other changes to Obamacare. The first draft of the bill was released on October 19, 2017, as an agreement between Senators Alexander and Murray with 24 cosponsors: 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats. The Lower Premiums Through Reinsurance Act of 2017 has since been incorporated into the latest bill. It was first introduced by... Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
H.R. 1625 – Vehicle for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018
NOTEWORTHY Background: Funding for fiscal year 2018 is currently provided through Friday, March 23, 2018. Floor Situation: The Senate will consider H.R. 1625 when it is received from the House. Executive Summary: The bill provides budget authority for fiscal year 2018 totaling $1.3 trillion. It also includes Overseas Contingency Operations requirements of $78.1 billion. The funding provided is consistent with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which increased discretionary... Continue Reading
March 16, 2018
H.R. 1865, Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: H.R. 1865, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, passed the House by a vote of 388–25 on February 27, 2018. The legislation incorporates several provisions from S. 1693, the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, or SESTA, which was introduced by Senator Rob Portman on August 1, 2017. S. 1693 was reported favorably out of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on November 8, 2017, by voice vote. Floor Situation: On March 14,... Continue Reading
March 12, 2018
S. 2155, The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (Substitute Amendment)
NOTEWORTHY Background: S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act was introduced by Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Crapo on November 16, 2017. It has 25 cosponsors: 12 Republicans, 12 Democrats, and one independent. The legislation was favorably reported out of the Banking Committee by a vote of 16-7. Amendment 2151, an amendment in the nature of a substitute, to S. 2155 was offered by Chairman Crapo and four Democratic senators on... Continue Reading
March 5, 2018
S. 2155, The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act was introduced by Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Crapo on November 16, 2017. It has 25 cosponsors: 12 Republicans, 12 Democrats, and one independent. The legislation was favorably reported out of the Banking Committee by a vote of 16-7. Floor Situation: On March 1, 2018, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filed cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2155. The Senate is... Continue Reading
January 11, 2018
S. 139 – FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act
NOTEWORTHY Background: The FISA Amendments Act of 2008 updated the law to reflect the vast changes in communications technology that had taken place over the prior 30 years since the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was first enacted. These updates were reauthorized at the end of 2012, and they expire at the end of this year. This bill reauthorizes these updates for another six years, while providing additional transparency and reporting requirements. S. 139 passed the House by a vote of... Continue Reading
December 19, 2017
Alexander-Murray and Collins-Nelson Bipartisan Stabilization Bills
NOTEWORTHY Background: The Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act of 2017 is an agreement between Senators Alexander and Murray to temporarily fund cost-sharing reduction subsidies and to make other changes to Obamacare. The bill was first released on October 19 with 24 cosponsors, 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats. The Lower Premiums Through Reinsurance Act of 2017 was first introduced by Senators Collins and Nelson on September 19 and is aimed at stabilizing the individual market by... Continue Reading
December 18, 2017
Conference Report for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
NOTEWORTHY Background: The Senate passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 on December 2 by a vote of 51-49. The conference committee released the conference agreement on December 15. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to consider the conference report the week of December 18. Executive Summary: The conference report would lower individual, small business, and corporate tax rates. It nearly doubles the standard deduction, effectively eliminates Obamacare’s individual mandate,... Continue Reading
November 28, 2017
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
Noteworthy Background: The Senate Finance Committee passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 out of committee on November 16 by a vote of 14-12. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to consider this legislation the week of November 27. Executive Summary: The bill would lower individual, small business, and corporate tax rates. It nearly doubles the standard deduction, effectively eliminates Obamacare’s individual mandate, increases the child tax credit, eases the burden of the estate... Continue Reading
October 11, 2017
S. CON. RES. 25 – Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018
Noteworthy Background: The Senate Budget Committee reported the budget resolution out of committee on October 5 by a vote of 12-11. Chairman Enzi released background information and summary tables on the budget resolution here. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to consider the budget resolution on the floor the week of October 16. Executive Summary: This budget resolution contains instructions that allow for comprehensive tax reform legislation as well as energy legislation.... Continue Reading
