Legislative Notices
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
September 25, 2017
Senate Amendment to H.R. 1628 – Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson-Blunt
Noteworthy Background: On September 13, Senators Graham, Cassidy, Heller, and Johnson released a bill to reform health care. The legislation is an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 1628, the House-passed reconciliation bill. Floor Situation: The 20 hours of debate time allotted for H.R. 1628 under the reconciliation rules expired on July 28. Majority Leader McConnell is expected to make a motion to proceed to H.R. 1628 this week and this amendment is expected to be the first vote... Continue Reading
August 2, 2017
H.R. 2430, The FDA Reauthorization Act
Noteworthy Background: H.R. 2430, the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017, was passed by voice vote in the House on July 12. A similar bill reauthorizing the FDA user fee agreements was passed by the Senate HELP Committee by a vote of 21 to 2 on May 11. Floor Situation: Leader McConnell filed cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2430 on August 1. Executive Summary: H.R. 2430 would reauthorize four Food and Drug Administration user fee programs until October 1, 2022: the... Continue Reading
July 27, 2017
S. 1519 – FY18 Defense Authorization Bill
Noteworthy Floor Situation: With unanimous support, the Senate Armed Services Committee reported out its version of the fiscal year 2018 defense authorization bill, S. 1519, on June 29. Majority Leader McConnell has made the motion to proceed to this bill. Executive Summary: The current Budget Control Act cap for all national defense discretionary spending (budget function 050) for fiscal year 2018 is $549 billion. As a general rule, the Department of Defense usually comprises 95.5 percent of... Continue Reading
July 14, 2017
Senate Amendment to H.R. 1628 - Better Care Reconciliation Act
Noteworthy Background: Leader McConnell released the second discussion draft of the Senate amendment to H.R. 1628, the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, on July 13. Floor Situation: Leader McConnell is expected to bring up the motion to proceed to H.R. 1628 next week. Section-by-Section Summary Title 1 Section 101 – Elimination of Limitation on Recapture of Excess Advance Payments of Premium Tax Credits The bill repeals the dollar amount limits placed on subsidy repayment for people... Continue Reading
June 26, 2017
Senate Amendment to H.R. 1628: Better Care Reconciliation Act
Noteworthy Background: Senator McConnell released a discussion draft of the Senate amendment to H.R. 1628, the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, on June 22 and an updated draft on June 26. This summary incorporates the changes made in the June 26 draft. Floor Situation: Senator McConnell is expected to bring up the motion to proceed on Wednesday. Notable Bill Provisions Section 101 – Elimination of Limitation on Recapture of Excess Advance Payments of Premium Tax... Continue Reading
June 7, 2017
S.722 – Iran Sanctions
Noteworthy Background: S. 722, Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017, was introduced on March 23, 2017. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee marked up the bill on May 25 and reported it out by a vote of 18-3. Floor Situation: Cloture has been filed on the motion to proceed to this bill, which will ripen by rule one hour after the Senate comes into session Wednesday June 7. Executive Summary: On one of his last days in office, outgoing Secretary of... Continue Reading
May 2, 2017
H.R. 244 – Vehicle for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017
Noteworthy Background: Funding for fiscal year 2017 is currently provided through Friday, May 5, 2017. The House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 244, the vehicle for the fiscal year 2017 omnibus, was put online early Monday morning. The House is expected to vote on the bill on Wednesday. Floor Situation: The Senate will consider H.R. 244 when it is received from the House. Executive Summary: The bill provides spending totaling $1.091 trillion, which includes both base and Overseas... Continue Reading
December 8, 2016
H.R. 2028 – FY 2017 Continuing Resolution
Noteworthy Background: The fiscal year 2017 continuing resolution, to extend funding beyond December 9, was released on December 6. The House is expected to consider the bill on Thursday, December 8. Floor Situation: The Senate will consider the CR after the House. No unanimous consent agreements affecting consideration of the CR are in place at this time. Executive Summary: The bill extends funding for 11 of the 12 appropriations bills through April 28, 2017. The Military Construction/Veterans... Continue Reading