Legislative Notices
S.J. Res. 23 – Disapproval of New Power Plant Rule
Noteworthy Background: Senator McConnell introduced S.J. Res. 23, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under the Congressional Review Act of the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule governing greenhouse gas emissions from new, modified, and reconstructed power plants. The Environment and Public Works Committee discharged the resolution today. The resolution has 47 co-sponsors. The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power... Continue Reading
November 16, 2015
S.J. Res. 24 – Disapproval of Existing Power Plant Rule
Noteworthy Background: Senator Capito introduced S.J. Res. 24, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under the Congressional Review Act of the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule governing greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants. The Environment and Public Works Committee discharged the resolution today. The resolution has 48 bipartisan cosponsors. The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power forwarded H.J. Res.... Continue Reading
November 9, 2015
H.R. 2029 – Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2016
Noteworthy Background: The Senate Appropriations Committee approved this bill in May on a 21-9 vote, with all Republicans and five Democrats voting in favor: Senators Leahy, Feinstein, Udall, Schatz, and Baldwin. During the Obama administration, the Democrat-controlled Senate only twice considered the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill individually, the last time being four years ago. In the first year of the Republican majority, the Senate is rectifying this... Continue Reading
November 2, 2015
S. 1140 – Federal Water Quality Protection Act
Noteworthy Background: Senator Barrasso introduced the Federal Water Quality Protection Act on April 30, 2015. The Environment and Public Works Committee reported the bill, as amended, by a vote of 11 to 9 on June 10. The bill has 46 cosponsors, including 43 Republicans and 3 Democrats. The House passed a related bill, H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015, by a vote of 261 to 155 on May 12, 2015. Floor Situation: On November 3 at 2:30 p.m., the Senate is expected to... Continue Reading
October 29, 2015
H.R. 1314 – Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015
Noteworthy Background: President Obama and Democrats have advocated all year for increased spending for non-defense programs. In fact Senate Democrats have filibustered the motions to proceed to appropriations bills four times this year due to their insistence that non-defense spending be increased. Floor Situation: The House passed H.R. 1314 by a vote of 266-167 on October 28. On October 28, cloture was filed on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.... Continue Reading
October 9, 2015
S. 2146 - Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act
Noteworthy Background: On July 23, 2015, the House of Representatives passed the Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act, by a vote of 241 to 179. The Senate will consider separate legislation to address sanctuary jurisdictions with S. 2146, the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act. Floor Situation: S. 2146 was placed on the Senate calendar on October 7, 2015. On Tuesday, October 20 at 2:15 p.m., the Senate will conduct a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to it. Executive... Continue Reading
October 5, 2015
H.R. 1735 – Fiscal Year 2016 Defense Authorization Act
Noteworthy Background: The Senate approved its version of the fiscal year 2016 defense authorization bill by a vote of 71-25. The House approved its version of the bill by a vote of 269-141. A conference committee was convened, and the House approved this conference report by a vote of 270-156. Floor Situation: Leader McConnell has filed cloture on this conference report. A vote in relation to that is expected some time Tuesday. Executive Summary: The bill authorizes defense spending at the... Continue Reading
September 16, 2015
H.R. 36 – Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
Noteworthy Background: On May 13, 2015, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, by a vote of 242 to 184. The Senate companion, S. 1553, was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 11, 2015. Floor Situation: H.R. 36 has been placed on the Senate calendar and it is expected that cloture will be filed on the motion to proceed to it. A cloture vote is expected early next week. Executive Summary: This legislation amends Title 18 of the... Continue Reading
August 3, 2015
S. 754 – Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015
Noteworthy Background: On March 13, 2015, the Senate Intelligence Committee held a closed markup on S. 754, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 and voted 14-1 to advance the legislation. The House companion, H.R. 1560, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act, passed on a bipartisan vote of 307-116. On June 11, 2015, the Senate failed to invoke cloture on Burr Amendment #1569 to the National Defense Authorization Act (the text of S. 754), 56-40, due to procedural, not substantive,... Continue Reading
July 23, 2015
H.R. 22 – Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act
Noteworthy Background: On May 23, 2015, the Senate passed the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015, a two-month extension of highway funding through July 31. H.R. 22 (Hire More Heroes Act of 2015) will be used as the revenue shell for the highways legislative package. On July 21, a perfecting amendment was filed in the Senate. The amendment adds to Hire More Heroes by incorporating legislation from the Senate committees of jurisdiction, including S. 1647 (EPW DRIVE... Continue Reading
July 6, 2015
S. 1177 – Every Child Achieves Act of 2015
Noteworthy Background: On April 16, 2015, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee voted to report S. 1177, the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015, out of committee by a vote of 22 to 0. Floor Situation: It is anticipated that the Senate will begin consideration of S. 1177 on Tuesday, July 7. Executive Summary: The bill would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act through fiscal year 2021. It would require states to adopt academic standards for math, reading, and... Continue Reading
June 18, 2015
S. 1558 – Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016
Noteworthy Background: S. 1558 was passed by the Appropriations Committee on June 11 by a vote of 27-3. H.R. 2685, the House version of Defense Appropriations, was also passed on June 11 by a vote of 278-149. Floor Situation: At 1:45 pm on June 18, 2015, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2685. Executive Summary: The bill includes $489.131 billion in non-OCO discretionary budget authority, with all of this except $136 million being security... Continue Reading
June 10, 2015
S. 754 – Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015
Noteworthy Background: On March 13, the Senate Intelligence Committee held a closed markup on S. 754, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, and voted 14-1 to advance the legislation. On March 17, 2015, Senate Intelligence Chairman Burr introduced the text of S. 754 in the Senate. The House companion – H.R. 1560, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act – passed on a bipartisan vote of 307-116. Floor Situation: Leader McConnell has indicated his intention to process this bill... Continue Reading
June 3, 2015
S. 1376 – FY 16 Defense Authorization Bill
Noteworthy Background: The Senate Armed Services Committee reported out its version of the fiscal year 2016 defense authorization bill, S. 1376, on May 14, 2015, by a vote of 22-4. The House approved its fiscal year 2016 defense authorization bill, H.R. 1735, on May 15, 2015, by a vote of 269-151. According to the House Armed Services Committee, that bill provided an overall level of $604.2 billion in budget authority, of which $495.9 billion was for the base budget for the Department of... Continue Reading
May 20, 2015
H.R. 2353 – Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015
Noteworthy Background: On May 19, 2015, the House passed, 387-35, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015 providing a two-month extension for transportation funding. In the Senate, Majority Leader McConnell started the process to advance a highway bill extension. Floor Situation: It is anticipated the Senate will vote on the bill by the end of this work period. Executive Summary: The bill would approve an extension for authorization of transportation funding for two months, through... Continue Reading
May 20, 2015
S. 1123 – USA FREEDOM Act
Noteworthy Floor Situation: This bill has been introduced and referred to the Judiciary Committee. The Senate may have a vote in connection with this bill this week. Executive Summary: It is the stated purpose of this bill to end the Patriot Act section 215 telephone metadata program. It replaces that program with an unplanned and untested mechanism where telecommunications providers are relied upon to retain call data records and queries are run against those records. The government can obtain... Continue Reading
May 19, 2015
S. 1357 – Reauthorization of Three Expiring FISA Provisions
Noteworthy Floor Situation: This bill has been placed on the Senate calendar by the Rule 14 process. Executive Summary: The Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 and the Patriot Act made certain amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Three of those provisions are expiring on June 1, 2015: Patriot Act section 215 (the business records provision); Patriot Act section 206 concerning roving wiretaps; and a provision regarding “lone wolf” terrorists. This bill extends... Continue Reading
May 13, 2015
S. 1267 – Trade Preference Programs
Noteworthy Floor Situation: On Thursday, May 14, at noon, the Senate is scheduled to proceed to a roll call vote on H.R. 1295, which is to serve as the vehicle for trade preferences programs legislation, at a 60-vote threshold. Executive Summary: The Generalized System of Preferences provides duty-free treatment to certain products imported from designated beneficiary countries, which are generally developing countries and generally do not reciprocate such duty-free treatment. There are also... Continue Reading
May 13, 2015
S. 1269 – Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act
Noteworthy Background: The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, commonly referred to as the “customs bill,” was introduced on April 20, 2015, by Finance Committee Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member Wyden as one of four bills dealing with trade promotion. The bill was marked up and approved by the Finance Committee on April 22, 2015, by voice vote. The committee released the bill on May 8. Floor Situation: At 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2015, the Senate is... Continue Reading
May 11, 2015
Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015
Noteworthy Background: On April 22, the Senate Finance Committee approved 17-9 legislation to reauthorize the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. On April 23, the House Ways and Means Committee reported H.R. 1892, the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015. Reauthorization of TAA is expected to be attached to Trade Promotion Authority legislation. Floor Situation: On May 7, Leader McConnell filed cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 1314, the House-passed revenue bill... Continue Reading