Legislative Notices
Legislative Notice: S. 615 – Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act
Noteworthy Floor Situation: This afternoon the Senate will agree to the motion to proceed to H.R. 1191, the First Responders Bill. Following that, Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Corker will be recognized to offer a substitute amendment, which is the text of S. 615, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act. The bill was reported out of committee by a vote of 19-0. Executive Summary: President Obama has announced a prelude to a framework to continue negotiating a final agreement over... Continue Reading
March 6, 2015
S. 178 – The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act
Noteworthy Background: S. 178 was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2015. A hearing was held on the legislation on February 24; and the bill reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with amendment by a vote of 19-0-1 on February 26. The House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 181 on January 27, 2015. Floor Situation: The Senate is expected to proceed to S. 178 next week. Executive Summary: S. 178 authorizes services to victims of human trafficking and sets up a fund to cover the... Continue Reading
February 26, 2015
S. 534 – Immigration Rule of Law Act of 2015
Noteworthy Background: S. 534 was introduced in the Senate on February 23, 2015. Floor Situation: On Monday, February 23, the Senate began the Rule XIV process on S. 534 by putting this legislation directly on the Senate calendar. A vote on the motion to proceed to S. 534 is expected upon completion of the pending DHS funding legislation. Executive Summary: S. 534 includes nearly all of the immigration amendments that were contained in the House-passed legislation, except for those that... Continue Reading
February 26, 2015
H.R. 240 – Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015
Noteworthy Background: On December 16, 2014, the president signed into law the bill combining omnibus appropriations with a continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security. The Homeland Security funding contained in that legislation lasts through February 27. Floor Situation: The House passed H.R. 240 on January 14 by a vote of 236-191. The Senate will vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 240 at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3. Senate Democrats have said that they will... Continue Reading
February 2, 2015
H.R. 240 – Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015
Noteworthy Background: On December 16, 2014, the president signed into law the bill combining omnibus appropriations with a continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security. The Homeland Security funding contained in that legislation lasts through February 27. Floor Situation: The House passed H.R. 240 on January 14 by a vote of 236-191. The Senate will vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 240 at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3. Senate Democrats have said that they... Continue Reading
December 8, 2014
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