Legislative Notices
Legislative Notice: S. 3637 – Transaction Account Guarantee Extension
Noteworthy Floor Situation: The Senate has scheduled a vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to the Transaction Account Guarantee extension bill (S. 3637). Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill on December 6, 2012, setting up the cloture vote on the motion to proceed on Monday, December 10, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. Background: S. 3637 was introduced by Senator Harry Reid on November 26, 2012. The bill has no cosponsors. Executive Summary: S. 3637 will temporarily extend... Continue Reading
December 5, 2012
Legislative Notice: H.R. 6156 – Russia PNTR
Noteworthy Background/Executive Summary: In order to fulfill our obligations under the World Trade Organization, and receive the benefits of both our and Russia’s membership, the United States must repeal the application of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment with respect to Russia. That amendment ties beneficial trade relations to a country’s protection of a certain fundamental human right: the right to emigrate. This legislation authorizes the President to terminate the application of... Continue Reading
November 27, 2012
Legislative Notice: Treaty Doc 112-7: Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Noteworthy Background/Executive Summary: The United States signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in July 2009. Its stated purpose is to ensure for all persons with disabilities the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. To do that, the Convention requires all states that are parties to it to implement such rights by legislation or other measures. It was submitted to the Senate in May of this year and reported out of the Senate Foreign... Continue Reading
November 20, 2012
Legislative Notice: S. 3254 – FY13 Defense Authorization Bill
Noteworthy Background: S. 3254 was introduced by Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) on June 4, 2012. The Senate Armed Services Committee passed the bill by a vote of 26-0. Floor Situation: A motion to proceed to the fiscal year 2013 defense authorization bill, S. 3254, has been made. The Majority Leader has indicated the Senate will turn to this bill upon return from Thanksgiving. Executive Summary: The Administration’s fiscal year 2013 defense budget request was for $631.6 billion, composed of... Continue Reading
September 21, 2012
Legislative Notice: S. 3525 – The Sportsmen’s Act of 2012
Noteworthy Floor Situation: On Thursday, September 20, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S. 3525. Pursuant to a unanimous consent agreement, the cloture vote will occur as the last of a series of up to five stacked roll call votes beginning Saturday, September 22 at midnight. If the Senate proceeds to the bill, there may be a budget point of order lying against the bill. Background: S. 3525 bypassed the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and was... Continue Reading
September 14, 2012
Legislative Notice: H. J. Res. 117 – Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013
Noteworthy Background: H. J. Res 117 was introduced by Rep. Hal Rogers on September 10, 2012. The House passed the continuing resolution on September 13 by a vote of 329-91. Floor Situation: At 2:15 pm on September 19, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.J.Res.117. Executive Summary: H. J. Res. 117 would continue for six months regular discretionary budget authority for the federal government at an annualized rate of $1.047 trillion. This level is... Continue Reading
September 11, 2012
Legislative Notice: S. 3457 – Veterans Job Corps Act
Noteworthy Floor Situation: S. 3457 was introduced by Senators Nelson (FL) and Murray on July 30, 2012. The Majority Leader has used the Rule 14 process to place it on the Senate Calendar, bypassing all committees of jurisdiction. Many elements of this bill come from other bills likely to be part of a mark-up in the Veterans Committee some time in September. Cloture has been filed on the motion to proceed to the bill, with a vote scheduled for Tuesday September 11 at 2:15 p.m. There may be a... Continue Reading
July 26, 2012
Legislative Notice: S. 3414 – Cybersecurity Act of 2012
Noteworthy Floor Situation: S. 3414 was introduced by Senators Lieberman, Collins, Rockefeller, Feinstein, and Carper on July 19, 2012. Cloture was filed July 25, 2012, on the motion to proceed to the bill. The Majority Leader has used the Rule 14 process to place it on the Senate Calendar, bypassing all committees of jurisdiction on the matter. No committee has marked-up the bill. Executive Summary: S. 3414 endeavors to secure cybersystems associated with critical infrastructure assets, as... Continue Reading
July 17, 2012
Legislative Notice: S. 3364 – Democrats' Insourcing Bill
Noteworthy Floor Situation: S. 3364 was introduced by Senator Stabenow on July 9, 2012, and is nearly identical to S. 2884, introduced on May 8, 2012. S. 3364 was placed on the Senate Calendar on July 11, and Majority Leader Reid moved to proceed to it that day. On July 17, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed. Background: President Obama has recently made a key issue out of “outsourcing,” rather than broader tax reform. The President has said that we should “stop giving... Continue Reading
July 9, 2012
Legislative Notice: S. 2237 – Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act
Noteworthy Floor Situation: On Tuesday, July 10, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2237. If cloture is invoked and the Senate moves to the bill, it is anticipated that the amendment tree will be filled. Background: On March 26, 2012, Senator Reid introduced S. 2237. The bill was placed on the Senate Calendar via Rule 14 on March 27. On May 16, President Obama pushed for support of a tax proposal identical to S. 2237. Senator Reid moved to... Continue Reading
June 21, 2012
Legislative Notice: House Amendment to S. 3187 – The Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act
On June 18, 2012, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee released a five-year Food and Drug Administration (FDA) user fee reauthorization compromise bill. On Wednesday, June 20, the House of Representatives passed S. 3187, as amended, by voice vote. Senate action is expected as early as Monday on the bill, which will arrive in the Senate in the form of a message between Houses. Noteworthy S. 3187 reauthorizes for five... Continue Reading
June 21, 2012
Legislative Notice: S. 1940 – Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act
Noteworthy Floor Situation: On Thursday, June 21, the Senate may vote on the motion to proceed to the Flood Insurance and Modernization Act (S. 1940), also known as the Flood Insurance bill. Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the Flood Insurance bill on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. Senators Shelby and Johnson of South Dakota have filed a substitute amendment to S. 1940, the committee-reported bill. This Legislative Notice is based on the language in the substitute... Continue Reading
June 6, 2012
Legislative Notice: S. 3240 – Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act
Noteworthy Floor Situation: On Thursday, June 7, 2012 at 10:30 a.m., the Senate is scheduled to vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240), also known as the Farm Bill. Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the Farm Bill on Tuesday, June 5, 2012, setting up the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to the bill on Thursday, June 7, 2012. Background: S. 3240 was introduced by Senator Stabenow and Senator Roberts on May... Continue Reading
May 16, 2012
Legislative Notice: S. 3187 – The Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act
On April 25, 2012, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee reported S. 2516, a five year FDA user fee reauthorization bill, by voice vote. On May 15, HELP Committee Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Enzi filed an updated bill, S. 3187. This new bill includes the full text of S. 2516, as reported by the HELP Committee, and a bipartisan managers’ package. Majority Leader Reid placed S. 3187 on the Senate Calendar on May 16, 2012. Noteworthy S. 3187 reauthorizes... Continue Reading
April 23, 2012
Legislative Notice: S. 1925 – Violence Against Women
Reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 7, 2012, by a vote of 10-8 along party lines. Noteworthy On Wednesday, April 25, 2012, the Senate is expected to proceed to consideration of S. 1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011, also known as VAWA. S. 1925 expands and reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. The bill requires federal grantees to provide services without discriminating on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender... Continue Reading
April 23, 2012
Legislative Notice: S. 2338 – Hutchison/Grassley Alternative to S. 1925, the VAWA Reauthorization Act of 2011
Noteworthy The Hutchison/Grassley Alternative addresses concerns raised about the constitutionality of Section 904 of S. 1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011. This section would confer criminal jurisdiction to certain participating Indian tribal governments over all persons in Indian country, including non-Indians. The alternative addresses domestic and dating violence in Indian country without offending the Constitution, by allowing tribal councils to seek protective... Continue Reading
April 17, 2012
Legislative Notice: S. 1789 – 21st Century Postal Service Act
Reported by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on November 9, 2011 by a vote of 9-1; the “no” votes of Senators Coburn and McCain were not counted because they were proxy votes. On Monday, April 16, 2012, a new substitute amendment to S. 1789 was filed by Senators Collins and Lieberman. This legislative notice reflects changes made by the substitute amendment. Noteworthy On Tuesday, April 17, 2012, the Senate will resume consideration on the motion to... Continue Reading
March 26, 2012
Legislative Notice: S. 1789 – 21st Century Postal Service Act
Reported by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on November 9, 2011 by a vote of 9-1; the “no” votes of Senators Coburn and McCain were not counted because they were proxy votes. Noteworthy • On Thursday, March 22, 2012, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S. 1789, the 21st Century Postal Service Act, also known as the Postal Reform Bill.• S. 1789 changes the laws governing the operation of the U.S. Postal Service.• S. 1789 permits... Continue Reading
March 19, 2012
Legislative Notice: H.R. 3606 – JOBS Bill
On March 8, 2012, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3606 by a 390-23 vote and cloture was filed in the Senate on March 15, 2012. Noteworthy • On Thursday, March 15, 2012, Senator Reid filed cloture on H.R. 3606, Jumpstart Our Business Startups (the JOBS bill), and on two amendments.• H.R. 3606 passed the House 390-23 with overwhelming bipartisan support; Republicans supported it 232-0 and Democrats supported it 158-23.• H.R. 3606 increases the availability of capital for... Continue Reading