This week in the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate: Feb. 1 – Feb. 5, 2016
Congressional lawmakers are back in Washington after being disrupted by Winter Storm Jonas last week. Both chambers have full agendas and will be busy making up postponed votes and hearings due to the storm. House Schedule Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives is in session and will consider several bills under Suspension of the Rules. A full list of bills can be found here. Other legislation up for consideration this week: H.R. 3700: the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act. The bill modifies various housing laws to try to extend affordable housing options to more low-income families. It allows Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and the owners of private subsidized housing to verify the income-based eligibility of families through other needs-tested federal programs, modifies requirements regarding the inspection of housing units, eases Federal Housing Authority (FHA) requirements for mortgage insurance for condominiums and establishes a Special Assistant for Veterans’ Affairs within the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) to coordinate all HUD programs and activities relating to veterans. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None H.R. 3662: the Iran Terror Finance Transparency Act. The bill restricts the president’s ability to lift sanctions on Iranian and other financial institutions as called for by the Iran nuclear agreement. The House debated the bill on Jan. 13 and initially passed it by a 191-106 vote, but that vote was vacated because nearly 140 members missed the vote. Alabama co-sponsor(s): Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01); Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06) Overriding the president’s veto of H.R. 3762: Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act. The measure repeals numerous major provisions of Obamacare, including the individual and employer mandates, tax subsidies for individuals to purchase health insurance from exchanges and the expansion of Medicaid. It also effectively eliminates more than a dozen of the law’s taxes, including the medical device tax, the “Cadillac” tax and the net investment tax, and it blocks federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year. The Senate passed the measure on a 52-47 vote under the budget reconciliation process, while the House cleared it by a 240-181 vote. The president vetoed the measure Jan. 8. A two-thirds vote of both chambers is needed to override a veto. Alabama co-sponsor(s): N/A H.R. 1675: Encouraging Employee Ownership Act of 2015. The bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to conduct reviews of its existing regulations to determine whether any are outmoded, ineffective or excessively burdensome, and to modify or repeal rules based on those reviews. It also exempts certain firms that broker mergers and acquisitions from SEC registration requirements, increases the allowable size of privately held companies that may sell securities for certain purposes and exempts smaller companies from requirements that they use a certain technology in filing financial statements to the SEC. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None H.R. 766: the Financial Institution Customer Protection Act. The bill prohibits federal banking regulators from requesting that financial institutions terminate their relationships with specific customers or groups of customers unless the agency has a material reason for requesting that termination, and it restricts the conditions under which the Justice Department may conduct investigations involving financial institutions and seek civil penalties. The bill is a response to the Justice department’s Operation Choke Point that sought to protect consumers from unauthorized withdrawals by third-party payment processors acting as intermediaries for fraudulent merchants, which however some banks began to sever services with entire categories of lawful businesses. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None The House is not in session Friday. Highlights of what is happening in House Committees this week: Budget Views and Estimates: Budget season is heating up, with the House Small Business Committee, the House Select Intelligence Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, the House Financial Services Committee marking up their respective “Views and Estimates on the President’s FY2017 Budget” this week. More Budget: On Wednesday, the House Budget Committee will host a “Members’ Day” to allow members of the House to testify before the committee on the policy priorities they wish to see in the FY2017 budget resolution. And on Thursday, the House Budget Committee will hold a hearing on “The Congressional Budget Office’s Budget and Economic Outlook” featuring CBO Director Keith Hall. More information here. Prescription Drug Market: On Thursday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing titled “Developments in the Prescription Drug Market: Oversight.” Of note, Martin Shkreli, former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals LLC, may appear as a witness at the hearing. More information here. Flint, MI Drinking Water: On Wednesday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing titled “Examining Federal Administration of the Safe Drinking Water Act in Flint, Michigan.” More information here. Afghanistan: On Tuesday, the House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing titled “Afghanistan in 2016: The Evolving Security Situation and U.S. Policy, Strategy and Posture.” More information here. Paris Climate Agreement: On Tuesday, the House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing titled “Paris Climate Promise: A Bad Deal for America.” More information here. Refugee and Visa Security: On Wednesday, the House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing titled “Crisis of Confidence: Preventing Terrorist Infiltration through U.S. Refugee and Visa Programs.” More information here. School Choice: On Wednesday, the House Education and the Workforce Committee will hold a hearing titled “Expanding Educational Opportunity Through School Choice.” More information here. Education Information Security: On Tuesday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing titled “U.S. Department of Education: Investigation of the CIO” featuring Education Secretary John B. King, Jr. More information here. Economy: On Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing titled “Reaching America’s Potential: Delivering Growth and Opportunity for All Americans.” More information here. Military Acquisition Reform: On Wednesday, the House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing titled “Acquisition Reform: Starting Programs Well.” More information here. Veterans: House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold a hearing titled “Lost Opportunities for Veterans: An Examination of VA’s Technology Transfer Program.” More information here. E&W Markup: On Tuesday, the House Education and the Workforce Committee will markup of H.R.4293: the Affordable Retirement Advice Protection Act and H.R.4294: the Strengthening Access to Valuable Education and Retirement
Alabama Republicans vote to repeal Obamacare, send bill to President’s desk
The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives sent legislation to President Barack Obama Wednesday after voting to repeal his legacy health law in efforts to fulfill a 2014 promise to voters. H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, which will almost certainly be vetoed, passed the House 240-181, with the support of all six Republicans of the Alabama Delegation. The bill would effectively demolish the President’s signature Obamacare law by repealing the individual and employer mandates, repealing the medical device and “Cadillac” tax. It also eliminates federal funding for Planned Parenthood, and reduces the deficit by over $500 billion. Here’s what the Alabama delegation had to say of their votes: U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01): The President can choose to stand with the American people or he can stand against the American people. If he chooses to veto the bill, then the American people will have seen a clear choice between two very different Americas: an America where the government knows best or an America where the hardworking people are empowered. Let’s make the President decide. Let’s hold him accountable. Let’s do the work of our constituents. And let’s pass this bill on behalf of every American who lost their health care plan or saw their health costs increase. Let’s do this for them. U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02): Yes, President Obama can stop our Obamacare repeal reconciliation package from becoming law this year. But, he cannot stop the growing chorus of Americans unhappy with the higher costs and broken promises of his healthcare law. Their voices are being heard in Congress, where, finally, a majority in both the House and Senate are ready to end this failed experiment and deliver better, more workable healthcare policy. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03): After voting to repeal Obamacare numerous times in the House without the legislation going anywhere in the Senate, I am thrilled that today this bill has passed both chambers and will finally go to President Obama’s desk. H.R. 3762 not only repeals Obamacare, it defunds Planned Parenthood and reduces Federal deficits by an estimated $78.1 billion by 2025. The American people have been very clear in their priorities that this flawed health care law just does not work for them, that Planned Parenthood must not be a wholesale provider of abortions and government spending must be kept in check. Now, President Obama will have the opportunity to make a choice, stand with the priorities of Americans or stand against them by vetoing the repeal bill. U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04): This is the first time since Obamacare was forced on the American people in 2010 that a bill which actually repeals Obamacare will land on the President’s desk. For the first time, the President will have to sign the bill or veto it – no hiding behind comments about Congress. In these six years it has become clear Obamacare is a failed law. How do we know it has failed? Just look to the millions of families across our country that are struggling each month to pay higher premiums with huge out of pocket expenses for less coverage. It is not enough to try to play defense against the President’s failed policies; instead we will roll up our sleeves to craft tough legislation and take the fight to the White House. We must take the fight to the President — as only Nick Saban can win playing defense all the time. U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05) U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06): The House has voted to repeal Obamacare before, but because of opposition by Senate Democrats, it has never gone further. Now, through the reconciliation process, both bodies voted to repeal major components of Obamacare and send it to President Obama’s desk. I have no illusions about whether the President will sign the bill. But by putting this in front of him, Congress has proven it has the will and the ability to repeal Obamacare, and put that choice before the American people when it comes time to elect a new President. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07): The Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act is House Republicans’ 62nd attempt to undermine or repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We cannot afford to waste time on a bill that is destined for a veto, particularly when there are much more pressing issues facing our great nation. This bill is designed to take health insurance from 22 million uninsured Americans. It would cut the subsidies provided to low and middle income Americans living with diabetes and other diseases. Among its most dangerous provisions is a measure to repeal the Medicaid expansion. Alabama has yet to expand its Medicaid program, and my constituents are among those who have been hardest hit by state lawmakers’ inactions.
This week in the U.S. House of Representatives: Jan. 4 – Jan. 8, 2016
U.S. House lawmakers are back in Washington, D.C., this week to kick-off the second session of the 114th Congress. This week the GOP-led Congress will make good on a 2010 promise: voting to repeal and replace Obamacare. The House is expected to vote to concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3762: the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act. This reconciliation bill was previously considered in the House and later the Senate, where it was amended slightly requiring this return to the House for what is likely final consideration. The bill repeals or significantly modifies numerous major provisions of Obamacare, including repeals of the individual and employer mandates, tax subsidies for individuals to purchase health insurance from exchanges, the expansion of Medicaid, and the Prevention and Public Health Fund. It also effectively eliminates more than a dozen taxes included in the law, including the medical device tax, the “Cadillac” tax, the net investment tax, and the additional Medicare tax. Finally the bill blocks federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year and provides alternative women’s health funding for community health centers. House passage of the measure would clear it for President Barack Obama who has said he will veto it Alabama co-sponsor(s): N/A Additional legislation on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this week: H.R. 1155: the Searching for and Cutting Regulations That Are Unnecessarily Burdensome (SCRUB) Act. The bill establishes a nine-member commission to review existing federal regulations and identify those that should be repealed in order to reduce costs on the U.S. economy. Alabama co-sponsor(s): N/A H.R. 712: the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act. The bill requires the federal government to provide advance public notice when it plans to enter into discussions regarding consent decree or settlement agreement, allowing affected third parties to intervene in that process. It also requires federal agencies to file monthly status reports of their rule-making activities and requires that a 100-word summary of each proposed rule be posted online, along with the proposed rule itself. Alabama co-sponsor(s): N/A H.R. 1927: the Fairness in Class Action Litigation and Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act. The bill prohibits federal courts from certifying proposed classes of individuals for a class action lawsuit unless each member of the class has suffered the same type and degree of injury, and it requires quarterly reports by asbestos trusts of claims made against the trusts and any payouts made by the trusts for asbestos-related injuries. Alabama co-sponsor(s): N/A
U.S. House of Representatives: Oct. 19 – Oct. 23
It’s another chaotic week in the U.S. House of Representatives as there are three major developments to follow: After months of anticipation, Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton will testify before the House Select Committee on Benghazi that is investigating the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya on Thursday. The Republican caucus continues to struggle to fill the vacancy being left by Rep. John Boehner for the next Speaker of the House. Many Republicans hope Rep. Paul Ryan — the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman and the GOP’s 2012 vice presidential nominee — will step up and seek the gavel, but thus far he has not expressed interest in the position. The contentious debt ceiling debate continues as only 10 working days remain for lawmakers to come up with a plan to raise the limit by November 3 or risk America’s first-ever default, which could have catastrophic, global consequences. The House returns to session Tuesday and will consider several bills under suspension of the rules. A full list of bills can be found here. The remainder of the week the House will consider: H.R. 692, the Default Prevention Act. The bill allows protects the full faith and credit of the United States by guaranteeing that the Treasury department will continue paying off debt in the event the debt ceiling is reached. Alabama co-sponsors: Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02), Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05), Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06) H.R. 10, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Reauthorization Act. The bill is a legacy piece of legislation for outgoing Speaker John Boehner (R-OH). It reauthorizes the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship (voucher) Program for an additional five years, through FY 2021, under which federal funding is provided to eligible students in Washington, D.C., to allow them to attend private schools. It also updates the program to provide for greater student participation and to mandate greater accountability by the private schools that participate in the program. H.R. 1937, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act. The bill classifies domestic mining operations for strategic and critical minerals on federal lands as “infrastructure projects” in order to take advantage of a 2012 presidential order to federal agencies that eases the permitting process for infrastructure projects. H.R. 3762, Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act. The bill is a consolidated bill from provisions reported by three different House committees that repeals several elements of Obamacare including the individual mandate, the employer mandates, the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), the medical device tax, and the “Cadillac” tax. The bill also blocks federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year. Because the legislation was developed under reconciliation instructions included in the FY 2016 budget resolution, it will be protected from filibuster in the Senate and can be passed there by a simple majority.
