Martha Roby urges colleagues to strike “Obama’s Parting Gift to Planned Parenthood”
On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution that would overturn a last-minute Obama Administration rule designed to prevent states from defunding Planned Parenthood, but not before Alabama 2nd District U.S. Rep. Martha Roby made an impassioned plea to her colleagues to do so. Speaking on the House floor, Roby voiced her ardent support for House Joint Resolution 43, which would nullify a December 2016 Department of Health and Human Services rule mandating no state stop Title X public health dollars from flowing to abortion providers. “Congress must use its authority to strike this rule and stop the federal government from forcing states to funnel taxpayer money to abortion providers,” Roby said the House floor. “For Washington to attempt to coerce states into spending their federal dollars in certain ways is bad enough, but the fact that the Obama Administration circumvented Congress with this last-minute rule is outrageous.” Roby, who has long been outspoken about the need to stop taxpayer dollars from funding abortion clinics, offered her strong support for the measure to disapprove the Obama Administration rule, saying it is wrong on both process and policy. Roby explained Federally Qualified and Rural Health Centers are more plentiful and offer a wider range of services than abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. Noting that states have “every right” to redirect their Title X public health dollars to these non-controversial clinics. “If the true goal here was to ensure women’s health care, nobody should have a problem with that, but that wasn’t the goal, and everybody knows it. This rule is known as ‘President Obama’s parting gift to Planned Parenthood’ for good reason. It was a blatant attempt to preserve the pipeline of funding to the nation’s largest abortion business, and it was wrong.” HJ. Res. 43 was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 230-188. Watch Roby’s full speech below:
House unanimously approves Bradley Byrne bill supporting HCBU’s
Alabama’s 1st District U.S. Congressman Bradley Byrne reached across the aisle to North Carolina’s 12th District Congressman Alma Adams and introduced the bipartisan H.R.5530: HBCU Capital Financing Improvement Act last month. The bill will help improve infrastructure for our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) by improving access to and oversight of an existing program that enables HBCUs to improve their campuses to better serve their students. The bill quickly made it out of House Education and the Workforce Committee and made it to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Monday, where by a unanimous voice vote it was approved. “An important part of helping students succeed is making sure schools and institutions have what they need to serve them well. That’s exactly what H.R. 5530 will do,” said Rep. Byrne, a co-chair of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. “The bill reforms a program known as the HBCU Capital Financing Program. Congress created this program to provide Historically Black Colleges and Universities with low-cost capital they can use to make infrastructure improvements. It acts as a loan guarantee program so that these institutions can finance or refinance repairs, renovations, and construction on their campuses.” According to the Republican Policy Committee, H.R. 5530 would improve access to and allow for financial counseling in the Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU) Capital Financing Program by: Requiring institutions to pay into a “bond insurance fund,” rather than a pooled escrow account as in current law, to better reflect the purpose of the withheld funds; Authorizing the Secretary of Education to provide financial counseling to eligible institutions to prepare them to qualify, apply for, and maintain a capital improvement loan; and Requiring the program’s Advisory Board to provide an annual report to Congress, giving an overview of all the loans awarded by the program, the status and financial condition of at least 10 institutions participating in the program, and any administrative and legislative recommendations they may have for improving the program.
This week in the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate: July 11-15, 2016
The U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate are both in session this week for a very busy legislative schedule. After this week, both chambers will take an extended break for both the Republican and Democratic national party conventions as well as the August recess through the Labor Day holiday. U.S. House of Representatives On Monday, the House is in session and will consider a robust package of 24 bills under Suspension of the Rules. A full list of bills can be found here. Among these bills is a House amendment to H.R. 636: Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016, which represents an agreement to extend the FAA and federal aviation programs through FY 2017. The current FAA authorization expires on July 15. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None Also, H.R. 5588: Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2016. This bill authorizes the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for veterans. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None For the balance of the week, the House is expected to consider the following: H.R. 5538: The Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY 2017. The bill provides a total of $32.1 billion in net discretionary spending, almost 1 percent less than current funding and 3 percent less than requested by the president. It increases funding for the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service but cuts funding for EPA, the Bureau of Land Management, Office of Surface Mining, and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None S.304: The Conscience Protection Act of 2016. The bill prohibits the federal government, as well as state and local governments, from penalizing, retaliating against, or otherwise discriminating against a health care provider because the provider does not provide or sponsor abortion coverage. It provides for a complaint process and civil actions for any violations through the HHS and Justice departments. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None H.R. 5119: The No 2H2O from Iran Act. The bill prohibits federal funds from being used to purchase heavy water from Iran, or to issue licenses to purchase heavy water. Alabama co-sponsor(s): 6th District U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer H.R. 5631: The Iran Accountability Act. The bill expands and strengthens existing sanctions against Iran related to its ballistic-missile program, support for international terrorism, and its ongoing record of human rights abuses against its own population. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None Senate Amendment to the House Amendment to S.764: Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Labeling Requirements. The House is expected to consider Senate-passed legislation directing the Agriculture Department to issue nationwide rules for determining which foods should be labeled as genetically modified. The bill offers food companies the option of on-label disclosure, the use of a symbol developed by the Agriculture Department, or electronic bar codes that consumers can scan with their smartphones. Alabama co-sponsor(s): N/A U.S. Senate The Senate is in session and may take further procedural votes on the House-passed H.R. 5293: The Department of Defense Appropriations bill for FY 2017. Due to Democratic opposition the measure, which was reported unanimously by the Appropriations Committee, failed to achieve the necessary 60 votes of support during a Senate vote last week. Alabama co-sponsor(s): N/A House-passed FY 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations conference report, which also serves as the vehicle to provide funding to combat the Zika virus. Other legislation, namely the FAA extension, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations conference report, which also serves as the vehicle to provide funding to combat the Zika virus, as well as the conference report to S. 524 to combat opioid abuse are also likely.
Yeas and Nays – How Alabama delegation voted this week: 6/24/16
Here’s a look at how the Alabama delegation voted on major issues in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate this week: House votes Much of the U.S. House of Representative’s legislative schedule was postponed due to the House Democrats’ “sit-in” protest. A vote on overriding the president’s veto of H. J. Res. 88, a resolution that disapproves the rule issued by the Labor Department on April 8, 2016, commonly known as the fiduciary rule on retirement investment advice, which subjects broker-dealers who oversee retirement investments to the fiduciary standard under which they must provide investment advice that is in the best interest of the investor “without regard to the financial or other interests” of the financial institution, adviser or other party. A two-thirds vote of both chambers is needed to override a veto; the House originally passed the measure by a 234-183 vote, while the Senate originally cleared it by a 56-41 vote. The president vetoed the measure June 8. Passed House 239-180, but the vote failed to override a presidential veto. Yea: Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01); Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02); Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03); Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04); Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05); Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06) Nay: Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) Conference Report to H.R.2577, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2017. The conference report would provide $82.5 billion in discretionary funding in fiscal 2017 for the Veterans Affairs Department, military construction and military housing. It also would provide $1.1 billion in funding to combat the Zika virus, with roughly $750 million in offsets. Passed House 239-171. Yea: Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01); Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02); Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03); Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04); Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05); Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06) Nay: Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) Next week the House is in recess and will be back in session on Tuesday, July 5. Senate votes The Senate only voted on amendments this week and passed no legislation. The Senate is scheduled to be in session next week.
Terri Sewell, House Democrats stage sit-in demanding gun law vote
In the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting and subsequent failed gun legislation in the U.S. Senate earlier this week, Democratic lawmakers, including Alabama’s 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, brought the business of the U.S. House of Representatives to a screeching halt Wednesday, staging a sit-in to demand a vote on gun control legislation. Shortly after the House gaveled in for a day of regular business, civil rights icon and Georgia-Democrat John Lewis entered the chamber, stood at a podium and called on his colleagues to join him for an old-fashioned sit-in reminiscent of the 1960s civil rights movement. Lewis pledged along with more than 40 of his fellow lawmakers to remain on the House floor until legislation is brought forward to halt the killings brought forth by firearms. “We have been too quiet for too long,” Lewis said on the House floor. “There comes a time when you have to say something. You have to make a little noise. You have to move your feet. This is the time.” In a letter to Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan announcing the protest, Lewis said, “Over the last 12 years, gun-related crimes claimed more American lives than AIDS, war and illegal drug overdoses combined. We urge you to lead the House into action and work with both sides of the aisle to pass common-sense solutions to keep American children and families safe.” Thirty minutes after the sit-in began House Republicans, who control the floor proceedings, quickly declared the sit-in out of order and immediately called a recess at noon. This automatically turned off the cameras that usually provide live coverage to the public via C-SPAN, leaving lawmakers to take broadcasting the event into their own hands, as they quickly took to social media using the hashtag #NoBillNoBreak to draw national attention to their efforts. Alabama’s Rep. Sewell is one of the many lawmakers tweeting the event from the House floor. Sewell said she joined her colleagues to pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting and all those who have lost their lives or loved ones to senseless gun violence. I am in good company during this sit-in on the House floor! We are demanding a vote on reform bills. #NoBillNoBreak pic.twitter.com/rQrtn8VITt — Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) June 22, 2016 “Congress has repeatedly failed to pass gun safety measures that would protect our communities while preserving the rights of responsible gun owners,” said Sewell in a news release. “While I am a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, I believe that strengthening background checks, eliminating gun show loopholes, and preventing potential terrorists from acquiring assault weapons will not limit the rights of lawful gun owners to protect and defend themselves.” Sewell continued, “Make no mistake; this is not an attempt to take guns away from law-abiding citizens — these are common-sense gun safety measures. We must set aside party politics and work together in the best interests of our nation to reduce gun violence and senseless killings.” “The rising tide of gun violence continues to claim far too many lives. It’s time for Congress to act. I urge my colleagues to take up gun safety measures that will protect our families and our communities. We cannot continue to mourn these tragedies without doing all we can to prevent them.” Now in it’s sixth hour, the sit-in continues.
House passes Terri Sewell’s bill to rename Selma post office after civil rights legend Amelia Boynton Robinson
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Tuesday to officially name a Selma USPS post office after the late civil rights legend Amelia Boynton Robinson. H.R. 4777, a bill authored by Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, next goes to the Senate for approval. A time frame for passage there is uncertain. The bill would designate the post office at 1301 Alabama Avenue in Selma as the “Amelia Boynton Robinson Post Office Building.” Boynton Robinson was a voting rights pioneer and a leader in the American Voting Rights Movement in Selma. She was among those beaten during the voting rights march across Selma’s Edmund Pettus bridge in March 1965 — a day that became known as “Bloody Sunday.” In 1990 she was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Freedom. Boynton Robinson died Aug. 26, 2015, at 104 years old. “I was delighted that the House of Representatives passed my legislation to name the Selma Post Office after Voting Rights Activist Amelia Boynton Robinson,” said the bill’s sponsor Rep. Sewell. “Mrs. Boynton Robinson was known as the matriarch of the voting rights movement. Her life and legacy epitomized strength, resilience, perseverance and courage — the same characteristics that embody the City of Selma where she made such a significant impact.” Sewell continued, “A trailblazer, Amelia Boynton Robinson also made history in 1964 as the first black woman to run for Congress from the State of Alabama. I know the journey I now take as Alabama’s first black congresswoman was only made possible because of her courage, tenacity and faith. As a daughter of Selma, I am honored to sponsor this legislation, and I can think of no more deserving person to name the Selma post office after than Amelia Boynton Robinson. She truly represents the heart, spirit and essence of Selma.” Mayor George Evans of Selma was also pleased to see the bill pass the House, stating, “I am delighted that Congresswoman Sewell’s bill passed with such overwhelming support. Amelia Boynton Robinson put herself and her family’s lives at risk and this is a long overdue honor and I am in support of naming the post office after her.”
Mike Rogers votes to delay EPA rule to protect America’s job creators
The GOP-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill delaying an Obama administration rule setting stricter limits on ozone standards The bill, H.R. 4775: the Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2016 — approved 234-177 — allows states to pursue cost-effective and practical implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency‘s (EPA) ozone standards. It also protects public health while ensuring practical implementation issues are addressed in an achievable way. “The legislation passed today would delay more EPA regulatory burdens placed on our job creators,” Rogers said in a statement. “This bill also would require EPA Administrator McCarthy to consider feasibility when revising any National Ambient Air Quality Standards, a requirement that will halt out-of-control rule making by the EPA. This bill is a common sense way to fight against the President’s costly environmental agenda and I was pleased to support it.” Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA sets standards for criteria pollutants, including ground-level ozone. EPA established updated ozone standards in 2008, but did not publish implementing regulations for the 2008 standards until March 2015, and states are just beginning to implement those standards. In October of 2015 EPA revised these standards and states are now faced with the prospect of trying to implement overlapping ozone standards.
Terri Sewell to co-chair Congressional Voting Rights Caucus
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, Alabama’s lone Democratic in Congress, can add another title to her already impressive resume: co-chair of the newly formed Congressional Voting Rights Caucus. Created in response to the alleged voter suppression tactics enacted by states since the Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act in its 2013 Shelby v. Holder decision, the Caucus held its first press conference Tuesday to announce its formation. According to the caucus’ website, it will work to “help educate the public about their rights as voters, advance legislation that blocks current and future suppression tactics and brainstorm creative ways to bring our election process into the 21st Century.” “A democracy means nothing w/o every American having the same access to the ballot box,” Sewell said on Facebook after the press conference. Co-chaired by Sewell and U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of Texas, the caucus already boasts 49 members, including well-known Democratic U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas and Elijah Cummings of Maryland.
This week in the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate: May 23 – 27, 2016
Both chambers are in session this week. U.S. House of Representatives On Monday, the House is in session and will consider several bills under Suspension of the Rules. A full list of bills can be found here. Among these bills is: H.R. 4889: the Kelsey Smith Act. This bill requires mobile phone service providers to provide call location information to law enforcement when the device has been used to call “911” for emergency assistance Alabama co-sponsor(s): None. Background: named after Kelsey Smith, who in 2007 was abducted from a parking lot in Kansas. While a search for her began immediately, law enforcement encountered difficulty in obtaining location information from her cell phone provider. After four days of searching, police located her body within 45 minutes of finally receiving the data. Kelsey had been murdered the night she was abducted. H.R. 4167: the Kari’s Law Act. This bill requires all multiline telephone systems to be able to dial “911” without the need to dial an additional number. Alabama co-sponsor(s): Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01); Mo Brooks (AL-05) Background: named after Kari Rene Hunt, who in 2013 was murdered by her estranged husband. She agreed to meet her husband at a local motel to leave their children with him for a short visit. At the meeting, her husband attacked her. Kari’s daughter, then 9 years old, attempted to dial 911 from the room phone. However, the phones required the user to dial “9” before dialing “911” and she was unable to reach a 911 dispatcher. The House will also consider several suspension bills focused on veterans, including H.R. 5286: the VA Construction & Lease Authorization, Health & Benefits Enhancement Act, which enhances various veterans benefits and authorizes the construction of a number of VA facilities; H.R. 3956: the VA Health Center Management Stability and Improvement Act; H.R. 2460: a bill to improve the provision of adult day health care services for veterans; and H.R. 3989: the Support Our Military Caregivers Act. The House will also consider H.R. 5077: the Intelligence Authorization for FY 2017 under suspension. For the remainder of the week, the House is expected to consider the following: H.R. 897: the Zika Vector Control Act. This bill prohibits EPA or a state government from requiring a permit for the use of registered pesticides near navigable waters. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None. House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2576: the TSCA Modernization Act. The House will consider legislation that updates the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and is intended to better enable EPA to regulate existing and new chemical substances. The measure requires EPA to make determinations regarding the safety of chemicals without regard to cost or non-risk factors, and it establishes key points in the evaluation and regulatory process where EPA may order testing. It also expands EPA’s ability to collect and use fees, and it protects state laws from federal pre-emption under certain circumstances. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None. H.R. 5233: the Clarifying Congressional Intent in Providing for D.C. Home Rule Act. The bill repeals a District of Columbia law that had modified D.C.’s home rule charter to allow for locally generated funds to be spent without congressional approval, and it modifies the 1973 D.C. Home Rule Act to further specify that all city funding is subject to Congress’ annual appropriations process. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None. H.R. 5055: the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY 2017. The bill provides a total of $37.4 billion in funding subject for FY 2017 for the Energy Department and federal water projects, $259 million more than comparable FY 2016 funding and $168 million more than requested. Compared with current funding, it increases funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, nuclear weapons activities and fossil fuels energy but cuts funding for nuclear nonproliferation programs, the Bureau of Reclamation and renewable-energy programs. Numerous amendments are expected during consideration of the bill on the House floor. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None. House amendment to S. 2012: the Energy Policy Modernization Act. The House is expected to consider an alternative to the Senate energy bill, which passed the Senate on April 20 by an 85-12 vote. Among other things, the Senate-passed bill would expedite the federal approval process for liquefied natural gas exports, streamline the approval process for electric transmission lines, increase cybersecurity protections for the electricity grid, and expedite the licensing process for hydropower projects. It would also authorize funds for increasing energy conservation in federal data centers, establish voluntary national building codes and improve energy efficiency in both the manufacturing and commercial sectors. Motion to go to conference on S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act. After the House adopts its modifications to the Senate-passed energy bill, the House is expected to vote on a motion to go to conference with the Senate. On Friday, the House is not in session. Highlights of what is happening in House Committees this week: Budget Season: The House Appropriations committee continues its FY17 hearing and markup slate, a full schedule can be found here. IRS Commissioner Misconduct: On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing titled “Examining the Allegations of Misconduct Against IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, Part 1.” More information here. Puerto Rico: On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House Natural Resources Committee will hold a markup of H.R.5278, the “Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act.” More information here. Welfare Reform: On Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing titled “Moving America’s Families Forward: Setting Priorities for Reducing Poverty and Expanding Opportunity.” More information here. Science Markup: On Tuesday, the House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a markup of the “Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Modernization Act of 2016.” More information here. Veterans: On Tuesday, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on legislation to establish a permanent Veterans Choice Program; and H.R.5083, the “VA Appeals Modernization Act of 2016.” More information here. Small Business: On Tuesday and Thursday, the House Small Business Committee will hold two part hearing titled “The Sharing Economy: A Taxing Experience for New Entrepreneurs.” More information here.
Richard Shelby named a model of courage in the Senate on AFFH defund
Alabama Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby received high praise Thursday by the Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning after Shelby, along with Utah Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, worked diligently to pass an amendment proposed to the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) appropriations bill. Introduced by Sen. Lee, the amendment would prohibit implementation of the HUD regulation “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” (AFFH) that conditions $3 billion of yearly community development block grants on 1,200 recipient cities and counties rezoning neighborhoods along income and racial guidelines. Despite their best efforts, the amendment was tabled by a vote of 60 to 37. “Americans wonder what is going wrong with the system in Washington, D.C., where senators seem more interested in playing paddy cake with President Obama and his radical agenda rather than standing up and fighting it,” said Manning. “Unfortunately, too many of [their] Republican colleagues were more afraid of the race hustlers who seek to put low-income high-rise apartments into middle-class neighborhoods, and the Lee amendment failed.” Manning continued, “Here is the truth. Local zoning only determines what can be built where, not who can live there. Senator Lee and Senator Shelby’s willingness to stand up for local control over our nation’s zoning laws demonstrates once again that they are some of the few who match what they say back home with what they do in Washington, D.C.” All hope is not lost for proponents of the Lee amendment. Companion language has been once again introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by. U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar from Arizona. “The good news is that the House has passed the exact same language as offered by Lee the past two years with support ranging across the conference’s ideological divide, so there is still a chance for stopping Obama’s HUD madness,” Manning explained. “In the meantime, every citizen should find out if their city or county are one of the 1,200 local governments which take community development block grants.”
This week in the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate: Apr. 25 — 29, 2016
Both chambers are in session this week and are scheduled to adjourn at week’s end for a one-week district work period. U.S. House of Representatives On Monday, the House meets in pro forma session. On Tuesday, the House is in session and will consider several bills under Suspension of the Rules including: H.R. 1684: the Foreign Spill Protection Act. This bill would allow the federal government to recover the costs for oil spill cleanup activities from foreign entities owning or operating offshore facilities located further out to sea than the boundary of the exclusive economic zone (200 miles) of the United States H.R. 4698: the Securing Aviation from Foreign Entry Points and Guarding Airports Through Enhanced Security Act. This bill seeks to strengthen security screening at foreign airports that have non-stop flights to the U.S. H.R. 3583: the PREPARE Act. This bill includes numerous provisions intended to improve the Homeland Security Department’s and Federal Emergency Management Administration’s (FEMA) emergency preparedness and response programs and activities. A full list of bills that will be considered under suspension can be found here. Also on the House floor this week: H.R. 4901: the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Reauthorization Act. The bill reauthorizes for five years, through FY 2021, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) program, under which federal funding is provided to eligible students in Washington, D.C., to allow them to attend private schools, and it modifies the program to provide for greater student participation and to mandate greater accountability by the private schools that participate in the program. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None H. J. Res. 88: a joint resolution to disapprove of the Labor Department’s Fiduciary Rule. The resolution disapproves the rule issued by the Labor Department on April 8, 2016, commonly known as the fiduciary rule on retirement investment advice, that subjects broker-dealers who oversee retirement investments to the fiduciary standard, under which they must provide investment advice that is in the best interest of the investor “without regard to the financial or other interests” of the financial institution, adviser, or other party. Alabama co-sponsor(s): Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01) Highlights of what is happening in House Committees this week: Budget season: The House Appropriations Committee continues its FY17 hearing slate, a full list of those hearings can be found here. NDAA: On Wednesday, the House Armed Services Committee will markup the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). More information can be found here. E&C markups: The House Energy & Commerce Committee will hold multiple markups this week. More information is available here. TSA oversight: On Wednesday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing titled “Examining Management Practices and Misconduct at TSA.” More information here. Small businesses: On Wednesday, the House Small Business Committee will hold a hearing titled “S is for Savings: Pro-Growth Benefits of Employee-Owned S Corporations.” More information here. Homeland security oversight: On Thursday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing titled “Criminal Aliens Released by the Department of Homeland Security.” More information here. EPA and Pebble Mine: On Thursday, the House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing titled “Examining EPA’s Predetermined Efforts to Block the Pebble Mine, Part II.” More information here. Asia: On Thursday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing titled “America as a Pacific Power: Challenges and Opportunities in Asia.” More information here. U.S. Senate The Senate is in session and expected to continue consideration of its FY17 Energy and Water appropriations legislation. Highlights of what is happening in Senate Committees this week: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program: On Tuesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing to examine the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2017 and the Future Years Defense Program. More information here. China: On Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing to examine United States-China relations, focusing on strategic challenges and opportunities. More information here. Small business regulations: On Wednesday, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will hold a hearing to examine the controversial waters of the United States rule and the case for reforming the Renewable Fuels Association. More information here. ISIL: On Thursday, the Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing to examine counter-ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) operations and Middle East strategy. More information here.
This week in the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate: Apr. 18 – 22, 2016
With taxes due Monday, it’s fitting the U.S. House of Representatives will consider several bills dealing with the IRS this week. On Monday and Tuesday, the House is in session and will consider several bills under Suspension of the Rules including: H.R. 4903, which permanently prohibits the use of funds by the IRS to target U.S. citizens for exercising their First Amendment rights. H.R. 4284: the Service Provider Opportunity Clarification Act. This bill aims to improve the regulations regarding government contracts and small business subcontractors H.R. 3714: the Small Agriculture Producer Size Standards Improvements Act. This bill seeks to improve agriculture enterprises’ access to Small Business Administration (SBA) programs. A full list of bills that will be considered under suspension can be found here. Also on the House floor this week: H.R. 4885: the IRS Oversight While Eliminating Spending (OWES) Act. The bill makes Internal Revenue Service (IRS) spending of the user fees it collects subject to the annual appropriations process, thereby blocking the IRS from spending collected user fees unless Congress provides for such spending in appropriations acts. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None. H.R. 1206: the No Hires for the Delinquent IRS Act. The bill prohibits the IRS from hiring any new employees until the Treasury Department certifies that no IRS worker has serious tax delinquencies. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None. H.R. 3724: the Ensuring Integrity in the IRS Workforce Act. The measure prohibits the IRS from rehiring former employees who were previously removed or terminated for misconduct. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None. H.R. 4890: the Ban IRS Bonuses Until Customer Service Strategy is Developed act. The bill bans the payment of bonuses to IRS employees until the agency develops a comprehensive customer service strategy. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None. On Friday, the House is not in session. Highlights of what is happening in House Committees this week: Budget Season: The House Appropriations committee continues its FY17 hearing slate, a full list of those hearings can be found here. NDAA: The House Armed Service Committee’s subcommittees begin consideration of their respective portions of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) this week. A full committee markup is expected next week. A full list of subcommittee markups can be found here. Endangered Species: On Tuesday, the House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing titled “Recent Changes to Endangered Species Critical Habitat Designation and Implementation.” More information here. Veterans Health Care: On Tuesday, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold a hearing titled “A Continued Assessment of Delays in Veterans’ Access to Health Care.” More information here. Foreign Affairs Markup: On Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a markup of H.R.1150, the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2015; H.R.3694, the Strategy to Oppose Predatory Organ Trafficking Act; H.R.4939, the United States – Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016; H.Con.Res.88, Reaffirming the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances as the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations; S.284, the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act; and S.2143, to provide for the authority for the successors and assigns of the Starr-Camargo Bridge Company to maintain and operate a toll bridge across the Rio Grande near Rio Grande City, Texas. More information here. Transportation Markup: On Wednesday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a markup of the General Services Administration Capital Investment and Leasing Program Resolutions; legislation to designate the federal building at 99 New York Avenue NE, in the District of Columbia as the “Ariel Rios Federal Building”; and H.R.4937, the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016. More information here. Small Business: On Wednesday, the House Small Business Committee will hold a hearing titled “Small Business and the Federal Government: How Cyber-Attacks Threaten Both.” More information here. Puerto Rico: Further consideration of the “Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act” by the House Natural Resources Committee is also possible this week. Meanwhile the U.S. Senate will endeavor to wrap up consideration of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill this week. Following the FAA reauthorization bill, the Senate is expected to resume work on S. 2012: the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015. Floor consideration of this bipartisan legislation will include eight amendments by roll-call vote and 29 by voice. America’s national energy policy has not been updated since 2007. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None. Highlights of what is happening in Senate Committees this week: Drug trafficking. On Tuesday, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing to examine preventing drug trafficking through international mail. More information here. Water supply. On Wednesday, the Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing to examine new approaches and innovative technologies to improve water supply. More information here. Tax code: On Wednesday, the Joint Economic Committee will hold a hearing to examine our complex tax code and the economy. More information here. Border Protection: On Thursday, the Finance Committee will hold an oversight hearing to examine the Customs and Border Protection agency. More information here.
