Weekly Bill Round Up: June 29
Round Up: Week of June 25 - 29
Here's what POPVOXnation weighed in on this week, and a look at what happened in Congress, from our "Hill Sources." Thanks for using POPVOX!
Holder resolutions
The House approved two resolutions finding Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt for what it found to be a failure to supply the House with requested documents related to the Fast and Furious gunwalking operation.
One un-numbered resolution refers the charge to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for prosecution under the criminal contempt statute. This resolution was approved 255-67, a lower-than-usual vote total because most Democrats boycotted the vote.
The other, HRes 706, gives House Republicans the option of pursuing civil court judgments against Holder in an effort to force him to deliver subpoenaed documents to the House. This resolution was approved 258-95.
Highway, flood insurance, student loans
By Friday, the House and Senate are expected to approve a bill that extends federal highway spending through 2014, reauthorizes the federal flood insurance program, and extends the low interest rate for new student loans supported by the federal government.
House and Senate negotiators agreed to the package to ensure highway funding does not expire and the student loan rate does not rise by this weekend.
- HR 5972 The Transportation/Housing and Urban Development spending bill. The House was considering this bill this week, and could finish it Friday. It spends $51 billion in 2013.
- S 3187 The House and Senate have now passed this bill to reauthorize the Food and Drug Administration's drug and device user fee program, which helps pay for inspections and approvals.
Other non-controversial bills passed in the House this week
- HR 1447 The Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act
- HR 3173 directs the secretary of Homeland Security to reform the process for the enrollment, activation, issuance and renewal of a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) to require, in total, not more than one in-person visit to a designated enrollment center.
- HR 4005 The Gauging American Port Security Act
- HR 4223 The Safe Doses Act, boosting penalties against people who steal pharmaceuticals.
- HR 4251 The Securing Maritime Activities through Risk-based Targeting for Port Security Act
- HR 4850 The Enabling Energy Saving Innovations Act, which would ease federal rules requiring walk-in freezers to be made with certain insulation.
- HR 5625 The Collinsville Renewable Energy Promotion Act, reinstating licenses for renewable energy projects in Connecticut.
- HR 5843 Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to permit use of certain grant funds for training conducted in conjunction with a national laboratory or research facility.
- HR 5889 The Nuclear Terrorism Conventions Implementation and Safety of Maritime Navigation Act of 2012
- HR 2297 The Senate amendment to this bill which promotes the development of the Southwest waterfront in the District of Columbia.
Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.
