The POPVOX Blog

In the Senate

• S 3414 The Cybersecurity Act: This bill would aims to boost cybersecurity for the nation's financial, transportation and other systems. The Senate advanced the bill last week, and on Monday is scheduled to hold another procedural vote.

In the House

• HR 8 The Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act: This Republican bill extends all current tax levels for individuals and companies, which were first put in place under the Bush administration and were later extended under the Obama administration.
• S 3412 The Middle Class Tax Cut Act is a Democratic bill, which the Senate approved last week (number one on POPVOX). It would extend current tax rates for everyone except individuals earning more than $200,000 a year, or couples earning more than $250,000 a year.

  In the House this week, Republicans will allow a vote on a Democratic amendment that is expected to be similar to the Senate bill, although it is not expected to pass.

• HR 6169 The Pathway to Job Creation through a Simpler, Fairer Tax Code Act: This GOP bill would lay out a path for passage of a tax reform bill in 2013. Republicans have said the tax extension bill (HR 8) would serve as a "bridge" to significant tax reform next year.

  The bill prescribes a simplification of the tax code, creating two brackets for individual income and a simpler and reduced rate for corporations. It also recommends the elimination of many special interest tax breaks.

• Farm bill Farm program extension: The House is expected to pass a bill (it does not yet have a number) that extends federal farm programs for one year, as Republicans were unable to agree to a longer-term bill. The bill would also extend disaster aid for farmers for one year.
• HR 3803 The District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act: This bill would make it illegal to perform in the District of Columbia for a pregnancy of more than 20 weeks.

  Though the bill may be intensely debated on the Floor, it is unlikely to pass, given the 2/3 majority vote requirement for any bill brought under a "suspension of the rules." Given Democratic opposition, it is not expected to reach the two-thirds threshold.

In addition to the DC Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, there are 30 other bills that will be considered in the House next week under a suspension of House rules:

• HR 828 The Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act: to provide that persons having seriously delinquent tax debts shall be ineligible for Federal employment.
• HR 897 The Residential and Commuter Toll Fairness Act: to provide authority and sanction for the granting and issuance of programs for residential and commuter toll, user fee and fare discounts by States, municipalities, other localities, and all related agencies and departments.
• HR 1171 The Marine Debris Act Amendments
• HR 1550 The Federal Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention Act: to establish programs in the Department of Justice and in the Department of Homeland Security to help States that have high rates of homicide and other violent crime.
• HR 1627 The Honoring American Veterans Act: to furnish hospital care and medical services to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune, to improve the provision of housing assistance to veterans and their families.
• HR 1950 To enact title 54, United States Code, "National Park System", as positive law.
• HR 2139 The Lions Clubs International Century of Service Commemorative Coin Act: to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the centennial of the establishment of Lions Clubs International.
• HR 2446 The RESPA Home Warranty Clarification Act: to clarify the treatment of homeowner warranties under current law.
• HR 3120 The Student Visa Reform Act: to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to require accreditation of certain educational institutions for purposes of a nonimmigrant student visa.
• HR 3158 The Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act: to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to change the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure rule with respect to certain farms.
• HR 3187 The March of Dimes Commemorative Coin Act: to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition and celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the March of Dimes Foundation.
• HR 3641 The Pinnacles National Park Act: to establish Pinnacles National Park in the State of California as a unit of the National Park System.
• HR 3706 To create the Office of Chief Financial Officer of the Government of the Virgin Islands.
• HR 3796 The Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act: To reauthorize certain programs established by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.
• HR 4073 To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to accept the quitclaim, disclaimer, and relinquishment of a railroad right of way within and adjacent to Pike National Forest in El Paso County, Colorado, originally granted to the Mt. Manitou Park and Incline Railway Company pursuant to the Act of March 3, 1875.
• HR 4104 The Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act: to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition and celebration of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• HR 4273 The Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act: to clarify that compliance with an emergency order under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act may not be considered a violation of any Federal, State, or local environmental law or regulation.
• HR 4362 The STOP Identity Theft Act: to provide effective criminal prosecutions for certain identity thefts.
• HR 4365 To require accounts in the Thrift Savings Fund to be subject to certain Federal tax levies.
• HR 4606 To authorize the issuance of right-of-way permits for natural gas pipelines in Glacier National Park.
• HR 5797 The Mille Lacs Lake Freedom To Fish Act
• HR 6029 The Foreign and Economic Espionage Penalty Enhancement Act: to provide for increased penalties for foreign and economic espionage.
• HR 6062 The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program Reauthorization Act
• HR 6063 The Child Protection Act: to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to child pornography and child exploitation offenses.
• HCRes 127 Expressing the sense of Congress regarding actions to preserve and advance the multistakeholder governance model under which the Internet has thrived.
• S 270 The La Pine Land Conveyance Act: to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal land to Deschutes County, Oregon.
• S 271 The Wallowa Forest Service Compound Conveyance Act: to require the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into a property conveyance with the city of Wallowa, Oregon.
• S 300 The Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act: to prevent abuse of Government charge cards.
• S 679 The Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act: to reduce the number of executive positions subject to Senate confirmation.
• S 3363 To provide for the use of National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center Commemorative Coin surcharges.

Other bills of interest

Last week, the House passed two deregulation bills that were number four and five on POPVOX last week:

• HR 6082 The Congressional Replacement of President Obama's Energy-Restricting and Job-Limiting Offshore Drilling Plan
• HR 4078 The Regulatory Freeze for Jobs Act

These other bills also received attention from POPVOX users:

• HR 5872 The Sequestration Transparency Act: This bill, number nine on POPVOX, would require the Obama administration to report to Congress within 30 days on its plans to cut spending in January to comply with the so-called "sequester." The Senate passed this bill last week, and because the House has already approved it, it goes to the White House for President Obama to sign into law.
• HR 459 The Federal Reserve Transparency Act: This bill, from Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), would require a full audit of the Federal Reserve, including its decisions setting interest rates. It easily passed the House last week, but the Senate has not said whether it would consider the bill.

Missed a bill last week? Check out the round up.

(If you'd like this alert emailed to you directly once a week, please send me an email at rachna@popvox.com.)

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.