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Articles Tagged weekly-update, page 1

  1. The Week Ahead for Congress: Feb. 11 - 15

    by rachna on February 10, 2013

    Bills before Congress

    From our Hill Sources: On Tuesday, President Obama will deliver the State of the Union Address to a joint-session of Congress. Throughout the week, both chambers will consider a handfull of bills:

    In the House

    Members will also take up four suspension bills, which require a two-thirds majority vote for passage:

    In the Senate

    • S 47 The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act: This bill reauthorizes the VAWA program. Senate leaders reached an agreement last week on amendments, and may be able to finish work on amendments and pass the bill by Tuesday.

      Republicans oppose language allowing native American courts to have jurisdiction over non-Indians in domestic abuse cases. They say it could violate the Constitutional rights of Americans. A GOP proposal to amend the language was rejected. Several other Republican proposals may be considered this week. Last year, the House and Senate approved separate versions of a Violence Against Women Act reauthorization, but were never able to agree on how to reconcile these two versions. House Republicans say they are continuing to work with Democrats in Congress and with the Obama administration to finish this work this year.

    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.

  2. The Week Ahead for Congress: Feb. 4 - 8

    by rachna on February 3, 2013

    Bills before Congress

    From our Hill Sources: The House and Senate are in for just part of the week, but each will work on major legislation while they're in.

    In the House

    The House is in from Monday to Wednesday, and will consider:

    In the Senate

    The Senate is in Monday, and will start work on:

    • S 47 The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act: This bill reauthorizes the popular VAWA program but makes several changes that contributed to delays in passing this bill in Congress last year. The Senate bill extends various protections under the law to Indian, LGBT and immigrant communities, which were not included in a bill House Republicans supported last year.

      The Senate will hold a procedural vote on this bill Monday. The Senate breaks Tuesday and Wednesday, but more work on the bill is expected Thursday and Friday.

    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.

  3. The Week Ahead for Congress: Jan. 28 - Feb. 1

    by rachna on January 27, 2013

    Bills before Congress

    From our Hill Sources: The House is out, but the Senate is in all week and is expected to pass a bill providing disaster aid for people affected by Hurricane Sandy. Here's what to expect from the Senate:

    In the Senate

    • HR 152 The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act: The House has already passed this bill, and the Senate seems ready to pass it this week. It lets the government spend $50.7 billion on various programs to help New York, New Jersey and Connecticut recover from Sandy. The Senate will vote on an Republican amendment to offset the cost of the bill with spending cuts.

    • HR 325 The No Budget, No Pay Act: This bill suspends the debt ceiling until the middle of May, and also requires the House and Senate to pass a budget by mid-April, under threat of withholding the pay of members of Congress.

      According to our Hill Sources, Senate Democrats seem to favor this bill as a short-term way to avoid a debt ceiling fight. Democrats say they will pass the House bill and the Obama administration has indicated it would sign the bill. The Senate has not set a date for a vote on this bill as of the weekend, but debate and a vote could happen by the end of the week.

      Find bills related to the debt ceiling and federal budget in this Issue Spotlight.

    • S 47 The Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization: In the last Congress, both the House and Senate approved different versions of this bill, which were never reconciled into something that could pass both Houses and be signed into law by the President. According to our Hill Sources, Democrats have indicated they want to get to this bill in the near future, to ensure VAWA is reauthorized.

    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.

  4. The Week Ahead for Congress: January 21 - 25

    by rachna on January 20, 2013

    Bills before Congress: January 21 - 25

    From our Hill Sources: The House and Senate are both in for a short work week, due in large part to Monday's inauguration of President Obama.

    Monday's Schedule: Members will arrive at the Capitol as early as 9 a.m. Monday morning, and both President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will be sworn in just before noon. Obama's second inauguration speech is scheduled to start promptly at noon.

    Once the festivities are over, both chambers will start work Tuesday on a handful of bills. In the House, look for work on:

    • HR 325 Debt limit extension legislation: After holding a retreat in Virginia last week, Republicans have decided to move a bill (HR 325) that would raise the statutory debt ceiling for another three months. The House Republican plan is to make a longer-term debt ceiling agreement contingent on Senate passage of a budget — the Senate has not passed one in nearly four years.

      The bill is also expected to withhold the pay of members of Congress in the event that Congress cannot pass a budget. Democrats criticized the GOP plan as a "gimmick", but Republicans see the bill as an opportunity to engage the Senate on an ongoing debate about the budget and spending levels.

      Find bills related to the debt ceiling and federal budget in this Issue Spotlight.

    • HR 273 Eliminating a pending pay increase for federal workers. (This is a House Republican response to President Obama's Executive Order calling for a pay increase for federal workers starting in late March.)
    • HR 307 Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act: To reauthorize certain programs under the Public Health Service Act and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to public health security and all-hazards preparedness and response. (This is a bill the House approved late last year to reauthorize various government programs that help keep the US prepared for biological threats. It was easily approved last year, and the House will likely approve it again on Tuesday, sending it onto the Senate.)

    The Senate is expected to consider:

    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.

  5. The Week Ahead for Congress: Jan. 14 - 18

    by rachna on January 13, 2013

    Bills before Congress: January 14

    From our Hill Sources: The Senate is out this week, but the House meets Monday to start work on a few bills related to Hurricane Sandy relief.

    • SandyThe Sandy Recovery Improvement Act: The House will start on this bill from Rep. Jeff Denham, which would make several reforms to the way the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) distributes disaster aid. For example, it would allow FEMA to make grants to states earlier in the process, based on damage estimates. It also makes permanent a program that creates financial incentives for the speedy removal of storm debris. The bill has support from both Republicans and Democrats, and should pass easily. (The bill hasn't been introduced yet, but you can read bill text on the House Republican Majority website.
    • HR 152 The Disaster Relief Appropriation Act: This is the $17 billion Sandy relief bill that House Republicans promised to consider this week. Republicans will allow a vote on an amendment that would add another $33.7 billion to the bill, which should prompt substantial opposition from House Republicans. Dozens of Republican amendments to the bill are also expected that would scale back the size of the bill. The bill is in addition to a $9.7 billion Sandy relief bill approved earlier in the month.

    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.

  6. The Week Ahead for Congress: Dec. 17 - 21

    by rachna on December 16, 2012

    Bills before Congress: December 17

    From our Hill Sources: Congress is back for another week, and will consider dozens of bills as members await an agreement on the fiscal cliff.

    • NDAAThe National Defense Authorization Act: The House and Senate may pass a final conference agreement on this bill this week. The House bill is HR 4310, and the Senate bill is S 3254.

    The Senate

    In addition to the NDAA, the Senate has plans to work on:

    • HR 1 This bill was an appropriations bill for the Department of Defense, but Senate Democrats are using it as a vehicle for the Hurricane Sandy Emergency Assistance Supplemental bill. According to Hill Sources, The bill reflects the Obama administration's request for more than $50 billion in funding for Sandy relief. Senate Democrats are hoping to pass this bill before the end of the year.

    The House

    The House will take up several suspension bills during the week, in addition to the National Defense Authorization Act (HR 4310).

    (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.

  7. The Week Ahead for Congress: Dec. 10 - 14

    by rachna on December 9, 2012

    Bills before Congress: December 10

    From our Hill Sources: The House and Senate are still waiting for a deal on the fiscal cliff, and will pass the time by considering several bills that are not seen as controversial.

    The Senate

    The Senate has plans to work on at least one bill:

    The House

    On Tuesday, the House will vote on a Motion to go to Conference on the National Defense Authorization Act (HR 4310), along with a Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees.

    The House could also work on up to eight suspension bills:

    (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.

  8. The Week Ahead for Congress: Dec. 3 - 7

    by marci on December 2, 2012

    Bills before Congress: December 3

    From our Hill Sources: Congress returns for the first of two scheduled work weeks in December. With no deal in sight to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff," both the House and Senate are set to focus on other topics:

    The Senate

    The Senate is in session beginning Monday. It will take up:

    • S 3354The National Defense Authorization Act: According to Hill Sources, The Senate made significant progress on this bill last week, by disposing of dozens of amendments. On Monday, the Senate will hold a vote to end debate on the bill, and could pass the bill by the end of the week.)
    • UNThe Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Last week, the Senate debated the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. On Tuesday, the Senate is expected to vote on this treaty, which commits signatories to ensuring equal rights and accessibility for people with disabilities. The UN treaty vote requires a two-thirds majority. 

    The House

    The House has a short week, and will only work until Wednesday on up to eight suspension bills:

    • HR 5817The Eliminate Privacy Notice Confusion Act, which eases annual privacy policy notice requirements for banks that take certain steps to ensure customer privacy. This bill would eliminate a requirement that bank notify their customers each year about their privacy policies. Under the bill, banks would only have to notify changes in these policies to their customers.
    • HR 6223 Amending current law so that time served abroad by certain U.S. officials will be counted as time served in the United States for purposes of qualifying for naturalization.
    • HR 6582 Amending the American Energy Manufacturing Act to allow manufacturers to use alternative technology to meet energy efficiency goals.
    • HR 6602 Making technical changes to U.S. code dealing patriotic and national observances and ceremonies.
    • HR 6605 Eliminating a reporting requirement for an unfunded DNA identification grant program.
    • HR 6620 Eliminating some limitations on the length of Secret Service Protection for former Presidents and for the children of former Presidents.
    • S 2367The 21st Century Language Act, which eliminates the word "lunatic" from US code.
    • S 3486The Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act, which amends patent law to implement the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs, and the Patent Law Treaty. Both treaties were ratified by the Senate in 2007.

    Dec. 3, 2012 9:20 AM ET: This post was updated to add a description for H.R. 5817 and to correct the votes required to ratify the UN treaty. (An earlier post incorrectly stated that 60 votes were needed.)

  9. The Week Ahead for Congress: Nov. 26 - 30

    by rachna on November 25, 2012

    Bills before Congress: November 25

    From our Hill Sources: The House and Senate are coming back this week after Thanksgiving recess. Here's what to expect from Congress.

    The Senate

    The Senate is in session beginning Monday. It will take up:

    • S 3525The Sportsmen Act: to protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting.(Senate vote this week. According to Hill Sources, elements of this bill are supported by Republicans, but the Senate version has language that would appropriate new money for implementation, and the GOP has put forward a budget point of order against the bill for that reason. Late Monday afternoon, the Senate will vote to waive that point of order. If the vote is successful, the Senate will move immediately to a vote on passage of the bill.)

    The House

    The House returns Tuesday and will work on:

    (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.

    Updated 11/25 9:50 PM ET: This post was changed to remove a reference to a Senate vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act. (The Senate calendar for 11/26 lists a point of order on that bill, but no vote is scheduled.)

  10. The Week Ahead for Congress: Nov. 13 - 16

    by rachna on November 13, 2012

    Bills before Congress: November 13

    From our Hill Sources: The House and Senate are finally back after a long recess! There's a lot on the table for this Lame Duck Session. Here's what's expected to move this week.

    The Senate

    The Senate will take up:

    • S 3525The Sportsmen Act: to protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting.(Senate vote this week.)

    The House

    The House will take up:

    • HR 6156The Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act: To authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to products of the Russian Federation and Moldova and to require reports on the compliance of the Russian Federation with its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization (House vote this week.)
    • HR 6190The Asthma Inhalers Relief Act: To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to allow for the distribution, sale, and consumption in the United States of remaining inventories of over-the-counter CFC epinephrine inhalers. (House vote this week.)
    • HR 6371The Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act: To transfer certain functions from the General Accountability Office to the Department of Labor relating to the processing of claims for the payment of workers who were not paid appropriate wages under certain provisions of such title. (House vote this week.)
    • S 1956The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act: To prohibit operators of civil aircraft of the United States from participating in the European Union’s emissions trading scheme (House vote this week.)
    • HR 6586 To extend the application of certain space launch liability provisions through 2014 (House vote this week.)
    • HR 6570 To amend the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to consolidate certain CBO reporting requirements (House vote this week.)
    • HR 6116 To amend the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to provide for direct appeals to the United States Supreme Court of decisions of the Virgin Islands Supreme Court, as amended (House vote this week.)
    • HR 5934The Stop Tobacco Smuggling in the Territories Act: To include certain territories and possessions of the United States in the definition of State for the purposes of chapter 114, relating to trafficking in contraband cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. (House vote this week.)

    (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.

  11. The Week Ahead for Congress: Sept. 17 - 21

    by rachna on September 16, 2012

    Bills before Congress: September 17 - 21

    From our Hill Sources: Congress starts work on Wednesday because of the Jewish New Year, and when it ends on Friday, the House and Senate are not expected to be in until after the November election.

    That means any legislation that Congress might consider related to the expiration of tax cuts in January 2013 and required spending cuts under the "Sequester" will not be taken up until the four weeks of the "Lame Duck" session planned for late November and December.

    The House will take up several "suspension bills" and will consider a bill reallocating visas to foreign nationals with advanced science degrees. The Senate will take up the short-term spending bill (continuing resolution).

    Congress might also consider a bill extending U.S. farm programs, which expire at the end of the month. There was some talk of a three month extension, but as of Friday, House leaders had not released legislation.

    The Senate

    The Senate will take up:

    • HJRes 117 The six-month spending resolution for 2013. The House passed this bill last week, and it is the only must-pass bill of the week. It funds the government through late March, and reflects the agreement by House and Senate leaders to keep the government operating through the elections to avoid any talk of a government shut-down.
    • S 3457 The Veterans Jobs Corps Act: The Senate worked on this bill all last week, which creates a $1 billion job training program for veterans. It is unclear whether it can be completed this week due to Minority demands that some amendments are considered.

    The House

    • STEM Jobs The STEM Jobs Act: this bill, from Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), eliminates the diversity lottery green card program and reallocates up to 55,000 green cards a year to new green card programs for foreign graduates of U.S. universities with advanced STEM degrees.
    • HJRes 118 A joint resolution that disapproves of the Department of Health and Human Services rule that allows states to apply for waivers from certain aspects of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) law. (Under the Congressional Review Act.)
    • HR 3409 The Stop the War on Coal Act: puts limits on federal environmental regulations on the coal industry.

    The House will also take up more than two dozen suspension bills, which will receive less debate time but will require a two-thirds majority for passage. They are:

    (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.

  12. The Week Ahead for Congress: Sept. 10 - 14

    by rachna on September 9, 2012

    Bills before Congress: September 10 - 14

    From our Hill Sources: After a long August break and two presidential nominating conventions, the House and Senate return this week. The primary focus will be to pass a "continuing resolution," a bill that funds the federal government through next March and avoids a government shutdown before the November elections.

    The continuing resolution (no text available as of Sunday) is not expected to face opposition, since the leaders of the House and Senate, and the White House, agreed to this course of action before leaving for the summer. The continuing resolution could pass by the end of the week.

    The Senate

    The Senate will take up:

    The House

    The House has a full agenda this week, including a Republican proposal to terminate the pending "Sequester" for defense spending (no bill number yet). The Sequester is the result of the Supercommittee's failure last year to agree on $3.8 trillion in deficit reduction. Without an agreement, the Budget Control Act, which created the Supercommittee, mandates cuts to social programs and defense. The vote this week will attempt to roll back defense cuts.

    The House now has just 13 more days in session planned before the November elections, and aside from the continuing resolution, little else in the way of major legislation is expected. The House finished the summer by passing HR 6079, the Repeal of Obamacare Act (number 3 on POPVOX last week), but the Senate will not consider it, and that bill is likely to be the last healthcare repeal bill until November.

    Other bills to be considered under a rule this week are:

    In addition, the House will take up several suspension bills, which will likely be approved after very short debate throughout the week:

    POPVOXnation Priorities

    The top two pieces of legislation on POPVOX last week are also unlikely to advance this year:

    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.

     

  13. August Recess Update: They've left town...but there's a lot left on the table.

    by rachna on August 7, 2012

    Recess Update: Aug. 7

    From our Hill Sources: Last week was a busy one on the Hill. (Missed the action? Check out the round up.) Yet a lot of important issues have been left on the table. Here's a look at the issues still pending before Congress.

    Spending Bills

      Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker John Boehner agreed on a 6-month Continuing Resolution to extend current spending levels until March 2013. This agreement has been getting mixed reviews from Appropriators.

    Cybersecurity

    VAWA Reauth

    The Violence Against Women Act has not been reauthorized. The House and Senate have each passed a version, but haven't resolved the differences in the two bills:

    Postal Service

    On Aug. 1, the USPS defaulted on a $5.5 billion payment to the Treasury, with another $5.6 billion payment due in September. According to reports, the USPS now loses about $25 million per day, but these losses are not expected to derail mail delivery in the short-term. Postal reform legislation is pending in Congress:

    Farm Bill

    Every five years, Congress passes legislation setting national agriculture, nutrition, conservation and forestry policy. This "Farm Bill" was last passed in 2008, and expires in 2012.

    Russia Trade

    Russia is set to join the World Trade Organization on August 22, and unless Congress removes curent trade restrictions, US businesses will not be able to take advantage of lowered trade barriers that will accompany Russia's entrance into the WTO.

    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.

  14. The Week Ahead for Congress: July 30 - Aug 3

    by rachna on July 29, 2012

    Bills before Congress: July 30 — August 3

    From our Hill Sources: This is scheduled to be the last week of work in Congress before members take the August break. The House is expected to pass a Republican tax plan, and the Senate will try to make progress on a cybersecurity bill.

    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:

    Other bills of interest

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

    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.

  15. Mid-Week Update, July 26

    by rachna on July 26, 2012

    Mid-week Update, July 26

    Here's the mid-week update from our Hill Sources. (Yes, it's Thursday, so not technically "mid-week," but Congress has been busy...and so have our Hill Sources!)

    • S 3412 The Middle Class Tax Cut Act: In a surprise move, the Senate approved this Democratic bill Wednesday, after Republicans allowed its approval by a simple majority vote. The bill would extend the lower tax rates established under the Bush administration, but only for individuals earning less than $200,000, and couples earning less than $250,000.

        The Senate barely approved it in a 51-48 vote, with Vice President Joe Biden presiding, in case his vote was needed to break a tie. Just before, the Senate rejected a Republican amendment to extend all Bush-era tax levels, including those for high-income earners. The House is not expected to take up the bill.

        Senate passage puts pressure on the House to approve some tax bill, which it plans to do next week. The House is expected to approve a bill extending all tax rates for another year, which could set up a House-Senate conference later in the year.

    • S 3414 The Cybersecurity Act, which aims to boost protection from cyberattacks against the Internet and various industries and government agencies that rely on secure connections. The Senate will hold a procedural vote on this bill later this week.
    • HR 459 The Federal Reserve Transparency Act: This legislation from Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul would require an audit of all the Fed's activities, including its monetary policy decisions. The House approved this bill easily in a 327-98 vote.
    • HR 5872 The Sequestration Transparency Act: This bill requires the Obama administration to report to Congress on its plans to start cutting spending under the "sequester" early next year. The House has already approved it, and the Senate approved it Wednesday, sending it to the White House.
    • HR 6082 The Congressional Replacement of President Obama's Energy-Restricting and Job-Limiting Offshore Drilling Plan: The Obama Administration announced its proposed 2012-2017 offshore lease plan on June 28th, which under federal law, began a mandatory 60-day Congressional review. This bill to override the Obama plan passed Wednesday. The GOP bill would expand lease sales for oil and gas exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf in an attempt to encourage more production of domestic energy.

        The House rejected another bill, HR 6168, which reflects the Obama administration's five-year plan.

    • HR 4078 The Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act: Among other things, this bill would block major federal regulations until unemployment falls to 6 percent or less, and would also prevent outgoing presidents from imposing new rules between the election and inauguration day. The House was expected to approve this bill Thursday.
    • HCRes 134 Colorado shooting: The House is expected to approve a resolution marking last week's movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado that killed 12 and wounded 58.

    The House approved several other bills this week:

    The House also voted down two bills:

    • HR 2362 The Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act.
    • S 2039 Would allow North Dakota to construct levees on open space lands.

    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.

  16. The Week Ahead for Congress: July 23 - 27

    by rachna on July 22, 2012

    Bills before Congress: July 23 - 27

    From our Hill Sources: The Senate will consider a bill reflecting President Obama's proposal extending middle class tax cuts at the end of the year and allowing rates to rise for people with higher incomes.

    In the Senate

    • S 3412 The Middle Class Tax Cut Act: This bill would keep current tax rates for anyone earning less than $250,000, but allow rates to increase above that income level, and also set a 20 percent cap on capital gains and dividend taxes.

        The bill is supported by Democrats and opposed by Republicans. The Senate may spend a good part of the week trying to figure out how to move the bill ahead. Overriding Republican opposition may require Democrats to allow the GOP to debate and vote on their own amendment to the bill that keeps current tax levels for people at all income levels. Senate consideration of this bill is expected to follow House consideration next week of a Republican bill to maintain all current tax levels.

    In the House

    These bills are expected to pass the House this week, along with several other bills:

    Other bills of interest

    The top two bills on POPVOX last week are both stuck in the Senate, and are both reactions to recent Supreme Court rulings:

    • S 3369 The Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act: The Senate tried to move this bill last week, but were thwarted by Senate Republicans who oppose it. The bill would require all entities to report campaign spending to the government once it reaches $10,000. Democrats saw the bill as a response to the Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case.
    • HR 6079 The Repeal Obamacare Act: The House approved this bill earlier this month, and sent it to a Senate that is likely to ignore it. The GOP bill was a reaction to the Supreme Court's June decision in favor of the 2010 healthcare law.

    These other bills also received attention from POPVOX users:

    • HR 5872 The Sequestration Transparency Act: This bill (number four on POPVOX last week), was approved by the House last week by an overwhelming 414-2 vote. The bill requires the administration to report to Congress on how it plans to cut spending in 2013 in line with last year's debt ceiling agreement, which calls for $1.2 trillion in cuts over the next decade.

        Both sides have said they want to rework the sequester, which will make cuts to both defense and social spending starting in January. But Republicans and Democrats so far have been unable to reach any agreement for doing so.

    • HR 5856 The 2013 Department of Defense Appropriations bill: The House passed this legislation (number 15 on POPVOX) last week; it spends $606 billion on the Defense Department and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a cut of about $27 billion.
    • S 3364 The Bring Jobs Home Act (number 14 on POPVOX): The Senate last week tried to advance this bill, which would create a tax incentive for companies that bring jobs back to the United States. However, Republicans blocked it in a procedural vote.

    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.

  17. Mid-week Update, July 18

    by rachna on July 18, 2012

    Mid-week Update, July 18

    Here's the mid-week update from our Hill Sources.

    • S 3393 The Middle Class Tax Cut Act, from Sen. Harry Reid: Introduced Tuesday, this Senate Democratic bill would extend the 2001/2003/2009 tax levels for income below $250,000, but would allow taxes to increase above that level. It would also reimpose the estate tax, and set a 20 percent capital gains tax rate for high-income earners.

        The bill reflects President Obama's call allow rates to increase on higher-income earners; while Republicans oppose any tax increase. House Republicans are expected to push through a bill maintaining current rates later this month.

    • S 3369 The DISCLOSE Act, which would require groups to report campaign spending to the government above $10,000.

        The Senate tried twice to advance this bill this week, but Senate Republicans did not support it and it failed to gain the 60 votes required to advance.

    • S 3364 The Bring the Jobs Home Act: This bill would restructure tax incentives to encourage companies to "insource" jobs back to the United States.

        The Senate could hold a procedural vote on this bill by Thursday.

    • HR 5856 The Defense Appropriations Act: The House is likely to approve this bill Friday.
    • HR 5872 The Sequestration Transparency Act: This bill, expected to be approved Wednesday, would require the administration to issue a report to Congress on its plans for dealing with the spending "sequester," required under last year's debt-ceiling agreement.

    The House approved a handful of bills on Tuesday:

    • HR 6018 To authorize appropriations for the Department of State for fiscal year 2013.
    • S 1959 The Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act, requiring a report from the administration on whether this group should be designated as a terrorist organization.
    • S 2009 The Insular Areas Act, adjusting policies in U.S. island territories.
    • S 2039  To allow a State or local government to construct levees on certain properties otherwise designated as open space lands.
    • S 2165 The US-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act: This bill strengthens U.S.-Israel military ties, and also expands a decade-old loan guarantee program for Israel.

    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.

  18. Bills before Congress: July 16 - 20

    by rachna on July 15, 2012

    Bills before Congress: July 16 - 20

    From our Hill Sources: The House will try to pass a Defense Department spending bill for 2013, while the Senate will try to advance a small business tax bill.

    In the House

    • HR 5856 The Defense Appropriations Act: This bill cuts total defense spending by about $25 billion from current levels, mostly reflecting less spending in Afghanistan and Iraq. Base-level funding for DOD itself would increase slightly. The House is expected to work on this bill for the bulk of the week with a vote on Friday.
    • HR 5872 The Sequestration Transparency Act: House Republicans will bring this bill to the Floor in the middle of the week, in an effort to require the Administration to report on how it proposes to slash more than $100 billion in spending in 2013. That cut is required under the so-called "Sequester," which Congress approved last year as a way of forcing $1.2 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade.

        House Republicans have already approved a bill that would alter the Sequester by avoiding Defense Department cuts, and continue to pressure the Obama administration to support similar alterations.

      • Several other bills will also be considered in the House this week:

    • HR 6018   To authorize appropriations for the Department of State for fiscal year 2013.
    • S 1959 The Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act requires a report on the designation of the Haqqani Network as a foreign terrorist organization.
    • S 2009 The Insular Areas Act improves the administration of programs in the insular areas.
    • S 2039  To allow a State or local government to construct levees on certain properties otherwise designated as open space lands.
    • S 2165 The US-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act enhances strategic cooperation between the United States and Israel.

    In the Senate

    • S 3369 The DISCLOSE Act: This is the second Democratic bill meant to address the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case. That ruling said the government cannot limit campaign spending by corporations, unions and other groups. (See other bills related to Citizens United.)

        The bill would require these groups to report aggregate campaign spending of $10,000 to the government. In 2010, Democrats sought to require reporting of all spending above $600, but their bill failed to move in the Senate. The Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote on the new bill on Monday.

    Other bills of interest

    • HR 6079 The Repeal of Obamacare Act: The House approved this bill 244-185 last week, with the help of five Democrats. But as expected, the bill is already "last week's news," as the Senate is not expected to consider it at all.
    • S 1789 The 21st Century Postal Service Act: This bill, number nine on POPVOX, would give the U.S. Postal Service the flexibility to restructure its finances to help it stop losing millions of dollars each day. The Senate passed it in April.

        The House has indicated it is unlikely to move any related legislation before the August recess. House Republicans oppose the Senate bill as something that would increase the deficit further, and favor proposals to let the USPS close offices that are not profitable.

        Without movement by Congress, some version of the House GOP plan will likely come to pass anyway, as the USPS has said it will soon need to begin shuttering offices.

    • S 2237 The Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act: This bill, number 11 on POPVOX, would give companies a tax credit of up to $500,000, but it stalled in the Senate last week, as Republican opposition blocked it in a procedural vote.

    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.

  19. Mid-Week Update, July 11

    by rachna on July 11, 2012

    Mid-week Update, July 11

    Here's the mid-week update from our Hill Sources.

    • HR 6079 The Repeal of Obamacare Act, from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.): The House debated this bill Tuesday, and after a bit more discussion, approved it on Wednesday in a 244-185 vote. Five Democrats joined Republicans in the final vote.

        The bill is essentially dead once the House passes it, as the Democratic Senate will not take it up. But the GOP has insisted on a vote after the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the healthcare law in late June.

    • S 2237 The Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act: This bill cleared a procedural hurdle Tuesday, and the Senate seems likely to formally proceed to the bill sometime on Thursday.

        The bill would give companies a tax break of up to $500,000 if they spend $5 million more on salaries this year than they did last year. Senate Democrats have put forward this bill as a way to reward companies that add workers to their payrolls this year.

    The House has passed several other bills this week:

    • HR 4114 The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, which boosts compensation rates for disabled veterans.
    • HR 4155 The Veteran Skills to Jobs Act, which would ease training requirements for veterans seeking federal jobs.
    • HR 4367 To amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. This bill eliminates the requirement that ATM machines bear a physical label warning of possible fees. Banks say people have scrapped off these stickers and then sued financial institutions under a law that allows for fines of up to $500,000 per violation.
    • HR 5892 The Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act, which is aimed at encouraging the development of small hydropower plants.
    • S 2061 The Former Charleston Naval Base Land Exchange Act, which facilitates a land exchange between the federal government and South Carolina.

    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.

  20. Bills before Congress: July 9 - 13

    by rachna on July 8, 2012

    Bills before Congress: July 9 - 13

    From our Hill Sources: The members of the House and Senate are back in town--and it's going to be a busy week. The House will focus on repealing the 2010 healthcare law this week, while the Senate will try to advance a bill that gives companies a tax break for hiring workers.

    In the House

    • Obamacare The Repeal of Obamacare Act, from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), would simply repeal the 2010 healthcare law. It's the GOP response to the Supreme Court ruling on the law. The House is expected to pass the bill on Wednesday, although the Senate is not expected to take it up.
    • HR 4402 The National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act is aimed at streamlining the process for approving mining rights, and addressing what many see as an increasingly U.S. reliance on imported rare earth minerals that are key to manufacturing and national security.

      • Several non-controversial bills will also be considered in the House this week:

    • HR 4114 The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act increases, effective as of December 1, 2012, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans.
    • HR 4155 The Veteran Skills to Jobs Act directs the head of each Federal department and agency to treat relevant military training as sufficient to satisfy training or certification requirements for Federal licenses.
    • HR 4367  Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to limit the fee disclosure requirement for an automatic teller machine to the screen of that machine.
    • HR 5892 The Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act improves hydropower.
    • HR 6019 The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization and the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act enhances the use of Juvenile Accountability Block Grants for programs to prevent and address occurrences of bullying and to reauthorize the Juvenile Accountability Block Grants program.
    • S 1959 The Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act requires a report on the designation of the Haqqani Network as a foreign terrorist organization.
    • S 2061 The Former Charleston Naval Base Land Exchange Act provides for an exchange of land between the Department of Homeland Security and the South Carolina State Ports Authority.

    In the Senate

    • S 2237 The Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act (number six on POPVOX), would reduce corporate taxes on the first $5 million in wages paid in 2012 over 2011.

        The Senate will hold a procedural vote on this bill Tuesday afternoon.

    Other bills of interest

    The Supreme Court ruling in favor of the healthcare bill prompted the introduction of several bills to repeal the law, none of which appear likely to advance because of the pending House vote on Cantor's bill.

      Three of these similar bills made the top of POPVOX's most-commented list last week:

    • HR 6053 The NObamacare Act repeals the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health-related provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 not declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court from Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.).
    • HR 6048 The Healthcare Tax Relief and Mandate Repeal Act amends the tax code to repeal the individual and employer health insurance mandates, from Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) and more than 100 other cosponsors.
    • HR 6054 The NObamacare Funds Act prohibits funding to implement any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or of the health-related provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, from Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.).

    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.

(For media inquiries, please contact Marci Harris, POPVOX’s CEO, at info@popvox.com.)

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