From our Hill Sources: It’s a busy week! The Senate will work on funding federal defense and intelligence programs (NDAA). The House will work on labeling of meats, taxing Internet access and body cameras on police officers. Also, it’s Appropriations season!

Agriculture and Meat

The House this week will vote on two bills from the Agriculture Committee:

Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act (HR 2393)

Sponsor: Rep. Michael Conaway (R-TX) To repeal country of origin labeling requirements for beef, pork, and chicken. Country of origin labeling requirements are administered by the Department of Agriculture and require a retailer to inform consumers of the country of origin of a covered commodity. (Read bill text)

According to the House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), this bill would “bring the US into compliance with WTO rules. Without immediate action, businesses from every sector of the economy could face retaliation from Canada and Mexico that could cost the US economy billions.”

Commodity End-User Relief Act (HR 2289)

Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Michael Conaway (R-TX) “Would authorize appropriations to operate the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) through 2019 and to make changes in some of the agency’s operating procedures. The bill also would amend the Commodity Exchange Act to provide greater protections for customer funds held by entities that broker transactions in commodity futures and to relax requirements on certain participants in swap transactions. (A swap is a contract that calls for an exchange of cash between two participants, based on an underlying rate or index or on the performance of an asset.) (Source: CBO) (Read bill text)

According to the House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), this bill would “reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This bill will ensure that businesses can effectively use the derivatives market to manage their risk, enhance consumer protections, and protect job creators from unfair regulations.”

Taxing Internet Access

The House will also vote on a bill that would renew the existing ban on taxing Internet access:

Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act (HR 235)

Sponsor: Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) —Bipartisan— “Keeps the Internet affordable and drives innovation by banning access taxes permanently. If the moratorium is not renewed or made permanent, the potential tax burden on Americans would be substantial. It is estimated that Internet access tax rates could be more than twice the average rate of all other goods and services – and the last thing that Americans need is another tax bill on their doorsteps,” according to the House Judiciary Committee. (Read bill text)

From our Hill Sources: Original legislation that temporarily banned Internet access taxes, the Internet Tax Freedom Act, was first enacted in 1998 and extended five times with bipartisan support. The most recent extension expires on October 1, 2015.

Intelligence Funding Authorization

The House may also consider a bill to authorize funds for the federal intelligence program:

Intelligence Authorization Act, 2016 (HR 2596)

Sponsor: Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) “This legislation provides the Intelligence Community authorization needed to protect and defend the United States. It supports critical national security programs such as those protecting Americans against terrorism and cyberattacks. The total funding authorized by the bill is consistent with the Budget Resolution and the Budget Control Act, balancing fiscal discipline and national security,” according to the House Intelligence Committee. The legislation:

• Sustains critical capabilities to fight terrorism and counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
• Funds efforts to recover from unauthorized disclosures of intelligence capabilities.
• Sustains activities in Afghanistan and Iraq to continue the fight against ISIS, al Qaeda, and the Taliban.
• Invests in the resiliency of our national security space architecture.
• Provides policy direction on sensitive intelligence operations.
• Promotes intelligence integration and sharing through investment in Intelligence Community-wide information technology enterprises.
• Enhances investments in military intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft.
• Funds initiatives to thwart cyberattacks and insider threats.
• Requires a report every 60 days on foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq.

(Read bill text)

According to the House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), this bill “provides the intelligence community with the authorization it needs to protect and defend the United States. It supports critical national security programs, such as those protecting Americans against terrorism and cyber attacks. The total funding authorized by the bill is consistent with the Budget Resolution and the Budget Control Act, balancing fiscal discipline and national security.”

Appropriations

It’s Appropriations Season in Congress! The Congressional budget resolution allocates the maximum amount of funding for all discretionary federal initiatives in every fiscal year. It’s the appropriators who determine how much actual funding is dedicated for each discretionary initiative, which constitutes about one-third of the federal budget. There are 12 appropriations bills organized by agencies and focus. This week, the House will consider:

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 (HR 2577)

Sponsor: Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) “In total, the bill reflects an allocation of $55.3 billion in discretionary spending – an increase of $1.5 billion above fiscal year 2015 and $9.7 billion below the President’s budget request. However, given reduced offsets – primarily caused by a $1.1 billion decline in Federal Housing Administration receipts – the bill actually represents an increase of only $25 million above the current level. Within the legislation, funds are targeted toward transportation, infrastructure, and housing programs of national need and significance that have the biggest impact on Americans and communities across the country,” according to the House Appropriations Committee. (Read bill text)

Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016 (HR 2685)

Sponsor: Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) “The legislation funds critical national security needs, military operations abroad, and health and quality-of-life programs for the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. In total, the bill provides $578.6 billion in discretionary funding, an increase of $24.4 billion above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $800 million above the President’s request. This includes $88.4 billion in Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) funding for war efforts and related costs, which is within the level assumed in the House and Senate budget conference agreement,” according to the House Appropriations Committee. (Read bill text)

From our Hill Sources: The House Appropriations Committee also adopted an amendment to the bill stating a sense of Congress that “Congress has a constitutional duty to debate and determine whether or not to authorize the use of military force against ISIL.” The amendment was offered by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA).

Also in the House…

United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act (HR 2088)

Sponsor: Rep. Don Young (R-AL) “Would reauthorize the United States Grain Standards At of 1916, which gave the federal government authorization to establish official marketing standards for grains and oilseeds and provided procedures for grain inspection and weighing. Most of the act is permanently authorized, including mandatory inspection and weighing of exported grain, as well as authority to amend grain standards of quality. However, serveral provisions expire on September 30, 2015,” according to the House Agriculture Committee. (Read bill text)

Mandatory Price Reporting Act (HR 2051)

Sponsor: Rep. Michael Conaway (R-TX) To extend the livestock mandatory price reporting requirements. (Read bill text)

National Forest Foundation Reauthorization Act (HR 2394)

Sponsor: Rep. Glen Thompson (R-AL) “Will reauthorize the National Forest Foundation Act so the Foundation is able to have the resources to continue its work to ensure U.S. national forests and grasslands are maintained,” according to the House Agriculture Committee. (Read bill text)

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act (HR 889)

Sponsor: Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) “Bolsters the ability of U.S. museums and schools to borrow foreign government-owned artifacts and artwork from other cultures around the world. The legislation would encourage governments to loan many of their most treasured pieces of art and artifacts for public viewing in the United States. This goodwill partnership between nations of the world would allow for U.S. institutions to feature major pieces from around the world, while assuring foreign governments that their loans would not subject them to litigation in U.S. courts,” according to the House Judiciary Committee. This bill also contains an exception for cultural property taken during the Nazi era. (Read bill text)

Resolution Supporting Police Body Cameras (HRes 295)

Sponsor: Rep. Al Green (D-TX) Resolution supporting local law enforcement agencies in their continued work to serve our communities, and supporting their use of body worn cameras to promote transparency to protect both citizens and officers alike. (Read resolution text)

In the Senate

This week, the Senate plans to finish working on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would require wrapping up the lengthy amendment process. The NDAA is an amendment magnet in the Senate because it is one of the few bills that makes it through the entire legislative process.

National Defense Authorization Act (HR 1735)

Sponsor: Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) The comprehensive legislation to authorize the budget authority of the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy. The bill authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) Procurement, including aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, space procurement, and other procurement; (2) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; (3) Operation and Maintenance; (4) Working Capital Funds; (5) the Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund; (6) Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction; (7) Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities; (8) the Defense Inspector General; (9) the Defense Health Program; (10) the Armed Forces Retirement Home; (11) Overseas Contingency Operations and; (12) Military Construction.

The bill also authorizes the FY2016 personnel strength for active duty and reserve forces and sets forth policies regarding military personnel, compensation and other personnel benefits, acquisition policy and management, DOD organization and management, financial matters, naval vessels and shipyards, civilian personnel matters, and matters relating to foreign nations. (Read bill text)

More than 300 amendments have been offered, including:

• Senator Rand Paul’s (R-KY) Amendment No. 1543, “Bonus for Cost Cutters”: allows US government agency’s inspector general to pay a bonus of up to $10,000 when a federal employee identifies surplus or unneeded funds; 90% of those savings go towards deficit reduction.
• Senator Rand Paul’s (R-KY) Amendment No. 1680: would require President Obama to declassify and make available to the public the redacted 28 pages from the Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks of September 2001.
• Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-NY) Amendment No. 1578, the Military Justice Improvement Act: to ensure that the survivors of military sexual assault have access to an unbiased military judicial system.
• Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) Amendment No. 1539, that prohibits the Department of Defense from spending taxpayer dollars to honor American soldiers at sporting events. The amendment also encourages professional sports organizations that have accepted taxpayer funds in exchange for military tributes to return those profits as a charitable contribution to organizations that support members of the US armed forces, veterans, and their families.
• Senator Portman’s Amendment No. 1522: to authorize $371 million for the Army to research, develop and buy 81 Stryker armored combat vehicles with upgraded weapons systems.
• Senator Jack Reed's (D-RI) Amendment No. 1521, Overseas Contingency Operation (OCO) Account: fences off the additional $38 billion in OCO funds added to the president’s budget request, unless the budget caps are increased for both defense and non-defense spending.
• Senator John Cornyn's (R-TX) Amendment No. 1486: requires reporting on energy security issues involving Europe and the Russian Federation.
• Senator Michael Bennett's (D-CO) Amendment No. 1540: requires a GAO report on major Veterans Affairs medical facility projects.

(See the full list of amendments.)

From our Hill Sources: The Obama Administration has announced that the President may veto this bill in its current form. The Administration strongly objects to a number of provisions in the bill. In particular, "the President has been very clear about the core principle that he will not support a budget that locks in sequestration, and he will not fix defense without fixing non-defense spending," according to a White House statement.

— 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 a complex legislative system. —