From our Hill Sources: It's going to be a busy few weeks before the August Recess! Last week, the United States and other P5+1 countries came to an agreement with Iran limiting its nuclear program. Now the deal must be approved by Congress–and already there's a resolution introduced in Congress disapproving the agreement. 

Also last week, the House passed a five-month extension of the Highway Trust Fund, which funds federal surface transportation programs, and it now goes to the Senate for consideration. And, while the House was making progress in the Appropriations process, they hit a road block when an Approps bill was pulled from the floor due to a Confederate flag amendment. In addition, the House will also be voting on prohibiting GMO labeling and coal ash regulation.

Iran Nuclear Deal

Last week, the United States along with France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, and China signed a deal with Iran to substantially limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the removal of international sanctions. Now the deal goes to Congress for approval.

About the Deal

Under the new nuclear deal, “Iran has committed to extraordinary and robust monitoring, verification, and inspection,” according to the White House. “International inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will not only be continuously monitoring every element of Iran’s declared nuclear program, but they will also be verifying that no fissile material is covertly carted off to a secret location to build a bomb. And if IAEA inspectors become aware of a suspicious location, Iran has agreed to implement the Additional Protocol to their IAEA Safeguards Agreement, which will allow inspectors to access and inspect any site they deem suspicious. Such suspicions can be triggered by holes in the ground that could be uranium mines, intelligence reports, unexplained purchases, or isotope alarms.” (Learn more.)

From our Hill Sources: According to legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President in May, Congress must now review the deal—and decide whether to pass a resolution to disapprove the agreement. The entire process could take up to 82 days, and during that time, the President cannot lift sanctions on Iran until the review and voting period is over. The law also requires the Administration to provide detailed reports to Congress every 90 days to ensure that Iran is complying with the nuclear agreement.

Here’s how it will work, according to legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President in May: The White House has until Sunday—five days after the signing of the Iran deal—to deliver the agreement to Congress. Then, Congress has 60 days to review it, or until mid-September. (Keep in mind that Congress will be in recess from August 10 – Sept. 7.) Congress then has 12 days (by the end of September) to vote on a joint resolution approving or disapproving the deal. Or Congress could opt to do nothing.

If Congress passes a resolution disapproving the deal, the President could veto it. Congress would then have 10 days to override the veto, which would require a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and House. (If Congress were to override a veto, the President would lose his ability to waive sanctions on Iran, which would cause the current agreement to fall through.)

(Graphic from the White House.)

Resolution Disapproving the Deal

Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL), Chair of the House Republican Israel Caucus introduced legislation expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in disapproval of the agreement between the P5+1 and Iran. The resolution is “intended to build support for an expected vote on a formal joint resolution of disapproval in September.”

Resolution Disapproving the Iran Nuclear Agreement (HRes 367)

Sponsor: Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) “Sets the stage for the 60-day lead up to a vote on this agreement by allowing Members to express their disapproval of the accord. The unprecedented outpouring of support for this resolution proves that Congress will not rubber-stamp a deal that severely threatens the United States and our allies by paving Iran's path to a bomb.”

“This agreement fails on every level to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapons capability. Tehran is allowed to keep much of its nuclear infrastructure intact and rewarded an $150 billion cash infusion from sanctions relief. The so-called ‘anytime, anywhere’ inspections regime in reality provides Iran nearly a month's notice on inspections. And, in an unprecedented last-minute concession, the U.N. arms embargo and ban on ballistic missiles will be lifted in just a few short years. This is a bad deal, and it must be stopped,” according to the sponsor. (Read resolution text)

Appropriations and the Confederate Flag

As we’ve reported previously, the House had been making steady progress on individual appropriations bills for FY 2016. This Appropriations Season, the House passed Commerce, Justice and Science (HR 2578); Defense (HR 2685); Energy and Water (HR 2028); Legislative (HR 2250); Military and Veterans (HR 2029); and Transportation and HUD (HR 2577) appropriations bills.

Last week, House Leadership pulled the Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill (HR 2822) from the floor after a series of amendments were introduced regarding whether the Confederate battle flag should be displayed on public lands. On July 7, the House passed three amendments, introduced by Democrats, that would block the National Park Service from allowing private groups to decorate graves with Confederate flags specifically in cemeteries in Georgia and Mississippi and would bar the Park Service doing business with gift shops that sell Confederate flag merchandise. Then a Republican sponsored amendment was introduced essentially nullifying the passed amendments.

From our Hill Sources: The Interior Appropriations bill was pulled from the House floor—and some believe that House Democrats may keep introducing flag amendments on future appropriations bills.

Senate Democrats have blocked consideration of appropriations bills until a new budget agreement is negotiated that will mitigate the sequestration budget cuts since 2013. Congress aims to complete the appropriations process by the end of the fiscal year, September 30. If they don’t, then they’ll need to pass a short-term Continuing Resolution to prevent the government from shutting down.

Highway Trust Fund Extension

Both the Highway Account and the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund are nearing insolvency, according to the Department of Transportation. 

Based on current spending and revenue trends, the Department of Transportation estimates that the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund will encounter a shortfall before the end of fiscal year 2015. Based on current spending and revenue trends, the US Department of Transportation estimates that the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund will have a balance of approximately $0.2 billion at the end of FY 2015. (Learn more. Graphic from the DOT.)

With the Highway Trust Fund authorization set to expire on July 31, the House passed an extension through December 18. The legislation would provide $8 billion in new money – $5 billion from tax compliance measures, and $3 billion in reduced spending. The proposal does not include new revenues, and is partly funded by a two-year extension of passenger airport security fees collected by the TSA.

Highway and Transportation Funding Act, Part II (HR 3038) –Passed by the House—

Sponsor: Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) Extends the authorizations of the federal surface transportation programs as well as the hazardous materials transportation program and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act through Dec. 18, 2015. Funds the surface transportation programs at the level authorized for fiscal year 2014. Would transfer $6.068 billion from the General Fund to the HTF’s Highway Account, and would transfer $2 billion from the General Fund to the HTF’s Mass Transit Account. (Read bill summary.)  – Passed by the House; now goes to the Senate for consideration. —

From our Hill Sources: This is the 34th short-term extension in the last six-years—and many in Congress are urging that they work on a comprehensive long-term bill. In past decades, Congress routinely passed six-year surface transportation bills.

Related Bills

The Administration proposed a long-term transportation reauthorization bill:

Grow America Act (HR 2410)

(Generating Renewal, Opportunity, and Work with Accelerated Mobility, Efficiency, and Rebuilding of Infrastructure and Communities throughout America Act)

Sponsor: Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) This is the Administration’s long-term surface transportation reauthorization bill. Provides a total of $478 billion over six years, a 45 percent increase for highways, bridges, public transportation, highway safety, and rail programs.

According to the bill sponsors, over six years, the GROW AMERICA Act makes significant investments in:

• Highways – provides $317 billion for programs under the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), an increase of 29 percent over current levels.
• Freight – dedicates $18 billion of highway funds for a new dedicated multi-modal freight program.
• Transit – provides $115 billion for programs under the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), an increase of 76 percent over current levels, and significantly boosts New Starts funding.
• Rail – provides $28.6 billion for programs under the Federal Rail Administration (FRA).
• Safety – provides $6 billion for vehicle safety programs under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), $4.7 billion for truck and bus safety programs under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and $16 billion for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP).
• Competitive Grants – provides $7.5 billion for TIGER grants and $6 billion for TIFIA that could support $60 billion in loans.
• Research and Innovation – provides $3.4 billion to leverage research and innovation to move people and goods more safely and efficiently, while minimizing impacts on the environment.

From our Hill Sources: In the Senate, Republican Leadership may soon unveil a package to fund a multi-year extension of the Highway Trust Fund. The extension would be paid for in part by cutting the rate of return on a retirement investment for federal employees.

In the meantime, Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, has introduced a bill that “provides six-years of increased funding, giving state and local governments the certainty and stability they need to improve and develop our nation’s transportation infrastructure”:

Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act (S 1647)

Sponsor: Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) —Bipartisan— A six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill. According to the sponsor, “Our nation’s roads and highways have suffered under too many short-term extensions, which have led to higher costs, more waste, and less capability to prioritize major modernization projects to address growing demands on our interstates. The DRIVE Act will provide states and local communities with the certainty they deserve to plan and construct infrastructure projects efficiently. This bipartisan bill also contains the hallmark accomplishment of a new freight program to prioritize federal spending on the facilities that will most directly benefit our economy, in addition to prioritizing federal dollars towards bridge safety and the interstate system. The DRIVE Act will help set the tone for America’s economic future by putting our nation back on the map as the best place to do business. We look forward to working with our committee in leading this bill out of markup and to the Senate floor for consideration.” 

Food Labeling and GMOs

Currently, the US Department of Agriculture has no authority over labeling food for the presence or absence of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). This week, House will vote on a bill that would require a national standard for labeling laws related to GMOs:

Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (HR 1599)

Sponsor: Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) —Bipartisan— “Would establish a federal labeling standard for foods with genetically modified ingredients, giving sole authority to the Food and Drug Administration to require mandatory labeling on such foods if they are ever found to be unsafe or materially different from foods produced without GM ingredients.”

According to the bill sponsor: “Under SAFLA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will conduct a safety review of all new plant varieties used for genetically engineered food before those foods are introduced into commerce. This will ensure that consumers are getting scientific, accurate, and relevant information by allowing the FDA to specify special labeling if it believes it is necessary to protect health and safety. In order to provide even greater transparency, my legislation includes a provision to allow those who wish to label their products as GMO-free to do so through a USDA-accredited certification process.” 

From our Hill Sources: Under this proposal, companies that wished to label their products as not containing GMOs, such as with a “GMO-Free” label, would be able to do so. However, it would give the Food and Drug Administration sole authority to require labeling of GMO products, possibly trumping state laws in Maine, Connecticut and Vermont requiring foods containing GMOs to be labeled.

Coal Ash Regulations

The House will also vote on a bill that would set rules governing the management and disposal of coal ash. According to the EPA, "coal combustion residuals are byproducts of the combustion of coal at power plants, and includes fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) materials. CCR contain contaminants such as mercury, cadmium, and arsenic which are associated with cancer and other serious health effects. When improperly managed, CCR can leak into the groundwater, blow into the air as dust, and be released to surface water and to the land in the event of a catastrophic failure."

Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act (HR 1734)

Sponsor: Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) —Bipartisan— “Provides job-creators, and over 300,000 workers, with certainty by putting states in charge of the enforcement authority to implement the standards set by EPA regarding the safe disposal of coal ash,” according to the House Majority Leader. Would authorize states to set up permit programs for coal ash, as well as allow the EPA to offer permits in states that don’t establish their own permit programs.

From our Hill Sources: Some Democrats in Congress believe that the bill would undermine tougher coal ash rules the EPA finalized in December 2014, which "establishes the first ever nationally applicable minimum criteria providing for the safe disposal of coal combustion residuals in landfills and surface impoundments."

Also in the House…

The House will also vote on the following legislation this week:

Veterans Information Modernization Act (HR 2256)

Sponsor: Rep. Dan Benishek (R-MI) Would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit an annual report on the Veterans Health Administration's efforts to provide hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care. “In order to hold the VA accountable, we must have access to basic information on the types of services they are providing and the cost of doing so. This information, which is commonplace in the private sector, has to date been kept from Congress. My legislation will change that,” said Dr. Dan Benishek, who served as a surgeon at the VA Hospital in Iron Mountain, MI. 

FTO Passport Revocation Act (HR 237)

Sponsor: Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) —Bipartisan—  “Provides the authority for the Secretary of State to deny or revoke a passport of any individual determined to be a member of or who has aided, assisted, abetted, or otherwise helped an organization the Secretary has designated as a foreign terrorist organization,” according to the House Foreign Affairs Committee. 

Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act (HR 1557)

Sponsor: Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) —Bipartisan— To strengthen Federal antidiscrimination laws enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and expand accountability within the Federal government.

John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act (HR 1473)

Sponsor: Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA) —Bipartisan— To reauthorize appropriations for FY 2016 – 2020 for maintenance, repair, and security, and capital projects for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

— 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. —