The Highway Trust Fund authorization is set to expire on October 29th. Without an agreement on a highway funding bill, the Department of Transportation will begin cutting back on payments to states and local governments for infrastructure projects beginning in November.
Ex-Im Discharge Petition expected to proceed
On Monday, the first successful discharge petition since 1992 is expected to force a vote in the House. Rep. Stephen Fincher [R, TN], who circulated the petition to "discharge" a bill to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, is expected to start the voting process with a floor motion. The petition received the requisite 218 signatures allowing it to be brought up for a vote.
THE REFORM EXPORTS AND EXPAND THE AMERICAN ECONOMY ACT (H.R. 597)
Sponsor: Rep. Stephen Fincher [R, TN]
SOURCE | BILL TEXT
From the House Clerk: On 10/9/2015, a motion was filed to discharge the Committee on Rules from the consideration of H.Res.450 a resolution providing for consideration of H.R.597.
Highway Funding in the House
Last week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved a bipartisan, $325 billion, six-year surface transportation bill to reauthorize and reform federal highway, transit and highway safety programs:
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION AND REFORM (STRR) ACT (H.R. 3763)
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Shuster [R, PA]
SOURCE | BILL TEXT
Bipartisan — “The STRR Act helps improve the Nation’s surface transportation infrastructure, reforms programs and refocuses those programs on addressing national priorities, maintains a strong commitment to safety, and promotes innovation to make the system and programs work better. The proposal is fiscally responsible, provides greater flexibility and more certainty for states and local governments to address their priorities, and accelerates project delivery. The bill also extends the deadline for US railroads to implement Positive Train Control technology,” according to the Committee.
From our Hill Sources: The bill would spend $261 billion on highways, $55 billion on transit and approximately $9 billion on safety programs — but requires that Congress can come up with a way to pay for the final three years.
The Highway Trust Fund authorization is set to expire on October 29th. Without an agreement on a highway funding bill, the Department of Transportation will begin cutting back on payments to states and local governments for infrastructure projects beginning in November. This summer, Congress passed a three-month highway funding extension – the 34th short-term extension since 2009.
In the meantime, the House will vote on another short-term extension to ensure that highway funds are disbursed past the Oct. 29 deadline. This “funding patch” would extend the deadline another three weeks to Nov. 20:
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT (H.R. 3819)
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Shuster [R, PA]
SOURCE | BILL TEXT
Bipartisan — H.R. 3819 would extend federal transportation spending — currently set to expire Oct. 29 — until Nov. 20.
Cybersecurity (CISA) in the Senate
On Tuesday, the Senate will vote on a series of amendments and final passage of the Cybersecurity and Information Sharing Act (S. 754). The bill, which sets out procedures and legal protections for information sharing between business and the government about cyber threats, has faced significant opposition from privacy advocates. Last week, the White House signaled its support for the measure.
CYBERSECURITY INFORMATION SHARING ACT OF 2015 (S. 754)
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Burr [R, NC]
BILL TEXT
Bipartisan — “S. 754 would require the government to establish procedures to be followed when information on cyber threats is shared between the government and nonfederal entities. The bill also would require the government to audit the process for sharing information and would require additional reports to the Congress on cyber information sharing.” according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Debt Ceiling
Both the House and Senate are still working to find a solution to the pending breach of the US borrowing limit. The “Debt Ceiling” will be reached on November 3rd, if Congress does not act to raise it. Last week, the House shelved a bill that would have tied a list of Republican priorities to lifting the limit, lacking sufficient support. Without Republican votes, Congressional Leaders will have to rely on Democrats, who support a "clean" debt ceiling bill.
A "clean bill" is the term used for legislation that addresses one issue without unrelated policies attached.
A "CLEAN" BILL TO RAISE THE U.S. DEBT CEILING
(A "clean bill" has not yet been introduced in Congress, but is the subject of much discussion. The link above allows you to weigh in and write to Congress about the proposed tactic.)
Sentencing Reform Advances in the Senate
Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 15 to 5 to advance a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill. Introduced by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and sponsored by ten other Senators, the bill “grants judges greater sentencing flexibility for certain low-level drug offenders and establishes recidivism reduction programs, while targeting violent criminals.”
SENTENCING REFORM AND CORRECTIONS ACT (S.2123)
Sponsor: Sen. Chuck Grassley [R, IA]
BILL SUMMARY | BILL TEXT
Bipartisan — According to the sponsor, the bill:
- “Narrows the scope of mandatory minimum prison sentences to focus on the most serious drug offenders and violent criminals, while broadening and establishing new outlets for individuals with minimal non-felony criminal histories that may trigger mandatory minimum sentences under current law.”
- “Reduces certain mandatory minimums, providing judges with greater discretion when determining appropriate sentences, and preserves cooperation incentives to aid law enforcement in tracking down kingpins.”
- “Reduced sentences through recidivism reduction programs outlined in the Corrections Act (S. 467) introduced by Cornyn and Whitehouse.
- Makes retroactive the Fair Sentencing Act (FSA) and certain statutory reforms that address inequities in drug sentences, such as between offenses for crack and powder cocaine.
Support from the White House
Last week, a White House spokesman reiterated the President’s support for criminal justice reform:
“We urge Congress to continue to work together cooperatively to get a bill to the President’s desk before the end of the year. The President has called for criminal justice reform since before he took office, and we are pleased that so many different leaders, both Democrats and Republicans, are coming together to answer the President’s call.”
Financial Services
This week, the House will vote on several financial services bills. These are a part of a bipartisan package that the House Financial Service worked on this summer “designed to help grow the economy, create jobs, and bring much needed accountability and transparency to the Federal Reserve.”
H.R. 1317
Sponsor: Rep. Gwen Moore [D, WI]
SOURCE | BILL TEXT
Bipartisan — To amend the Commodity Exchange Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to specify how clearing requirements apply to certain affiliate transactions. The bill “provides much needed regulatory relief to commercial businesses inappropriately captured by some of the costly and burdensome requirements of Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act,” according to the Committee.
SEC REPORTING MODERNIZATION ACT (H.R. 3032)
Sponsor: Rep. Krysten Sinema [D, AZ]
SOURCE | BILL TEXT
Bipartisan — “Eliminates a reporting requirement for the Securities and Exchange Commission that has already been eliminated for all other federal agencies,” according to the Committee.
STATE LICENSING EFFICIENCY ACT (H.R. 2643)
Sponsor: Rep. Roger Williams [R, TX]
SOURCE | BILL TEXT
Bipartisan — “Ensures state regulatory agencies have access to the most up-to-date criminal background information from the FBI for their licensing purposes,” according to the Committee.
Also up for vote in the House this week…
RETAIL INVESTOR PROTECTION ACT (H.R. 1090)
Sponsor: Rep. Ann Wagner [R, TX]
SOURCE | BILL TEXT
In April 2015, the Department of Labor proposed new fiduciary rules under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974 to apply to any financial advisor providing investment advice for a retirement account. At the same time, the SEC is considering using permissive authority granted under Section 913 of Dodd-Frank to adopt a “uniform fiduciary standard” for both brokers and investment advisors,” according to the bill sponsor. https://wagner.house.gov/RIPA “The Retail Investor Protection Act would prohibit the DOL from issuing new fiduciary rules under ERISA unless the SEC first issues a rule under Section 913 of Dodd-Frank.”
EQUITY IN GOVERNMENT COMPENSATION ACT (S. 2036)
Sponsor: Rep. David Vitter [R, LA]
SOURCE | BILL TEXT
Passed the Senate on September 15th, 2015, now goes to the House for consideration — Bipartisan — “Would cap pay raises for executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, authorized earlier this year by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The mortgage lenders cost the taxpayers $187.5 billion during the financial crisis,” according to the bill sponsors Sens. David Vitter and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
"Taxpayers paid nearly $200 billion to bail out Fannie and Freddie, the enterprises remain in federal conservatorship, and the public is still on the hook if they falter again. Rather than approving massive pay raises for Fannie's and Freddie's CEOs, FHFA should be working to reduce costs for homeowners and those who hope to own homes." – Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AND ADVANCEMENTS FOR DYSLEXIA (READ) ACT (H.R. 3033)
Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith [R, TX]
SOURCE | BILL TEXT
Bipartisan — “Requires the Bipartisan president’s annual budget request to Congress include a line item for the Research in Disabilities Education program of the National Science Foundation (NSF). It also requires the NSF to devote at least $5 million annually to dyslexia research,” according to the House Science Committee.
NORTHERN BORDER SECURITY REVIEW ACT (H.R. 455)
Sponsor: Rep. John Katko [R, NY]
SOURCE | BILL TEXT
Bipartisan — H.R. 455 would require the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a northern border threat analysis, according to the bill sponsor.
Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill does not imply POPVOX endorsement in any way. As always, our goal is to offer one more way to help you stay informed about the complex U.S. legislative system.
