The House returned for the second session of the 114th Congress, starting with a long-awaited vote on the reconciliation bill to repeal parts of Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood (which was promptly vetoed). President Obama ruled the headlines, with announcement of executive actions to address mass shootings — and the responses that the policy drew. North Korea and Iran policy again moved to the forefront, and will likely be the focus when the Senate returns next week, and when President Obama gives his final State of the Union address on January 12.
Top Search on POPVOX this week: "guns"
Executive Actions on Gun Control — and Congressional Responses
President Obama ruled the headlines this week, with his announcement of new executive policies to address gun violence. The announced actions include requests for more resources for law enforcement, steps to close the "gun show loophole" on background checks, and an emphasis on technology and increasing mental health treatment.
Members of Congress responded along party lines: Speaker Ryan expressed strong opposition. Senators called for a hearing on the efficacy of gun-related research done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Members of the House Appropriations committee sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch discouraging any requests for funding to implement the President's policies.
Several related bills were introduced in Congress this week:
- Rep. Steven Palazzo [R, MS-4] introduced a resolution to censure President Obama for his “unconstitutional executive actions” on guns (H.Res. 582)
- To eliminate the authority of the executive branch to further restrict the conduct of individuals in relation to firearms or ammunition H.R. 4319 / Rep. Scott Perry [R, PA-4]
- To authorize funding to increase access to mental health care treatment to reduce gun violence H.R. 4315 / Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee [D, TX-18]
- To provide for the hiring of 200 additional Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agents and investigators to enforce gun laws H.R. 4316 / Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee [D, TX-18]
- To provide that any executive action that infringes on the powers and duties of Congress under section 8 of article I of the Constitution of the United States or on the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States has no force or effect, and to prohibit the use of funds for certain purposes H.R. 4321 / Rep. Martin Stutzman [R, IN-3]
Reconciliation Passed and Vetoed
House advances changes to the regulatory process
North Korea
North Korea announced it conducted a successful hydrogen bomb test. Nuclear experts are skeptical about the claim (saying the size of the blast was consistent with an atomic explosion), but the news of the nuclear explosion spurred lawmakers to revisit long-delayed legislation that would expand sanctions against North Korea.
Monday's nuclear blast was the fourth nuclear test from North Korea and the first since February 2013. The House is now preparing a bipartisan package of new economic sanctions in response. The legislation would target foreign companies doing business with North Korea, reduce North Korea's access to U.S. financial markets, and authorize the U.S. to sanction any entities transferring assets to North Korea.
House Foreign Affairs Chairman Rep. Ed Royce [R, CA-39] introduced The North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act (H.R. 757) last year. The committee marked up the bill in February 2015 and passed it by voice vote, but the bill did not make it to the House Floor for a vote.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said the bill is "ready to go" and House leadership sources say a vote is scheduled for Tuesday (1/12). Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will hold closed hearing on Monday.
Nuclear Weapons: Who Has Them?
Source: CNN
Iran
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs cleared a bill that would prevent the Obama administration from lifting sanctions on Iranian banks and government officials until certifications are submitted to Congress — verifying the entities were not involved with nuclear proliferation or terrorist activities.
The Iran Terror Finance Transparency Act (H.R. 3662) would give Congress increased oversight over Iran nuclear deal and is scheduled for a vote next week.
Hours after House Foreign Affairs advanced the bill, Secretary of State John Kerry spoke on the progress of executing the nuclear deal. The legislation would interfere with the Obama administration's implementation plans. He cited "significant results" such as last week's enriched uranium stockpile delivery to Russia. "We are days away from implementation if all goes well," Kerry said.
Senate is expected to vote on Iran Sanctions Act (S. 1682) later this month. The legislation would extend a package of sanctions set to expire next year, but there's talk that such a move would constitute a violation of the Iran nuclear deal.
Puerto Rico Debt Crisis
Several bills have been introduced to address Puerto Rico's debt crisis.
The Puerto Rico Emergency Financial Stability Act would place a stay on creditor lawsuits through March in an effort to help Puerto Rico's financial situation until "comprehensive relief" legislation can be passed. The Duffy bill would grant Chapter 9 bankruptcy in exchange for a federal fiscal control board on Puerto Rico, whereas the Puerto Rico Assistance Act would address the island's $73 billion debt crisis without allowing bankruptcy.
Speaker Paul Ryan set March 31 deadline for House committees to devise a legislative fix.
TPP
The Trans-Pacific Partnership received three major endorsements this week: National Association of Manufacturers, Business Roundtable, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The endorsements were expected, but support from the private sector is crucial in convincing GOP leaders to vote and ratify the agreement before year's end.
So what's next?
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said TPP shouldn't come to a vote until after the 2016 elections, whereas Speaker Paul Ryan hasn't ruled out a vote before November. House Ways & Means Chairman Rep. Kevin Brady [R, TX-8] said House Republicans will discuss the TPP's future at annual legislative retreat next week.
Coming Up: State of the Union
President Obama will give his final State of the Union address on January 12, 2016 at 9 PM ET (National Journal has some advice from other second-termers on the special nature of the last speech.)
South Carolina governor Nikki Haley will deliver GOP response, fueling talk that she is the establishment choice for the VP slot on an eventual GOP ticket. Author, Wayne Allyn Root will deliver the Tea Party response.
On Friday, the White House announced that one seat in the First Lady's box will remain empty during the speech, "for the victims of gun violence who no longer have a voice." The Washington Post reports that Laura Bush also left an empty chair at a previous SOTU speech, in memory of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Report from CES
- Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman, Edith Ramirez, discussed privacy and security for companies that collect significant amounts of consumer data. (The FTC released a report with recommendations for companies using "big data.")
- Federal Communications Commission Chairman, Tom Wheeler, predicted a "spectrum extravaganza" for the largest ever auction of television and wireless spectrum, planned for later in the year. He also gave a shout-out to talk show host, John Oliver, for driving interest and participation around Net Neutrality rulemaking last year.
- Federal Aviation Administrator, Michael Huerta, announced that drone registrations had reached 181,061 since the site went live on December 21, 2015.
- The federal government also showed up in an unexpected place this year, as US Marshals raided and confiscated the booth of a Chinese company accused of violating the patents of American Future Motion one-wheel scooter.
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Legislative Lowdown: States Edition
- Alabama sued the federal government — accusing the Obama administration of violating the Refugee Act of 1980 by not properly contacting local officials about resettling Syrians.
- Georgia lawmaker pre-filed a medical marijuana bill.
- California governor Jerry Brown released his $170.7 billion budget that will add $2 billion to the state's rainy day fund and includes a tax on health insurers.
- A Missouri lawmaker introduced a bill that would expand the term "gift" for purposes of lobbyist disclosures to include sexual relations between a lobbyist and lawmaker.
- A federal three-judge panel selected a new congressional map for Virginia.
ICYMI
- 17/100 Senators voted in every roll call in 2015. See how your Senators stacked up and the only two states with Perfect Attendance records for both senators.
- NSA swept up conversations with lawmakers and other Americans as it monitored lobbying on the Iran nuclear deal. House Intelligence Committee announced it will consider whether new safeguards are needed to handle the intercepted communications.
- 163 Members of Congress filed an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to throw out a 2013 Texas law that places severe requirements on clinics providing abortion services.
- Speaker Paul Ryan asked top Republican committee chairman to gauge whether there's support in the House to formally authorize a military campaign against the Islamic State.
- TransCanada sued the Obama Administration — saying President Obama exceeded his authority when he blocked the Keystone XL pipeline's construction.
- Tax Foundation analysis found some of the most conservative states rely most on federal government aid.
- U.S. economy added 292,000 jobs in December — capping off the second best year of gains since 1999.
- More than a quarter of the Obama Administration's most senior jobs are vacant or run by an acting deputy. New CRS report says the Senate confirmed the lowest number of civilian nominations for the first session of a Congress in almost 30 years.
- IRS dropped controversial proposal to collect social security numbers from charitable donors.
- New study published in journal Health Affairs found that the Affordable Care Act did not force more people into part-time jobs, despite previous claims from both critics and supporters alike.
- Debate continued regarding Title IX and college adjudication of sexual assault complaints. Sen. James Lankford [R, OK] sent a letter questioning the Education Department's authority.
- The announcements just keep coming — 35 members will not be back for the next Congress, with more announcements expected in coming weeks as state filing deadlines approach.
Weekend Reads
"2016 in Congress: Five Things to Watch" by Molly Reynolds, Brookings
"Why Polls Have Been Wrong Recently" by Nate Cohn, The New York Times
"Can Congress maintain its 2015 momentum in 2016?" by Bruce P. Mehlman and David Castagnetti, The Hill
"Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020" from The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture
"Guns Are Our Shared Responsibility" by Barack Obama, The New York Times Opinion Pages
