Quite the week of legislative action…

Senate passed bipartisan water projects bill that includes money for Flint, Michigan. A bill to block President Obama from releasing Guantanamo Bay detainees passed, as did a sweeping Veterans Affairs reform package. Lawmakers struck a deal regarding IRS Commissioner impeachment vote, and are still working on a deal for short-term funding bill. 

WRDA  |  Veterans Affairs  |  Government Funding   
Guantanamo Bay  |  IRS Commissioner |  State Legislation  |   ICYMI

Senate passed major water infrastructure bill

Bill includes $220 million for Flint, Michigan

On Thursday, the Senate passed $10 billion water projects bill by a vote of 95-3. The bipartisan bill focuses on flood control, water infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, and water transportation. The measure includes $220 million for Flint, Michigan and authorizes 29 water projects in 18 states. Read committee summary.

Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (S. 2848)
Sponsor: Sen. Jim Inhofe [R, OK]

What now?
Attention shifts to the House, as the chamber has its own version of the WRDA. The House version is more narrow than the Senate version and does not contain any drinking water provisions (due to jurisdictional differences). Senate WRDA sponsor Sen. James Inhofe [R, OK] urged the House to advance the WRDA and then Flint funding could be added to final version in conference. House WRDA could see floor vote next week under an expedited process.
 

Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (H.R. 5303)
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Shuster [R, PA-9]

House passed Veterans Affairs reform bill

Bill would make it easier to fire VA employees

On Wednesday, the House passed Veterans Affairs reform bill by a vote of 310-116. The bill would change how the VA disciplines, fires, and rewards its employees. For example, senior executives would be banned from receiving performance bonuses between 2017 and 2021. The bill also increases whistleblower protections and addresses the VA’s disability benefits appeals process. Obama administration praised and criticized various parts of the bill in Statement of Administration Policy.

VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016 (H.R. 5620) 
Sponsor: Rep. Jeff Miller [R, FL-1]

Rings a bell?
There’s a similar VA accountability bill in the Senate. It was reported out of Senate Veterans Affairs in May. The bipartisan bill addresses employee procedures, healthcare, benefits, education, and pensions. This week Senate Veterans Affairs held related hearing.
 

Veterans First Act (S. 2921)
Sponsor: Sen. Johnny Isakson [R, GA] 

Lawmakers continue negotiating short-term CR

Government funding expires Sept. 30

Lawmakers and staffers from both sides of the aisle are still negotiating a short-term spending bill. What's the hold up? Disagreements on Zika, Export-Import Bank, ICANN transition, and Planned Parenthood. Senate is teed up for a procedural vote on Monday if a deal can be reached in time.

What is a CR?
A continuing resolution (CR) is a short-term appropriations bill.

House passed bill to block POTUS from releasing Guantanamo Bay detainees

Bill would prevent transfers until end of year
(or until new defense authorization is enacted)

On Thursday, House passed bill that would prevent President Obama from releasing any more detainees from Guantanamo Bay detainees until Jan. 1 or until a new defense authorization is signed into law. The bill passed 244-174 and now heads to the Senate. President Obama threatened to veto the legislation should it make it to his desk.
 

To Prohibit the Transfer of any Individual Detained at United States, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Sponsor: Rep. Jackie Walorski [R, IN-2] 

Last month, President Obama transferred another 15 detainees, the largest single transfer to date. There are now 61 detainees left at the facility. 

Lawmakers strike a deal to postpone IRS Commissioner Impeachment Vote

House Judiciary will hold related hearing next week

On Tuesday, Rep. John Fleming [R, LA-4] moved to force a vote on a resolution to impeach IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. Filing a privileged resolution requires the House to take action on it within two legislative days and is a legislative maneuver that allows any rank-and-file member to try and and call up a matter for consideration. Learn more from the Congressional Research Service.

Freedom Caucus Chairman Jim Jordan and Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte reached an agreement late the next day. IRS Commissioner John Koskinen will be called to testify before House Judiciary next week, and impeachment vote will be postponed until after elections. However, resolution cosponsor Rep. Tim Huelskamp [R, KS-1] said he still intends to call up the resolution next week.

Impeaching John Andrew Koskinen, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, For High Crimes and Misdemeanors (H.Res. 828)
Sponsor: Rep. John Fleming [R, LA-4]

Why does this sound familiar?
Rep. John Fleming [R, LA-4] filed notice of his privileged resolution on the House’s last day in session before seven-week recess. There were two pro forma sessions that counted as legislative days, meaning the two days on which the House had to act expired while Members were back home in their districts.

Legislative Lowdown: States Edition

• Missouri lawmakers voted to override Gov. Jay Nixon's veto of a bill to loosen the state's gun laws. Bill allowing concealed carry without a permit will become law in 30 days.
• NCAA announced it will pull all 2016-17 championship events out of North Carolina, citing "bathroom bill."
• California Gov. Jerry Brown [D] vetoed bills to end state sales taxes on diapers and feminine hygiene products.
• Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam [R] called the General Assembly into an "extraordinary session" to bring the state's law for underage DUI in compliance with a federal regulation to avoid losing $60M in federal road funding.

#ICYMI

• House Intelligence urged President Obama not to pardon former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. Committee approved 36-page classified report and released unclassified executive summary.
• There's a new Librarian of Congress and she got her twitter up and running day one. Dr. Carla Hayden made history, becoming both the first woman and first African American to hold the position.
• 15 Republicans on House Energy and Commerce questioned Department of Health and Human Services on EpiPen classification in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. 
• Senate Agriculture approved slightly amended House wildlife management bill. Wildfires are contested issue in conference committee on energy reform, as Senate energy bill does not include wildfire provision. Approved Westerman bill aims to make wildfire suppression less expensive.
• New CDC report suggests Zika virus could be spread through bodily fluids.
• Obama administration will seek to accept 110,000 refugees in FY17, compared to last year's goal of 85,000 refugees.
• House Oversight and Government Reform announced it will hold hearing on EpiPen prices next week.
• Ford announced it will move all small car production to Mexico, where it's building $1.6b assembly plant.
• Sen. Elizabeth Warren [D, MA] marked the eighth anniversary of Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy with letters to the FBI director and DOJ Inspector General asking why people responsible for the 2008 financial crisis didn't face prosecution.
• U.S. Marine Corps completed three internal investigations following Muslim recruit's suicide and hazing and recommended criminal charges or administrative actions against as many as 20 Marines. Second investigation began following letter from Rep. Debbie Dingell [D, MI-12] inquiring about the circumstances surrounding her constituent's death.
• Bayer will buy Monsanto for $66 billion, the largest corporate takeover of the year. Senate Judiciary holds related hearing next week.
• In the room where it happens — Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Claire McCaskill quoted Hamilton at Senate Commerce hearing.
• U.S. and Israel reached agreement on landmark 10-year military aid package, providing Israel with $3.8b annually, up from $3.1b per year U.S. gives Israel under previous 10-year deal that ends in 2018.
• President Obama requested $2.6b in emergency appropriations to help Louisiana flood relief.

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.