Both houses of Congress will be in session today to vote on whatever deal emerges from the ongoing Fiscal Cliff talks. The Senate will convene at 1:00 PM ET and the House will convene at 2:00 PM ET.
Senate Democratic and Republican leaders have set a deadline of 3:00 PM to present a deal to their respective caucuses. According to reports, the Senate will be the first to vote on a proposal, which will then pass to the House for its consideration, which could include amendments. If amended, the bll would have to pass the Senate again before it could go to the White House for the President’s signature.
Most policies referred to in the term “Fiscal Cliff” will happen autmatically on January 1, 2013, if Congress does not act. These include the expiration of tax cuts and across-the-board spending reductions in the form of “Sequestration.”
Check out what POPVOX users told Congress about pending Fiscal Cliff proposals.
From our Hill sources: While Congress waits to take action on a Fiscal Cliff deal, the House will consider several other bills today.
- HR 4057Improving Transparency of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act, requiring the Veterans Administration to provide information to veterans about higher education.
- S 3202Dignified Burial of Veterans Act, allowing Veterans Affairs to provide burial caskets or urns for deceased veterans when no next of kin can be identified.
- HR 6328The Clothe a Homeless Hero Act, requiring TSA to donate unclaimed clothing at airports to homeless veterans.
- HR 4212The Drywall Safety Act, establishing safety standards for domestic and imported drywall.
- HR 5910The Global Investment in American Jobs Act, requiring a study of U.S. laws dealing with foreign direct investment.
- S 3472The Uninterrupted Scholars Act, expanding access to educational records of foster children to child welfare groups and other entities.
- HR 2076The Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act, allowing federal law enforcement agencies to assist states and localities in the investigation of mass shootings in public buildings.
- HR 6029The Foreign and Economic Espionage Penalty Enhancement Act, increasing penalties for economic espionage.
- HR 6621 To correct and improve certain provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act and title 35, United States Code
- S 3331The Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act, amending a 2000 law on intercountry adoption.
- S 2318The Department of State Rewards Program Update and Technical Corrections Act, authorizing the State Department to offer rewards for information leading to the arrest of international criminals.
- SJR 44 the Management Assistance Memorandum of Understanding, giving consent to an agreement between several states and Canadian provinces on the provision of emergency management assistance.
- HR 3159The Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act, setting goals and guidelines for foreign aid.
- HR 6364The Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act, establishing a commission to plan World War I commemoration activities.
All the “H.R.” bills are ones the House has passed before, but have since been considered and amended by the Senate. House passage will send them on to the White House for President Obama’s signature. House passage of the Senate (“S”) bills would also send those along to the White House.
Updated 12/31 at 2:20 AM ET to correct description of S. 3472.
