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Posted by Maggie Mount on November 2, 2009 at 2:09 pm 

Floor Action

The Senate will convene at 2:00 pm to consider HR 3548, Unemployment Aid, a homebuyer tax credit and corporate tax provisions.  Later in the week the Senate may consider two FY 2010 spending bills:  Military Construction-VA and Ecommerce-Justice-Science.

The House meets on Monday to consider pending legislation, including S 509, a bill to authorize a major medical facility project at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical in Walla Walla.  The bill was introduced by Senator Patty Murray in March and was passed by the Senate on July 15.  Tuesday and later in the week the House will consider HR 3639, Consumer Protection; HR 2868, Chemical Facility Security; and HR 3962, Affordable Health Care.

The House and Senate are scheduled to meet for a joint session on Tuesday at 10:00 am to receive Her Excellency, Doctor Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Markups and Hearings of Interest

On Tuesday the Senate Commitee on Environment and Public Works will mark up legislation on clean energy jobs (S 1733).  On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committe will mark up, among other items, legislation on free flow of information; personal data privacy and security; medical bankruptcy fairness; and human rights enforcement.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will hold a hearing on Tuesday on the increasing health care costs facing small businesses. 

The House Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education  will hold a briefing on Wednesday at 10:00am on H1N1 influenza pandemic.

Source:  CQ Today Print Edition

Posted by Jonathan Nurse on October 28, 2009 at 2:13 am 

Today, the leadership in Congress announced that a second continuing resolution (CR) lasting until December 18th will be attached to the Interior-Environment Appropriations bill conference report -as appeared likely earlier this week. It is expected that the measure will pass by the end of the week. Since the end of the fiscal year was September 30th and all appropriations bills were not passed on-time, Congress passed a CR to keep the government operating. A CR is a stopgap measure that funds the government at the previous year’s appropriations level. The CR will give Congress more time to complete the remaining 7 appropriations bills. With the passage of the joint Interior/Environment-CR measure later this week, Federal Relations expects support for the Puget Sound Ecosystem Research Initiative.

Agency Items of Note from the Interior-Environment Conference Report:

• $167.5 million for the NEH and the same for NEA; an increase of 8% over FY09
• $846 million for EPA S&T; an increase of 7% over FY09
• $1.112 billion for USGS; an increase of 6.5% over FY09 

Posted by Maggie Mount on October 26, 2009 at 1:37 pm 

On the House and Senate Floors

The House is expected to consider a bill to reauthorize Small Business Administration programs and the conference report on the fiscal 2010 Interior-Environment spending bill.  

The Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote Tuesday on a bill to extend unemployment aid. 

Both the House and the Senate are expected to pass a stopgap spending bill to keep the government funded into next month.

Committee Activity

House Financial Services will mark up legislation on Tuesday on private fund investment, investor protection, an Office of Insurance Information, and a draft bill on accountability and transparency in rating agencies.  House Natural Resources on Wednesday will mark up wilderness and land bills. 

Also on Wednesday, the House Oversight and Government Reform will hold a hearing on executive pay proposals for recipients of federal bailout dollars. 

In the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a hearing on Wednesday on the role of natural gas in mitigating climate change, and the Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday on preventing health care fraud.

Posted by Christy Gullion on October 26, 2009 at 6:27 am 

The House and Senate continue to negotiate a health care reform bill, which has left some open time for both chambers to consider FY10 appropriations bills.  The first order of business this week will be to extend the current continuing resolution (CR) for most federal agencies since the current CR expires on Saturday, October 31st.

FY10 Appropriations

Last week congressional leaders discussed including the extension into the conference report on the Interior-Environment appropriations bill, similar to how the original one-month CR was added in conference to Legislative Branch spending bill.  They decided against this path forward likely because the Interior bill may face controversy over unrelated provisions.  The CR extension is expected to go to December 15th, a little more than a week before Christmas.  To date, Congress has completed action on just four of the 12 spending bills for the fiscal year that began on October 1 (Agriculture, Energy & Water, Homeland Security, and Legislative Branch).  The UW has secured two earmarks in the Energy & Water bill.  The first is a $1 million mark for biofuels work and the second is $880,000 for accelerating research on tidal energy production.

The Interior-Environment appropriation bill is scheduled for House action this week if an agreement can be reached on one controversial provision related to EPA regulation of vessel emissions on the Great Lakes.  The UW College of the Environment stands to gain a $4 million earmark in that bill to conduct, compile, and disseminate research on how best to restore and protect the Puget Sound.

The House is also scheduled to consider a bill that would reauthorize Small Business Administration (SBA) programs that provide entrepreneurs with access to capital.  The legislation is a combination of eight bills that would extend some stimulus programs that allowed the SBA to increase loans, provide more capital to low-income areas and renewable-energy industries, and make loan guarantees to small health care firms purchasing health information technology.

The Senate may try to take up the Commerce-Justice-Science bill after pulling it from floor consideration last October 13^th after Democrats failed to come up with enough votes to limit debate and amendments to the bill.  One amendment that is holding up progress would require the 2010 Census to include questions about citizenship and immigration status, which is opposed by the Obama Administration.

Meanwhile, the Senate will focus on the economy this week and try to finish a bill that would extend unemployment benefits.  The measure would provide an additional 14 weeks of benefits to unemployed individuals nationwide and would give six more weeks on top of that to states with a three-month average unemployment rate of at least 8.5 percent.  The Senate may also take up its FY10 Military Construction-VA appropriations bill.

Because the appropriations process has been slow this fall, mostly due to the health reform debate, Congress is now thinking that a year-end omnibus bill may be necessary to complete the remaining FY 10 appropriations bills.  Additionally, the remaining appropriations measures may be used to enact further legislation to help the unemployed and boost job creation.

Health Reform

Debate on health care reform is not expected to begin until next week at the earliest, as Democratic leaders in both chambers are still trying to finalize the legislation they intend to bring to the floor. The House hopes to release their renegotiated health reform measure this week so that they can vote on the package by November 6^th.  It is possible, that the House will work through that weekend and into Monday and Tuesday before taking a small break for Veterans Day. 

Unveiling the bill would answer questions about the shape of the public option and clear the way for final decisions on how to raise revenue to pay for it.  While House liberals are looking for a public plan based on Medicare rates, House Leaders are leaving room for moderates’ preferred version after Senate Democrats indicated they were likely to include a public option in their overhaul.  Leaders still have a few thorny issues to resolve before they introduce a bill, such as questions about abortion services, insurance for immigrants, cost of medical devices, and hospital payments.

Meanwhile, the Senate continues to work on merging the two reform bills from the Senate Finance and HELP committees, and appears to be moving toward a stronger public option than currently included in the Senate Finance Committee bill.  Senate Democratic leaders have other issues to resolve, including whether the final bill would include an employer mandate; a long-term insurance program for those who become disabled; financing to make up for revenue lost by increasing the value of plans considered high cost that would be taxed under the bill; and how to make premiums more affordable since individual coverage will be required by law.

Energy and the Environment

The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee will hold three days of hearings this week on a revised draft of climate change legislation the panel is looking to mark up soon.  On Tuesday, the committee will hear from five administration officials – Energy Secretary Chu, Interior Secretary Salazar, Transportation Secretary LaHood, EPA Administrator Jackson, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Wellinghoff.

Last week, the House passed legislation that would lead to the creation of a federal research strategy for solar energy.  The bill (HR 3585) directs the Energy Department to establish a Solar Technology Roadmap Committee, which would develop a comprehensive federal solar research plan.  Bill supporters noted rapid growth in solar manufacturing by European nations and China in recent years.  The bill would authorize $350 million for the Energy Department in fiscal 2011, rising to $550 million in fiscal 2015, for a total of $2.25 billion over the five-year period.  Some members expressed concerns about the high cost of the bill even while supporting the underlying goals.   

The roadmap committee created by the bill would include at least 11 members appointed by the Energy secretary within four months of the bill’s enactment.  At least one-third of the members — but not more than half — would be required to come from the solar industry.  The bill also would require the appointment of a chairman from outside the federal government.  Within 18 months of enactment, the committee would be required to chart a course for research, development, and demonstration activities between the federal government and the private sector.  The Energy secretary would be directed to award merit-based grants for projects, with an emphasis on solar manufacturing research performed by industry-led consortia.

FY11 Appropriations

Today is the deadline for submitting proposals for the FY11 federal agenda.  Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated over the next several weeks.  In January 2010, the Office of Federal Relations will share the results of that work when we present our FY11 Federal Agenda.  If you have any questions about this process, please contact me or Jonathan Nurse.

Posted by Jonathan Nurse on October 21, 2009 at 4:42 am 

The U.S. Department of State is seeking feedback on proposed regulatory changes in its Exchange Visitor Program, which effects foreign faculty, researchers, and students.  The proposed rules, which are open to public comment through November 23, 2009, amend Subpart A, General Provisions, of the J exchange visitor regulations. The notice can be found at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-22822.htm.

Posted by Maggie Mount on October 19, 2009 at 11:18 am 

In the House

The House reconvenes on Tuesday at 2:00 pm for legislative business.  On Wednesday, and the balance of the week, the House is expected to vote on a bill to authorize HIV/AIDS treatment programs, as well as a Coast Guard authorization and a bill to boost solar technology research.

House Committees

On Tuesday, the Committee on Financial Services marks up a bill to establish a consumer financial protection agency (HR 3126).

On Wednesday,  Science and Technology will mark up a bill on fire grants (HR 3791) and on natural hazards reduction programs (HR 3820); Agriculture will mark up a bill to regulate over-the-counter derivatives (HR 3795); Armed Services will hold a hearing on US military redeployment from Iraq.

On Thursday, Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee will mark up a bill addressing programs for homeless veterans (HR 2504, HR 2559, HR 2735, HR 3796, and HR 3073); and Financial Services will mark up a draft bill to overhaul the regulation of capital markets

In the Senate

The Senate convenes at 2:00 pm today to take a a bill affecting Medicare physician pay (S 1776).  The tentative schedule for the remainder of the week includes a bill on Homeland Security spending (HR 2892); Defense authorization (HR 2647); and unemployment insurance (HR 3548).

Senate Committees

On Tuesday, Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs will hold a hearing on the housing market.

On Wednesday, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs will hold a hearing on the H1N1 flu response; and Energy and Natural Resources will hold a hearing on greenhouse gas emissions allowances.

Posted by Jonathan Nurse on October 19, 2009 at 4:03 am 

**Update 10/19** Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) are offering an alternative to the cap and trade portion of the Boxer-Kerry climate bill (described below). The senators are opposed to allowing carbon permits to be traded as commodities. However, they do support proposed caps on carbon emissions.

On October 27th, the US Senate’s Environment and Pulbic Works (EPW) Committee will begin hearings on a companion bill to the American Clean Energy and Securirty (ACES) Act (H.R. 2454) that passed the House over the summer.  The Senate legislation, introduced by EPW Chair Barbara Boxewr (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA) on September 30th, is currently being refined by committee staff and is undergoing an analysis by the EPA that should be completed in time for the hearings. Conventional wisdom held that the Senate’s version of a massive climate change mitigation plan would be pushed until next calendar year, due to the already partisan environment created by the current health reform debate. However, Senator Boxer’s team is moving ahead with the legislation now. Further, initial drafts of the Senate bill have drawn bipartisan support. Last weekend, Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and John Kerry co-authored a piece in the New York Times entitled “Yes We Can (Pass Climate Change Legislation).“  In the article, Senator Graham makes the case that a climate change bill that promotes nuclear energy, more offshore oil and natural gas development and carbon sequestration from coal power plants would draw the 60 votes necessary to assure passage. The duo also articulated that climate change legislation should also establish limits on prices for carbon allowances provided under a cap-and-trade system, and a tax on energy-intensive goods from countries with less stringent emissions requirements than the United States.

Research investments were mentioned only briefly in the op-ed. House and Sente bills seem to ignore President Obama’s call for a $15 billion investment in research and development as part of a comprehensive climate change mitigation bill; a point made to Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) this week in a letter from the research community. Read more

Posted by Jonathan Nurse on October 15, 2009 at 10:07 am 

**10/15 Update: Today, the Senate passed the Energy & Water (E&W) Appropriations Conference Report, sending the legislation to the President’s desk for signature. The E&W Appropriations bill is the third of nine to make it all of the way through the appropriations process. UW projects in the legislation and accounts of interest are noted below**

House and Senate conferees on the fiscal year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations have approved a conference agreement. The conference agreement reconciles differences in the bills produced by the individual chambers and now must go back for final approval, which is expected. Within the legislation is support for two important University of Washington projects: $880,000 for the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center, and $1 million for the Washington Biofuels Industry Development project. Additional items of importance in the conference report include:

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy- $2.2 billion, $314 million above 2009, to increase investments in technologies that use energy more effectively and produce clean, inexpensive energy from domestic sources.

• Solar Energy: $225 million for research, development, and demonstration projects to make solar energy more affordable.
• Biofuels: $220 million for grants to improve production of alternative fuels such as cellulosic ethanol
  and biodiesel.

Office of Science- $4.9 billion, $131 million above 2009, for scientific research critical to addressing long-term energy needs. This funding, in addition to the $4.8 billion appropriated in fiscal year 2009 and $1.6 billion in the Recovery Act, exceeds the goals in the America COMPETES Act.

• Basic Energy Sciences: $1.6 billion for basic research primarily on materials sciences and on chemical
  sciences, energy biosciences and geosciences. This work places heavy emphasis on advancing the frontiers of using ever-faster tools, including $394 million in the Advanced Scientific Computing Research program, to better understand ever-smaller and more detailed phenomena.
• Applied Research: $2.4 billion for Nuclear Physics, High Energy Physics, Biological and Environmental Research, and Fusion Energy Sciences.
• Energy Innovation Hubs: Funding for three of the proposed eight Energy Innovation Hubs (at $22 million each) in the following areas: Fuels from Sunlight; Energy Efficient Building Systems  Design; and Modeling and Simulation.
• RE-ENERGYSE: Funding was not provided for the newly proposed RE-ENERGYSE education program.

Full Energy and Water Conference Report

Posted by Jonathan Nurse on October 14, 2009 at 10:45 am 

Yesterday, 10/13/09, the Senate Finance Committee approved a health reform package on a largely party-line vote of 14-9, with only Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) crossing the partisan divide. The vote in Senate Finance was the last of the five House/Senate committee (3 House committees, 2 Senate Committees) votes before consideration by the chambers.  Leadership and select members of the committees of jurisdiction will need to work together to merge bills that have been produced. In the Senate, the reform package will need to clear 60 votes to avoid a filibuster, while in the House only a simple majority is needed. At present, a public insurance option appears to be the major point of contention between the more conservative version of reform produced by the Senate Fiance Committee  and legislation advanced by the Senate HELP Committee and the House. After bills pass the Senate and House, differences will again need to be worked out between the chambers so that a single bill can be sent to the President.

Passage of health care reform may be linked to the student aid overhaul that was approved in the House over the summer. If Senate Democrats are unable to pull together the 60 votes necessary to pass health care reform, they may tie the legislation to the student aid bill in the form of a budget reconciliation package that would only require a simple majority to pass. As a result, the Senate companion to the House (H.R. 3221) student aid bill is currently awaiting further developments on the health care reform front. The University of Washington, and much of the higher education advocacy community, is using the extra time allotted for the student aid bill to seek some improvements in the legislation.

Posted by Maggie Mount on October 12, 2009 at 8:05 am 

[Please note that times listed are all Eastern Daylight Time.]

 Neither the House nor the Senate is in session on Monday, October 12, in observance of Columbus Day.

 The Senate:

• Convenes Tuesday at 2:00 pm (EDT) to consider HR 2847, the fiscal 2010 Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill.   A procedural vote on a substitute amendment is expected Tuesday. 
• On Wednesday (tentative schedule), the Senate will consider HR 3183, the 2010 Energy-Water spending conference report and HR 2647, the Defense Authorization Conference Report. 

The House:

Convenes on Tuesday at 2:00 pm (EDT).

• Tuesday vote on Iran sanctions as well as a number of commemorative resolutions.
• Later in the week the House is expected to take up more spending bills.
• Convenes at 10:00 am on Wednesday and Thursday, and at 9:00 am on Friday.

 Markups

Tuesday:

• Senate Finance votes on draft health care overhaul legislation.  10:00 am.
• Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions votes on nominations.  10:00 am

 Wednesday:

• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Environment marks up legislation regarding water security (HR 3258), chemical facility security (HR 2868) and isotope production (HR 3276).  10:00 am.
• House Judiciary marks up legislation regarding internment of Latin Americans during World War II (HR 42), wartime treatment study (HR 1425), and national and commercial space programs (HR 3237). 10:15 am.
• House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation marks up draft legislation to reauthorize fire grants. 2:00 pm;
• House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee marks up draft legislation on AIDS treatment.  3:00 pm.

 Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday:

• House Financial Services marks up draft legislation regarding over-the-counter derivatives, as well as bills on consumer protection (HR 3126 & HR 3639) and business protection (HR 3763). 10:00 am all three days.

 Thursday:

• Senate Judiciary marks up legislation on a media shield law (S 448), generic drug availability (S 369), and radio royalties (S 379) and also votes on nominations.  10:00 am;  
• House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere marks up drug policy legislation (HR 2134). 2:10 pm. 

 Source: CQ Today Print Edition

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