Month: April 2016

Senators today will try to break a partisan impasse that has held up the Energy and Water Development spending bill (H.R. 2028) before leaving for a week-long recess. The controversy comes over an amendment submitted by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) that would thwart a recently struck deal for the United States to purchase heavy water – a form of water used in the certain nuclear reactors – from Iran. While the purchase is unrelated to last year’s comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran, Democrats have labeled Cotton’s proposal as a “poison pill” and the White House has said it would veto the spending bill if the Iran language were included.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Energy-Water Bill Stalls Over Iran Amendment; House to Vote on Fiduciary Rule Disapproval”

The Senate is moving toward finishing an Energy and Water Development spending measure, with a cloture vote scheduled on a substitute amendment (#3801) to the legislative vehicle for the bill (H.R.2028). The underlying measure would provide $37.5 billion for the Energy Department, Army Corps of Engineers, parts of the Interior Department and other agencies. That’s $355 million more than was allocated in fiscal 2016 and $261 million more than Obama requested.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Energy Approps, Angel Investors, Tariff Revisions”

The Senate is set to resume consideration of a $37.5 billion fiscal 2017 appropriations bill that would fund the Energy Department and government water projects, including the operations of the Army Corps of Engineers. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) moved to wrap up debate on the measure, filing cloture yesterday on the substitute amendment and the underlying bill. The cloture vote on the substitute amendment is set for tomorrow unless an agreement is reached to move it earlier. The Senate has agreed to vote today on amendments related to wind energy (No. 3812), water management (No. 3805), and Army Corps of Engineers construction funds (No 3820). The underlying measure would provide $37.5 billion for the Energy Department, Army Corps of Engineers, parts of the Interior Department and other agencies. That’s $355 million more than was allocated in fiscal 2016 and $261 million more than President Barack Obama requested. A pilot nuclear waste storage facility would be authorized under the measure.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Energy Appropriations in the Senate; 14 Noncontroversial Votes in the House”

Both chambers are in session this week, with the House looking to roll back the Labor Department’s recently finalized fiduciary rule and the Senate continuing its early work in the appropriations process. The latest fight between the lower chamber and the Administration comes over a new Department of Labor (DOL) regulation intended to ensure that retirement advisers are working in their clients’ best interest. Opponents of the rule argue that its requirements are overly burdensome and will limit consumer access to financial advice. The House will debate a joint resolution of disapproval (H.J. Res. 88) under Congressional Review Act procedures to prevent the rule from taking effect next year. House lawmakers also plan to consider measures expanding access to angel investors (H.R. 4498) and extending the District of Columbia’s school voucher program (H.R. 4901), the latter of which is a legacy of former Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH).  

Continue reading “This Week on the Hill: House Moves Against DOL Fiduciary Rule as Senate Continues Approps Work”

With today marking the annual income-tax filing deadline, the House starts the week with a series of bills intended to reform the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The four pieces of legislation would freeze IRS hiring until it certifies no IRS employee has a “seriously delinquent” tax debt (H.R. 1206), bar the rehiring of employees who were fired for misconduct (H.R. 3724), require IRS user fees to be deposited into the Treasury’s general fund (H.R. 4885), and finally, end all IRS bonuses until the agency develops a comprehensive customer service strategy (H.R. 4890). All four bills were advanced in a contentious House Ways and Means Committee hearing last week, and none are expected to be taken up in the Senate.

Continue reading “This Week on the Hill: Senate to Finish FAA, Energy Bills Before Moving to Approps; House Works on IRS, Puerto Rico”