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1 Weekl ly Legislative Update Week of July 6, 2015 Congressional Outlook Week of July 6 The House and Senate are in session this week. The House will complete consideration of the $30.17 billion FY 2016 Interior-Environment Appropriations bill (H.R. 2822), which the White House has already threatened to veto. The House will also vote on the "Student Success Act" (H.R. 5), which would reauthorize and makes significant changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (the White House has threatened to veto H.R. 5); the "Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015" (H.R. 2647), a comprehensive bill aimed at expediting and improving forest management activities in federal forests; and the "21st Century Cures Act" (H.R. 6), which would facilitate the advancement of cutting edge science and foster more efficient discovery, development and delivery of new treatments. The Senate, on Tuesday, willl begin consideration of the "Every Child Achieves Act off 2015 (S. 1177), which aims to fix the No Child Left Behind Act. Lastly, House-Senate conferees may reconcile differences this week over customs-enforcement legislation, the "Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015," (H.R. 644) the last piece of the trade package passed by Congress that gives President Obama "fast-track" authority to complete negotiation of the Trans-Pacific take up highway funding issues, a Partnership (TPP) and other trade deals. Congress returns with a busy agenda, as lawmakerss possible revival of the Export-Import Bank and ongoing budget fights, with no consensuss solution yet to emerge on any of these issues. All that doesn't even touch on a series of questions that will take the spotlight after the August recess, including raising the national borrowing limit, renewing tax breaks and reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administrationn (FAA). House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are expected to encourage their colleagues to combine a corporate tax overhaul with a highway reauthorization measure this month, though other Republicans are concerned about the optics of helping mega-corporations manage overseas profits. Read more...

2 The full House Appropriation ns Committeee is scheduled Wednesday to markup the $20.65 billion FY 2016 Agriculture-FD DA spending bill. The full Committee will also vote on revising the 302( (b) allocations that limit how much spending can go into each of the 12 appropriations bills. Additionally, this week the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security willl markup the FY 2016 Homeland Security spending bill while the Senate Appropriations Committee will markup the FY 2016 State-Foreign Operations spending bill. Looming over these numerous policy debates is the larger dispute over the budget. Republican leadership remains committed to moving appropriations bills through Congresss that largely adhere to sequester-level spending limits. Democrats have promised to block any such spending bills and instead want a deal that raises the caps for non-defense and defensee discretionary spending. With Democrats standing in the way of the normal appropriations bills, some experts predict Congress will be forced to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded past September 30. Congress is scheduled to break for the month-long recess in August, giving lawmakers a few weeks in Julyy and September to resolve the funding impasse in advance of September 30, the end of the current fiscal year. Week in Review House Agenda for July Released House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to the items being considered this week in the House, the releasedd a memo on July 1, whichh lays out a tentative agenda for July. In addition remaining items on the docket include consideration of: The $20.2 billion FY 2016 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill; The "Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015" (H.R. 2898), which, according to sponsor Rep. David Valadao (R-CA), would "modernize water policies in Californiaa and throughout the entire Western United States" and set deadlines for federal regulators to complete the studies associated with several water storage projects in i the west; The "Innovation Act" (H.R. 9), which would take steps to combat the ever increasing problem of abusive patent litigation; The "Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2015" (H.R.. 427), which would require that federal agenciess submit major regulations to Congresss for approval; guarantees that no major regulation becomes effective until Congresss approves it; and provides that an expedited upp or down vote occurs on major rules within 70 legislative days; Legislation to extend the authorities of the Highway Trust Fund; Legislation related to the Architecture of Abundance energy plan being developed by the House Energy & Commerce Committee, which seekss to maximize America's energy potential; and The $612 billion FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1735) Conferencee Report.

3 House Republican Leaders Delay Introduction of FAA Reauthorization Bill On July 1, House Republican leaders opted to delay the introduction and consideration of a broad FAA reauthorization bill until September at the earliest, in a last-minute decision thatt caught some aviation industry officials and lawmakers by surprise. The decision makes it likely that the FAA, facing a reauthorization deadline of September 30, will get a stopgap funding bill-perhaps lasting for a few months or into mid Lawmakers are also likely to put offf decisions about controversial issues such as the proposed privatization of the nation's air- traffic control system. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Billl Shuster (R-PA) has stated that the Committee will hold off on debate and a markup on the FAAA reauthorization bill until "we get closer to floor consideration." The bill is expected to calll for creating a stand-alone, nonprofit corporation to run and oversee modernization of the FAA's traffic control system and hews closely to privatization and governance principles embraced over the past few months by many airlines and business groups. Read more... Export-Import Bank Expires On July 1, the charter for the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank of the United States expired. Congress failed to address the charter's expiration before they adjournedd for the July 4 recess, but the bank's supporters say they will seek to renew the charter retroactively next month. The relatively obscure bank is an independent t agency that t acts as the export credit agency for the U.S. government. The Ex-Im Bank helpss finance the foreign purchases of U.S.. goods. In recent years it has come under increased fire from conservative lawmakers and activists who label it corporate welfare and want the bank to expire and slowly wind down its current loan contracts. Ex-Im Bank supporters in the Senate are eyeing a must-pass, upcoming highway funding bill to attach the bank'ss reauthorization and send it to the House. Read more... Congressional Schedule Tuesday, July 7 Full House Rules Committee meets to formulate a rule on H. R. 5, the "Student Success Act"; and H.R. 2647, the "Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015." Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security hearing entitled "Technologies Transforming Transportation: Is the Government Keeping Up??" Full Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing "to receive testimony on S. 1694, a bill to amend Public Law to authorize Phase III of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project for the purposes of improving water management in the Yakima River basin, and for other purposes." Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs markup of the "FY 2016 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill." Full Senate Agriculture Committee hearing entitled "Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: The Impact on the U.S. Poultry Sector and Protecting U.S. Poultry Flocks." Senate Heath, Education, Labor & Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security hearing entitled "Small Business Health Care Challenges and Opportunities."

4 Full Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing entitled "The 2014 Humanitarian Crisis at Our Border: A Review of the Government's Response to Unaccompanied Minors One Year Later." Wednesday, July 8 Full House Rules Committee meets to formulate a rule on H.R. 6, the "21st Century Cures Act." Full Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing entitled "Road to Paris: Examining the President's International Climate Agenda and Implications for Domestic Environmental Policy." Full House Appropriations Committee markup of the "FY 2016 Agriculture Appropriations Bill." Full House Natural Resources Committee markup of H.R. 487, "To allow the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to lease or transfer certain lands"; H.R. 959, the "Medgar Evers House Study Act"; H.R. 1554, the "Elkhorn Ranch and White River National Forest Conveyance Act of 2015"; H.R. 1937, the "National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2015"; H.R.1949, the "National Liberty Memorial Clarification Act of 2015"; H.R. 2223, the "Crags, Colorado Land Exchange Act of 2015"; H.R. 2791, the "Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act"; H.R. 2898; the "Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015"; S. 501, the "New Mexico Water Settlement Technical Corrections Act." Full House Agriculture Committee hearing entitled "Energy and the Rural Economy: the Economic Impact of Exporting Crude Oil." House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing entitled "Internet Governance Progress After ICANN 53." House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing entitled "Medicaid at 50: Strengthening and Sustaining the Program." House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hearing entitled "The Helium Stewardship Act and the Path Forward." House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency hearing entitled "Examining DHS's Misplaced Focus on Climate Change." House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit hearing entitled "Examining the Designation and Regulation of Bank Holding Company SIFIs." House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology hearing entitled "Is the OPM Data Breach the Tip of the Iceberg?" Full Senate Intelligence Committee hearing entitled "Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and the Challenges of 'Going Dark.'" Full Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Going Dark: Encryption, Technology, and the Balance Between Public Safety and Privacy." Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism hearing entitled "Cyber Crime: Modernizing our Legal Framework for the Information Age." Full House Small Business Committee hearing entitled "The Calm Before the Storm: Oversight of SBA's Disaster Loan Program." Full Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee hearing entitled "The Role of the Financial Stability Board in the U.S. Regulatory Framework." Full Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing entitled "Stopping an Avian Influenza Threat to Animal and Public Health." Full Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing entitled "A Path Forward: Trust Modernization and Reform for Indian Lands." House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity hearing entitled "A Review of VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program."

5 Thursday, July 9 House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security markup of "FY 2016 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill." Full House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing entitled "Examining EPA's Regulatory Overreach." Full House Natural Resources Committee markup of H.R. 487, "To allow the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to lease or transfer certain lands"; H.R. 959, the "Medgar Evers House Study Act"; H.R. 1554, the "Elkhorn Ranch and White River National Forest Conveyance Act of 2015"; H.R. 1937, the "National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2015"; H.R.1949, the "National Liberty Memorial Clarification Act of 2015"; H.R. 2223, the "Crags, Colorado Land Exchange Act of 2015"; H.R. 2791, the "Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act"; H.R. 2898; the "Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015"; S. 501, the "New Mexico Water Settlement Technical Corrections Act." Full Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing entitled "Understanding America's Long-Term Fiscal Picture." Full Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing "to receive testimony on mitigation requirements, interagency coordination, and pilot projects related to economic development on federal lands." House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture hearing entitled "U.S. International Food Aid Programs: Oversight and Accountability." House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power hearing entitled "H.R. 702, Legislation to Prohibit Restrictions on the Export of Crude Oil." Full House Financial Services Committee hearing entitled "The Dodd-Frank Act Five Years Later: Are We More Stable?" House Judiciary Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law hearing entitled "H.R., the 'Financial Institution Bankruptcy Act of 2015.'" House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice hearing entitled "The State of Property Rights in America Ten Years After Kelo v. City of New London." Full House Ways and Means Committee hearing entitled "Promoting Opportunity for Disability Insurance Beneficiaries." Full Senate Appropriations Committee markup of the "FY 2016 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill." Full Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting to discuss "S. 1482, 'Need- Based Educational Aid Act of 2015' and S. 1300, 'Adoptive Family Relief Act.'" Friday, July 10 House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing entitled "H.R. 985, Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2015." House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance hearing entitled "The Future of Housing in America: Oversight of HUD's Public and Indian Housing Programs." House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Space hearing entitled "The International Space Station: Addressing Operational Challenges."