Federal Legislative Update - June 12, 2023
The House and Senate are in session this week.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) hopes to move the lower chamber past a stalemate after conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus blocked a rule last week halting floor action. The group of eleven lawmakers broke with fellow Republicans to stop a routine procedural vote that has not failed in nearly two decades. The reason for the challenge comes as many Republicans were opposed to the debt limit deal (the enacted Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023) negotiated between Speaker McCarthy and President Joe Biden in May. The Speaker will discuss spending levels for Fiscal Year 2024. Given the House GOP’s slim four-seat majority, the Speaker has minimal room to pass legislation through the House. Conservatives holding up consideration of bills on the House floor will have their stance tested as fellow Freedom Caucus member Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) has legislation (H.J. Res. 42) teed up for a vote, on a pistol brace disapproval resolution.
Today, the House will meet to vote on five measures under suspension of the rules, including the Block Grant Assistance Act of 2023 (H.R. 662), which amends the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2023 to improve disaster relief funding for agricultural producers, and for other purposes. The Senate will consider several executive and judicial nominations, including: Elizabeth Allen to be Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy; Jared Bernstein to be Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers; Herman Vera to be a U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California; and Casey Pitts to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California.
If a majority of House members vote to approve a resolution approving consideration of legislation on the House floor, the chamber will vote on four additional bills: the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act (H.R. 1615), which bars the Consumer Product Safety Commission from using federal funds to ban gas stoves as a hazardous product; the Save Our Gas Stoves Act (H.R. 1640), which prevents the Energy Department from finalizing its proposed rule expanding energy efficiency regulations on gas stoves; the Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2023 (H.R. 288), which directs federal courts to conduct their own interpretation of laws when reviewing administrative actions without deferring to the federal agencies’ legal conclusions; and the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2023 (H.R. 277), which requires that “major rules” — including those that cause a major increase in prices or have an annual effect on the economy that is equal to $100 million or more — are approved by Congress before they can take effect. The House may also vote on overriding President Biden’s veto of a disapproval resolution nullifying the District of Columbia’s “Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act of 2022.”
Congress will continue to work on its twelve FY24 appropriations bills, multiple reauthorizations with September 30 deadlines, the National Defense Authorization Act, and government funding. Reauthorizations include those for the Federal Aviation Administration, the Farm Bill, Coast Guard, and the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. The House Appropriations Committee aims to complete subcommittee markups of the Defense and Energy-Water Development appropriations bills on Thursday, with full committee markups of Military Construction-Veterans Affairs and Agriculture- FDA on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. On Friday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair introduced the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935) with a markup scheduled for Tuesday. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee expects to release its bill text ahead of its Thursday markup. The House Armed Services subcommittees responsible for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will hold markups this week, and the legislation will receive a full markup on June 21.
For the remainder of the week, the House will hold several hearings including a Homeland Security Committee hearing on the “Future of FEMA: Agency Perspectives with Administrator Criswell” and an Agriculture Committee hearing on “Stakeholder Perspectives on USDA’s Rural Development Programs.” In the Senate, the Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on “Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act by the Federal Highway Administration.” Lawmakers will also play the annual Congressional baseball game on Wednesday.
Bills and Regulations of Interest to You
Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act
Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO-6)
Streamlines the FAA’s processes, advance new aviation technologies, and improves passenger experience. Would authorize air traffic control operations and airport improvement programs.
Flood Resiliency and Land Stewardship Act
Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA-2)
Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to add flood prevention and mitigation measures to purposes of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, and for other purposes.
Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood (SHELLS) Act
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR.-1)
Restores the balance of federalism and strengthen the intergovernmental partnership by establishing a “Commission on Intergovernmental Relations of the United States” (the Commission) at the federal level.
Water and Agriculture Tax Reform (WATER) Act
Rep. Ken Buck Biggs (R-CO-4) & Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID)
To facilitate water leasing and water transfers to promote conservation and efficiency.
The FAA is reviewing our noise policy as part of our ongoing commitment to address aircraft noise.
July 31, 2023
Council on Environmental Quality
Proposes equitable and just practices to advance safety, health, and prosperity for communities residing near the ocean, the coasts, and the Great Lakes and for the whole country, now and for future generations.
July 24, 2023
EPA
Recycling Infrastructure & Market Opportunities
Develops an interactive map of recycling markets visually presenting data estimates.
June 26, 2023
FEMA
Community Disaster Resilience Zones and the National Risk Index
FEMA is reviewing the input on implementation of Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act of 2022 for potential improvements to FEMA’s resilience zones.
July 25, 2023
DOT
Department of Transportation Equity Action Plan Update
The Office of the Secretary of Transportation invites public comment regarding how DOT’s work to advance equity has impacted organizations and communities, as well as input on performance metrics, data sets, tools, and research to measure and advance transportation equity.
June 30, 2023