Weekly Legislative Update
 Week of October 11, 2016
  
Congressional Outlook

Week of October 11th

The House and Senate are in recess for five more weeks, with the House returning November 14 and the Senate returning November 15. The only must-pass item on the agenda for the remainder of the 114th Congress is wrapping up the 11 remaining appropriations bills to fund federal government agencies and programs for the balance of the 2017 fiscal year (i.e., through Sept. 30, 2017), in order to avert a government shutdown. This will likely be done through an omnibus, but if an agreement can't be reached on a massive spending package, another Continuing Resolution (CR) may be necessary. The dynamics of those negotiations likely rest heavily on the outcome of the November elections. On Nov. 15, the Senate is scheduled to take a vote on the Gold Star Families Voices Act (H.R. 4511), which the House passed by voice vote on September 6, and which would expand the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project (VHP) to include family members of veterans who died as a result of their service or who are missing in action.
 
There are numerous other issues Congress will consider when it returns for the four-week "lame-duck" session in November and December, including (1) the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 House-Senate Conference Committee (H.R. 5303/S. 2848); (2) the Energy Policy Modernization Act House-Senate Conference Committee ( S. 2012); (3) the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) House-Senate Conference Committee (H.R. 4909/ S. 2943); (4) the 21st Century Cures Act ( H.R. 6); (5) a tax extenders package for more than 30 tax provisions set to expire on Dec. 31, 2016, including those ranging from renewable energy and energy conservation, to provisions affecting homeowners and their mortgages, rum producers, and owners of race tracks and race horses; (6) additional emergency aid for states negatively impacted by severe flooding in 2016 and funding for opioid addiction prevention; (7) a package of bills to overhaul the criminal justice system; and (8) various foreign policy issues, including extending sanctions authorities on Iran, which expire on Dec. 31, 2016, and amending the newly passed Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which allows the family members of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia in U.S. courts.
 
The third and final presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump, moderated by Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace, will take place on Wednesday, October 19 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV from 9-10:30pm EST. There are 27 days until Election Day. 
Week in Review

President Obama Signs 14 Bills Into Law
 
On October 7, President Obama signed the following 14 bills into law, including:
  • H.R. 1475, the "Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act," which authorizes the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation to construct a Wall of Remembrance at the site of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.;
  • H.R. 2494, the "Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016," which supports a collaborative, interagency approach to addressing wildlife trafficking in order to protect and conserve species threatened by poaching and illegal wildlife trade;
  • H.R. 2733, the "Nevada Native Nations Land Act," which transfers Federal land in Nevada into trust status for the benefit of certain Indian tribes;
  • H.R. 3004, which extends the authorization for the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission through October 12, 2021;
  • H.R. 5147, the "Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation Act" or "BABIES Act," which requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to equip restrooms in public buildings constructed, altered, or acquired by GSA with baby changing facilities;
  • H.R. 5578, the "Survivors' Bill of Rights Act of 2016," which establishes additional rights for survivors of sexual assault. Sexual assault survivors are now given a federal right to a free forensic examination and the preservation of evidence collection kits, and the bill authorizes new Department of  Justice (DOJ) grants to notify survivors of their rights;
  • H.R. 5883, the "Clarification of Treatment of Electronic Sales of Livestock Act of 2016," which amends and updates the Packers and Stockyards Act;
  • H.R. 5944, which specifies that an airport owner or operator that renews a covered lease would not be considered to be in violation of certain written assurance requirements related to grants awarded by the Department of Transportation for airport development projects;
  • H.R. 5946, the "United States Appreciation for Olympians and Paralympics Act of 2016," which amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income, for income tax purposes, the value of certain medals or prize money won in competition in the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games;
  • S. 1004, the "Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act," which encourages the nationwide observance of two minutes of silence each Veterans Day;
  • S. 1698, the "Treatment of Certain Payments in Eugenics Compensation Act," which excludes payments from State eugenics compensation programs from being considered as income for the purposes of determining eligibility for or the amount of Federal public benefits; and
  • S. 2683, the "Federal Aviation Administration Veteran Transition Improvement Act of 2016," which amends current law to apply disabled veteran leave requirements to the Federal Aviation Administration's personnel management system.
White House Holds Rural Forum
 
On October 5, the White House held the White House Rural Forum, " convening rural policy, business, and nonprofit leaders to Penn State University in State College, PA," and announced "new Administration actions in support of rural America." U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Chair of the White House Rural Council, and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) led discussions on pertinent issues facing rural communities, including opportunities for economic growth and strategies for improving health care and housing. Secretary Vilsack also urged lawmakers and the private sector, foundations, and nonprofits to recognize opportunities in America's rural communities to ensure continued social and economic progress. The White House Rural Council also released a memorandum entitled "Rural Strategies that Work," which presents strategies for federal work  in rural America that have resulted in improved outcomes over the course of the Obama Administration.
 
The new Obama Administration actions announced include:  
  • $3 Billion Invested in Rural Infrastructure Projects;
  • $7.7 Million in New Grants to Bring Broadband to 6 Unserved Communities;
  • $24.4 Million to Fund 80 New Efforts to Support Rural Businesses, including:  $10.9 million invested in 15 new Rural Economic Development Loan (REDL) and Grant (REDG) projects, $9.1 million invested in 15 new Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) projects; $1.2 million invested in 4 new Rural Micro-entrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) projects, and $3.2 million invested in 46 new Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) projects;
  • Grants to Increase Rural Veterans' Access to Health Care;
  • Investing in volunteer service to address the opioid crisis in Rural America;
  • Rural Integration Models for Parents and Children to Thrive (Rural IMPACT) Demonstration pilot program;
  • Economic Development Planning Assistance for Rural Communities (applications due Sunday, November 6th);
  • Health Information Technology Investments;
  • Investments to Address Chronic Diseases;
  • Community Coaches to Help Rural Leaders Tackle Child Poverty; and
  • Investments in Rural Teacher Preparation Programs. 
White House Announces American Manufacturing Progress
 
On October 6, the White House released a fact sheet, in celebration of National Manufacturing Day on October 7, announcing "important progress in support of American manufacturing," including:
  • Announcements by 5 Federal Agencies, including grants to strengthen manufacturing supply chains by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, challenges to catalyze next-generation technologies by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and initiatives to support more American Veterans pursuing technical training in advanced manufacturing by the Department of Veterans Affairs;
  • Commitments by more than 110 organizations, including the first manufacturing-oriented massive open online course of its kind by MIT, 18 expanded and inaugural Grand Challenge Scholars Programs by colleges and universities across the country, and 30 new manufacturing apprenticeships by the Manufacturing Association of Central New York; and
  • A new report by the National Economic Council, highlighting an Administration-long focus to strengthen the competitiveness of American manufacturing.   
Congressional Schedule

There are no scheduled hearings this week as the House and Senate are in recess.