Cloakroom: September 15 – September 21

Katherine Rosario / September 15, 2013

House Cloakroom:

Analysis: This week, the House may move its attention to a food stamp bill that would reduce spending by $40 billion by eliminating USDA waivers for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDS). The reduction is far below the $135 billion (over 10 years) cut called for by the House-passed Ryan Budget. The House may also consider the continuing resolution (CR), which may or may not include legislation to defund Obamacare in its entirety.

Major Floor Action:

• H.R. ____ – Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act
• H.R. ____ – Continuing Resolution
• H.R. 1526 – Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act
• H.R. 687 – Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2013
• H.R. 761 – National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013

Major Committee Action:

• The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing entitled “The Obama Administration’s Climate Change Policies and Activities.”
• The House Committee on Financial Services will hold a hearing entitled “The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002.”

Senate Cloakroom:

Analysis: This week, the Senate will continue consideration of the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH). The bill was allegedly designed to promote energy savings in industrial and commercial buildings, but it would impose a set of voluntary standards on the states, offering the incentive of federal taxpayer dollars to adopt federal standards. The legislation would have negligible environmental benefits, and it is based on the flawed assumption that individuals will act irrationally and inefficiently without government intervention.

Major Floor Action:

• S.1392 – Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act

Major Committee Action:

• The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will hold a hearing on the nomination of Richard Griffith to be General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board.