House Cloakroom: October 10 – October 14
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Analysis: The major issues facing the House this week will be three free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).  These free trade agreements had been held by the Obama Administration since they came into office in 2009 and were finally sent to Congress after the Senate passed TAA.  All four of these bills are expected to pass this week.

Major Floor Action:

  • HR 3078 – United States – Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
  • HR 3079 – United States – Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
  • HR 3080 – United States – Korea Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
  • HR 2832 – To extend the Generalized System of Preferences and for other purposes (Trade Adjustment Assistance)

Major Committee Action:

  • The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on the “Lingering Impact of Offshore Drilling Moratorium.”
  • The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit will hold a hearing on the “National Infrastructure Bank.”
  • The House Judiciary Committee will hold a markup on the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act.
  • The House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on “UN Transparency.”

Senate Cloakroom: October 10 – October 14

Analysis: The Senate plans to vote on final passage of the China currency bill and then move to a modified version of President Obama’s jobs plan.  This version of the jobs plan includes a 5.6% surtax on those with an income of over $1 million.  There is a lot of uncertainty as to how the Senate will move forward this week after Senator Reid (D-NV) used the “nuclear option” to avoid a vote on the President’s jobs bill.  The Republican response should become clearer once the entire Senate returns on Tuesday.

Major Floor Action:

  • S 1619 – Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act
  • S 1660 – American Jobs Act

Major Committee Action:

  • The Senate Finance Committee will hold a markup of the “Free Trade Agreements.”
  • The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on “Tax Overhaul Options.”
  • The Senate Special Aging Committee will hold a hearing on the “Medicare Overhaul Debate.”
  • The Senate Budget Committee will hold a hearing on “Budget Process Issues.”

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