THE DAILY WHIP: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

H.Res. 879 – Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 5931 – Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act (Rep. Royce – Foreign Affairs)(One hour of debate). The Rules Committee has recommended a closed Rule that provides for one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.  The Rule allows one motion to recommit, with or without instructions, and waives all points of order against the legislation. 

The Rule also Waives clause 6(a) of rule XIII, the requirement of a two-thirds vote to consider a Rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee, through the legislative day of September 27, 2016, relating to a measure making or continuing appropriations for fiscal year ending September 30, 2017.  Members are urged to VOTE NO.

H.R. 5719 – Empowering Employees through Stock Ownership Act (Rep. Paulsen – Ways and Means) (One hour of debate).  This bill would allow employees of companies where the stock is non-publicly traded to defer paying income tax for up to seven years on the gain in exercising any stock options received as compensation.  Currently, employees receiving stock options owe income tax on the difference between the purchase price and the fair market value of the stock at the time an option is exercised. It would not apply to the top paid employees, core executives, or those with those with any significant ownership stake.

While this legislation would benefit employees at smaller firms outside of the executive structure, and help smaller startups to recruit and attract employees, this tax deferral would add $1 billion to the deficit according to the Joint Committee on Taxation.  Rep. Crowley offered an amendment to the Rules Committee to offset the $1 billion cost.  That amendment, however, was not made in order. Members are urged to VOTE NO.

Bill Text for H.R. 5719:
PDF Version

Background for H.R. 5719:
House Report (HTML Version)
House Report (PDF Version)
Crowley Eshoo Dear Colleague

H.R. 5931 – Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act (Rep. Royce – Foreign Affairs) (One hour of debate).  The bill: (1) states that it is not the policy of the U.S. government not to pay ransom or release prisoners for the purpose of securing the release of U.S. citizens being held hostage in Iran; (2) would prohibit the U.S. government from providing directly or indirectly promissory notes, including currency, issued by the U.S. government or by a foreign government to the government of Iran; and (3) requires the administration to obtain a Treasury foreign assets license before settling any agreement brought before the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal ( “Algiers Accords," established on January 19, 1981) and to public disclose such transactions and payments.

In the Statement of Administration Policy, the President's senior advisors stated that they would recommend he veto this bill. 

Royce Amendment. Clarifies prohibited forms of payment to Iran, to include monetary instruments and precious metals.
Pompeo Amendment #2. Prohibits the U.S. government from making ransom payments.
Pompeo Amendment #3. Imposes sanctions on Iranians involved in kidnapping or unjustly detaining US citizens.
Duffy Amendment. Prohibits cash and precious metal payments to designated state sponsors of terrorism and North Korea in addition to Iran.
Engel Amendment. Requires the President to notify Congress of a payment made to any State Sponsor of Terrorism or North Korea pursuant to a settlement or judgment against the United States. The amendment requires the President to report on pending claims before the Iran-US Claims Tribunal.

Bill Text for H.R. 5931:
PDF Version

Background for H.R. 5931:
House Report (HTML Version)
House Report (PDF Version)

Suspensions (3 bills)

1. H.R. 6004 – Modernizing Government Technology Act (Rep. Hurd – Oversight and Government Reform)
2. H.R. 1296 – To amend the San Luis Rey Indian Water Rights Settlement Act to clarify certain settlement terms, and for other purposes (Rep. Hunter – Natural Resources)
3. H.R. 4564 – Robert Emmet Park Act of 2016 (Rep. Crowley – Natural Resources)

Postponed Suspensions (10 bills)

1. H.R. 5963 – Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act, as amended (Rep. Curbelo – Education and the Workforce)
2. H.R. 5625 – Modernizing Government Travel Act (Rep. Moulton – Oversight and Government Reform)
3. House Amendment to S. 1550 – Program Management Improvement Accountability Act, as amended (Sen. Ernst – Oversight and Government Reform)
4. H.R. 4419 – District of Columbia Judicial Financial Transparency Act (Rep. Norton – Oversight and Government Reform)
5. H.R. 5037 – District of Columbia Courts and Public Defender Service Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments Act (Rep. Norton – Oversight and Government Reform)
6. H.R. 5798 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1101 Davis Street in Evanston, Illinois, as the "Abner J. Mikva Post Office Building" (Rep. Schakowsky – Oversight and Government Reform)
7. H.R. 5320 – Social Security Must Avert Identity Loss (MAIL) Act of 2016 (Rep. Sam Johnson – Ways and Means)
8. H.R. 5946 – United States Appreciation for Olympians and Paralympians Act of 2016 (Rep. Dold – Ways and Means)
9. H.R. 2285 – Preventing Trafficking in Cultural Property Act (Rep. Keating – Ways and Means)
10. H.R. 5523 – Clyde-Hirsch-Sowers RESPECT Act (Rep. Roskam – Ways and Means)