WHIP'S WEEKLY OUTLOOK: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011

For Immediate Release:
2011-10-23T00:00:00
Welcome to the Whip's Weekly Outlook, your one-stop document to find out what's to come in the following weeks on the House Floor and in Committees, as well as a review of the last week in session. Please let us know what you think.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Brian Romick, Chris DeBosier, Courtney Fry, or Lizet Ocampo in the Office of the Democratic Whip at (202) 225-3130.
THIS WEEK ON THE FLOOR
The House is scheduled to be in session this week from Monday, 10/24, to Thursday, 10/27. The House will meet on Monday at 2PM for legislative business. The first votes of the week will be on Monday at 6:30PM.  On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10AM for Morning Hour and 12PM for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9AM for legislative business with last votes expected no later than 3PM.
 
On Monday, the House is expected to consider seven bills under suspension of the Rules:
  • H.R. 295 – To amend the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 to authorize funds to acquire hydrographic data and provide hydrographic services specific to the Arctic for safe navigation, delineating the United States extended continental shelf, and the monitoring and description of coastal changes, as amended (Rep. Young (AK) - Natural Resources)
  • H.R. 441 – Kantishna Hills Renewable Energy Act of 2011 (Rep. Young (AK) - Natural Resources)
  • H.R. 818 – To direct the Secretary of the Interior to allow for prepayment of repayment contracts between the United States and the Uintah Water Conservancy District (Rep. Matheson - Natural Resources)
  • H.R. 1160 – McKinney Lake National Fish Hatchery Conveyance Act (Rep. Kissell - Natural Resources)
  • H.R. 320 – Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act (Rep. Calvert - Natural Resources)
  • H.R. 461 – South Utah Valley Electric Conveyance Act (Rep. Chaffetz - Natural Resources)
  • H.R. 2594 – European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011 (Rep. Mica - Transportation and Infrastructure)
On Tuesday, and the balance of the week, the House is expected to consider 3 bills under suspension of the Rules:
  • H.R. 2447 – To grant the congressional gold medal to the Montford Point Marines (Rep. Brown - Financial Services)
  • H.R. 2527 – National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act (Rep. Hanna - Financial Services)
  • H.R. 2042 – Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 (Rep. Larsen - Homeland Security)
On Tuesday, and the balance of the week, the House is also expected to consider:
  • H.R. 1904 – Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2011 (Rep. Gosar - Natural Resources Committee)
    • Committee Markup Information – The Natural Resources Committee marked up on the bill on Wednesday, 7/13, and reported out the bill by a 26-19 party line vote.
    • The Rules Committee will meet on Monday, 10/24, at 5PM to report a rule, which could limit the amendment process. Amendments are due to Rules by noon on Monday, 10/24.
  • H.R. 2576 – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the calculation of modified adjusted gross income for purposes of determining eligibility for certain healthcare-related programs (Rep. Black - Ways and Means)
  • H.R. 674 – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the imposition of 3 percent withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities (Rep. Herger - Ways and Means)
    • Committee Markup Information – The Ways and Means Committee marked up the bills on Thursday, 10/13, and reported out the bills by a voice vote.
    • The Rules Committee will meet on Tuesday, 10/24, at 3PM to report a rule. We expect one Rule for both bills.
THIS WEEK IN COMMITTEES

Upcoming Markups

Education and Workforce Committee:

Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act – Full Committee Markup – Wednesday, 10/26 at 10AM
  • HR 3094– Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act

Financial Services Committee:

Job Creation, Small Business Capital Formation – Full Committee Markup – Wednesday, 10/26 at 10AM
  • HR 2940 – A bill to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to eliminate the prohibition against general solicitation as a requirement for a certain exemption under Regulation D.
  • HR 2930 – A bill to amend the securities laws to provide for registration exemptions for certain crowdfunded securities, and for other purposes.
  • HR 1965 – A bill to amend the securities laws to establish certain thresholds for shareholder registration, and for other purposes.
  • HR 2167 – Private Company Flexibility and Growth Act

Judiciary Committee:

Judiciary Legislation – Full Committee Markup – Tuesday, 10/25 at 1PM
  • HR 420 –Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2011
  • HR 10 – Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2011
  • HR 2870 – A bill to reauthorize certain programs established by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.
  • HR 1254 – Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2011
  • HR 3012 – A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants, to increase the per-country numerical limitation for family-sponsored immigrants, and for other purposes.
  • HR 822 – National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011
Please find full Committee schedules here:
 
A LOOK AHEAD
The Majority has released an agenda with tentative dates for the fall and winter months. Their agenda items include: 
  • Legislation to repeal Healthcare Reform provisions regarding grandfathered health plans (November/December)
  • Legislation to block readjustment of the ozone standards (Winter)
  • H.R. 1633, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act (Winter)
  • Legislation regarding the EPA’s greenhouse gas new source performance standards (Winter)
  • Legislation regarding the NLRB’s proposed rulemaking on union elections (Winter)
  • Legislation regarding small business tax relief (Fall/Winter)
Legislation to allow small businesses to take a tax deduction equal to 20% of income (Fall/Winter)
Super Committee and Debt Limit Timeline:
  • 10/1 – 12/31: Timeframe in which both houses of Congress must vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment
  • 10/14: Deadline for House and Senate Committees submitting recommendations to the Super Committee
  • 11/23: Deadline for the Committee to vote on a plan with $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction
  • 12/2: Deadline for the Committee to submit report and legislative language to the president and Congress
  • 12/23: Deadline for House and Senate to vote on the Committee bill
  • 1/15/12: Date that the “trigger” leading to $1.2 trillion of future spending cuts goes into effect, if the committee’s legislation has not been enacted
  • 2/12: Approximate time when the first $900 billion of debt ceiling increase runs out
  • 2/12—3/12: During this period, 15 days after the president uses his authority in the bill to increase the debt ceiling a second time, is the deadline for Congress to consider a resolution of disapproval for the second tranche ($1.2-$1.5 trillion) of debt limit increase
  • Fall/Winter 2012: The additional $2.1-$2.4 trillion of borrowing authority from this law runs out
  • 1/2/13: OMB orders sequestrations for defense and non-defense categories of spending necessary to meet spending cuts required by the “trigger"
RECAP OF THE LAST WEEK IN SESSION
During the week of 10/11 – 10/14, the House passed:
  • H.R. 2250 – EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 (Rep. Griffith - Energy and Commerce)
  • H.R. 3078 – United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (Rep. Cantor - Ways and Means)
  • H.R. 3079 – United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (Rep. Cantor - Ways and Means)
  • H.R. 3080 – United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Rep. Cantor - Ways and Means)
  • Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2832 – To extend the Generalized System of Preferences, and for other purposes (Rep. Camp - Ways and Means)
  • H.R. 358 – Protect Life Act (Rep. Pitts – Energy and Commerce/Ways and Means)
  • H.R. 2273 – Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act (Rep. McKinley - Energy and Commerce)
The House also passed six bills under suspension of the Rules:
  • H.R. 2074 – Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention Act, as amended (Rep. Buerkle - Veterans’ Affairs)
  • H.R. 2302 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify Congress of conferences sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (Rep. Stutzman - Veterans’ Affairs)
  • H.R. 2349 - Veterans' Benefits Training Improvement Act of 2011(Rep. Runyan - Veterans’ Affairs)
  • H.R. 1263 - To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide surviving spouses with certain protections relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures (Rep. Filner - Veterans’ Affairs)
  • H.R. 1025 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law (Rep. Walz - Veterans’ Affairs)
  • H.R. 2433 – Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011, as amended (Rep. Miller (FL) - Veterans’ Affairs)
MESSAGING FROM THE WHIP’S OFFICE

American Jobs Act

The American Jobs Act is fully paid for, includes bipartisan ideas, enjoys support from the majority of Americans and will create jobs and grow our economy now. There’s no reason why House Republicans shouldn’t take action on this bill. It’s time that they abandon their partisan agenda and work with Democrats to give Americans what they want: jobs.
Here is what economists have to say about the American Jobs Act:
  • Macroeconomic Advisors: “…has projected that the Obama jobs plan could increase economic growth by 1.25 percentage points and add 1.3 million jobs in 2012.” [NY Times, 10/7/11]
  • Economic Policy Institute: Reported that it would boost employment by around 4.3 million jobs, with 2.6 million jobs coming from new initiatives alone. [9/8/11]
  • Goldman Sachs: “…estimated the plan would add 1.5 percent to the economy...” [Bloomberg, 9/28/11]
  •  JPMorgan Chase: “…estimated that the plan would increase growth by 1.9 points and add 1.5 million jobs.” [NY Times, 9/13/11]
  • Mark Zandi, Moody’s Analytics: “… forecast that the package would add 1.9 million jobs, cutting the unemployment rate by a point, and increase growth by two percentage points.” [NY Times, 9/13/11]
  • Michael Hanson, a senior economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and a former Federal Reserve economist: “predicts… the additional jobs would lower the unemployment rate by nearly half a percentage point in 2012.” [AP, 9/9/11]
And, here is what economists have to say about GOP policies, which won’t help our economy anytime soon:
  • “Joel Prakken, chairman of Macroeconomic Advisers, said Republicans had ‘reasonable ideas’ but not ones that could be measured by the firm’s forecasting model. He said he believed the proposals ‘would have little immediate effect relative to a plan that stimulates aggregate demand’ — that is, a plan like Mr. Obama’s, with tax cuts and spending programs.” [NY Times, 10/7/11]
  • “The Republican presidential candidates are offering a series of one-size-fits-all economic pitches that fall short of addressing important nuances and competing demands posed by the nation’s diverse fiscal landscape, analysts say.” [Washington Post, 10/09/11]
  • Mark Zandi: “I don't think [GOP proposals] mean much for the economy, though, in the near term, not certainly for the next 6, 12, 18 months. And I think that's where I'm most concerned and focused.” [Daily Rundown, 10/7/11]
And, according to a recent Washington Post–ABC News poll, the majority of Americans support the American Jobs Act and trust the President more than Republicans to get Americans back to work:
  • 52 percent of Americans support the American Jobs Act compared to 36 percent who oppose the bill.
  • 58 percent of  Americans believe the American Jobs Act will improve the jobs situation, including 52 percent of independents.
  • And more Americans trust President Obama over House Republicans to do a better job creating jobs - 49 percent compared to 34 percent.
From the White House:
 
Enhanced version of the President's Address to Congress which features graphs, charts and other facts that influenced the President's decision making.
 
From the Democratic Whip:
 

Deficit Reduction

“Big, bold and balanced, I hope that's what the [Super] Committee is focused on… Failure ought not to be an option. This is absolutely critical in my opinion for the fiscal health of America and for the economy of America and to restore America’s confidence in our ability to face tough issues successfully. It will also, in my opinion, restore the confidence of the international community in America’s ability to manage its finances and to lead, as the world surely wants us to do. The Joint Select Committee has the responsibility to set us on a course that will both make significant progress on our debt and speed our economic recovery. In the Bowles-Simpson report, the Domenici-Rivlin report and the Gang of Six proposal, they all spoke to the necessity to grow the economy and to balance the budget. Not one or the other. They recognize that one without the other will not work. We need to create jobs now. We need to increase revenue stream because we have people working, not because we raise taxes, but because we have people working… I believe it's important for the Committee's recommendations to guarantee that all Americans, each and every one of us, are paying our fair share and contributing together. We cannot afford to place the burden of deficit reduction only on the backs of working families and certainly not on the most vulnerable in our country.” – Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, 10/13

Make It In America

This month, House Democrats unveiled a Make It In America documentary that features members of the Democratic caucus, labor leaders and manufacturers and highlights how Democrats’ Make It In America plan will revitalize American industry and innovation, create jobs and grow our economy.
 
"Make It In America does mean success but Make It In America also means make it in America – manufacture it in America, grow it in America, sell it here and around the world. So that we can build our manufacturing sector, grow jobs in the manufacturing sector, and make sure our inventors, innovators, and developers don't migrate, as some fear, overseas where products are being taken to scale. So we believe that focusing it making it America so that the label will read ‘Made in America’ is very important as we grow our economy, sustain that growth over time and provide the kind of good paying jobs with good benefits that Americans need and want." – Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, 10/5
You can also visit the Make It In America page on Whip Hoyer’s website for regularly updated information. We also encourage you to check the Make It In America on Facebook page to follow news as it is posted.
 
***Please engage with Mr. Hoyer online by clicking “Like” on his Facebook page, “Follow” on his Twitter page, and “Subscribe” on his YouTube page.***