What the 113th Congress must still get done

Federal Minimum Wage and Unemployment

Responding to Russian Troops in the Ukraine

Urgent Issues

Ban on Internet Taxes

Border Control

ISIS

Expiring Tax Provisions

Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank

Spending Bill to Fund the Government

Legislation with Deadlines

Is another government shutdown looming?

Spending bill DEADLINE October 1st 2014

credit: cool revolution via flickr

What happens without a spending bill?

credit: Source: USA TODAY research, APKevin A. Kepple, Gregory Korte and Veronica Bravo, USA TODAY

Congress and spending legislation:

Congress largely abandoned the annual appropriations process recently, or what lawmakers call “regular order,” because of politics and hyperpartisanship.

Lawmakers need to come up with alternative measures in September to avoid a repeat of the 2013 government shutdown.

2015 appropriations have been stymied by controversial debates over amendments and the politics of an election year. The House so far has managed to pass 7 of 12 FY 2015 spending bills; the Senate has not passed any yet.

How Congress may act:

Both Republicans and Democrats want to avoid another government shutdown at all costs. The timeliness of a Continuing Resolution could largely depend on whether lawmakers try to graft other political issues into the funding proposal.

Option 2: Lawmakers pass two continuing resolutions: one funding agencies from Oct. 1 through the lame-duck session in December, and another after the election to keep the government open through March or April.

Option 1: Pass a resolution funding federal agencies between Oct. 1 and the mid-term elections in November, and then pass an omnibus bill including appropriations for all the agencies during the lame-duck session.

Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank

DEADLINE: September 30, 2014

The Export-Import Bank of the United States is a federal agency that subsidizes U.S. exporting businesses through direct loans, loan guarantees, and other measures.

S. 2709 The Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2014

credit: U.S. Department of State

Why the debate over Ex-Im Bank?

In addition to the Senate proposal to extend authorization for the Bank for another five years, the House GOP is considering its own short-term reauthorization bill or embedding a short-term reauthorization in must-pass the federal spending bill.

Debate over whether to continue authorization for the Ex-Im Bank, which provides critical support to many businesses in export-driven industries, has caused a rift between establishment Republicans and conservatives aligned with the Tea Party and has become a key issue in several critical midterm elections.

Ban on Internet Taxes

DEADLINE: November 1, 2014

The Internet Tax Freedom Act, which prevents states from taxing Internet access, is set to expire on November 1, 2014. Most lawmakers favor a permanent prohibition, and on July 15, the House passed H.R. 3086 with broad bipartisan support.

H.R. 3086 Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act

Complicating the issue is debate over another Internet taxation bill – the Marketplace Fairness Act, which would require online sellers to collect state sales taxes.

To address the impasse, Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) merged the two bills into one, creating - S. 2609 – Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act.

S. 2609 – Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act

S. 743 – Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013

Congress facing dozens of expiring tax provisions.

DEADLINE: December 31st 2014

On December 31, 2013 a number of tax provisions expired. If Congress does not pass extension legislation then the provisions will be unavailable to 2015 individual and business filers.

A number of these tax incentives were added to combat the recession around 2008, and other temporary tax incentives were enacted to help certain new or struggling industries or to encourage economic growth.

According to the Senate Finance Committee, 128 tax incentives are set to expire this year.

H.R. 2807 Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2013

H.R. 3134 Charitable Giving Extension Act

H.R. 4619 Permanent IRA Charitable Contribution Act Of 2014

HR. 4691 Private Foundation Excise Tax Simplification Act Of 2014

H.R. 4719Fighting Hunger Incentive Act Of 2014

HR.4718 - Amend The Internal Revenue Code Of 1986 To Modify And Make Permanent Bonus Depreciation.

HR.4429 Permanent Active Financing Exception Act Of 2014

HR.4454 Permanent S Corporation Charitable Contributions Act Of 2014

HR.4438 American Research And Competitiveness Act Of 2014

H.R. 4457 America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2014

HR.4453 Permanent S Corporation Built-in Gains Recognition Period Act Of 2014

HR.3474 - Hire More Heroes Act Of 2013

ISIS

credit: after the bombs by Adam Henning via flickr

Congress will have to decide whether to authorize U.S. airstrikes against ISIS, and how to address other military interventions.

The House passed legislation that would require Congressional approval before use of military force in both Iraq and Syria. H.Con. Res. 105 prohibits the President from deploying U.S. Armed Forces in a combat role in Iraq without specific authorization. It passed the House by 370-40.

H.Con. Res. 110, which calls for urgent international intervention on behalf of Iraqi civilians facing a dire humanitarian crisis in Iraq.

On the Senate side, S. J. Res. 21, would authorize military force in Syria under certain conditions but still would not allow ground combat operations.

Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) published an op-ed in the New York Times on August 29th calling on the President to do more to confront ISIS.

HCONRES.105 Directing The President, Pursuant To Section 5(c) Of The War Powers Resolution, To Remove United States Armed Forces, Other Than Armed Forces Required To Protect United States Diplomatic Facilities And Personnel, From Iraq.

HCONRES.110 Calling For Urgent International Intervention On Behalf Of Iraqi Civilians Facing A Dire Humanitarian Crisis And Severe Persecution In The Nineveh Plain Region Of Iraq.

SJRES.21 - Authorization For The Use Of Military Force Against The Government Of Syria To Respond To Use Of Chemical Weapons

Responding to Russian Troops in the Ukraine

On April 9, 2014, Congress passed H.R. 4152, Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014.

Since then, militant separatists in eastern Ukraine shot down a commercial airplane, killing 298 people. During the past few days, Russian troops have begun to move into parts of eastern Ukraine.

Congress will have to address how to respond to Russia’s recent aggression.

HR.4152 Support For The Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, And Economic Stability Of Ukraine Act Of 2014

Border Controlcredit: U.S. K38 BORSTAR night 136 by shawn alladio via flickr

The unprecedented influx of minors at the U.S. border has caught the attention of Congress, with several committees holding hearings.

Congress will have to address budget needs associated with agencies tasked with detaining, holding, and determining whether to deport or allow the minors to stay in the U.S. or deport them in a fair and manner.

Congress will also have to address the underlying issues that have created the crisis.

HR.5137 Asylum Reform And Border Protection Act Of 2014

H.R. 5272 To prohibit certain actions with respect to deferred action for aliens not lawfully present in the United States

S. 2773 Protecting Children and America’s Homeland Act

Federal Minimum Wage and Unemployment

credit: Wisconsin Jobs Now via flickr

In 2014 President Obama called on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour. Advocacy groups are pressing this cause.

It’s a contentious issue. There’s little chance Congress will raise the wage before mid-term election.

Advocacy groups are pressing lawmakers to pass a bill before the turn of the year.

H.R. 4839 Original Living Wage Act of 2014

S. 1845 Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act

S. 2486 Restoring Overtime Pay for Working Americans Act.

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