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Category: On the Hill

Federal Update

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Congress has just two weeks before the July 4th recess week to tackle several major legislative issues. This week, the House will try to pass a five-year farm bill that contains controversial dairy policies and cuts to food stamps. It will also revive the abortion debate over a bill to ban certain abortions. In the Senate, appropriators will decide allocation levels for their twelve FY14 spending bills, and the full Senate will look for a compromise on border security that could improve prospects for immigration reform legislation (S 744).

Both the House and Senate will also continue to debate the best way to deal with student loan interest rates and the rates for subsidized Stafford student loans is scheduled to increase from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1st. There are several proposals out there but none that have the support necessary to get approval in both chambers.

White House Office of Science and Tech Policy Intern Program

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The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is currently accepting applications for its Fall 2013 Student Volunteer Program.  The application deadline is 11:59pm EST Friday, June 28th.  Students who are U.S. citizens and who will be actively enrolled during the Fall 2013 semester are welcome to apply.

Click here for more information about OSTP and application instructions.

 About OSTP

The Office of Science and Technology Policy advises the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. The office serves as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans and programs of the Federal Government.

About the Student Volunteer Program

Student Volunteers are accepted for one of three annual terms (Spring, Summer, or Fall), each of which last no more than 90 days. While these positions are without compensation, the assignments provide educational enrichment, practical work experience, and network opportunities with other individuals in the science and technology policy arena.

For questions, please contact Rebecca Grimm rgrimm@ostp.eop.gov.

House Tries to Force Vote on Student Loans

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House Democrats are attempting to force a floor vote on a two-year extension of the current interest rate for federally subsidized student loans and avert a scheduled doubling of the rate on July 1, 2013.

They hope to file a discharge petition if they get the support of a majority of members. This would force a vote on a HR 1595 that would freeze the current 3.4 percent interest rate on the subsidized portion of Stafford loans for two years while Congress negotiates a permanent solution. It’s similar to a Senate bill (S 953) that last week fell short of the 60-vote threshold needed for an up-or-down floor vote in that chamber.

House Republicans have declined to bring HR 1595 up for consideration and assert that they already passed their own plan (HR 1911) that would shift the fixed rate to one tied to the 10-year Treasury bill plus 2.5 percent. The White House has threatened a veto of that measure, saying it could end up costing borrowers more and allow the rate to fluctuate for the life of the loan.

With just 16 days before the rate hike is set to begin, we are tracking the discharge petition to see how the WA state delegation members respond. As of yesterday, it had 150 signatures including those from Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-1st), Denny Heck (D-10th), Derek Kilmer (D-6th), and Jim McDermott (D-7th).

House Begins Work on National Defense Authorization Bill

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The House will begin its work on the HR 1960, the National Defense Authorization Bill (NDAA) today. Consideration of the measure is expected to go through tomorrow. The NDAA is the yearly authorization bill that determines military priorities for agencies responsible for our national defense. The legislation establishes funding levels, and sets the policies under which money will be spent.

The bill authorizes $638.4 billion for the Pentagon and defense-related programs for FY 2014, including $85.8 billion for the war in Afghanistan and other overseas contingency activities. The bill’s authorization for regular defense funding is roughly equal to the president’s request but about $50 billion more than the projected post-sequestration cap for defense pursuant to the 2011 Budget Control Act. It authorizes $8 billion for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and requires the development of a new missile-defense site on the East Coast that the Pentagon does not want. It also bars the use of funds for planning any future rounds of military base closings, authorizes funds for new construction at the Guantánamo Bay detention center that the president wants to close and establishes new procedures to combat sexual assault in the military.

On June 11th, the White House issued a veto threat of the measure as it was currently written. The House Armed Services Committee passed the legislation on June 5th.

The House Rules Committee has approved a structured rule on Wednesday, which limits the amount of amendments that can be considered during the Floor debate. There will be 172 amendments (70 Republican, 68 Democratic, and 38 bipartisan) considered for 10 minutes each. Nearly 300 amendments were submitted to the House Rules committee to be offered during the Floor debate. The rule makes in order a number of amendments which address controversial proposals, ranging from the Guantánamo Bay detention center to overall spending levels that dramatically exceed the caps set by sequestration.

The House will begin consideration at noon today. Rep. Adam Smith (WA) is the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee and will manage the bill for the Democrats.

The Office of Federal Relations will continue to monitor the progress of the bill.

 

Immigration, Defense Authorization, and FY14 Appropriations — Oh My!

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Today in the Senate: The chamber meets this morning to continue debating a comprehensive overhaul of immigration laws (S 744).

Today in the House: The chamber is scheduled to begin general debate on a $638.4 billion defense authorization bill (HR 1960) for FY14 that includes funding and/or language for three of UW’s requests: (1) $15 million for awards to academic medical institutions for reconstructive transplants; (2) $15 million for Navy research vessels (to help with the RV Tommy Thompson); and (3) language promoting the National Marine Renewable Energy Centers for ocean renewable energy demonstration activities at or near DOD facilities (tidal energy).

FY14 Appropriations Update: Senate Republican appropriators appear ready to oppose any measures written by Democrats that exceed the discretionary spending cap set by the 2011 deficit reduction law. Next week, they will likely reject a plan from Appropriations Chairwoman Mikulski (D-MD) that would divide up $1.058 trillion among the committee’s dozen annual bills. The Senate plan is about $91 billion higher than the overall level set by House Republicans. Ironically, both plans would trigger a new round of across-the-board spending reductions under sequester because they violate the caps set by the 2011 law (PL 111-25). But the House GOP plan busts the caps in defense and other security measures while the Senate is expected to bust the caps in both defense and non-defense (domestic) bills. All of this is leading to a big fight on spending, which will certainly culminate in a continuing resolution (CR) before the federal fiscal year ends September 30th.