Recently in Washington

Last week the House passed H.R. 3082, a continuing resolution to fund the federal government at FY2010 levels through the end of the FY2011 fiscal year.  The language for S. 510, the Senate-passed food safety bill, was attached to this legislation.  Congressman Simpson did not support H.R. 3082. 

In addition, last week the House also passed H.R. 4994, the Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010, as well as H.R. 5281, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which provides a path to citizenship for children of illegal immigrants who go to college or join the military.  Congressman Simpson opposed this legislation.

Simpson Advocates for Collaboration to Develop Nuclear Energy Plan for U.S. at Energy Summit
Idaho Congressman Simpson participated in the New Millennium Nuclear Energy Summit last, which was co-hosted by the Third Way and the Idaho National Laboratory. The summit brought together senior government and industry officials, NGO representatives and energy investors to discuss the future of nuclear energy in our nation.

During the summit, Simpson noted the importance of holding continued discussions on the future of nuclear energy. He continued by saying, “Nuclear energy must be a part of our energy future if we are going to truly address the issues of greenhouse gases and climate change.  However, if we’re going to advance nuclear industry in this country, both government and industry need to know where we are and where we’re going.”

The summit featured a variety of stakeholders, including Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, White House Advisor Carol Browner, Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Chairman Gregory Jaczko, Idaho National Laboratory Director John Grossenbacher, as well as industry CEOs and other stakeholders. The stated goal of the summit is to provide a forum to start developing broader consensus on the future of nuclear energy in the United States and determining the steps needed to revive the nation’s nuclear energy industry.

“We must work together to develop and sustain a long term nuclear energy vision with the government and industry -  working together as partners and putting down a strong footprint towards implementing these goals,” said Simpson. “This summit is a strong first step, and I look forward to moving ahead on this vision.”

The summit represents the first of a series of meetings and conversations to be held over the coming year on the future of nuclear energy.

House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Ease Unnecessary Regulations on Small Businesses
Bill exempts certain small businesses from Federal Trade Commission’s Red Flags Regulation
Last week the House of Representatives passed S. 3987, the Red Flag Program Clarification Act of 2010. In October 2009, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, Congressman John Adler (D-NJ), and Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA) introduced and passed similar legislation, HR 3763, which would protect small businesses and small health care practices from complying with a burdensome and unnecessary federal regulation known as the Red Flags Rule. This bill then went to the Senate where they passed S. 3987, which clarifies the definition of a creditor for the purposes of complying with the Red Flags Rule. The Red Flags Rule requires financial institutions and creditors to develop and implement a written identity theft program.  Under S. 3987, a creditor would include only those entities that regularly use consumer reports or furnish information to consumer reporting agencies. 

“It is obvious that physicians and dentists are not financial institutions and therefore do not present the same level of risk as financial institutions in cases of identity theft.  The definition of creditor under the Red Flags Rule is overly broad and encompasses far too many businesses that should not be included. Many providers are considered creditors because they don’t require full payment at the time of service—instead they bill the insurance company first, and then they bill the patient the remainder of the bill.  This system should not be treated the same as a loan with a bank,” said Congressman Simpson. “Health care is expensive enough; we don’t need to create needless regulations that will only increase costs even more.”

This bipartisan legislation recognizes that the definition of a creditor under the Red Flags Rule is overall broad and requires businesses that do not pose an identity theft risk to spend hundreds of dollars complying with additional, unnecessary regulations.  Entities such as health providers, accountants and others were never meant to be included in the definition of creditor, and this legislation is an appropriate next step to better defining who is a creditor and should comply while protecting our small businesses from needless costs and regulations. 
 
“I am pleased to see that Congress is going to address this very important issue before the rule takes effect on January 1st,” said Simpson.  “This bill is a good compromise to addressing the concerns of impacted businesses and healthcare providers while still tackling the very real need to protect individuals and groups against the threat of identity theft.” 

This bill passed the House unanimously and will now be sent to the President to be signed into law.

To watch a video of Congressman Simpson’s floor speech about the bill, visit his YouTube website.

House Legislative Business This Week

Monday, December 13, 2010
On Monday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for pro forma session. No votes are expected in the House.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:30 p.m. for Morning Hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business with votes postponed until 6:00 p.m.

Suspensions (14 Bills):
1) S. 2906 - A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955, to modify a provision relating to leases involving certain Indian tribes (Sponsored by Sen. Cantwell / Natural Resources Committee)
2) S. 1609 - Longline Catcher Processor Subsector Single Fishery Cooperative Act (Sponsored by Sen. Cantwell / Natural Resources Committee)
3) Senate Amendment to H.R. 1061 - Hoh Indian Tribe Safe Homelands Act (Sponsored by Rep. Dicks / Natural Resources Committee)
4) S. 1405 - Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site Designation Act (Sponsored by Sen. Kennedy / Natural Resources Committee)
5) S. 1448 - A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955, to authorize the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw, the Klamath Tribes, and the Burns Paiute Tribe to obtain 99-year lease authority for trust land (Sponsored by Sen. Merkley / Natural Resources Committee)
6) S.Con.Res. 72 - A concurrent resolution recognizing the 45th anniversary of the White House Fellows Program (Sponsored by Sen. Brownback / Oversight and Government Reform)
7) H.R. 6205 - The "Private Isaac T. Cortes Post Office" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Crowley / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
8) S. 3794 - FOR VETS Act of 2010 (Sponsored by Sen. Leahy / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
9) H.Res. 1743 - Congratulating Gerda Weissmann Klein on being selected to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom (Sponsored by Rep. Mitchell / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
10) H.R. 5446 - The "Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post Office" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Posey / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
11) H.R. __ - To make technical corrections to provisions of law enacted by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Sponsored by Rep. Oberstar / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
12) H.R. 6510 - To direct the Administrator of General Services to convey a parcel of real property in Houston, Texas, to the Military Museum of Texas (Sponsored by Rep. Jackson-Lee / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
13) S. 3984 - Museum and Library Services Act of 2010 (Sponsored by Sen. Reed / Education and Labor Committee)
14) S. 1275 - National Foundation on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition Establishment Act (Sponsored by Sen. Warner / Education and Labor Committee)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 and the Balance of the Week
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.

Suspensions (12 Bills):
1) S. 3036 - National Alzheimer's Project Act (Sponsored by Sen. Bayh / Energy and Commerce Committee)
2) H.Res. 1600 - Supporting the critical role of the physician assistant profession and supporting the goals and ideals of National Physician Assistant Week (Sponsored by Rep. McCollum / Energy and Commerce Committee)
3) S. 30 - Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 (Sponsored by Sen. Nelson (FL) / Energy and Commerce Committee)
4) S. 3386 - Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (Sponsored by Sen. Rockefeller / Energy and Commerce Committee)
5) S. 3199 - Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act (Sponsored by Sen. Snowe / Energy and Commerce Committee)
6) H.Res. __ - Supporting a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and condemning unilateral declarations of a Palestinian state (Sponsored by Rep. Berman / Foreign Affairs Committee)
7) S. 987 - International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act (Sponsored by Sen. Durbin / Foreign Affairs Committee)
8) H.Res. 20 - Calling on the State Department to list the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as a "Country of Particular Concern" with respect to religious freedom (Sponsored by Rep. Royce / Foreign Affairs Committee)
9) H.Res. 1757 - Providing for the approval of final regulations issued by the Office of Compliance to implement the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 that apply to the House of Representatives and employees of the House of Representatives (Sponsored by Rep. Brady (PA) / House Administration Committee)
10) H.Res. 1377 - Honoring the accomplishments of Norman Yoshio Mineta (Sponsored by Rep. Honda / House Administration Committee)
11) S. 3860 - A bill to require reports on the management of Arlington National Cemetery (Sponsored by Sen. McCaskill / Veterans' Affairs Committee)
12) H.R. 4337 - Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act (Sponsored by Rep. Rangel / Ways and Means Committee)

Possible Further Action on H.R. 3082 - Making Further Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2011 and the Food Safety Enhancement Act (Sponsored by Rep. Obey / Appropriations Committee)

Possible Further Action on H.R. 4853 - Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010 (Sponsored by Rep. Levin / Ways and Means Committee)

In the News

Panelists say the U.S. has far to go before atomic energy is part of the mix
By Erika Bolstad, McClatchy Newspapers, December 8, 2010
WASHINGTON — Without a cap on carbon emissions, new U.S. nuclear plants will need loan guarantees and a promise of stable prices and customers if America is to move forward in the worldwide nuclear renaissance, panelists at a nuclear power summit said Tuesday.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu also called for nuclear power to be part of the mix as the nation moves toward mandating that power companies use more clean and renewable energy.

As much as 25 percent of the country’s energy mix could be clean energy by 2025, Chu said at the summit, which was sponsored by the Idaho National Laboratory and the center-left think tank Third Way.

Democrats in Congress have been trying to pass renewable-electricity standards that would set mandates for use of solar energy, wind power and other renewable sources such as geothermal. By including nuclear energy, they’re more likely to gain the support of Republicans. The mix also could include clean coal technologies, Chu said.

The summit purposefully avoided one of the thorniest questions about nuclear power: where to put nuclear waste. Instead, panelists focused on the other barriers to designing, building and paying for nuclear power plants.

Without a cap on carbon that would have forced power plants to pay to emit carbon dioxide, nuclear energy is at a disadvantage, panelists said.

“When you have a world like this where nothing is known, is it impossible to make business decisions. The uncertainty is too high,” said John Dyson, who sits on the board of trustees of Third Way and was chairman of the New York Power Authority when it developed nuclear plants.

One of the concerns of people who decide how to allocate money to energy research and to loan guarantees is how serious the government will be about nuclear energy, said Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, who’s in line to lead a House appropriations subcommittee that will decide on some of that spending.

“I still have no vision of where we’re headed,” Simpson said. “I don’t know where we’re going to be. As an appropriator, what I need to know is where are we now? Where are we headed?”

Without $2 billion in federal loan guarantees, French energy giant Areva couldn’t have moved ahead with its $3.5 billion Eagle Rock Enrichment Plant near Idaho Falls, said Mike Rencheck, the company’s CEO. The project, set to open in 2014, will process uranium for nuclear plants in the United States that could begin coming on line as early as 2015.