Recently in Washington

Last week the House passed H.R. 3624, the Fraudulent Joinder Prevention Act of 2016, by a vote of 229-189. H.R. 3624 establishes a uniform standard for determining whether a defendant has been fraudulently joined to a lawsuit in order to defeat federal diversity jurisdiction.  On Friday, the House passed H.R. 2406, the Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreation Enhancement (SHARE) Act of 2015, by a vote of 242-161.  H.R. 2406 requires federal public land management officials to facilitate hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on certain federal land, authorizes the lawful possession of firearms, pursuant to state law, on the lands managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, and establishes the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, and recreational shooting. 

Simpson Supports Sportsmen’s Bill to Protect Hunting and Fishing on Public Lands

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson supported legislation protecting Americans’ access to hunting, fishing and shooting on public lands.  H.R. 2406, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act, would ensure federal land managers continue to allow reliable access to public lands and protect Second Amendment rights. H.R. 2406 passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 242-161. 

“In Idaho, we love to hunt, fish, and enjoy other forms of recreation on our public lands - it is why we live here,” said Simpson. “Today’s legislation is extremely important to protecting that access and ensures that hunters and anglers continue to enjoy traditional recreational activities, even as land management plans change.”

Also included in the bill is a provision that allows for firearms to be legally carried on land managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Congressman Simpson has championed this issue in the past, authoring language in his Energy & Water appropriations bill that would also allow possession of firearms on Corp of Engineers lands. H.R. 2406 also exempts lead ammo and tackle from Environmental Protection Agency regulations and provides the right to transport crossbows on National Park Service lands.

The SHARE Act was endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), the National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF), and a diverse group of sportsmen’s organizations.

Simpson Challenges Obama on EPA Cap and Trade Regulations

Congressman Simpson joins 171 Representatives and 34 Senators in supporting states challenge to EPA’s Clean Power Plant Rule

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson signed an amicus curiae, or “friend of the court” brief in support of 27 states that challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule on existing power plants. The Clean Power Plant rule was recently stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court and is awaiting further consideration by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia. 

“I am extremely disappointed, but sadly not surprised that the President is using his final months in office to promote costly regulations,” said Simpson. “The Obama Administration’s rule on existing power plants impose a regulatory structure on our nation’s energy sector that is simply not viable, and even worse, it forces the American people to foot the bill.”

Simpson has long opposed efforts to impose unworkable regulations on the energy sector that would do little to improve climate conditions but would impose prohibitive costs to consumers. In December, Congressman Simpson supported legislation that would employ the Congressional Review Act to ensure that the rule on existing power plant regulations would not go into effect. This bill passed the House and Senate but was vetoed by President Obama. Congressman Simpson has also supported language in appropriations bills that would block the EPA from implementing these regulations on new and existing power plants.  The primary argument of the brief involves an Article I v. Article II controversy regarding the discretion of the executive branch to make rules without authority.

“With an executive branch that has shown little regard for the coequal legislative branch, Congress must do everything within its authority to protect the American people from regulations that will impact their finances to this degree,” said Simpson. “The amicus brief filed today is a message to President Obama that regulations that reach this far into the lives of Americans will be challenged.

Simpson’s Indian Trust Asset Reform Act Passes House

H.R. 812 gives tribes authority over own assets and reduces federal oversight

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson’s H.R. 812, the Indian Trust Asset Reform Act, passed by voice vote in the House of Representatives. The bill would modernize the federal government’s role in managing Indian trust property by allowing tribes to manage their own assets through negotiated demonstration projects with the Department of Interior.

“This legislation is a step forward for tribes in how they manage their assets,” said Simpson. “Instead of the complicated and inconsistent bureaucratic process tribes currently go through, H.R. 812 aims to streamline this practice to provide tribes with the necessary tools to promote economic development.”

H.R. 812 is just one aspect in a larger conversation about how tribes can improve the management of their assets and reflects the values of many Pacific Northwest tribes who were consulted in crafting the legislation. The bill also has the support of the National Congress of American Indians, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and a bipartisan list of cosponsors.

“I am thankful to the tribes who lent their expertise to H.R. 812, as well as to the Natural Resources Committee who held several hearings on my bill. I am pleased the House could act in a bipartisan fashion to pass a bill that helps Indian country and promotes economic growth.”

The Congressional Budget Office found that H.R. 812 would not affect the federal government’s overall costs.

Committee Schedule

Tuesday

At 9:30 a.m., Chairman Simpson will host a House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget request with Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz.  

At 10:00 a.m., the House Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for the Corporation for National and Community Service.

At 1:30 p.m., Chairman Simpson will host a House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee hearing regarding the Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Wednesday

At 10:00 a.m., the House Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. 

At 10:30 a.m., Chairman Simpson will host a House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the Fiscal Year 2017 budget requests for the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Office of Nuclear Energy; Office of Fossil Energy; and Office of Electrical Delivery and Reliability.

At 1:30 p.m., the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Department of Interior’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget request with Secretary Sally Jewell. 

At 1:30 p.m., Chairman Simpson will host a House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

Thursday

At 9:00 a.m., the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

At 10:00 a.m., the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for the Bureau of Land Management.

Floor Schedule

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29TH
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 4238 - To amend the Department of Energy Organization Act and the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to modernize terms relating to minorities (Sponsored by Rep. Grace Meng / Energy and Commerce Committee)

2) H.R. 4444 - EPS Improvement Act of 2016 (Sponsored by Rep. Renee Ellmers / Energy and Commerce Committee)

3) H.R. 4583 - To promote a 21st century energy and manufacturing workforce (Sponsored by Rep. Bobby Rush / Energy and Commerce Committee)

4) H.R. 4401 - Amplifying Local Efforts to Root out Terror Act of 2016, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Barry Loudermilk / Homeland Security Committee)

5) H. Res. 148 - Calling on the government of Iran to fulfill their promises of assistance in this case of Robert Levinson, the longest held United States civilian in our Nation's history, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Ted Deutch / Foreign Affairs Committee)

6) H.R. 1471 - FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Lou Barletta / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

7) H.R. 4084 - Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Randy Weber / Science, Space, and Technology Committee)

8) S. 1172 - Edward "Ted" Kaufman and Michael Leavitt Presidential Transitions Improvements Act of 2015, as amended (Sponsored by Sen. Tom Carper / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

9) S. 1580 - Competitive Service Act of 2015, as amended (Sponsored by Sen. Jon Tester / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

TUESDAY, MARCH 1ST
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 2814 - To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Sevierville, Tennessee, the Dannie A. Carr Veterans Outpatient Clinic (Sponsored by Rep. Phil Roe / Veterans’ Affairs Committee)

2) H.R. 2347 - Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2016, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Lacy Clay / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

3) H.R. 3735 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 Town Run Lane in Winston Salem, North Carolina, as the "Maya Angelou Memorial Post Office" (Sponsored by Rep. Alma Adams / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

4) H.R. 136 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1103 USPS Building 1103 in Camp Pendleton, California, as the "Camp Pendleton Medal of Honor Post Office"(Sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

5) H.R. 1132 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1048 West Robinhood Drive in Stockton, California, as the "W. Ronald Coale Memorial Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Rep. Jerry McNerney / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

6) H.R. 2458 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5351 Lapalco Boulevard in Marrero, Louisiana, as the "Lionel R. Collins, Sr. Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Rep. Cedric Richmond / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

7) H.R. 3082 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5919 Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans, Louisiana, as the "Daryle Holloway Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Rep. Cedric Richmond / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

8) H.R. 3274 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4567 Rockbridge Road in Pine Lake, Georgia, as the "Francis Manuel Ortega Post Office" (Sponsored by Rep. Hank Johnson / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

9) H.R. 3601 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7715 Post Road, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, as the "Melvoid J. Benson Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Rep. Jim Langevin / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

10) H.R. 4046 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 East Oak Street, Glenwood City, Wisconsin, as the Second Lt. Ellen Ainsworth Memorial Post Office (Sponsored by Rep. Sean Duffy / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

11) S. 1596 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2082 Stringtown Road in Grove City, Ohio, as the "Specialist Joseph W. Riley Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Sen. Rob Portman / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

12) S. 1826 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 99 West 2nd Street in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, as the Lieutenant Colonel James "Maggie" Megellas Post Office (Sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2ND
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

H.R. 3716 - Ensuring Terminated Providers are Removed from Medicaid and CHIP Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Larry Bucshon / Energy and Commerce Committee)         

THURSDAY, MARCH 3RD AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

On Friday, no votes are expected in the House.

H.R. 4557 - Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns Act of 2016 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Bill Johnson / Energy and Commerce Committee)