Committee Action

At 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee will hold the first full-committee markup for FY2012.  The Committee will approve 302b allocations, which determine the overall budget number for each appropriations subcommittee, as well as mark-up the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for FY12 and the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY12.

Floor Schedule

MONDAY, MAY 23RD
On Monday, the House will meet at 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. 1407 - Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011(Sponsored by Rep. Jon Runyan / Veterans’ Affairs Committee)

2) H.R. 1627 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain requirements for the placement of monuments in Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Miller / Veterans’ Affairs Committee)

3) H.R. 1383 - Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Miller / Veterans’ Affairs Committee)

4) H.R. 1657 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans (Sponsored by Rep. Marlin Stutzman / Veterans’ Affairs Committee)

5) H.R. 1893 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend the airport improvement program, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. John Mica / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

TUESDAY, MAY 24TH, AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business and recess immediately. The House will reconvene at approximately 11:00 a.m. for the purpose of receiving, in a joint meeting with the Senate, the Honorable Binyamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel.

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

On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes for the week are expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

On Friday, the House will meet in Pro Forma session.

S. 990- A bill to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and for other purposes, as amended (Suspension, 40 Minutes of Debate) (Sponsored by Sen. Mary Landrieu / Small Business Committee)

H.R. 1216- To amend the Public Health Service Act to convert funding for graduate medical education in qualified teaching health centers from direct appropriations to an authorization of appropriations (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Brett Guthrie / Energy and Commerce Committee)

H.R. 1540 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Buck McKeon / Armed Services Committee)

Possible consideration of legislation relating to expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Subject to a Rule) (Judiciary Committee / Permanent Select Intelligence Committee)

In the News

Simpson Cosponsors Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act
News Release | Posted: Thursday, May 12, 2011 www.idahostatejournal.com

May 12, 2011
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is joining his colleagues in opposing EPA’s efforts to regulate dust by becoming a cosponsor of H.R. 1633, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011. This legislation would stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its current review from imposing more stringent dust standards for one year.

Simpson, like many of his western colleagues, has deep concern about the impact of the dust regulation on communities in the arid west and believes the increased regulatory burden associated with dust standards would cause extreme hardship to farmers, livestock producers, and other resource-based industries throughout rural America.