PSW Weekly Round-Up - 9/14

Legislative Update

House. The House is in session for four days this week and then will recess until after the November elections. House Republican leadership released a revised House schedule on Sept. 3 that cancels floor votes for the last two weeks in September unless the Senate passes a budget resolution, which is considered very unlikely, and the House needs to return to vote on it.

On the schedule this week are 71 bills to be considered under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. This includes the Ratepayer Protection Act that would require states to consider adopting policies to charge large data centers for upgrades to the electric grid needed for their power demands. Among other suspension bills are a measure that would direct the Treasury Department to stop minting the penny and legislation to mandate that AM radio be included in passenger vehicles.

Also on the agenda is a vote on the Russia sanctions bill that the Senate approved Aug. 7. The measure would make it harder for Russia to sell its oil and natural gas abroad by imposing tariffs of up to 100% on the top five countries that buy those Russian exports.

Following special elections in Georgia and California, two new Democrats have been sworn in. Rep. Everton Blair (D-Ga.) is filling the seat of the late Rep. David Scott (D), and Rep. Aisha Wahab (D-Calif.) is taking the seat of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D), who resigned in April. There are now 219 Republicans (including one Independent), 214 Democrats, and two vacancies (one Democrat and one Republican) in the House.

Senate. The Senate is in session this week and plans to work through Oct. 2 before recessing for the midterm elections. On Tuesday, Senators will take a cloture vote on the Clarity Act, which is designed to establish a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency. It is unclear whether there is enough support to garner the necessary 60 votes even after a revised version was released Sunday night. The Senate could also take up the Protect College Sports Act, which would, among other things, set national standards for name, image, and likeness deals.

Committee Action of Note:

Monday, September 14

• House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Field Hearing: “Examining Healthcare Markets: Fraud and Competition.”

Tuesday, September 15

• House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Hearing: “Innovation in Disaster Prevention: Advancing Technology for Prediction and Response.”
• House Financial Services Committee Hearing: “The Annual Testimony of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of the International Financial System.”
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy Hearing: “Nuclear Spent Fuel Policy: Examining Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses.”
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Oversight Hearing: “The Economy Act.”
• House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Hearing: “The Continuing Tragedy of Sanctuary Laws.”
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Hearing: “Examining Legislative Proposals to Reform Medicare Provider Payment and Bolster Health Care Cybersecurity.”
• House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Hearing: “Out of Touch: When Union Politics Leave Workers Behind.”
• House Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development Hearing: “Main Street Meets Crypto: What Digital Assets Mean for Small Businesses.”
• Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing: “Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
• Senate Finance Committee Hearing to consider nominations, including Chris Klomp to be Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Wednesday, September 16

• House Agriculture Committee Hearing: “Increasing Demand and Opportunities for Homegrown Products Here and Abroad.”
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Budget Hearing: “Trade and Investment Agencies.”
• House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Hearing: “Balancing Biotechnology Innovation and Biosecurity: Securing U.S. Leadership in a Global Race.”
• House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party Hearing: “Import Controls: Tools to Counter the CCP’s Industrial Policy and Supply Chain Threats.”
• House Financial Services Committee Markup of various measures, including the Consumer-Led Enhancement of Annuity and Insurance Registration (CLEAR) Forms Act
• House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development Hearing: “Who Gets the Scholarship? How the Global Shift in College Sports Affects Americans”
• Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Nominations Hearing to consider nominations, including Chris Klomp to be Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services.
• Senate Environment and Public Works Markup to consider legislation regarding prescribed fires, vehicle functions, and uranium enrichment facilities.
• Senate Agriculture Committee Markup to consider the 2026 farm bill.

Thursday, September 17

• Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Markup to consider matters, including:
  • Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2026
  • Nomination of Brian Johnson to be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
• Senate Judiciary Committee Markup to consider executive business meeting matters.

Executive Action of Note:

President Trump issued three proclamations on Sept. 8 that would ban the importation of several Canadian products, including alcoholic beverages, dairy products, and motorcycles. The bans come in response to Canada’s Sept. 8 counter-tariffs, which in turn responded to the U.S.’s Aug. 22 tariffs under Section 338 following the breakdown of formal trade talks. The bans are scheduled to take effect on Sept. 29. These and other executive actions include:

• Adjusting Certain Delegations Under the Defense Production Act - September 8, 2026
• Accelerating Access to Veterans’ Benefits and Employment Opportunities - September 8, 2026
• Excluding Certain Canadian Products From Importation Into the United States in Response to Continued Discrimination Against the Commerce of the United States With Respect to Motor Vehicles - September 8, 2026
• Modifying the Scope of Products of Canada Subject to the Additional Duties Imposed to Offset Canadian Discrimination Against the Commerce of the United States With Respect to Alcoholic Beverages - September 8, 2026
• Excluding Certain Canadian Products From Importation Into the United States in Response to Continued Discrimination Against the Commerce of the United States With Respect to Dairy - September 8, 2026
• Excluding Certain Canadian Products From Importation Into the United States in Response to Continued Discrimination Against the Commerce of the United States With Respect to Alcoholic Beverages - September 8, 2026
• Modifying the Scope of Products of Canada Subject to the Additional Duties Imposed to Offset Canadian Discrimination Against the Commerce of the United States With Respect to Motor Vehicles - September 8, 2026

www.psw-inc.com