PSW Weekly Round-Up - 9/28

Legislative Update

House. The House is in recess until Nov. 9.

Senate. This is the last week of Senate work before Senators leave to campaign, returning on Nov. 9. This evening, the Senate will vote on a college sports bill that would create national rules for compensating college athletes, limit transfers and mid-season coaching moves, and set a five-year window for athletic eligibility.

On Wednesday, the Senate is expected to take a procedural vote on the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would require states to consider adopting policies to charge large data centers for upgrades to the electric grid needed for their power demands. While the House passed the bill on Sept. 16 by a vote of 417-3, there is concern among Senate Democrats that the proposal is not strong enough, and it is unclear whether there will be 60 votes to consider the measure.

Also on the tentative agenda for Wednesday is a House-passed bill that would bar members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children from buying new individual stocks, but it would let them keep stocks they already own and sell them after advance public notice. The measure, which would have to clear a 60-vote hurdle, also contains an unrelated federal voter-ID provision that would require an accepted physical photo ID to vote in federal elections, with a provisional-ballot process for voters who lack one at the polls. It also sets identification requirements for absentee ballots, including a copy of an accepted ID or specified alternatives.

The Senate could also vote on Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions that would disapprove certain emissions standards. Votes are possible on CRAs that would overturn two waivers that prior administrations granted California to set vehicle emissions standards. The Senate could also vote on two CRAs approved last week by the House disapproving EPA waivers allowing California to set emissions standards for cruise ships, container ships, and other vessels. CRA resolutions can be approved with only a majority vote.

Another possible item on the Senate’s agenda this week is the Connected Vehicle Security Act. Sponsored by Senators Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), the measure would prohibit the import, sale, and operation of vehicles that use certain technologies, such as software and data systems, developed in China. The bill’s sponsors are hoping for unanimous consent to clear their proposal and are negotiating with Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to address his objections.

One issue still to be put to bed this week is permitting reform. While there was considerable speculation last week that negotiators could come to agreement on legislation that would make it faster and more predictable to get federal approval for major energy projects, final details have yet to be nailed down.

Committee Action of Note:

Tuesday, September 29

• Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing: “Oversight of Jack Smith’s Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters.”
• Senate Judiciary Committee Intellectual Property Subcommittee Hearing: “Oversight of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.”
• Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing: “To Receive an Update on Golden Dome.”

Wednesday, September 30

• Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee executive session to consider nominations, including Nicole Saphier to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service and Surgeon General.
• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee markup to consider legislation regarding public lands, wilderness designations, conservation, energy efficiency, weatherization assistance, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission interconnection queues, and other matters.
• Senate Foreign Relations Hearing on Nominations.
• Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Nominations.

Thursday, October 1

• Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee markup to consider a request to direct Senate Legal Counsel to file an application seeking immunity for Patricia Conrad, Dr. Anthony Fauci’s former special assistant.
• Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing on Treasury, HUD, and Export-Import Bank Nominations.
• Senate Judiciary Committee markup to consider pending calendar business.

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