Weekly Washington Outlook — April 25, 2016

 What to Watch This Week:

Congress:

House:

On Tuesday, the House will consider the following legislation under suspension of the rules:

• R. 4096– Investor Clarity and Bank Parity Act (Sponsored by Rep. Michael Capuano / Financial Services Committee)
• R. 5019– Fair Access to Investor Research Act of 2016(Sponsored by Rep. French Hill / Financial Services Committee)
• R. 2901– Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act (Sponsored by Rep. Dennis Ross / Financial Services Committee)
• R. 223– Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2016(Sponsored by Rep. David Joyce / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
• R. 3030– Baudette Coast Guard Housing Conveyance Act(Sponsored by Rep. Collin Peterson / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
• House Amendment to 1523 – To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes, as amended (Sponsored by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
• R. 1684– Foreign Spill Protection Act of 2016, as amended(Sponsored by Rep. Carlos Curbelo / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
• R. 4820– Combating Terrorist Recruitment Act of 2016, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Chuck Fleischmann / Homeland Security Committee)
• R. 4698– Securing Aviation from Foreign Entry Points and Guarding Airports Through Enhanced Security Act of 2016, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. John Katko / Homeland Security Committee)
• R. 3583– PREPARE Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Martha McSally / Homeland Security Committee)
• R. 2615– Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission Act (Sponsored by Rep. Stacey Plaskett / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
• R. 2908– National Bison Legacy Act (Sponsored by Rep. Lacy Clay / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
• R. 4359– Administrative Leave Reform Act, as amended(Sponsored by Rep. Jason Chaffetz / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
• R. 4360– Official Personnel File Enhancement Act(Sponsored by Rep. Jason Chaffetz / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
• Concur in the Senate Amendment toR. 1493 – Protect and Preserve Cultural Property Act (Sponsored by Rep. Elliot Engel / Foreign Affairs Committee)

On Wednesday, the House will consider the following legislation under suspension of the rules:

• R. 4923– American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016 (Sponsored by Rep. Kevin Brady / Ways and Means Committee)
• R. 4240– No Fly for Foreign Fighters Act (Sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee / Judiciary Committee)
• R. 699– Email Privacy Act (Sponsored by Rep. Kevin Yoder / Judiciary Committee)
• 1890– Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (Sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch / Judiciary Committee)
• R. 4498– HALOS Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Steve Chabot / Financial Services Committee)

On Thursday and the balance of the week, the House will consider the following:

• R. 4901– SOAR Reauthorization Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Jason Chaffetz / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
• J. Res. 88– Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to the definition of the term “Fiduciary” (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Phil Roe / Education and Workforce Committee)

Senate:

On Monday, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R. 2028, the legislative vehicle for the Energy and Water Appropriations bill.

White House:

On Monday, the president will open and tour the Hannover Messe Trade Fair with Chancellor Angela Merkel.  Afterwards, President Obama will deliver remarks. In the afternoon, the president will meet with President Francois Hollande of France, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy, and Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom in a meeting hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In the evening, President Obama will depart Hannover and return to Washington DC.

On Tuesday, the president will attend meetings at the White House.

On Wednesday, President Obama will welcome the United States Naval Academy Football Team to the White House to present them with the 2015 Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.

On Thursday, the president and the first lady will mark Passover with a Seder at the White House with friends and staff.

On Friday, President Obama will attend the International Jazz Day Festival at the White House.

Also this Week:

Puerto Rico – With a $422 million debt payment looming May 1, Congressional action on legislation to help Puerto Rico’s financial and humanitarian crisis is unlikely to occur in time. The current version of H.R. 4900, the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), makes some improvements to language on the scope and authority of an oversight board, providing Puerto Rico more autonomy than originally proposed. However, some conservatives believe the bill would effectively serve as a “bailout scheme” to Puerto Rico and would force creditors to lose money without agreeing to a restructuring. Negotiations will continue this week, and it is still possible the House Natural Resources Committee could reschedule a mark-up that was postponed earlier this month as soon as this week. Speaker Ryan, Rep. Bishop (R-Utah), and others continues to work to garner support for the bill.

Consumer Finance – On Thursday, the House will vote on a formal disapproval of the Labor Department’s fiduciary rule later this week. H.J. Res. 88 would nullify the so-called “conflict of interest” rule under the Congressional Review Act and prohibit similar regulatory actions. The final rule, scheduled to take effect in April 2017, requires retirement investment advisors to put client interests first when providing investment advice.

Health – The Senate will discuss a potential floor amendment to the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill that would provide $1.9 billion in emergency funding to combat the Zika virus. Timing of floor consideration remains unclear.

Nutrition – Following the release of a discussion draft to reauthorize child nutrition programs, the House Education and Workforce Committee could hold a mark-up in the coming weeks.  The draft would significantly increase verification of school meal programs and undermines the Administration’s nutrition guidelines.  A bipartisan Senate reauthorization was approved in the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier this year.