PASSED SENATE AND NOW RESOLVING DIFFERENCES. THIS BILL IS SCHEDULED FOR A VOTE ON: Tuesday, Jan 28, 2020 or later that week. 7 experts have voted for (and 1 against) this bill. MEETING: Jan 27, 2020, 5pm. BILL SUMMARY (by CRS): No War Against Iran Act

This bill prohibits the obligation or expenditure of federal funds for any use of military force in or against Iran unless Congress has either declared war or enacted specific statutory authorization for such use.

An exception is made for a presidential exercise of power to introduce Armed Forces into hostilities (or situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated) when there is a national emergency created by an attack upon the United States.

The bill further states that no prior authorizations of military force may be construed to authorize the use of military force against Iran, and it repeals the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. THE BILL TEXTS CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://rules.house.gov/bill/116/hr-550-sa THE COST OF THE BILL CAN BE FOUND HERE (by CBO): https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2019-07/hr550.pdf. THE BILL REPORT: may not be produced.

11 experts voted for (and zero voted against) this bill. Let's help to get these bridges fixed. https://patch.com/massachusetts/boston/massachusetts-has-nearly-500-structurally-deficient-bridges

PASSED IN HOUSE. 10 experts have voted for (and 1 has voted against) this bill being passed. House leadership has announced that this bill is scheduled for a vote on Thursday, January 9, 2020. The Rules Committee has announced an amendment deadline of Tuesday, January 7, 2020 - 10:00am. BIll Summary (by CRS): This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to designate all perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances as hazardous substances within one year of enactment of this bill. The bill text can be found here: https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-116HR535-RCP116-45.pdf. No bill report or cost estimate have been made available yet.

AMENDMENT DEADLINE: Friday, February 7, 2020 - 10am. MEETING: Friday, February 7, 2020 - 5pm. 7 experts have voted for (and 2 against) this bill. BILL SUMMARY (by CRS): This bill designates specified lands in Colorado managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the Forest Service as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The bill designates specified lands in Colorado administered by the BLM, the National Park Service, and Bureau of Reclamation as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Such lands shall be incorporated into the West Elk Wilderness. The Department of the Interior may continue authorizing competitive running events currently permitted in the Redcloud Peak Wilderness and Handies Peak Wilderness Areas. The Colorado Army National Guard, through the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, may conduct aerial navigation training maneuver exercises over the wilderness areas designated by this bill. The bill designates specified lands managed by the BLM as (1) potential wilderness areas, and (2) as the Deep Creek Wilderness and the Pisgah Mountain Wilderness upon publication by Interior of a notice in the Federal Register that all nonconforming uses of such lands authorized by this bill have ceased. The bill provides for the securing, adjudication, and use of U.S. water rights for certain of the wilderness areas designated by this bill. THE BILL TEXT CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-116HR2546-RCP116-50.pdf THE COST OF THE BILL CAN BE FOUND HERE (by CBO): https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2020-01/hr2546.pdf THE BILL REPORT CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-116hr2546ih/pdf/BILLS-116hr2546ih.pdf

NOTICE: Due to the COVID 19 pandemic the Rules Committee has been mostly inactive. One of the main things that we cover in this forum is bills that are set for a vote on the house floor. For this reason we focus on the bills that are passing through the Rules Committee which has had barely any meetings since the pandemic began in March. Of course you can always suggest your own bill on the groups page. Check out our guides to discover how to use groups! Don't forget that if you are an expert user you don't have to use groups. You can just add your bill to an expert forum.

That the use of water rights in the region be reported annually to Congress.

MEETING: Wednesday, Feb 5, 3pm 2020, 10am. 8 experts have voted for (and 2 against) this bill. BILL SUMMARY (by CRS): This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act and related labor laws to extend protections to union workers. Specifically, it revises the definition of "employee" and "supervisor" to prevent employers from classifying employees as exempt from labor law protections, expands unfair labor practices to include prohibitions against replacement of or discrimination against workers who participate in strikes, makes it an unfair labor practice to require or coerce employees to attend employer meetings designed to discourage union membership, permits workers to participate in collective or class action litigation, allows injunctions against employers engaging in unfair labor practices involving discharge or serious economic harm to an employee, expands penalties for labor law violations, including interference with the National Labor Relations Board or causing serious economic harm to an employee, and allows any person to bring a civil action for harm caused by labor law violations or unfair labor practices. THE BILL TEXT CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-116hr2474rh/pdf/BILLS-116hr2474rh.pdf THE COST OF THE BILL CAN BE FOUND HERE (by CBO): https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2019-12/hr2474_0.pdf THE BILL REPORT CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRPT-116hrpt347/pdf/CRPT-116hrpt347.pdf AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED: 1 Version 1 Wright (TX) Republican Strikes the section of the bill that mandates binding arbitration to settle first negotiation impasses. Submitted
2 Version 1 Rooney (FL) Republican Amends the National Labor Relations Act to permit the cancelation of the due’s checkoff provisions from the employee’s paycheck by the employer to a labor organization when the agreement establishing such a deduction expires. In right-to-work states, allows employees to cancel such deductions at any time. Submitted
3 Version 1 Rooney (FL) Republican Adds transparency reporting requirements to union trust funds, officers’ compensation packages, and disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Also includes protections for union employees who report misconduct. Submitted
4 Version 1 Rooney (FL) Republican Provides whistleblower protection for union employees. Submitted
5 Version 1 Rooney (FL) Republican Clarifies that organizations claiming to represent employees regarding the terms and conditions of employment with employers follow the same Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act requirements as labor unions. Submitted
6 Version 1 Rooney (FL) Republican Allows employees to petition for a union certification election when fewer than 50% of current ‘unit members’ were members during the last election. Submitted
7 Version 1 Allen (GA) Republican Strikes provision overturning state right-to-work laws. Submitted
8 Version 1 Johnson, Dusty (SD) Republican Permits employers to reward employees with higher compensation than what is agreed upon in a collective bargaining agreement. Submitted
9 Version 1 Walberg (MI) Republican Ensures no action taken to reduce the risk of human trafficking in the supply chain shall be used as evidence of a joint-employer relationship under the National Labor Relations Act. Submitted
10 Version 1 Comer (KY) Republican Strikes provision legalizing secondary boycotts. Submitted
11 Version 1 Stefanik (NY) Republican Strikes provision that significantly narrows independent-contractor status by defining a worker as an “employee” unless he or she is “free from control and direction in connection with the performance of the service, both under the contract for the performance of the service and in fact;” “the service is performed outside the usual course of business of the employer;” and “the individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession, or business of the same nature as that involved in the service performed.” Submitted
12 Version 1 Byrne (AL) Republican Strikes provision allowing a joint-employer relationship to be determined by “indirect or reserved control” over “essential terms and conditions of employment” and replaces it with a standard requiring that a person “directly, actually, and immediately, and not in a limited and routine manner, exercises significant control over essential terms and conditions of employment” in order to be considered a joint employer. Submitted
13 Version 1 Ryan (OH), Kaptur (OH) Democrat Revises the priorities section of the bankruptcy code to re-define all claims for unfunded vested benefits in defined benefit pension plan as “administrative expenses” which under bankruptcy law, must be paid before all other claims. This puts pension benefits on the same level as bankruptcy attorneys’ fees and other highest-priority claims that a company must pay out in full before paying other claims. Submitted
14 Version 1 DelBene (WA), Stevens (MI) Democrat Authorizes a total of $20 million for competitive grants to fund a portable benefits pilot program to encourage an entrepreneurial economy. Submitted
15 Version 1 Rooney (FL) Republican Amends the National Labor Relations Act to protect religious organizations. Submitted
16 Version 1 Norcross (NJ) Democrat Requires that pre-election hearings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) are conducted on a day-to-day basis. Submitted
17 Version 1 Norcross (NJ) Democrat Adds contributions to the pension fund, 401(k) or any other retirement contribution that the employer and employee were in contractual agreement to list of available relief. Submitted
18 Version 1 Foxx (NC) Republican Revokes the exclusive bargaining status of unions that engage in violence and prevents the National Labor Relations Board from reinstating employees who are fired for engaging in violence. Submitted
19 Version 1 Smucker (PA) Republican Requires unions to receive express consent from a worker before using his or her union dues for purposes other than collective bargaining. Submitted
20 Version 1 Roe (TN) Republican Strikes provision allowing unions to be certified without winning a secret ballot election under certain circumstances and replaces with a requirement that all unions win a secret-ballot election in order to be certified. Submitted
21 Version 1 Foxx (NC) Republican Strikes provision requiring that employers turn over employees’ personal information to a labor union within two days of the National Labor Relations Board ordering a representation election. Submitted
22 Version 1 Foxx (NC) Republican Codifies health insurance benefits as a mandatory subject of collective bargaining. Submitted
23 Version 1 Foxx (NC) Republican Clarifies that profanity or language that is derogatory on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability is not protected activity under the National Labor Relations Act and that employers may suspend, permanently discharge, or otherwise discipline employees for using such language. Submitted
24 Version 1 Hayes (CT) Democrat Codifies the current precedent of the National Labor Relations Board governing voluntary recognition of a union by an employer which ensures collective bargaining between the union and employer can proceed for a reasonable period of time (one year) without requiring an intervening election. Submitted
25 Version 1 Foxx (NC) Republican Requires that unions covered under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act that have had at least one President or Vice President convicted of a felony related to financial malfeasance with respect to the union within the past year file more detailed financial disclosures with the Office of Labor-Management Standards. Submitted
26 Version 1 Keller (PA) Republican Strikes provisions of H.R. 2474 that allow intermittent strikes and that make it illegal for employers to replace striking workers permanently. Submitted
27 Version 1 Thompson, Glenn (PA) Republican Requires each employer to include explanations of employee rights and protections under the National Labor Relations Act to not pay for union spending beyond collective bargaining (Beck rights) and the process to decertify a union. Submitted
28 Version 1 Phillips (MN), Davis, Rodney (IL), Johnson, Dusty (SD), Roe (TN), Schrader (OR) Bi-Partisan Clarifies that the maintenance and control exercised by a franchisor over a franchisee as required by the Lanham Act cannot be used to establish an employer-employee relationship between franchisor and franchisee or franchisor and employees of the franchisee. Submitted
29 Version 1 Cuellar (TX), Chabot (OH), Peters (CA), Phillips (MN), Correa (CA), Reed (NY), Davis, Rodney (IL), Johnson, Dusty (SD), Hern (OK), Hagedorn (MN), Schrader (OR) Bi-Partisan Clarifies the franchisor brand’s efforts to preserve their trademark by ensuring franchisee brands are uniform and guaranteeing franchisee brands would not be classified as evidence of joint employment. Employment controls, such as hiring, firing, pay and scheduling would not be considered a protected trademark control. Submitted
30 Version 1 Vargas (CA) Democrat Requires regional directors to transmit the notice of election at the same time as the direction of election unless extraordinary circumstances warrant otherwise. Both may be transmitted electronically. Submitted
31 Version 1 Lawrence (MI) Democrat Eliminates the waiting period for union elections and returns the requirement that NLRB’s regional directors schedule elections as “early as practicable.” The amendment ensures that the election will happen no later than 20 days after it’s directed, unless extraordinary circumstances warrant otherwise. Submitted
32 Version 1 Hern (OK) Republican Ensures this bill does not take effect until the Secretary of Labor certifies that the bill will not have an adverse impact on rates of employment in the United States. Submitted
33 Version 1 Hern (OK) Republican Ensures this bill does not

MEETING: Wednesday Feb 5, 3pm. 7 experts have voted for (and 1 against) this bill. THE BILL TEXT CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-116hr5687ih/pdf/BILLS-116hr5687ih.pdf THE COST OF THE BILL (BY CBO): https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2020-02/hr5687.pdf THE BILL REPORT none. BILL SUMMARY (by CRS): in progress. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED:

1 Version 1 Jackson Lee (TX) Democrat Expresses the sense of Congress the importance of the Executive Branch delivering the relief needed as expeditiously as possible. Submitted
2 Version 1 Jackson Lee (TX) Democrat Allows for a small business disaster recovery grant program to assist businesses that do not qualify for SBA Loans or other federal assistance. This funding will support the efforts of Mom and Pop businesses to recover along with the communities they serve. Submitted
3 Version 1 Jackson Lee (TX) Democrat Seeks the status of the delivery of previously enacted Emergency Supplemental Disaster Appropriations intended to support Puerto Rico recovery efforts, with respect to Hurricanes Maria and Irma. Submitted
4 Version 1 Velázquez (NY) Democrat Precludes emergency supplemental appropriated funds from being included as part of fiscal planning and budget activities. Submitted
5 Version 1 Meeks (NY) Democrat Prevents the Treasury Department from contracting with any debt collector or private party to recoup money as a result of an overpayment made by FEMA. Submitted
6 Version 1 Levin, Andy (MI) Democrat Increases and decreases amount for Community Development Fund by $1,000,000 to prioritize funding for renewable energy projects that will enhance the long-term resiliency of Puerto Rico’s infrastructure. Submitted
7 Version 1 Johnson, Mike (LA) Republican Restricts the disbursement of funds under the bill until the relevant department or agency certifies that all previous Hurricane Maria-related appropriations for Puerto Rico have been disbursed by that department or agency. If the department or agency is unable to make the certification, it must report to Congress within 30 days as to why. Submitted
8 Version 1 Rice, Tom (SC) Republican Calls for an Inspector General report into the mismanagement of previous Federal disaster assistance provided to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Submitted
9 Version 1 Crenshaw (TX), Fletcher (TX) Bi-Partisan Appropriates an additional $45,000,000 for the implementation of revised duplication of benefits rules for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Submitted
10 Version 1 Dunn (FL) Republican Extends the amount of time that the Department of Veterans Affairs can continue to pay educational benefits to veterans when a school is temporarily closed in the wake of natural disasters. Submitted
11 Version 1 Shalala (FL), González-Colón, Jenniffer (PR), Hastings (FL), McGovern (MA), Murphy, Stephanie (FL) Bi-Partisan Increases funding to conduct a study on the impacts on educational attainment, long-term economic opportunities and well-being of students from Puerto Rico who have had to disrupt or change their educational path due to a natural disaster. Submitted
12 Version 1 Tlaib (MI), Velázquez (NY) Democrat Ensures meaningful access to individuals with limited English proficiency to the public information maintained by grantees of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Fund. Submitted
13 Version 2 Tlaib (MI) Democrat Revised Requires a GAO study within 5 years that will assess the impact of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) on disaster relief alleviation. Submitted
14 Version 1 Tlaib (MI) Democrat Requires the Secretary of Education to provide a detailed spend plan to Congress of the actual uses of funds made available, including actual personnel and administrative costs. Submitted
15 Version 1 Bera (CA), Eshoo (CA) Democrat Increases funding for CDC response to Wuhan Coronavirus. Provides additional funding for hospitals to prepare and respond for outbreak, as well as to State Department to help Americans returning from China. Submitted
16 Version 2 González-Colón, Jenniffer (PR), DeLauro (CT), Soto (FL), Velázquez (NY), Serrano (NY) Bi-Partisan Late Revised Increases the amount for Puerto Rico disaster nutrition assistance to $210,000,000. Submitted
17 Version 1 Ocasio-Cortez (NY) Democrat Late Directs the HUD Secretary to submit a proposal to Congress establishing a civil society task force of local community leaders and civil society to advise federal efforts to ensure an equitable recovery. Submitted
18 Version 1 Banks (IN) Republican Late Applies section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 throughout division A. Strikes division C.

AMENDMENT DEADLINE: Fri, Sep 18, 2020 - 10:00am MEETING: Mon, Sep 21, 2020 - 1:00pm BILL SUMMARY (by CRS): This bill requires the Department of Energy to award grants to assist rural electric cooperatives with identifying, evaluating, designing, and demonstrating energy storage and microgrid projects that utilize energy from renewable energy sources. (A microgrid is a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources that acts as a single controllable entity and that can connect and disconnect from the grid to operate in grid-connected or island mode.) THE BILL TEXT CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-116HR4447-RCP116-63.pdf THE BILL REPORT CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/CRPT-116hrpt504-pt1.pdf

MEETING: Mon, Sep 14, 2020 - 1:00pm BILL SUMMARY (by CRS): This bill prohibits employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for job applicants or employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Specifically, the bill declares that it is an unlawful employment practice to (1) fail to make reasonable accommodations to known limitations of such job applicants or employees, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on an entity's business operation; (2) deny employment opportunities based on the need of the entity to make such reasonable accommodations to an applicant or employee; (3) require such job applicants or employees to accept an accommodation that they do not want, if such accommodation is unnecessary to perform the job; (4) require such employees to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided to their known limitations; or (5) take adverse action in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against an employee requesting or using such reasonable accommodations. The bill sets forth enforcement procedures and remedies under various statutes that cover different types of employees in relation to such unlawful employment practices. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must provide examples of reasonable accommodations that shall be provided to affected job applicants or employees unless the employer can demonstrate that doing so would impose an undue hardship. The bill prohibits state immunity under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution from an action for a violation of this bill. THE BILL TEXT CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-116hr2694rh/pdf/BILLS-116hr2694rh.pdf THE BILL REPORT CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRPT-116hrpt494/pdf/CRPT-116hrpt494-pt1.pdf