Today on the Hill: Energy Approps, Angel Investors, Tariff Revisions

The Senate is moving toward finishing an Energy and Water Development spending measure, with a cloture vote scheduled on a substitute amendment (#3801) to the legislative vehicle for the bill (H.R.2028). The underlying measure would provide $37.5 billion for the Energy Department, Army Corps of Engineers, parts of the Interior Department and other agencies. That’s $355 million more than was allocated in fiscal 2016 and $261 million more than Obama requested.

Looking ahead, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has teed up the next spending bill, filing for cloture on the motion to proceed to the Transportation-HUD appropriations measure (H.R. 2577). Senate appropriators have largely spared popular transportation and housing programs from cuts, even though on paper the T-HUD bill’s topline discretionary spending figure was cut from $57.3 billion to $56.5 billion.
 
The House floor agenda today includes a vote on a measure that would revise the process for cutting duties on imports of manufacturing inputs and a bill that would allow startup companies and other businesses greater access to angel investors. The latter bill (H.R. 4498), which will be considered under a rule, would specify when a business can make a presentation at a sponsored investor event without having to register a securities offering or verify the sophistication level of potential funders. The House Financial Services Committee approved the measure on an overwhelming 44-13 vote. 
 
The House is also expected to consider four bills under suspension of the rules, which limits debate and will require a two-thirds majority for passage:

• H.R. 4923 – The American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016 would revise the process for cutting duties on imports of manufacturing inputs. The bill would allow companies to petition the International Trade Commission for a suspension or reduction of tariffs on items, such as chemicals, that are used by U.S. manufacturers but are not produced domestically.
• H.R. 4240 – The No Fly for Foreign Fighters Act would require the Government Accountability Office to study the effectiveness of the Terrorist Screening Database, the terror watchlist maintained by the Terrorist Screening Center at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• H.R. 699 – The Email Privacy Act would impose stricter requirements on government and law-enforcement agencies when seeking to acquire the contents of communications from service providers. The bill would amend the Electronic Communications Privacy Act to limit the ability of governmental entities to compel service providers to turn over the contents of customer communications without a search warrant.
• S. 1890 – The Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 would allow owners of stolen or misappropriated trade secrets to sue for damages or injunctive relief in federal court. Currently, owners of misappropriated or stolen trade secrets must rely on federal law enforcement or bring suit in certain state courts.

‘Today on the Hill’ includes updates provided by the House and Senate majority leaders, as well information derived from publications including Bloomberg Government, The Hill, Politico, Roll Call, The New York Times, and Morning Consult.