On March 1, 2011, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus (D) criticized the President’s trade agenda for failing to address Korea’s continued restrictions on U.S. beef as well as the Agenda’s lack of a timeline or specific steps to complete the Colombia and Panama Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
On March 1, 2011, the House passed H.J. Res. 44, a temporary Continuing Resolution to allow the federal government to continue operations for an additional two weeks (through March 18, 2011). (The current CR expires on March 4, 2011.) H.J. Res. 44 includes $4 billion in spending cuts. The Senate is expected to begin its consideration of H.J. Res. 44 on March 2, 2011.
On February 15, 2011, Representative Shuster (R) introduced the Safe Highway Markings Act of 2011 (H.R. 708) which would establish a limit of 200 parts per million of arsenic or lead in each glass bead used in pavement markings on or along any road or highway.1
On January 26, 2011, Representative Wolf (R)1 introduced the “Bring Jobs Back to America Act” (H.R. 516), bipartisan legislation that would develop a national job repatriation strategy focused on returning manufacturing and call center jobs to U.S. that have been outsourced to China and other countries.
On March 1, 2011, the House is scheduled to consider H.J. Res. 44, the Further Continuing Appropriations Amendments of 2011, as funding for the Federal government expires March 4, 2011. This Continuing Resolution (CR) would provide $1.083 trillion in discretionary funding for government operations through March 18, 2011 and reduce spending by $4 billion from current spending levels. (Prior to considering H.J. Res. 44, the House is scheduled to consider H.Res. 115, the rule providing for consideration of H.J. Res. 44. The rule being considered is a closed rule, with no amendments.)
On February 25, 2011, the President sent a letter to Congress announcing that the national emergency declared with respect to Cuba and the emergency authority relating to the regulation of the anchorage and movement of vessels set out in Proclamation 6867 as amended by Proclamation 7757, is to continue in effect beyond March 1, 2011.
On February 10, 2011, Representative Boswell (R) introduced the Rare Earths and Critical Materials Revitalization Act of 2011 (H.R. 618), which he states would address the nation’s shortage of metals and materials that are essential components to many high-tech industries, including defense, manufacturing, energy, transportation, optics and electronics, and reduce the country’s dependence on China for these rare earths.
The House Committee on Rules announces that it will meet on March 1, 2011 regarding H.R. 662, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011, which would provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a multi-year law reauthorizing such programs. The text of the bill (as introduced) is available here.
According to the House Majority Leader’s schedule for the week of February 28, 2011, the House is scheduled to consider H.R. 662, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011, subject to a rule. (H.R. 662 was ordered reported on February 16, 2011.) (See ITT’s Online Archives or 02/28/11 news, 11022802, for BP summary of House Rules Committee’s plans to meet on H.R. 662.) House Majority Leader’s schedule for week of February 28, 2011 is available here.
During the President’s Day recess, Senate Finance Chairman Baucus (D) traveled to Colombia to meet with Colombian government, labor, and business officials.