This week, the House is expected to consider 15 bills, ranging from veterans affairs to appropriations.
Legislation under consideration this week includes:
Demanding Accountability for Veterans Act (H.R. 2072): This bill includes a variety of provisions related to programs of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department — most notably those that require the VA's IG and the VA to take certain actions to rectify problems identified by the IG if the VA has failed to address those problems on its own.
H.Res. 600: Urging the Government of Afghanistan, following a successful first round of the presidential election on April 5, 2014, to pursue a transparent, credible, and inclusive run–off presidential election on June 14, 2014, while ensuring the safety of voters, candidates, poll workers, and election observers, as amended
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2014 (H.R. 4412): This bill authorizes $17.6 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for FY 2014. This bill reauthorizes programs of the space agency, calls for the development of U.S.-made booster rockets, and directs NASA to conduct a crewed mission to the surface of Mars to begin human exploration of that planet.
S. 1254: The measure authorizes $20.5 million a year for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through 2018 to carry out the National Harmful Algal Bloom & Hypoxia Program and to develop regional research and action plans.
H.Con.Res. 100: Authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act (Rep. Fudge – House Administration)
S.Con.Res. 36: A concurrent resolution permitting the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the next of kin or personal representative of Raoul Wallenberg (Sen. Gillibrand – House Administration)
H.R. 3211: This bill excludes insurance that is paid at closing into escrow as well as any fees paid to affiliated companies from the 3% limit on points and fees imposed on qualified mortgages, by redefining "point and fees" under the Truth in Lending Act.
H.R. 1679: This bill amends the Expedited Funds Availability Act of 1987 (PL 100-86) to include American Samoa and the Northern Marianas, thereby requiring financial institutions in American Samoa to comply with the act's check-cashing requirements. Under the measure, therefore, American Samoan and Northern Marianas banks would have to make available funds from in-territory checks within two business days, and out-of-territory checks within six business days.
H.R. 4228: This bill makes a number of changes with respect to Homeland Security Department acquisition personnel and oversight intended to improve the department's acquisition process. Among its provisions, it creates an acquisition review board to strengthen accountability and performance within the department and delegates more clear responsibility for acquisition oversight. It also requires the department to develop a multi-year acquisition strategy, establishes mechanisms to reduce duplication, creates notification processes to Congress in the event of an acquisitions breach and requires the department to prepare and submit to Congress both quarterly and annual reports on the status of its acquisition programs.
Veteran Access to Care Act (H.R. __): This bill requires the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) to enter into contracts with non-VA facilities to provide hospital care and medical services for veterans who have waited for care longer than VA waitlist goals.
H.Res. 608: Condemning the senseless rampage and mass shooting that took place in Isla Vista, California, on Friday May 23, 2014, as amended (Rep. Capps – Oversight and Government Reform)
Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 4745): The bill provides a net total of $70.2 billion in total budgetary resources for the Transportation Department, which support federal highways, the Federal Aviation Administration, Amtrak, and other transportation and infrastructure projects. It also provides $35 billion for housing programs at the Department of Housing and Urban and Development
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 4800): This bill appropriates a total of $142.9 billion for the Agriculture Department, Food and Drug Administration and related agencies in FY 2015. Much of the bill's funding is for mandatory spending programs, including food aid, nutrition programs, and crop support. $2.6 billion would be appropriated to the FDA, the agency responsible for protecting public health by ensuring that foods, drugs, vaccines and medical devices are safe and effective.
H.R. 4453: This bill makes permanent the rules for the S-corporation built-in gains tax and for S-corporation charitable contributions that expired at the end of calendar year 2013. Under the measure, the cost of permanently extending these rules would not be offset, which could add $2 billion to the deficit over 10 years.
H.R. 4457: This bill makes permanent increased expensing limitations for small businesses and farms that expired at the end of calendar year 2013. Under the measure, the cost of permanently extending these rules would not be offset, which would add an estimated $73 billion to the deficit over 10 years. The measure makes permanent the expensing limit of $500,000 under Section 179 of the tax code for certain qualifying property placed in service during the tax year, with the phase-out beginning when investments exceed $2 million. The bill allows off-the-shelf computer software, qualified real property, and air conditioning and heating units to qualify as property eligible for expensing for tax years 2014 and beyond. It removes the current law limitation of $250,000 of the amount of qualified real property that could be expensed under Section 179. In addition, the measure permits taxpayers to revoke, without IRS consent, any election made on their tax returns under Section 179 after 2002.