Bill Watch.
Thousands of bills are introduced in Congress every year. Only a handful have a chance of becoming law. What makes one bill more likely to pass than another? Many things: whether the sponsors are from the right Committees of jurisdiction; whether the language has made it through the Committee hearing and review process; whether the issue has ripened to the point of needing legislative remediation; whether the issue might be taken care of in another place, such as the courts or in the federal agencies – all of these variables and more factor into whether a bill has a serious chance of passage. Here are a few bills we think are going to change policies and shape industries during the 111th Congress:
S. 773
Cyberspace Security Act of 2009
- S. 773 was introduced by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Rockefeller April 1st, 2009; an updated version is currently being drafted
- Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing March 19th, 2009
- Other Senate Committees are working on cybersecurity legislation as well; the Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on the issue September 14th, 2009
- The President ordered a 60-day review of cyberspace security; the report was released May 2009
- Significant impact on SmartGrid technology and privacy policies
H.R. 2454
American Clean Energy and Security Act
- Comprehensive clean energy policy legislation
- Passed key House votes in June
- See House bill report
- Congressional Budget Office released a report detailing cost savings from implementation of legislation
- S. 1462, the American Clean Energy Leadership Act is pending in the Senate
"Highway Bill"
Surface Transportation Reauthorization
- Comprehensive transportation funding bill
- Current authorization set to expire October 2009
- House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-8th-MN) has released a 17-page outline of the proposed law
- Obama Administration would like to delay passage of the new bill; would like Congress to provide an 18-month extension of the current measure
H.R. 848
Performance Rights Act
- Would amend federal copyright law to change amount broadcasters pay performers for sound recordings
- Approved in key House Committee vote 21-9 May 13th, 2009
- 45 Co-sponsors as of October 2009
S. Con. Res. 14
Concurrent Resolution supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act
- Declares that Congress should not impose any new charge relating to public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station
- Referred to Senate Commerce Committee; 25 cosponsors as of October 22nd, 2009
- S. 379, the Senate version of the Performance Rights Act, was passed out of the Judiciary Committee October 15th, 2009
H.R. 1
Supplemental Appropriations (Stimulus Package)
- Making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization, for fiscal year ending September 30th, 2009, and for other purposes
- Became Public Law No. 111-5 February 17th, 2009
- Significant investment in broadband information technology infrastructure. Grants being disbursed by government in 2009
H.R. 2221
Data Accountability and Trust Act
- Requires FTC to promulgate regulations to secure computerized data containing personal information
- Hearing held on May 5th, 2009, House Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection
- Joint hearing held June 18th, 2009 with House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
- Bill is advancing through the Committee process
- Bipartisan manager’s amendment (substitute) introduced in Committee at markup September 30th, 2009
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