Legislative Affairs

         

Legislative links, information and advocacy from federal to state and now including the District of Columbia.

March 27, 2023 Update  

Headlines to know

National Debt:

There is no formal default date yet on the $31.4 trillion national debt, as Sec. Yellen has stated to Congress that the Treasury Department can pay its bills through early June. Current CBO projections predict that the federal government will run out of money sometime between July and September. Today, Speaker McCarthy sent a letter to the White House to reinitiate negotiations on the debt ceiling. House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) has scheduled a “Fiscal State of the Union” hearing for Wednesday (3/29).

OTHER NEWS TO KNOW

 The Senate on Ukraine:

Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo) has an amendment that would create an “Office of the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance,” a nod to the Missouri Republican’s opposition to funding the Ukraine war against Russian invasion. The IG would be charged with reviewing the more than $110 billion in military and non-military assistance that Congress has already appropriated.

 

The Senate on Afghanistan:

Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla) has amendment that would set up a Joint Select Committee on Afghanistan — a bicameral body with an equal partisan split that would investigate the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021. This could garner some Democratic votes as well, especially among those senators up for reelection in 2024.

 

The Senate on Pandemic Preparedness:

Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) has made no secret of his skepticism of world health authorities and the Covid-19 vaccine. Johnson is offering a non-binding “Sense of the Senate” amendment stating that any World Health Assembly agreement on pandemic prevention and preparedness should be considered a treaty. This amendment would make any deal subject to two-thirds approval from the Senate for ratification. The goal here would be to prevent the United States from signing onto whatever agreement the World Health Assembly releases in the coming months.

 

TikTok:

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, (R-California), said Sunday that lawmakers “will be moving forward” with legislation to address national security concerns surrounding TikTok. This comes after the social media giant’s CEO Shou Zi Chew, faced hours of questioning before a Congressional panel last week. McCarthy did not specify what legislation he is referring to. The House speaker last week told reporters that he would back a ban on TikTok amid the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s five-hour grilling of CEO Shou Zi Chew. The bipartisan bill, the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology Act, or the RESTRICT Act, would give the commerce secretary broad power to regulate tech produced by six countries that have adversarial relationships with the U.S.: China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela.

• U.S. Congress
• Executive Branch
• Maryland General Assembly
• Advocacy Affiliate Relationship - NCDA, ACA, MCA

     

***   ***   ***   ***   ***

118th U.S. CONGRESS

This Week on Capital Hill

Hearings:

Hearings of Interest (All times in EST)

Monday, March 27

• March 27^th 3:00pm, House Committee on rules H.R. 1 - Lower Energy Costs Act

Tuesday, March 28

• March 28^th 9:00am, House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Hearing - FY24 Request for Nuclear Forces and Atomic Energy Defense Activities
• March 28^th 10:00am, House Small Business Economic on Growth, Tax, and Capital Access Hearing - The End of Relationship Banking? Examining the CFPB's "Small Business Lending Data Collection" Rule
• March 28^th 10:00am, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Budget Hearing - Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the United States Air Force and Space Force
• March 28^th 10:00am, House Science, Space, and Technology Hearing Subcommittee on Environment Hearing - Reauthorizing the Weather Act: Data and Innovation for Predictions
• March 28^th 10:0am, House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness Hearing - Posture and Readiness of the Mobility Enterprise - TRANSCOM and MARAD
• March 28^th 10:00am, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Department of the Interior
• March 28^th 10:00am, House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Hearing - Reviewing the Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
• March 28^th 10:00am, House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Hearing - Government Response to East Palestine: Ensuring Safety and Transparency for the Community
• March 28^th 10:00am, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Department of Health and Human Services
• March 28^th 10:00am, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Homeland Security hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
• March 28^th 10:00am, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Hearing - Oversight Hearing – Inspectors General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Transportation
• March 28^th 10:00am, House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services Hearing - FDA Oversight Part I: The Infant Formula Shortage
• March 28^th 10:00am, House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Hearing - The Consequences of School Closures: Intended and Unintended
• March 28^th 10:00am, House Agriculture Hearing - For the purpose of receiving testimony from The Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• March 28^th 10:00am, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Hearing - Biden’s Growing Border Crisis: Death, Drugs, and Disorder on the Northern Border
• March 28^th 10:15am, House Education and the Workforce Hearing - “Unleashing America’s Opportunities for Hiring and Employment"
• March 28^th 10:30am, Committee on House Administration Hearing - “2022 Midterms Look Back Series: Government Voter Suppression in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania”
• March 28^th 10:30am, House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Hearing - Member Day
• March 28^th 11:30am, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch Hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the House of Representatives
• March 28^th 1:00pm, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch Hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Architect of the Capitol
• March 28^th 1:00pm, House Appropriations Hearing Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Hearing - Budget Hearing - Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
• March 28^th 1:30pm, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing – Member Day
• March 28^th 2:00pm, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the United States Army
• March 28^th 2:00pm, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Environmental Protection Agency
• March 28^th 2:00pm, House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Hearing - Maritime Transportation Supply Chain Issues
• March 28^th 2:00pm, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Homeland Security Hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Transportation Security Administration
• March 28^th 2:00pm, House Ways and Means Hearing - Hearing on President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request with Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra
• March 28^th 2:00pm, House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs Hearing - “Ensuring Force Readiness: Examining Progressivism’s Impact on an All-Volunteer Military”

• March 29^th 9:00am, House Intelligence (Permanent Select) Subcommittee on Defense Intelligence and Overhead Architecture Hearing - Budget Hearing (CLOSED) for the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency
• March 29^th 9:30am, House Appropriations subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Department of Justice
• March 29^th 10:00am, House Small Business subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains Hearing - Highlighting the Role of Small Businesses in Domestic Energy Production
• March 29^th 10:00am, House Appropriations subcommittee on Defense Hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the United States Navy and Marine Corps
• March 29^th 10:00am, House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Hearing - Legislative Hearing on H.R. 234, Gerald’s Law Act; H.R. 854, Captain James C. Edge Gold Star Spouse Equity Act; H.R. 984, Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act; H.R. 1139, GUARD VA Benefits Act; H.R. 1329, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the maximum number of judges who may be appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; H.R. 1378,Veterans’ Appeals Backlog Improvement Act; H.R. 1529, Veterans’ Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2023; and H.R. 1530, Veterans Benefits Improvement Act
• March 29^th 10:00am, House Appropriations subcommittee on Department of Homeland Security Hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Department of Homeland Security
• March 29^th 10:00am, House Appropriations subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Department of Veterans Affairs
• March 29^th 10:00am, House Appropriations subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Hearing - Oversight Hearing – Addressing the Challenges of Rural America
• March 29^th 10:00am, House Budget Hearing - Fiscal State of the Union
• March 29^th 10:00am, House Natural Resources subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs Hearing - Oversight Hearing on “Challenges and Opportunities for Improving Healthcare Delivery in Tribal Communities”
• March 29^th 10:00am, House Financial Services Hearing - The Federal Regulators’ Response to Recent Bank Failures
• March 29^th 10:00am, House Armed Services Hearing - Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Budget Request
• March 29^th 10:00am, House Oversight and Accountability Hearing - “Overdue Oversight of the Capital City: Part I.”
• March 29^th 10:00am, House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Department of the Treasury International Programs
• March 29^th 10:15am, House Education and the Workforce subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development Hearing - “Diversity of Thought: Protecting Free Speech on College Campuses”
• March 29^th 10:30am, House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce Hearing - “Taking the Buzzer Beater to the Bank: Protecting College Athletes’ NIL Dealmaking Rights”
• March 29^th 11:00am, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch Hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the United States Capitol Police
• March 29^th 1:00pm, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Hearing - Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Requests for the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service
• March 29^th 1:00pm, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Hearing - Budget Hearing - Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Food and Drug Administration
• March 29^th 1:30pm, House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health Hearing - Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 41, VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023; H.R. 562, Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act of 2023; H.R. 808, Veterans Patient Advocacy Act; H.R. 754, Modernizing Veterans’ Health Care Eligibility Act; H.R. 693, Veterans Affairs Medical Center Absence and Notification Timeline (VACANT) Act; H.R. 1089, VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act; H.R. 366, Korean American VALOR Act; H.R. 542, Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act of 2023; and H.R. 1256, Veterans Health Administration Leadership Transformation Act
• March 29^th 2:00pm, House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Hearing - Follow the Money: Oversight of President Biden's Massive Spending Spree
• March 29^th 2:00pm, House Transporation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Hearing - Disaster Recovery: Examining Coordination and Reducing Duplication of Federal Disaster Programs
• March 29^th 2:00pm, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Homeland Security Hearing - Member Day-Homeland Security
• March 29^th 2:00pm, House Judiciary Subcommittee on Responsiveness and Accountability to Oversight Hearing - Hearing on Compliance with Committee Oversight
• March 29^th 2:00pm, House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Work and Welfare Hearing - Welfare is Broken: Restoring Work Requirements to Lift Americans Out of Poverty
• March 29^th 2:00pm, Houe Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce Hearing - “Login.gov Doesn't Meet the Standard”
• March 29^th 2:00m, House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Hearing - “Fueling Unaffordability: How the Biden Administration’s Policies Catalyzed Global Energy Scarcity and Compounded Inflation”
• March 29^th 2:30pm, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Hearing - Budget Hearing - Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
• March 29^th 3:00pm, House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel Hearing - Military Department Personnel Chiefs; Personnel Posture
• March 29^th 3:00pm, House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability Hearing - Examining U.S. Sanctions Policy, Implementation, and Enforcement
• March 29^th 3:30pm, House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces Hearing - Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request of the Department of Defense for Fixed-Wing Tactical and Training Aircraft Programs
• March 29^th 10:00pm, House Foreign Affairs - Oversight, Transparency, and Accountability of Ukraine Assistance

• March 30^th 8:00am, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Hearing - Member Day - Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee
• March 30^th 8:30am, House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation Hearing - Cyberspace Operations: Conflict in the 21st Century
• March 30^th 9:00am, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Hearing - Budget Hearing - Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• March 30^th 9:00am, House Select Committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government Hearing - Hearing on the Weaponization of the Federal Government
• March 30^th 9:00am, House Intelligence (Permanent Select) Hearing - Budget Hearing (CLOSED) for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
• March 30^th 9:30am, House Veteran’s Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Hearing - Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 291, Vaccine Discharge Parity Act; H.R. 645, Healthy Foundations for Homeless Veterans Act; H.R. 728, To direct the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training to carry out a pilot program on short-term programs for veterans; H.R. 746, Streamlining Aviation for Eligible Veterans Act; H.R. 1169, VA E-Notification Enhancement Act; H.R. XXXX, Protect Military Dependents Act; H.R. XXXX, the Filipino Education Fairness Act; H.R. XXXX, Get Rewarding Outdoor Work for our Veterans Act; H.R. XXXX, Ensure Military Personnel Learn Opportunities Yielding Vocations that Employ Transitioning Servicemembers Act; H.R. XXXX, VET-TEC Authorization Act of 2023 and H.R. XXXX, To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that educational assistance paid under Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs to an individual who pursued a program or course of education that was suspended or terminated by reason of a determination of fraud shall not be charged against the entitlement of the individual, and for other purposes
• March 30^th 10:00am, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Hearing - Member Day
• March 30^th 10:00am, House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation - FAA Reauthorization: Harnessing the Evolution of Flight to Deliver for the American People

 

Executive Branch

Student Load Update: The Biden administration released a plan that will make it easier for student debt holders to eliminate their debt via income-driven repayment plans. According to the Education Department, debt holders can halve the required discretionary income for the plans to 5 percent from 10 percent. This comes as the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on President Biden's executive order on debt forgiveness and payments remain frozen for all debt holders.

Maryland General Assembly (445th session)

As of 3/25/23, there are only three weeks left until Sine Die (the last day of Maryland's legislative session). If you have particular concerns or support for a Senate or House bill being heard in any of the numerous committees, contact your legislator and let them know now!

On both sides of the Maryland General Assembly, MD legislative teams . . .

• are pushing as hard as possible to get all their crossover bills through the Senate or House.
• will be spending a lot of time in the coming weeks listening to and evaluating Senate or House bills in their respective committees.

For a general overview and information on the 2023 session, visit the General Assembly's Tutorial page

Advocacy Affiliates

MCDA is an affiliate of NCDA, ACA, and MCA and its advocacy work is linked to these organizations. Your MCDA membership automatically links you to the advocacy efforts of all four groups. However, all MCDA members are eligible to join these groups. 

NCDA Federal Advocacy

Top Issues - policy provisions, program developments or spending cuts impacting career practitioners nationwide:

For additional information:

ACA Federal Advocacy

FY 2022-2023 Agenda for Advocacy Power Hours (APH):

1. Introduction of attendees and ACA staff
2. State updates – ACA staff
3. Federal updates – ACA staff
4. State & regional updates – ACA members
5. Final call(s) to action – ACA staff
6. Q&A, wrap up, and important ACA administrative updates – ACA staff

FY 2022-2023 Schedule for APH:

• February 16, 2023 - 3:00 PM ET
• April 20, 2023 - 3:00 PM ET
• June 15, 2023 - 3:00 PM ET

(The August 2023 APH will not occur due to summer recess for our members and staff. Meetings and an updated schedule for the 2024 FY will resume in September 2023.)

• More ways to take advocacy action.
• ACA's Statement on the Conflict in Ukraine.
• Contact the ACA Government Affairs and Public Policy Team.
• Click here for further information on ACA's federal advocacy work.

MCA Advocacy

For any questions or to get involved in legislative advocacy at the local, state, or national level, 
please contact MCDA’s Legislative Co-Chairs MCDA.Legislative@MDCareers.org.