Policy News, June 18, 2019

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will appear before two committees this week. Today, he will testify before the Senate Finance Committee on Trump’s trade policy and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Agreement at 10:15 AM. A livestream of the hearing can be viewed here. On Wednesday, he will testify before the House Ways and Means Committee. Lighthizer is expected to address the efforts of the administration in negotiating agreeable terms with Democrats to get them on board with the new NAFTA. According to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka there have been preliminary talks between Democrat working groups, aimed at negotiating changes concerning USMCA’s provisions on enforcement, labor, the environment and drug pricing, and the USTR.

AFL-CIO President Trumka has said that labor unions in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada do not approve of the USMCA trade deal in its current form. He is advising the administration not to rush the passing of the deal in its current state. One thing the labor unions want is proof Mexico will follow through on its promise of labor reform. In April, Mexico’s Senate passed a new labor law under USMCA requirements but has yet to outline a plan of how it will be implemented.

Candian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visit Washington, DC later this week to meet with President Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to discuss USMCA. Of particular interest to Trudeau will be to understand the legislative outlook for the deal. He will use this information to determine the appropriate timeline for Canada’s Parliament to vote on its version of the USMCA bill.

In other news, talks over Chinese tariffs rage on with hearings on the Hill today. Representatives ranging from the U.S. semiconductor industry to American booksellers will urge the Trump administration to reconsider proposed tariffs on imported goods from China. The National Foreign Trade Council, whose board members include Walmart, Visa, and Ford Motors, will testify on this point, saying the new tariffs would harm U.S. businesses, consumers and the economy.

Floor Proceedings

House: In session

The House will resume consideration of H.R. 2740 and begin consideration of H.R. 3253 under the suspension of the rules.

Senate: In session

The Senate will convene at 10 AM and begin a period of morning business. Thereafter, proceed to executive session and resume consideration of Sean Cairncross, of Minnesota, to be Chief Executive Officer, Millenium Challenge Corporation.

Bills of Interest

There are no relevant bills of interest today

Committee Proceedings

House Committee on Education and Labor

On June 19th, the committee will hold a hearing titled, “Innovation to Improve Equity: Exploring High-Quality Pathways to a College Degree”

House Small Business Committee

On June 19th, the committee will hold a hearing titled, “Unlocked Potential? Small Businesses in the Cannabis Industry”

On June 20th, the committee will hold a hearing titled, “The Importance of Accurate Census Data to Small Business Formation and Growth”

House Committee on Financial Services

On June 19th, the committee will hold a hearing titled, “Slowing Economic Growth: The Impact of Recent Trade and Tax Policies on the U.S. Economy”
On June 25th, the committee will hold a hearing titled, “Examining Legislation to Protect Consumers and Small Business Owners from Abusive Debt Collection Practices”
On June 26th, the committee will hold a hearing titled, “Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence: Where We Are and the Next Frontier in Financial Services”

House Committee on Appropriations

There is no relevant news today

House Ways and Means Committee

On June 19th, the committee will be holding a hearing titled, “The 2019 Trade Policy Agenda: Negotiations with China; Japan; the EU and UK; new NAFTA/USMCA; US Participation in the WTO; and other matters”

Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

On June 19th, the committee will be holding a hearing titled, “Examining SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance and the Response to Recent Catastrophic Floods”

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

On June 20th, the committee will hold a hearing titled “Outside Perspectives on the Collection of Beneficial Ownership Information”

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

There is no relevant news today

Senate Committee on Appropriations

There is no relevant news today

Senate Committee on Finance

Today, the committee will hold a hearing titled, “The President’s 2019 Trade Policy Agenda and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement”

Senate Judiciary Committee

On June 19th, the committee will hold a hearing titled, “Combating Kleptocracy: Beneficial Ownership, Money Laundering, and Other Reforms”
On July 23rd, the committee will hold a hearing titled, “Oversight of the Enforcement of the Antitrust Laws”

At the Agencies

Department of Labor