Policy News- April 16, 2019

The House and Senate will be in recess and will be conducting district work weeks for the next two weeks. Congress will be back in session on April 22nd. Below are highlights of last week’s Congressional agenda.

On Thursday, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced S.1141, a bill which would provide predictability and certainty in the tax law, create jobs, and encourage investment. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced S.1174, a bill which would allow Federal employees to have 12 available weeks of leave in the form of paid leave or for other purposes. Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY) introduced S.1170, a bill which would amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 which would establish additional criteria for determining when employers may join together in a group or association of employers. This bill would also revise how individuals would be treated as employers under section 3(5), in sponsoring group health plans and for other purposes.

In other news, the Financial Services Forum released “The Value and Strength of America’s Largest Financial Institutions.” This article breaks down the 8 largest banks that hold $86 billion in small business loans, helping entrepreneurs in communities across the U.S. grow their businesses. More information on how these financial institutions provide small businesses with opportunity and capital can be viewed here.

Bills of Interest

  • Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced S.1141, a bill to provide predictability and certainty in the tax law, create jobs, and encourage investment.
  • Sen. Brian Schatz, (D-HI) introduced S.1174, a bill to provide that 12 weeks of leave made available to a Federal employee shall be paid leave, and for other purposes.
  • Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY) introduced S.1170, a bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to establish additional criteria for determining when employers may join together in a group or association of employers that will be treated as an employer under section 3(5) of such Act for purposes of sponsoring a group health plan, and for other purposes.
  • Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced S.1149, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the deduction for qualified business income.

Links You Can Use

For reviewing legislation and tracking appropriations: www.congress.gov

For reviewing proposed and pending regulation: www.federalregister.gov