Policy News- May 3, 2019

Today, Sen. Cardin will convene a roundtable with stakeholders in the reentry, entrepreneurial development, and small business communities to build support for the NEW START Act— legislation to empower previously incarcerated citizens to start businesses.

In labor news, a federal appeals court in California said yesterday that the state’s “ABC” legal test, which makes it harder for businesses to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees, applies retroactively, paving the way for thousands of gig workers to sue their bosses. This decision goes against a recent DOL opinion letter that concluded workers deployed by smartphone-based apps are independent contractors and not employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

On Capitol Hill, the House is out of session until Tuesday and the Senate is out until Monday. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on May 7th titled “Intellectual Property and the Price of Prescription Drugs: Balancing Innovation and Competition.” You can view a livestream of the hearing here.

On Capitol Hill

Floor proceedings

House: Not in Session

Senate: Not in session

Committee proceedings

House Committee on Small Business

On May 8th, the committee will host a hearing titled, “Honoring the Nation’s Small Business Heroes”
On May 9th, the committee will host a hearing titled, “The Digital Ecosystem: New Paths to Entrepreneurship”

Senate Committee on Appropriations

No relevant hearings today

Senate Committee on Small Business

Today, May 3rd, the committee will host a hearing titled, “Investing in Idaho: Exploring Ways to Encourage Small Business Innovation and Star-Ups”

House Committee on Financial Services

On May 15th, the committee will host a hearing titled, “Oversight of Prudential Regulators: Ensuring the Safety, Soundness and Accountability of Megabanks and Other Depository Institutions.”
On May 15th, the committee will host a hearing titled, “Promoting Economic Growth: A Review of Proposals to Strengthen the Rights and Protections for Workers.”

House Committee on Appropriations

No relevant hearings today

House Committee on Ways and Means

On May 8th, the committee will host a hearing titled, “Paid Family and Medical Leave: Helping Workers and Employers Succeed.”

House Committee on Energy and Commerce

On May 8th, the committee will host a hearing titled, “Oversight of the Federal Trade Commission: Strengthening Protections for Americans’ Privacy and Data Security.”
On May 9th, the committee will host a hearing titled, “Lowering Prescription Drug Prices: Deconstructing the Drug Supply Chain.”

House Committee on Education and Labor

No relevant hearings today

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

On May 7th, the committee will host a hearing titled, “Data Rights and Collection in a Digital Economy.”

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

On May 7th, the committee will host a hearing titled, “Implementing the 21st Century Cures Act: Making Electronic Health Information Available to Patients and Providers, Part II.”

Senate Committee on Finance

No relevant hearings today

Senate Judiciary Committee

On May 7th, the committee will host a hearing titled, “Intellectual Property and the Price of Prescription Drugs: Balancing Innovation and Competition”

Bills of Interest

A bill was introduced by Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) to amend title 23, United States Code, to improve the transportation infrastructure finance and innovation (TIFIA) program, and for other purposes (H.R.2475).
A bill was introduced by Rep. Robert Scott (D-VA) to amend the National Labor Relations Act, the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, and for other purposes (H.R.2474).