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www.IrvingChamber.com 2014 FEDERAL PRIORITIES
www.IrvingChamber.com
2014 FEDERAL PRIORITIESA Roadmap for Economic Competitiveness and Business Growth
WHERE WE STAND
2
A Message from Chamber Leadership 3
Legislative Advocacy Contacts 4
Legislative Advocacy Committee 5
Federal Elected Officials 6
2014 Federal Priorities 7
Leadership in the 113th Congress 13
Key Contact Information 15
Reference SectionHow a Bill Becomes Law 17How a Regulation Becomes a Rule 19Legislative Glossary 21
Communicating with Congress 27
Tips for Meeting with Your Elected Officials 28
2014 Congressional Calendar 29
Capitol Map 30
Your Greater Irving-Las Colinas
Chamber supports legislation
that promotes free enterprise.
We are the voice of business
impacting policy and driving
legislative action.
Table of Contents
Chairman of the Board Mike Gonzales, Armstrong Relocation & Companies
Immediate Past Chairman Daryl Walker, Xerox Corporation*
General Counsel Robert Martinez, Cotten Schmidt & Abbott, L.L.P.
Treasurer Bill Brown, CPA 2014 Board of Directors Luis Argote, Four Seasons Resort and Club Craig Banaszewski, Siemens Industry, Inc. Leo Baron, Irving Hispanic Chamber* Jerry Bates, Oncor Emma Bell, ExxonMobil Corporation Lori Bunger, Holt Cat Bobby Burns, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD* Gail Cooksey, Cooksey Communications Pedro Correa, Verizon Steve Cress, Time Warner Cable Mark Dailey, Flowserve Corporation Daniela Decell, Las Colinas Medical Center Ray Dikun, BlackBerry Ed Dolanski, Aviall David Fiegenschue, FigDesign Tamara Fulcher TeoTios, Inc. Bob Galecke, University of Dallas* Beth Galloway, Zale Corporation Maura Gast, Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau* Mike Goff, La Cima Club/Club Corp Abe Haddad, Smith Transportation Services Dr. Jose Parra, Irving ISD Linda Harper Brown, State Representative* Gary Huddleston, Kroger Stores Jeri Johnson, Microsoft Corporation Paul Kimbel, Microsoft Corporation Reggie Marable, Sprint Michael McCall, NCH Corporation Joe McCormick, Allstate Insurance Company Steve McCullough, City of Irving* Tracy Merzi, Dallas Business Journal Tom Mielke, Kimberly-Clark Corporation Kerri Miene, State Farm Insurance Agency Jesus Miranda, Universal Technical Institute* Jesus Monroy, Mexinco, LLC Lonnie Mullen, Shermco Industries Cynthia Nustad, HMS Ryan Ogden, Jabian Consulting Rakesh Patel, The Patel Law Group, PLLC Rodney V. Phelps, Citigroup Fred Points, BB&T Lisa Proctor, Fluor Corporation Vince Puente, Southwest Office Systems, Inc. Ryan Robinson, Signal Metal Industries, Inc. Wael Salama, EBM Cindy Schamp, Baylor Medical Center-Irving Claire Shahzad, MetroTex Association of Realtors Christa Slejko, North Lake College* Luis Spinola, Azteca-Omega Group Rick Stopfer, City of Irving-Retired Teddie Story, Irving Cares, Inc.* Sandee Treptow, Reliant, an NRG company Tom Trotter, IBM-Retired Mayor Beth Van Duyne, City of Irving* Michael Veitenheimer, Michaels Stores, Inc. Brian Wing, eRecyclingCorps Christina Winters Gears, Creating & Managing Wealth Jeff Youngblood, FASTSIGNS Irving/Las Colinas Al Zapanta, U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce*
*Ex-Officio Non-Voting Member 3
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO
The voice of business
The Chamber’s 2014 Federal Priorities serve as a public policy guide to inform our members, our elected officials, and the business community the position of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce on fed-eral issues that impact businesses in Irving and North Texas. The Chamber supports federal policies that keep Texas competitive in the global economy.
In addition to this guide, the Chamber has a Legislative Action Center which serves as a one-stop destination for the latest information on political and public policy issues that matter to your bottom line, advocacy tools to ensure that your voice is heard by your elected officials, and contact information for the Chamber’s Legislative Advocacy Team.
You can find our Legislative Action Center at www.IrvingChamber.com. Thank you for your continued support of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce. We are proud to serve as the voice of business be-fore the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the federal, state, and local government – advocating for economic freedom and pro-business public policy.
SHAWN CALLAWAYMIKE GONZALES
Pro-Business Advocacy. Pro-Business Results.
Legislative Advocacy Contacts
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Jason Simon is responsible for overseeing the Chamber’s Legislative Advocacy and Political Affairs
Program and managing strategic relationships with local, state, and federal elected officials. He is also
responsible for oversight of the Chamber’s political action committee and Transportation Management
Association. Jason previously served on the congressional and campaign staff of four members of Congress.
He is an active member of the Professional Advocacy Association of Texas, the Association of Government
Relations Professionals, and the American Association of Political Consultants. Jason is also a registered
lobbyist with the Texas Ethics Commission.
Jason Simon
Director of Legislative Advocacy and Media
Phone: (817) 909-6667
Email: [email protected]
BOARD VICE CHAIRWOMAN, LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY & MEDIAJASON SIMON
CLAIRE SHAHZAD
Claire Shahzad serves as the Director of Regional Services for the MetroTex Association of
REALTORS and oversees their six locations in the DFW area. Claire is an active member of the MetroTex
Government Affairs Committee, and she serves on the Housing and Human Services Board with the City of
Irving. Claire also serves on the Real Estate Advisory Board for Tarrant County College.
Claire Shahzad
Board Vice Chairwoman, Legislative Advocacy
Phone: (214) 637-6660
Email: [email protected]
Legislative Advocacy Committee
2014 Legislative Advocacy CommitteeAnne Hagan, Office of Congressman Marc Veasey
Brad LaMorgese, City of Irving
Brent Brown, Cotten Schmidt & Abbott, L.L.P.
Brooks Love, Dallas County Commissioner District 4
Bruce Redden, Office of Senator Ted Cruz
Carrie Rogers, North Texas Tollway Authority
Chris Chapman, University of North Texas
Clem Maddox, Time Warner
Clint Schelbitzki, Union Pacific Railroad
Colby Walton, Cooksey Communications Inc.
Cortelyou Nelson, DART
Danny Smith, UPS
Dean Riddle, Riddle & Williams, P.C.
Deo Nabar, Army & Airforce Exchange Service
Dr. Mazhar Islamraja, MACH B Technologies
Eric Norrington, ACE Cash Express, Inc.
Eron Linn, DART
Fred Guerra, Children’s Medical Center
Gary Huddleston, Kroger
Harry Starkweather, E-SOURCE
Herb Rolph, The Thompson Group
Herman Totten, Ph.D., University of North Texas
James Shackelford, SomaComm, Inc.
Jane Edson, Trinity Industries, Inc.
Janette Hill, DART
Jennifer Cohen, North Texas Clean Air Coalition
Jeri Johnson, Microsoft Corporation
Jerry Bates, Oncor
Jim McGee, Huawei Technologies, Inc.
JoAnn Goin, Glory House Catering & Bistro
Joe Mapes, Joan’s Self Service Car Wash
John C. Wood, Office of Senator John Cornyn
John F. Boyle Jr., Boyle & Lowry, L.L.P.
John Loyack, Rockaway Energy Partners, LLC
John Maloney, Maloney Strategic Communications
Karen Hunt, Frost Bank
Kathrine Pennington, Las Colinas Association
Kimberly Reasoner, University of North Texas
Lisa Sturgeon, Allstate Insurance Company
Mance Zachary, Luminant
Mark Witte, DFW International Airport
Matt Jack, Office of Congressman Kenny Marchant
Michael Flusche, Office of Senator Ted Cruz
Michael Miles, DART
Michelle Bleiberg, Burson Marsteller
Mona Wyatt, League of Women’s Voters
Pete Havel, North Texas Tollway Authority
Rakesh Patel, Patel Law Group, PLLC
Robert H. Power, Power & Associates
Roland Medina, ICVB
Sandee Treptow, reliant, an NRG company
Scott Orr, Fidelity Investments
Steve Nguyen, Southwest Dallas Eyecare
Steve Slagle, PPAI
Suresh Reddy, Verusant Technologies, Inc.
Susan Young, Office of State Senator Kelly Hancock
Susie Miller, Office of Congressman Kenny Marchant
Tadd Owens, Pioneer Natural Resources Company
Tamara Fulcher, TeoTios,Inc.
Teddie Story, Irving Cares, Inc.
Terri Ricketts, Progressive Waste Solutions
Thomas Chizmadia, Lehigh Hanson
Thomas Howard, T.E. Howard & Associates
Todd Gavin, Draeger Safety Diagnostics, Inc.
Tonya Booth, Upshaw Insurance
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ROLE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
Developing the legislative and public policy priorities of the Chamber
Providing forums to inform elected officials and candidates for public office on issues that impact the business community
Monitoring, analyzing, and prioritizing public policy issues which impact chamber members and the greater business community
Maintaining and developing strong relationships between the business community and elected officials at all levels of government
The Chamber's legislative and public policy priorities are developed by its Leg-islative Advocacy Committee. The Legislative Advocacy Committee is a dy-namic group of Chamber leaders who meet monthly to analyze issues and make determinations that guide the Chamber's positioning on matters to promote fiscal responsibility and economic freedom at all levels of government and strengthen the business environment and economy in Irving, Texas.
The mission of the Legislative Advocacy Committee is to increase business awareness and involvement in political and legislative issues and to advocate for business and the community at the local, state and national levels.
Opposing legislation and public policy which inhibits a strong business climate
Supporting legislation and public policy which promotes a strong business climate
Communicating official Chamber positions to elected officials prior to action on the issue
Educating the business community on legislation and public policy through formal presentations, policy briefings, legislative advocacy newsletters, action alerts, and social media
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
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John CornynU.S. Senator
Ted CruzU.S. Senator
www.cornyn.senate.govDC Office: (202) 224-2934Dallas Office: (972) 239-1310 Committees: Finance; Judiciary
www.cruz.senate.gov DC Office: (202) 224-5922Dallas Office: (214) 599-8749Committees: Armed Services; Commerce, Science & Transportation; Judiciary; Rules & Administration; Special Aging
JOHN CORNYN TED CRUZ
Kenny MarchantU.S. Congressman
Marc VeaseyU.S. Congressman
www.marchant.house.gov DC Office: (202) 225-6605Irving Office: (972) 556-0162Committees: Ways & Means; Education & the Workforce
www.veasey.house.gov DC Office: (202) 225-9897Dallas Office: (214) 741-1387 Committees: Armed Services; Science, Space & Technology
KENNY MARCHANT MARC VEASEY
Federal Elected Officials
Federal Priorities
EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
BACKGROUND: With 95% of the world’s consumers living outside the United States, American businesses must think globally.
CHAMBER POSITION: The Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce strongly supports reauthorization of Ex-Im because failure to do so would put the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage in the global economy and put American jobs at risk. Failure to reauthorize Ex-Im would adversely impact approximately 17,000 small and large suppliers across the nation. The Chamber urges Congress to reau-thorize Ex-Im Bank before current authorization expires on September 30, 2014.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is critically important to American export-ers. Ex-Im Bank is the official export credit agency of the United States government, providing financial services and loan guarantees that ensure companies have the financing they need from commercial lend-ers to buy American products.
In FY 2013, Ex-Im Bank financed 3,413 transactions for small-business exporters –nearly 90 percent of the total number of Ex-Im authorizations—the high-est number ever for small businesses.
In 2013, Ex-Im Bank supported $37.4 billion worth of U.S. exports and 205,000 export-related American jobs. And over the past five years, the Bank has sup-ported over 1.2 million jobs across the nation.
Ex-Im Bank’s default rate in FY 2013 was less than one percent, and the Bank returned $1.057 billion to the U.S. Treasury after covering operating expenses and loan-loss reserves, thus contributing to signifi-cant deficit reduction.
In the past five years, Ex-Im Bank has financed $19.4 billion in Texas exports, created 3,600 jobs in Irving, 9,136 jobs in the Greater Dallas area and 143,000 jobs around the state.
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TRADE
BACKGROUND: Earlier this year, legislation was introduced to give President Obama Trade Promo-tion Authority (TPA) that would put new trade agreements on the fast track to congressional consideration. Under TPA, the president can negotiate trade agreements with other countries that are then submitted to Congress for an up-or-down vote with no amendments.
The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act of 2014 gives Congress strong oversight ability over trade agreements, strengthens Con-gress’ involvement in setting the trade agenda and during trade negotiations, gives Congress the final say on all trade agreements, and pro-tects U.S. sovereignty by making clear that trade agreements cannot change U.S. law; only Con-gress has that power.
CHAMBER POSITION: The Chamber strongly supports the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Pri-orities Act of 2014, and we urge Congress to pass this important legislation in 2014. Without renewed TPA authority, the United States is at risk of being left out of opportunities for U.S. companies to grow their export markets.
International trade and investment – both imports and exports – directly support 2.9 million Texas jobs. Texas needs free trade agreements to grow, and the Chamber believes that trade agreements level the play-ing field by lowering other nations’ trade barriers and opening foreign markets to U.S. exports.
IMMIGRATION REFORM
BACKGROUND: Our current immigration system is broken and indefensible. There are more than 11 million un-documented people living in our country, and more than 7 million of which are employed in our economy today. Nei-ther deportation nor self-deportation of the undocumented population are realistic or fiscally responsible solutions to the problem.
CHAMBER POSITION: The Chamber supports im-migration reform that allows enough legal immigration to meet employer needs; creates the ability for undocumented workers residing in the United States to obtain legal status; establishes a uniform national system for employers to ver-ify the legal status of job applicants through E-Verify; and provides strong border security measures to ensure our na-tional security.8
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
BACKGROUND: The United States has a massive infrastructure deficit that will cripple the U.S. economy if left unaddressed by the federal government.
There are 10,000 bridges in the United States that are old enough to collect Medicare.
The United States has fallen 20 spots in the World Economic Forum’s global infrastructure rankings over the past 20 years.
Studies show that an inadequate transportation infra-structure system costs businesses $1 trillion in lost sales each year.
An aging transportation system costs our economy more than $78 billion annually in lost time and fuel.
According to the Texas Transportation Institute’s 2012 Urban Mobility Report, Americans spent 5.5 billion hours sitting in traffic in 2011.
Businesses place a high value on mobility, and our economy depends on the safe, reliable, and cost-effec-tive movement of goods and people. It is impossible for commerce to move in the United States without a robust, modern infrastructure system, and the federal government plays an essential, constitutional role in providing a transportation system worthy of our highest American ideals.
CHAMBER POSITION: The Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce believes that the federal government plays an important role in the funding and maintenance of roads, public transportation and safety.
The Chamber supports efforts to help the business community recognize and articulate the need for greater investment in our nation’s transportation infrastructure.
The Chamber supports federal transportation programs which provide states the flexibility to pursue multi-modal transportation solutions including highways, rail, air, and marine commerce.
The Chamber supports funding mechanisms that return the maximum amount of revenue to the states and ensure the greatest amount of local control over transportation initiatives, priorities, and planning.
The Chamber supports an increase in the national TIFIA loan program to encourage private sector partici-pation in improving our highway systems.
The Chamber believes that the private sector has an important role to play in transportation infrastructure financing and supports and encourages the use of public-private partnerships.
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MAP-21
The Chamber applauds Congress and the Administration for their commitment to transportation infrastructure funding through the passage of MAP-21. After several years of pass-ing short-term extensions for transportation infrastructure funding, Congress passed historic transportation legislation - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) in July 2012. MAP-21 authorized transportation funding for two years, with funding authorization currently set to expire on September 30, 2014.
MAP-21 made significant reforms to strengthen America’s highway system through performance-based programs; in-crease the national Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA); end the diversion of money intended from transportation to non-transportation projects; accelerate project delivery; establish a national freight network; and, fo-cus and simplify federal transportation policy by eliminating or consolidating unnecessary programs.
The Chamber is committed to working with members of Con-gress to ensure reauthorization of federal surface transporta-tion programs and urges Congress to pass reauthorization of MAP-21 before funding expires on September 30, 2014. The Chamber supports a multi-year, predictable, and well-funded transportation reauthorization bill.
HIGHWAY TRUST FUND
The Highway Trust Fund (HTF) is the main source of federal funding for federal highway and transit programs. The HTF is funded by the gasoline tax that has not been raised since 1993 and fails to keep pace with inflation and the cost of construction and materials.
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), new estimates for the HTF show that starting in 2015 there will be a shortfall of $16 billion. And for the 10-year period of 2015-2024, over $170 billion in new revenues will be need-ed to maintain current federal spending levels on highway transit and highway safety.
Congress must act before September 30, 2014 on the revenue shortfall projected for FY 2015. The Chamber is committed to working with elected and appointed officials on options for raising revenue to ensure a stable, reliable transportation infrastructure system.
Chamber Fast Facts The Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber was the first Five-Star Chamber in Texas as accredited by the U.S. Chamber in Washington, D.C. Of the more than 7,000 chambers in the U.S., less than 1% are rated Five-Stars.
Irving has more corporate headquarters than any other city in the region, except Dallas.
Staff leadership engaged with all levels of government including local, state and national.
Whether it’s at City Hall, or the halls of the State Capitol in Austin, or the halls of Congress, your business needs an advocate that speaks your language.
At the Irving Chamber, we work tirelessly to shape public policy that improves the business climate.
Impacting Policy and Driving
Federal Action
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REGULATORY REFORM
BACKGROUND: Our current regulatory sys-tem is out of date, hyperactive, and an impediment to job creation and economic growth. Each year, federal agencies churn out more than 4,000 new regulations. These excessive regulations kill jobs in Texas and across the country.
CHAMBER POSITION: The Chamber believes that regulatory reform must be a part of creating jobs and growing the economy. Within all federal agencies it is time to restore balance, restraint, and common sense in the regulatory pro-cess. In a recent study by the Phoenix Center, a five percent reduction in the federal regulatory budget ($2.8 billion) would result in the creation of some 1.2 million jobs and an increase of $75 billion in private sector GDP each year. The Chamber supports congressional approval of major new regulations through the Congressional Review Act or similar legislation.
The Chamber believes that a major rule (defined as having a cost in excess of $100 million) should require congressional approval before it can take effect. This authority would provide an important check against regulatory agencies and hold them accountable to the American people.
EPA REGULATORY ACTION
The Chamber supports efforts to prohibit the EPA from arbitrarily reinterpreting regulatory policies, guidance documents, or agency regulatory authority except as provided by law, including the right of busi-nesses to participate during all applicable notice and comment periods.
The Chamber strongly opposes the EPA’s attempts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act because they are oppressive to businesses across the nation and would have a devastating impact on our economy.
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HEALTH CARE
CHAMBER POSITION: The Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce supports market-based reform of our health care system. The Chamber believes that the employer mandate, a major provision of the health care law, puts unnec-essarily heavy regulatory burdens on the business community. These burdens contribute to an uncertain economic environment and deter job growth.
The Chamber supports the Administration’s decision to delay the employer mandate to avoid the serious near-term economic consequences posed by the law.
The Chamber supports health care reform solutions that improve quality, expand meaningful health care coverage, bring health care costs under control, and mitigate the harmful impact of the health care law on businesses.
The Chamber also supports bipartisan legislation to repeal the medical device tax because it is stifling in-novation, causing job losses across the nation, and will result in cost-shifting to consumers. The medical device tax is harmful to manufacturers, consumers, and our economy. The Chamber urges Congress to act and repeal the medical device tax in 2014.
BACKGROUND: Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law on March 20, 2010, more than 35 changes to the law have been made – 18 changes unilaterally by the president through administra-tive action; 15 changes through enactment of legislation; and two by U.S. Supreme Court action.
Dramatic increases in health insurance premiums, the disastrous roll out of the health care web site, and Congressional Budget Office estimates of 2.3 million jobs lost because of the ACA are very concerning to the business community.
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Leadership in the 113th Congress
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`Democrats:PresidentJoe Biden (DE)
President Pro TemporePatrick Leahy (VT)
Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV)
Majority WhipDick Durbin (IL)
Conference Vice ChairmanCharles Schumer (NY)
The 113th United States Congress, which first met on January 3, 2013, consists of 100 Senators, 435 Representatives, and 6 non-voting members.
Senate Leadership
House Leadership
Republicans:Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY)
Majority Whip John Cornyn (TX)
Conference Chairman John Thune (SD)
Conference SecretaryPatty Murray (WA)
Democratic Policy Committee ChairmanCharles Schumer (NY)
Democratic Senatorial Cam-paign Committee (DSCC) ChairmanMichael Bennet (CO)
Conference Vice Chairman Roy Blunt (MO)
Policy Committee Chairman John Barrasso (WY)
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Jerry Moran (KS)
Democrats:Minority LeaderNancy Pelosi (CA)
Minority WhipSteny Hoyer (MD)
Assistant LeaderJames Clyburn (SC)
Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra (CA)
Caucus Vice ChairmanJoseph Crowley (NY)
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) ChairmanSteve Israel (NY)
Republicans:Speaker of the HouseJohn Boehner (OH)
Majority LeaderEric Cantor (VA)
Majority WhipKevin McCarthy (CA)
Chief Deputy WhipPeter Roskam (Illinois)
Conference ChairwomanCathy McMorris Rodgers (WA)
National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) ChairmanGreg Walden (OR)
Policy Committee ChairmanJames Lankford (OK)
Conference Vice ChairwomanLynn Jenkins (KS)
Conference Secretary Virginia Foxx (NC)
Freshman LeaderAnn Wagner (MO)
113th Congress Congressional Committee Leadership
Senate Committee Majority Chairs (D) Ranking Minority (R)
Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Debbie Stabenow (MI) Thad Cochran (MS)Appropriations Barbara Mikulski (MD) Richard Shelby (AL)Armed Services Carl Levin (MI) Jim Inhofe (OK)Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Tim Johnson (SD) Mike Crapo (ID)Budget Patty Murray (WA) Jeff Sessions (AL)Commerce, Science & Transportation Jay Rockefeller (WV) John Thune (SD)Energy & Natural Resources Mary Landrieu (LA) Lisa Murkowski (AK)Environment & Public Works Barbara Boxer (CA) David Vitter (LA)Finance Ron Wyden (OR) Orrin Hatch (UT)Foreign Relations Robert Menendez (NJ) Bob Corker (TN)Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Tom Harkin (IA) Lamar Alexander (TN)Homeland Security & Thomas Carper (DE) Tom Coburn (OK)Governmental AffairsJudiciary Patrick Leahy (VT) Charles Grassley (IA)Rules and Administration Charles Schumer (NY) Pat Roberts (KS)Small Business & Entrepreneurship Maria Cantwell (WA) James Risch (ID)Veterans’ Affairs Bernie Sanders (VT) Richard Burr (NC)Select Committee on Ethics Barbara Boxer (CA) Johnny Isakson (GA)Select Committee on Intelligence Dianne Feinstein (CA) Saxby Chambliss (GA)Select Committee on Indian Affairs Jon Tester (MT) John Barrasso (WY)Select Committee on Aging Bill Nelson (FL) Susan Collins (ME)
House Committee Majority Chairs (R) Ranking Minority (D)
Agriculture Frank Lucas (OK) Collin Peterson (MN)Appropriations Hal Rogers (KY) Nita Lowey (NY)Armed Services Buck McKeon (CA) Adam Smith (WABudget Paul Ryan (WI) Chris Van Hollen (MD)Education & the Workforce John Kline (MN) George Miller (CA)Energy & Commerce Fred Upton (MI) Henry Waxman (CA)Financial Services Jeb Hensarling (TX) Maxine Waters (CA)Foreign Affairs Ed Royce (FL) Eliot Engel (NY)Homeland Security Mike McCaul (TX) Bennie Thompson (MS)House Administration Candice Miller (MI) Robert Brady (PA)Judiciary Bob Goodlatte (VA) John Conyers (MI)Natural Resources Doc Hastings (WA) Peter DeFazio (OR)Oversight & Govt. Reform Darrell Issa (CA) Elijah Cummings (MD)Rules Pete Sessions (TX) Louise Slaughter (NY)Science, Space & Technology Lamar Smith (TX) Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX)Small Business Sam Graves (MO) Nydia Velazquez (NY)Transportation & Infrastructure Bill Shuster (PA) Nick Rahall (WV)Veterans' Affairs Jeff Miller (FL) Mike Michaud (ME)Ways & Means Dave Camp (MI) Sander Levin (MI)Ethics Michael Conaway (TX) Linda Sanchez (CA)Intelligence Mike Rogers (MI) C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger (MD)
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Key Contact Information
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U.S. Capitol SwitchboardP: 202-224-3121
Architect of the Capitol P: 202-228-1793
Capitol Visitor Center P: 202-226-8000
Congressional Budget Office P: 202-226-2600
Congressional Research Service P: 202-707-5700
Federal Register P: 202-741-6000
Library of Congress 202-707-5000
House Bill Status P: 202-225-1772
Senate Bill Status P: 202-224-2120
Department of Agriculture (USDA) www.usda.gov
Department of Commerce (DOC) www.commerce.gov
Department of Defense (DOD) www.defenselink.mil
Department of Education (ED) www.edu.gov
Department of Energy (DOE) www.energy.gov
Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) www.hhs.gov
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) www.dhs.gov
Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) www.hud.gov
Department of Justice (DOJ) www.usdoj.gov
Department of Labor (DOL) www.dol.gov
Department of State (DOS) www.state.gov
Department of the Interior (DOI) www.doi.gov
Department of the Treasury www.ustreas.gov
Department of Transportation (DOT) www.dot.gov
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) www.va.gov
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS
KEY TELEPHONE NUMBERS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
The White House www.whitehouse.gov
U.S. House of Representatives www.house.gov
U.S. Senate www.senate.gov
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
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U.S. Supreme Court www.supremecourtus.gov
The Federal Judiciary www.uscourts.gov
Federal Judicial Center www.fjc.gov
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES & GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS
JUDICIAL BRANCH
Federal Election Commission www.fec.gov
Small Business Administration www.sba.gov
BusinessUSA www.business.usa.gov
KEY LEGISLATIVE WEBSITES
Currently on the House Floor www.clerk.house.gov/floorsummary/floor.html
U.S. Senate Calendar of Business www.senate.gov/floor/index.htm
THOMAS www.thomas.loc.gov
KEY MEDIA WEBSITES
ABC News www.abcnews.go.com
CBS News www.cbsnews.com
Congressional Quarterly www.cq.com
CNN www.cnn.com
C-SPAN www.c-span.org
FOX News Channel www.foxnews.com
The Hill www.thehill.com
MSNBC www.msnbc.com
Politico www.politico.com
Roll Call www.rollcall.com
USA TODAY www.usatoday.com
The Wall Street Journal www.online.wsj.com
Dallas Morning News www.dallasnews.com
Dallas Business Journal www.bizjournals.com/dallas
Reference Section
Any member of the House of Representatives or the Senate may introduce a bill that can become law. The bill is assigned a number (such as H.R.1 or S.1, depending on the chamber of its origination), labeled with the sponsor's name and published. Most bills will have co-sponsors. More co-sponsors are generally desirable. Bills usually have names which have been carefully crafted to convey the best "spin."
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
Committee SystemMembership on committees is split between the parties as determined by the majority party in each house. Committee members rank in order of their appointment to the full committee. The senior ranking member of the committee of the majority party is usually elected as Chairman or Chairwoman. The committee chairperson is very important to the legislative process since he or she determines the docket and order, and assigns the bill to a subcommittee. Committees and subcommittees review proposed legislation, ex-perts are consulted, feedback is obtained from government agencies, and public hearings are conducted to fully understand key issues on both sides.
After receiving a bill, the Speaker of the House or the Presiding Officer in the Senate submits the bill to the appropriate committee. Due to the high volume and complexity of its work, Congress divides its tasks between approximately 250 committees and sub-committees. The House and Senate each have their own committee system, which are similar. There are 22 committees in the Senate and 25 committees in the House of Representatives. A bill may be sent to more than one committee, and sometimes parts are sent to different committees.
A member usually seeks election to a committee. Eventually, content is determined and the full commit-tee votes on the bill. If the committee passes the bill, it then holds a 'mark-up' session where revisions are made. If amendments are substantial, the bill is rewritten, and a 'clean bill' is sent to the House or Senate in place of the original version. That chamber then reviews all changes made by the committee before con-ducting a final vote.
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Voting
After debating is completed, voting begins. Generally, passage requires a simple majority of a quorum. After a bill is passed in one chamber, it is sent to the other to be voted on, unless the other chamber is reviewing a similar bill. Both the House and the Senate must pass a bill for it to be sent to the president to sign into law.
A bill not passed by both chambers is dead. If the House and Senate approve two similar but sepa-rate bills, the two bills are sent to a Conference Committee, made up of senior members of both chambers (chosen by leadership for each such occurrence) who work to reach a compromise bill. The Conference Committee writes a report on the final version, which is then voted on by both chambers. If passed, the bill is sent to the presi-dent for final review.
Becoming a Law
The President of the United States must decide whether to sign a bill or to veto it. If the bill is signed, it becomes law. If a bill is vetoed, the president sends it back to its original chamber with his reasons for doing so. Congress may override a veto by a two-thirds vote in both chambers, and the bill becomes law.
If Congress adjourns within 10 days after the bill reaches the president and the president has not signed it, it is vetoed automatically. This is called a ‘pocket veto.’ However, if Congress remains in session for the full 10 days, the bill becomes law.
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HOW A REGULATION BECOMES A RULE
Once this review has been completed, transparency must be established; the public gains knowledge of proposed regulations through the “Unified Agenda” a bi-annual document released online to which everyone has access. The Unified Agenda details proposed regulations to be considered in the com-ing half-year. All proposed regulations are available for public comment as required by law, typically through regulations.gov. Finally, the president is also given the opportunity to review the proposal thor-oughly, with detailed financial implications mandatory from said agency.
The purpose of any rule is to enforce an already enacted piece of legislation by the U.S. Congress. All federal agencies are given the power to put forth regulations by Congress, who enables such powers upon creation of the agency. In certain instances, Congress will create the agency for the sole purpose of imposing regulations on certain sectors of society.
Becoming a LawThe first step federal agencies typically take in creating regulations is to prioritize which areas of their jurisdiction most require regulation. They are typically careful not to step outside their legal boundaries in terms of what/whom they can impose a regulation. In some instances, Congress may pass a law that directly assigns regulation to be imple-mented by a certain agency.
Before an agency moves ahead with attempting to implement a regulation, they consider certain issues: whether their data is the most up-to-date, potential societal repercussions, third-party (other agencies) recommendations and petitions and lawsuits that might affect the proposed regulation.
Creation of the Final Rule
Once the public has had a chance to review the document via the Federal Register, it is up to the agency not to base changes on what the people have said, but rather on studies and societal needs. In this case, the president, in conjunction with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, has the opportunity to review and make changes to the proposal before the final rule is drafted. Changes like this only take place when there are significant economic and societal shifts at stake. This will likely prompt the agency to consult with other agencies, which in some cases is made mandatory.
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Final Rule Structure
The structure of the final rule is similar every time and by every agency for ease of literacy purposes. The first section is a summary, detailing the socio-economic factors that were considered during creation. Following that, every final rule must contain a “basis and purpose,” so that everyone has a clear idea of what the rule is and why it is being implemented. In addition, the regulation must have an “effective date” which provides everyone with the start date. The regulation is then analyzed by a legal team to ensure its viability and that the agency has not stepped outside its legal boundaries.
Regulation Implementation
The final rule is then re-published in the Federal Register. After publication, the rule can only take effect after 30 days. Once this has been done, the last step is the agency’s responsibility to make changes to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Although the publishing phase is complete, the regulatory process of the rule never ceases because of changes and studies that must be done to keep adapting to the effects of the rule. Agencies are obligated to release guidelines to the public via the Federal Register, and the rule may be put under review if there is enough negative feedback from the public.
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Legislative Glossary A
ActTerm used for a piece of legislation that has passed both chambers of Congress. Acts are assigned numbers, e.g., H.R.1, S.2, etc.
AmendmentProposal of a member of Congress to change the wording or substance of a piece of legislation.
Appropriations BillThe annual series of 13 bills passed by the House that authorize the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The appropriations bill must be passed by the start of the fiscal year, Oct. 1. If the bill is not passed, Congress must pass a continuing resolution authorizing continued outlay without a budget until a budget is agreed upon.
At-large representativesVoting at-large representatives are from states whose population only guarantees them one Representative in Congress. These states are: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North and South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. Non-voting at-large representatives are from the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, & American Samoa.
BBi-partisanOf or relating to anything that involves the participation of both Republicans and Democrats.
Blue Dog DemocratsOfficially the “Blue Dog Coalition,” the Blue Dog Democrats are a caucus within the House Democratic caucus that emphasizes fiscal responsibility. The Blue Dog website is www.bluedogdems.com.
CCaucusAn informal group of legislators sharing an interest in policy issues. e.g.: the House Surfing Caucus, the Con-gressional Black Caucus, or the Democratic Caucus.
CensureAn official reprimand from Members of either chamber to either another Member or an executive branch official.
ClassA legislator’s class is determined by the year in which he is up for reelection. In the Senate there are three classes composed of 33-34 Senators, and staggered so that one class is always up for reelection every two years. Sena-tors are also referred to as either senior or junior, depend-ing on seniority within their state (i.e., there is one junior and one senior Senator from each state). In the House, representatives are ranked by the year in which they were sworn in.
Clerk of the HouseThe chief administrative officer of the House. The clerk is responsible for maintaining legislative records and keep-ing official voting records. The clerk maintains a website at http://clerk.house.gov.
CloakroomsRooms assigned to each party immediately outside the House and Senate chambers, typically used for discussion between members so as not to be disruptive on the floor.
ClotureThe legislative tactic used to end a filibuster (privilege of unlimited speech on the Senate floor). Cloture requires 60 votes.
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DDCCCThe Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the fundraising arm of the House Democratic Caucus. Their website is at www.DCCC.org.
Democratic CaucusThe formal group of all members of the Democratic Party serving in the House. The Caucus’ website is at www.dems.gov.
Dear Colleague LetterA memo from a member of Congress to his or her fellow members of Congress (“colleagues”). Typically Dear Col-league letters ask for support or co-sponsorship of legisla-tion that the Congressman is sponsoring; they may also ask for colleagues to join them at important events, issue caucuses, or briefings.
Discharge PetitionA petition in the House, requiring 218 signatures, to remove (and bring to the floor for a vote) a bill that has been in committee for more than 30 days. This is a tactic that is rarely used.
DSCCThe Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is the fundraising arm of the Democratic Senate Caucus. The DSCC’s website is at www.dscc.org.
EEarmarkA specific provision within a piece of legislation that sets aside funds for a particular project.
Ethics RulesCongress has a very specific set of rules governing gifts to members of Congress, and types of contact that are and are not appropriate. For more information on specifics, please see the Lobbying Compliance Handbook, at www.Lobbyists.info.
CommitteeGroup of appointed legislators who write legislation and guide Congressional action on particular issues. The Chair of the committee is a member of the majority party, assigned the position by party leadership, who guides the committee and determines legislative action. The Rank-ing Member of the committee is a member of the minor-ity party, typically determined by seniority, who is the voice of the minority party in that committee. For the full listing of House committees visit www.house.gov/committees/. For the full listing of Sen-ate committees visit www.senate.gov.
Committee of the WholeThe entire House of Representatives meeting in the form of a committee. This allows for less stringent debate and simplified rules for passage. All money bills must be considered in committee of the whole.
Committee on EthicsAlso known as the Ethics Committee, this House com-mittee is responsible for investigating allegations of ethical violations by members of Congress, and enforcing penalties if a legislator is determined to have violated the rules. Committee website is at: ethics.house.gov.
Conference CommitteeA panel of representatives and Senators used to resolve differences in similar bills with the object of passing the Constitutionally-mandated identical version from each house.
Congressional RecordThe Congressional Record is the daily publication of all the proceedings and debates of the U.S. Congress. The text contains records of votes, member speeches, commit-tee testimony, etc. The Government Printing Office also makes the text available online, visit www.gpo.gov.
Congressional Office BuildingsEach chamber has three official office buildings (plus office space for minority & majority leaders within the Capitol itself). The Senate office buildings are Dirksen Senate Office Building, Russell Senate Office Build-ing, and Hart Senate Office Building. The House office buildings are Longworth House Office Building, Cannon House Office Building, and Rayburn House OfficeBuilding.
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FFederal RegisterThe Federal Register is the daily publication of all rules, proposed rules, and notices from the federal government.
FilibusterThe practice of allowing Senators unlimited speech on the Senate floor, typically used to block passage of a piece of legislation. As long as the senator holds the floor, a vote cannot be held.
FloorThe “floor” refers to the floor of the chamber in which debate takes place (House or Senate). To take a bill to the floor means to bring it up for debate or vote. The Floor Managers are typically the committee chair and ranking member from the committee bringing each piece of legis-lation to debate or a vote. Each floor manager is respon-sible for allotting time to members who want to speak in support or opposition of the legislation.
Franking PrivilegeAllows members to use their signature as a postmark in lieu of paying for postage. The use of the franking privi-lege is restricted to official business and cannot contain campaign material. Items that will be franked are given oversight by a commission with members of both parties.
GGAOThe Government Accountability Office (GAO) is tasked with ensuring accountability and fiscal responsibility in the legislative and executive branches.
GerrymanderingDeliberate re-drawing of Congressional districts to take advantage of electoral trends. e.g., the party in power will re-draw district lines to ensure the maximum number of party-supporters in a district, thereby creating a “safe seat.” See Safe Seat.
IIncumbentThe current office-holder of each seat. The Challenger(s) are those people running against an incumbent office-holder.
JJoint CommitteeA committee composed of both Senators and Representa-tives. Joint committees are either standing (permanent) or special (temporary).
KK StreetTerm used to denote lobbying interests, who often have offices located on K Street, Washington, D.C. For more information on lobbying and free resources, visit www.Lobbyists.info.
LLame Duck Members who are not returning to their seats because of election defeats or resignations. A “lame duck Congress” happens between the November election and the start of a new Congress in early January.
LawThe final version of a bill as passed by both chambers and signed by the president.
Leadership PACA A political action committee controlled by a member of Congress that disburses money to campaigns he or she believes to be crucial to his or her party or individual political interests.
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MMajority LeaderThe majority leader is an elected position in each cham-ber, typically held by a long-serving member with a safe district and strong fundraising and team-building recom-mendations.
Mid-Term ElectionElection that occurs half-way through a presidential term, e.g. the 2010 election will be the midterm election for Barack Obama’s 2008-2012 term. Representatives must defend their seats every two years.
Minority LeaderThe minority leader is an elected officer of the minority party in each chamber. His or her duties include: guiding minority policy, enforcing party discipline, and serving as party spokesman in negotiations and discussions with the majority party.
NNRCCThe National Republican Congressional Committee is the fundraising arm of the House Republican Caucus. They are on the web at www.NRCC.org.
NRSCThe National Republican Senatorial Committee is the fundraising arm of the Senate Republicans. Their website is www.NRSC.org.
OOffice of Congressional EthicsAn independent office tasked with overseeing ethical behavior in the Congress. Does not have enforcement power, may only refer situations and information to the official Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. The OCE’s website is oce.house.gov/.
OMBThe Office of Management and Budget, an executive branch agency given its authority by the president, is in charge of producing and maintaining the president’s an-nual budget. The OMB’s website is: www.whitehouse.gov/OMB.
PParliamentarianOfficer of the House or Senate tasked with ensuring com-pliance with the rules of the chamber.
Party Line VoteVoting strictly how party leadership or the party base has determined all members of the party should vote.
President Pro TemporeUsually the most senior member of the majority party, the President Pro Tempore is the presiding officer of the Sen-ate in the absence of the vice president.
President of the SenateThe vice president of the U.S. is ex-offico president of the Senate, although he rarely presides.
Pro Tem (Pro Tempore)“For the day,” a congressional officer appointed to fill a position temporarily. Typically appointed by the Speaker of the House or the President of the Senate, this legislator carries out official duties such as presiding over debate in the absence of the elected officer of the chamber. See Speaker Pro Tempore, President Pro Tempore.
QQuorumA quorum is the requisite number of members for con-ducting official business (a simple majority). In the House, the number is 218, while in the Senate, the num-ber is 51. When business is being conducted, a member may suggest the absence of a quorum, which then trig-gers a calling of the roll – to bring members to the floor – known as a quorum call.
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RReconciliationThe process by which a bill is brought within existing budgetary constraints.
RedistrictingTypically happens after the Constitutionally-mandated census every ten years. Takes into account Constitutional limits for representation numbers.
Republican CaucusThe formal group of all Republicans serving in the House. Their website is at www.gop.gov.
Roll Call Vote:A vote held on a specific question on the record – if pres-ent, each member must vote yes, no, or present.
Rules CommitteeSets the guidelines for debate and amendment of a par-ticular piece of legislation. Controlled by the majority party, with especial interest by the Speaker of the House.
SSafe SeatA Congressional district that is considered safely in one party – i.e. one party has consistently controlled it and polled high within that district for a long period of time. Typically members in safe seats, who do not have to spend a lot of time or money campaigning end up with party leadership positions.
Secretary of the SenateAn appointed official who serves as the chief administra-tive officer of the Senate.
Senate DemocratsThe coalition of Senators belonging to the Democratic Party. Their website is at Democrats.Senate.gov.
SRCSenate Republican Conference. The formal organization of the Republican Senators. Their website is at src.senate.gov.
Speaker of the HouseThe Speaker of the House is an elected majority party position. The Speaker has control over a wide variety of committee assignments, rules from the rules committee, order and frequency of types of legislation, etc.
Speaker Pro TemporeMay be designated by the Speaker of the House to act as the presiding officer in place of the Speaker. Typically the Speaker does not preside in debate; rather he or she des-ignates a Speaker Pro Tempore (usually a senior member of the majority party) to preside.
StaffersLegislators receive a budget per session to hire staffers to handle writing legislation, corresponding with con-stituents, and administrative and political tasks. Types of staffers include: chief of staff, legislative director, legisla-tive counsel, legislative assistant, legislative correspon-dent, scheduler, & caseworker.
Suspension of the RulesA method of bringing bills to the floor for speedy pas-sage. This process gives 40 minutes of debate, does not allow for amendments, and requires a 2/3rds vote for passage.
UUnanimous ConsentUnanimous agreement on a specific procedure or policy question. Can be used in House or Senate, but is typi-cally used in Senate to allow Senators to waive their prerogative of unlimited debate, paving the way for quick passage.
WWhipThe Whip for each party is an elected position, respon-sible for knowing how each member of his or her party will vote, and attempting to change votes in order to bring everyone possible within the party line.
YYeas & NaysIn the House, a specific type of recorded vote, requiring at least 1/5 of those present to proceed. In the Senate, the name for a recorded roll call vote.
Yield the FloorWhen a member is speaking on the floor, they may give time to another member who wishes to make a comment or ask a question.
An Eye Opening Experience
Irving continues to boast an im-pressive list of accomplishments through the Irving Economic Development Partnership (IEDP.) The partnership consists of a group of public and private investors, overseen by the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber, and they work to advance, create and promote eco-nomic development in Irving.
In total, economic development in Irving is expected to increase dramatically with the addition of nearly $6 billion in new and planned investments: 5.9 million square-feet of commercial and residential space, 12,000 resi-dential units, 1,000 hotel rooms, 30,000 new residents, 15,000 new jobs and 8 million annual visitors.
On top of a number of economic development wins, the IEDP was instrumental in facilitating several relocations, including the consoli-dation of multiple branches into one headquarters here in Irving.
Irving Fast Facts Irving is located in the center of the Dallas / Fort Worth Region, the 4th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. It is home to more than 8,500 businesses with a presence of more than 40 Fortune 500 corpo-rations - five of whom call Irving the home of their global headquar-ters.
Irving is the 3rd largest employment center in North Texas with an estimated 230,936 positions.
Irving is the only city in Texas and one of two in the nation to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
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Communicating withYour LegislatorAn effective way to communicate your concerns with your legislator is by writing a letter. Phone calls are the quickest method of communication, but unless your legislator is available to speak with you, your concerns will be relayed to him or her through a staff member. In this way, neither your message nor your personal touch reaches your legislator directly.
Writing a letter is simple and is, in fact, the most popular method of reaching a member of Congress. When drafting a letter, please bear in mind these few basic suggestions:
State the purpose of writing your legislator in the first paragraph of the letter.
You can direct postal correspondence to your Senator as follows:
The Honorable (Name)United States SenateWashington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator (Name)
BE DIRECT
If your letter concerns a specific piece of legislation, identify it as such, e.g., House bill: H.R. (number), Senate bill: S. (number). The Library of Congress provides a website that will assist you in researching a House or Senate bill number. Please visit the Library of Congress at thomas.loc.gov/.
BE ACCURATE
Keep the letter to one page, if possible.
BE CONCISE
E-mailing or faxing your letter, as opposed to mailing it, is highly recommended. Mail typically takes four to six weeks to reach your legislator’s desk. Legislators’ fax numbers, e-mail addresses (if available) and other write your legislator tools can be obtained by using the Your Elected Offi-cials page on this website.
BE EFFICIENT
ADDRESSING YOUR LETTERS
You can direct postal correspondence to your Representative as follows:
The Honorable (Name)United States House of RepresentativesWashington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative (Name)
Tips for Meeting withYour Elected Officials
When meeting with legislators and candidates, these tips will help you maximize the impact of your message and make the most of every minute you spend with elected officials and those seeking office. Equally, there are more than a few pitfalls to avoid.
DO:
Arrive without an appointment
Be late
Miss a valuable opportunity to meet with staff members if your legislator is unable to keep your appointment or cuts your time short
Be confrontational or overly partisan
Try to discuss more than one issue
Get too comfortable or casual
Forget to use proper forms of address
DO NOT:
Know your issue inside and out
Develop talking points before the meeting to make certain you stay on message
Clearly identify yourself as a constituent
State your credentials as an industry expert
Ask for specific legislative action or support
Provide reliable data or fact sheets
Be positive and friendly
Be sensitive about time since meetings are often cut short
Treat staff with the same level of respect as you do the official
Compliment the member or staff on positive actions
Admit if you don’t know an answer, but promise to follow up
Leave your name and contact information
Send a thank you note
Follow up with any additional information needed
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Senate in session
House in session
Both chambers in session
Both chambers in recessDates in red are federal holidays; Jewish holidays begin and end at sundown. As of this printing, the Senate has not released a schedule for Sept. 8 to Dec. 31.
Senate convenes
House convenes
MLK Jr. Day Presidents Day
New Year’s Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Rosh Hashanah begins
Rosh Hashanah ends
Yom Kippur begins
Columbus Day
Election Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving
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2014 Congressional Calendar
2014 Congressional Calendar
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