This Week in Congress

Please see below from our Legislative Relations committee.

 

Week of April 20th

 

This week, the U.S. House and U.S. Senate are in session for legislative business.

 

o   Both the House and Senate may consider a conference agreement on the Fiscal Year 2016 budget resolution if conferees can resolve the differences between each chamber’s budget blueprint. The House and Senate Budget Committees are expected to hold the first meeting of the conferees on Monday at 3:00 p.m.

 

o   The House is expected to consider H.R. 1195, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Advisory Boards Act, to create a Small Business Advisory Board and codify the creation of a Credit Union Advisory Council and Community Bank Advisory Council at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The bill also restricts the amount of funds that the Bureau can request from the Federal Reserve over the next 10 years.

 

·       On Monday at 12:30 p.m., the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) hosts a discussion titled, “High Costs, Uncertain Benefits: What do Americans Without a College Degree Think about Postsecondary Education?” Participants include: Andrew Kelly, Director, AEI’s Center on Higher Education Reform; Kevin James, Research Fellow, AEI’s Center on Higher Education Reform; Mark Schneider, Vice President, American Institutes for Research; Nicole Smith, Research Professor and Senior Economist, Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce; and Rachel Zinn, Director, Workforce Data Quality Campaign.

 

·       On Tuesday at 2:00 p.m., NCHER holds its Monthly Membership Call, which will provide a summary of the March 24, 2015 call of the Board of Directors; provide a summary and updates on major items being worked on by our committees, caucuses, and working groups; and provide a Washington Update, including recent legislative and regulatory actions of the Congress, Department of Education, Department of Treasury, and CFPB. The conference call-in number has been circulated to each organization’s primary point of contact.

 

·       On Wednesday through Friday, all-day, the National Association of Bond Lawyers hosts its Fundamentals of Municipal Bond Law Seminar in Orlando, Florida. The seminar provides attendees with a strong understanding of the key components of a municipal bond practice, including an overview of federal securities laws with which every municipal bond practitioner should be familiar and an in-depth explanation of the federal tax laws applicable to municipal bonds. 

 

·       On Wednesday at 10:45 a.m., the House Appropriations Committee meets to consider and approve the allocations for each of the 12 subcommittees responsible for assembling legislation setting funding levels for federal discretionary spending, including the Labor/Health and Human Services/Education Appropriations Subcommittee. 

 

·       On Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee holds a hearing titled, “Enhancing Cybersecurity of Third-Party Contractors and Vendors.” Witnesses will be announced at a later date.

 

·       On Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., the CFPB hosts a meeting of its Community Bank Advisory Council, which advises the Bureau in the exercise of its functions under federal consumer financial laws and provides information on emerging practices in the consumer financial products or services industry. The meeting’s agenda includes a welcome by CFPB Director Richard Cordray and a discussion of credit scores and credit reporting and its implications for small financial institutions. 

 

·       On Thursday, all-day, insideARM.com and the iA Institute host the third annual Larger Market Participant Summit for senior executives in the accounts receivable management industry. During the summit, attendees will discuss current trends in consumer litigation, including recent Telephone Consumer Protection Act cases; receive updates on current events, including Department of Education contract litigation, CFPB action against collectors and technology vendors, and large companies exiting the 3^rd party collection space; discuss credit reporting; receive an update on clarifications related to the new New York debt collection rules; and participate in a meet and greet with representatives from the CFPB.

 

·       On Thursday at 9:15 a.m., the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit holds a hearing entitled, “Examining Regulatory Burdens – Regulator Perspective.” Witnesses will be announced at a later date.

 

·       On Thursday at 2:25 p.m., Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday, and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer hold a press conference at Jefferson Community and Technical College to highlight the success of core reform efforts underway in the state and across the country.

 

·       On Friday at 12:00 p.m., the Council for Economic Education, Jump$tart Coalition, and Junior Achievement USA hosts a Financial Literacy Day on the Hill. Held in conjunction with the offices of Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) and Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH), the event is open to the public and provides networking opportunities with the national financial education community. NCHER staff and more than 50 non-profit, government, and corporation organizations will participate in the event.