Post-Father's Day Monday: Summer appears to be arriving in Iowa...

JUNE 2013

Post-Father's Day Monday Attended Real Estate Government Affairs Meeting in the Morning Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting at Noon (Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs) Nice post-Father's Day discussion with my father about taxes, immigration and politics Busy week ahead for both businesses: Tommy Tucker Realty Co. and Tucker Manufacturing Co. Inc. Community work, as well, such as Civil Rights Commission meeting on Wednesday

Mr Robin B Tucker www.nwyc.com Vol. 17 No. 1-18 Monday, June 17, 2013 REVIEW Immigration: The Senate overwhelmingly voted to begin debating the Gang of Eight's immigration overhaul. Border security and which, if any, benefits immigrants will enjoy before legal residency, are presenting stumbling blocks that are preventing an easy passage of the measure.  (S.744) The National Security Agency: The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration over recently disclosed NSA domestic surveillance programs. Those in favor of the suit say the administration went too far in gathering data that would have been private.  Those against it say the data is being collected  to keep the country safe from attacks. Click Here to voice your thoughts on this issue. Swap Jurisdiction Certainty Act: The House passed a global marketing bill that would require regulatory requirements of the G20 member nation to be broadly equivalent to U.S. swaps requirements. (H.R.1256) The Morning After Pill: The Obama administration decided to end its opposition to making emergency contraception available to women of all ages without restrictions or prescriptions. Some are urging lawmakers to continue to challenge the U.S. District Court’s ruling. Others praise the decision. Click Here to voice your thoughts on this issue. Defense Authorization Plowing Through the $638.4 billion Defense Bill: The House addressed a multi-billion dollar defense measure that would authorize funds for the Pentagon and defense-related programs for fiscal 2014, including $85.8 billion for the war in Afghanistan and other overseas operations. The bill’s authorization for regular defense funding is about $50 billion more than the projected post-sequestration defense cap under the Budget Control Act. (H.R.190) A Multitude of Amendments: House lawmakers began addressing 172 amendments to the annual defense authorization bill, rejecting a proposal on the indefinite detention of suspected terrorists and adopting an amendment on the withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan. Leaving Afghanistan: In a 305-121 vote, the House on Thursday adopted an amendment by Jim McGovern, (D-MA) that would call for combat operations to be transferred from U.S. forces to Afghanistan by the end of 2013. Other military and security operations would depart by the end of 2014. Click Here to voice your thoughts on this issue. Aircraft Carriers: The House rejected a Democratic amendment that would reduce the number of aircraft carriers the U.S. Navy must maintain from 11 to 10. Sequestration has left the Navy about $1 billion short to finish work on at least seven destroyers and submarines ordered in fiscal 2013 and prior years, according to a House Appropriations Defense spending bill report. Sexual Assault: The House adopted 20 amendments en bloc that would address what Congress is calling a sexual assault “crisis” in the military. One would take the decision for prosecuting most felony-level offenses out of the chain of command and into the hands of military lawyers.   What are your thoughts and concerns? Click Here to write your elected officials about any topic you would like to voice your concern or opinion.   PREVIEW The Emerging Agricultural Bill: The Farm bill is expected to be brought to the House floor this week. The Senate-reported measure would reduce spending by $17.9 billion (-1.8%); and the House-reported bill, would reduce it by $33.4 billion (-3.4%), according to the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO projected that the current farm bill programs, if they were to continue, would cost $973 billion over the next 10 years. (FY2014-FY2023). (H.R. 1947) (S.954) Bipartisan Education Overhaul The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is slogging through numerous amendments to an education overhaul measure. Teacher evaluations based in part on student test scores, which Harkin left out in 2011 in an effort to protect the bill’s bipartisan backing. The Week Ahead:  Please go to www.nwyc.com for the latest updates on Capitol Hill. MONDAY, JUNE 17TH On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules: 1) H.R. 876- Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection Act 2) H.R. 253 - Y Mountain Access Enhancement Act, as amended 3) H.Res. __ - To amend the Senate Amendment to H.R. 588 - Vietnam Veterans Donor Acknowledgement Act of 2013 4) H.R. 520 - Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act 5) H.R. 674 - Rota Cultural and Natural Resources Study Act 6) H.R. 862 - To authorize the conveyance of two small parcels of land within the boundaries of the Coconino National Forest containing private improvements that were developed based upon the reliance of the landowners in an erroneous survey conducted in May 1960 TUESDAY, JUNE 18TH, AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m. On Friday, no votes are expected. Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules: 1) H.R. 1896- International Child Support Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 (Sponsored by Rep. David Reichert / Ways and Means Committee) 2) H.R. 475 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include vaccines against seasonal influenza within the definition of taxable vaccines (Sponsored by Rep. Jim Gerlach / Ways and Means Committee) 3) H.R. 1151 - To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the triennial International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Edward Royce / Foreign Services Committee) H.R. 1797 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, Rules Committee Print (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks / Judiciary Committee) H.R. 1947 - Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Frank Lucas / Agriculture Committee) COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK Education and Workforce Committee markup on “H.R. 5, Student Success Act” (Wednesday, June 19th, at 9:00 a.m.)