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In the debate on H.R. 2112, the Agriculture, CJS, and Transportation Appropriations Bill, numerous amendments will be offered, many of which involve fiscal matters.  NTU is continuing to issue Vote Alerts on these proposals as we are made aware of them. At this point in the process we commend your attention to the following three items:

• Vote “YES” on Amendment 814. Introduced by Sen. Crapo (R-ID), this amendment would prohibit any funds from being used by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to promulgate any final rules until certain requirements are met, such as an analysis of the regulations’ impact on economic growth and job creation. As the unintended effects of the debit interchange fee have recently made clear, the unprecedented scope and pace of new regulations that are arising from the Dodd-Frank Act could have serious consequences on taxpayers and businesses. Among other protections, this amendment would ensure a more deliberative process to better understand the potential impacts of proposed rules. 

• Vote “NO” on Amendment 857. Sponsored by Sen. Menendez (D-NJ), this amendment would restore the recently expired maximum conforming limits on loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Extending higher FHA loan limits would increase the risk and size of a potential taxpayer-funded bailout as well as continue the federal government’s counterproductive involvement in the housing market.

• Vote “YES” on Amendment 860. Introduced by Sen. Grassley (R-IA) this amendment, would implement a number of long overdue accountability measures in the Department of Justice (DOJ) grant process, including a requirement that the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the DOJ conduct an audit of at least 10 percent of grant recipients. This information would then be used to prevent future award resources from flowing to grantees with unremedied negative audit findings and give priority to those with a clean track record of audits. Recent examinations by the OIG of DOJ grant awards have revealed a number of serious concerns, such as not accomplishing project goals, failing to maintain adequate accounting records, and making unauthorized expenditures. The oversight measures would help to put an end to the waste, fraud, and abuse that has characterized the DOJ grant process in recent years.

Roll call votes on the aforementioned amendments will be significantly weighted in our annual Rating of Congress.

If you have any questions, please contact NTU Federal Government Affairs Manager Brandon Greife at (703) 683-5700