The Monday, April 11 Senate legislative session touched on matters of trade secret theft and matters regarding the Federal Aviation Administration program, including an amendment that would require the regulation of passenger seat sizes on aircraft.
Keep an eye out for future updates, as they will be discussing the regulation of Internet broadband prices in the future.
Recent Senate Votes:
Trade Secret Theft – passage – with a vote of 87-0 and 13 not voting, the Senate passed legislation, as amended, that allows the owner of a trade secret that is misappropriated to bring civil action if the trade secret is related to interstate or foreign commerce. Sen. Bill Nelson voted yes. Sen. Marco Rubio voted yes.
Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization – cloture on motion to proceed – with a vote of 98-0 and two not voting, the Senate agreed to a McConnell, R-KY., motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to an unrelated bill (HR 636) consisting of three bills that would reduce taxes on small businesses. The chamber is expected to amend it with language that would authorize $33.1 billion in funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs through fiscal 2017, including those related to unmanned aircraft, equipment certification and aircraft control, system technology. 60 votes were required to invoke cloture. Sen. Bill Nelson voted yes. Sen. Marco Rubio voted yes.
Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorizes – passenger seat sizes – with a vote of 42-54 and four not voting, the Senate rejected an amendment that would require the FAA to prohibit air carriers from reducing the size of seats on passenger aircraft. Sen. Bill Nelson voted yes. Sen. Marco Rubio voted no.
Upcoming Votes:
Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorizes – HR636 – The measure would authorize $33.1 billion in funding for FAA programs through fiscal 2017, including those related to unmanned aircraft, equipment certification and aircraft control system technology.
More Banks Operation Under Federal Reserve’s Small Bank Holding Company Policy – HR3791 – The measure would require the Federal Reserve Board to modify its Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement to allow bank and thrift holding companies with assets of up to $5 billion to operate under the policy, up from the current limit of $1 billion.
Financial Stability Oversight Council Overhaul – HR3340 – The legislation would modify the funding of the Financial Stability Overhaul Council and the Office of Financial Research by making that funding subject to the annual appropriations process, beginning in 2017. The annual assessments made on bank holding companies and designated institutions to raise funding to finance the two entities would continue.
Broadband Internet Access Regulation – HR2666 – The measure would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from regulating the rates that Internet service providers may charge for broadband Internet service.