Cantor outlines summer legislative plans

H.R. 1705, the Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation (TRAIN) Act, H.R. 2018, the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act, and H.R. 10, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act.

Regarding trade, Cantor said to expect votes on pending free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama in July. However, he implied it is not yet clear whether or when the Obama administration might submit implementing legislation to Congress on these deals, a required first step.

On patents, he said there would be a “thorough floor consideration process” on a patent reform bill, H.R. 1249. That process is expected to start next week.

And on energy, he said the House will work on at least two more bills in addition to those approved earlier this year. Cantor said he expects work the week of June 20 on H.R. 2021, the Jobs and Energy Permitting Act. This bill would reduce permitting delays in Alaska.

The second, H.R. 1938, is the North American-Made Energy Security Act, and Cantor expects this bill to come up in July. This bill would expedite construction of the planned Keystone XL project, a 1,700 mile pipeline that would bring crude from Canada’s oil sands projects to Gulf Coast refineries.

Cantor also said he expects work in the next two weeks on the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, H.R. 2055, and the Agriculture appropriations bill, H.R. 2112, with others to follow in the summer.

More generally, Cantor said House Republicans should continue to be wary of Democratic attempts to raise taxes.

“Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats are already attempting to do so — look no further than their alternative budget resolution from April,” Cantor said. “It is important that we, too, prepare for this looming fight and defend small businesses and job creators from Democrat tax increases.”