FAIRness Back in the Not-So-Friendly Skies?

Senator Edward J. Markey (D., MA) has introduced S. 2656, the Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous (FAIR) Fees Act. Generally, the bill aims to "prohibit air carriers from imposing fees that are not reasonable and proportional to the costs incurred by the air carriers". According to a press release, the bill would also direct "the Department of Transportation to review any other fees charged by airlines". The text of the bill can be found here. 

I could be wrong, but I don't remember any bills that have used the word "ridiculous" in their acronym. A portion of the press release is provided below the jump. 

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Markey, Blumenthal Introduce Legislation to Ground Rising Airline Fees

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous (FAIR) Fees Act would protect consumers by limiting fees for checked bags, ticket changes and cancellations

Washington (March 9, 2016) – In recent years, airlines have increasingly charged consumers fees for basic aviation services, including checking a bag and changing or canceling a flight reservation. A recent investigation by the minority staff of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee found that of the eight carriers the Committee queried three increased checked baggage fees by 67 percent between 2009 and 2014. And four airlines increased domestic cancellation fees by 33 percent between 2009 and 2014, one increased the fee by 50 percent, and one increased its fee by 66 percent. In an effort to protect consumers from these rising fees, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today introduced the Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous (FAIR) Fees Act, legislation that prohibits airlines from imposing fees, including cancellation, change and bag fees, that are not reasonable and proportional to the costs of the serves provided. The legislation also directs the Department of Transportation to review any other fees charged by airlines. In 2015, American Airlines, Delta, and United cumulatively earned approximately $19.4 billion in profits. Through the first three quarters of 2015, airlines collected more than $5 billion in bag fees and change/cancellation fees. 

“Airlines fees are as high as the planes passengers are traveling on, and it’s time to stop their rapid ascent,” said Senator Markey, a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. “In recent years, fees and ticket prices have gone up despite the fact that gas prices and airline choices have gone down. Airlines should not be allowed to overcharge captive passengers just because they need to change their flight or have to check a couple of bags. There is no justification for charging consumers a $200 fee to resell a $150 ticket that was cancelled well in advance. The FAIR Fees Act puts a stop to this fee gouging and will help ensure passengers are flying the fair and friendly skies.”

“This measure will ground the soaring, gouging fees that contribute to airlines’ record profits and passengers’ rising pain,” said Senator Blumenthal, a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. “With all the frills of flying already gone, airlines are increasingly resorting to nickel and diming consumers with outrageous fees. These runaway charges are anti-consumerism at its worst – in some cases doubling passenger fares despite plummeting fuel costs and soaring airline profits. A parent who wants to sit with his young child, a customer who wants to check or carry on a bag, or have Wi-Fi, or a traveler who needs to change or cancel a reservation should not incur exorbitant, unnecessary fees on the whim of an airline.”

A copy of the FAIR Fees Act can he found HERE.

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Got the Right PARTS?

Yesterday the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet considered Rep. Darrell Issa's (R., CA) H.R. 1057: Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade, and Sales (PARTS) Act of 2015. According to a statement by Jerrold Nadler (D., NY) noted that the measure would 'reduce the term of design patent protection for exterior automotive repair parts, like fenders, side-view mirrors, and headlights, from 14 years to two-and-a-half years'. 

A portion of Nadler's statement is located below the jump. A full text can be found here. 

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Rep. Nadler Statement on the Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade, and Sales (PARTS) Act of 2015

Feb 2, 2016 Issues: Jobs, Labor and the Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, delivered the following statement during a hearing on the Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade, and Sales (PARTS) Act of 2015 defending intellectual property rights that work for consumers. The full text of the statement is below:      “Today we consider H.R. 1057, the “Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade, and Sales,” or PARTS, Act of 2015.  This legislation, introduced by Chairman Issa and the Gentlewoman from California, Ms. Lofgren, would reduce the term of design patent protection for exterior automotive repair parts, like fenders, side-view mirrors, and headlights, from 14 years to two-and-a-half years. “Supporters see it as a pro-consumer bill to foster much-needed competition in the collision repair parts market.  But, opponents see it as an unfair exemption to established patent law at the expense of one industry, with potential safety implications.  Each side makes compelling arguments, and I appreciate the opportunity to examine these issues in greater detail today.

Hey...One at a Time!

Rep. Mia Love (R., UT) has introduced H.R. 4335, the One Subject at a Time Act. As you might imagine, the bill hopes to "end the practice of including more than one subject in a single bill by requiring that each bill enacted by Congress be limited to only one subject, and for other purposes". While this may not be common-place for Congress, it certainly is in the states: 41 currently have constitutional clauses regarding single-subject bills, and 15 require initiatives to address only one subject. 

The proposal as a federal constitutional amendment has been a popular one throughout the years, and recently Rep. Tom Moreno (R., PA), has filed an amendment to do just that. 

A press release for the legislation is provided below the jump. 

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News Release

From the Office of Congresswoman Mia Love

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rep. Mia Love says Consider Bills ‘One Subject At A Time’

“Let’s Stop Legislation that includes everything but the kitchen sink”

WASHINGTON D.C. (January 11, 2016) – Congresswoman Mia Love is keeping her promise to give the people of Utah a stronger voice in the legislative process.  She has introduced a bill that would only allow legislation to contain one subject at a time.

“I continually hear from constituents about their frustration over the multi-rider, large, must pass at the 11th hour bills Washington is so fond of,” Rep. Love said.  “Congress is bundling too many things together.  My bill would change that.  Each bill should stand or fall on its own merits.”

There are numerous examples of bills that have stacked unrelated issues together in a massive bill, which has outraged the American people .

Rep. Love has introduced The One Subject at a Time Act (H.R. 4335).  Her bill would:

·         Require that each bill enacted by Congress be limited to only one subject.

·         End the practice of attaching controversial legislation to unrelated, must-pass bills.

·         Require the subject of a bill to be clearly stated in its title.

·         Make void in appropriations bills, general legislation that does not pertain to the underlying bill.

·         Make the legislative process more transparent to the public.

Congresswoman Love says this is another way she is working to bring Utah values to Washington.  Utah’s Constitution has a similar provision that states: “No bill shall be passed containing more than one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title.”

“Members of both parties have made a habit of passing complex, thousand page bills without hearings, amendments or debate,” Rep. Love said.  “That process and the collusion that goes with it are why we are $18 trillion in debt and why the American people have lost trust in elected officials.”

Every Student Succeeds ≠ No Child Left Behind

Although they may sound the same, Lamar Alexander's (R., TN) Every Student Succeeds Act is vastly different than the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. According to a White House fact sheet, the bill changes educational policies by: 

• Holding all students to high academic standards that prepare them for success in college and careers.
• Ensuring accountability by guaranteeing that when students fall behind, states redirect resources into what works to help them and their schools improve, with a particular focus on the very lowest-performing schools, high schools with high dropout rates, and schools with achievement gaps.
• Empowering state and local decision-makers to develop their own strong systems for school improvement based upon evidence, rather than imposing cookie-cutter federal solutions like the No Child Left Behind Act did.
• Reducing the often onerous burden of testing on students and teachers, making sure that tests don’t crowd out teaching and learning, without sacrificing clear, annual information parents and educators need to make sure our children are learning.
• Providing more children access to high-quality preschool.
• Establishing new resources for proven strategies that will spur reform and drive opportunity and better outcomes for America’s students.

President Obama described the bipartisan legislation as "a Christmas miracle". 

SAFE[ly] through the House...

Over a veto threat by President Obama, the House passed Rep. Michael T. McCaul's (R., TX) American SAFE (Security Against Foreign Enemies) Act of 2015. The bill now heads to the Senate. According the White House's Statement of Administration policy, the measure would: 

This legislation would introduce unnecessary and impractical requirements that would unacceptably hamper our efforts to assist some of the most vulnerable people in the world, many of whom are victims of terrorism, and would undermine our partners in the Middle East and Europe in addressing the Syrian refugee crisis. ...

The certification requirement at the core of H.R. 4038 is untenable and would provide no meaningful additional security for the American people, instead serving only to create significant delays and obstacles in the fulfillment of a vital program that satisfies both humanitarian and national security objectives. No refugee is approved for travel to the United States under the current system until the full array of required security vetting measures have been completed. Thus, the substantive result sought through this draft legislation is already embedded into the program. 

DRIVE(ing) America's Transportation Infrastructure

Senators James Inhofe (R., OK) and Barbara Boxer (D., CA) have introduced the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act. The measure seeks to modernize America's transportation infrastructure and according to a press release, would provide states and local governments "the certainty, flexibility and stability to better develop the country’s transportation and public transit infrastructure, while improving railroad and highway safety."

A partial press release is provided below. The text of the legislation can be found here. 

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DRIVE ACT MODERNIZES AMERICA’S INFRASTRUCTURE,

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Bipartisan Legislation Provides State, Local Governments Certainty For Multi-Year Transportation Investments

WASHINGTON – The bipartisan, multi-year Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act would help modernize the nation’s infrastructure and transportation systems to better allow America to compete in the 21^st century. 

The DRIVE Act gives state and local government the certainty, flexibility and stability to better develop the country’s transportation and public transit infrastructure, while improving railroad and highway safety.

The bill reverses the trend of short-term, temporary fixes to fund the nation’s transportation network.  These “patches” have left states and localities without the certainty they need to plan and build long-term infrastructure projects.

The DRIVE Act is a six-year highway authorization that will allow planning for important long-term projects around the country, and provides three years of guaranteed funding for the highway trust fund.

The bill is fully offset with spending reductions or changes to federal programs. It does not increase the deficit or raise taxes. 

This bipartisan legislation is comprised of four main components that were principally negotiated by the four committees of jurisdiction, including the Environment & Public Works, Commerce, Banking, Homeland Security/Governmental Affairs and Finance committees. 

The text of the legislation can be found HERE. ...

The CBO's Potential 'Long-Term SCORE'

Congressman Reid J. Ribble (R., WI) has introduced the Long-Term Studies of Comprehensive Outcomes and Returns for the Economy Act (Long-Term SCORE Act). According to a Congress.gov summary of the measure, the bill "amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to prepare long-term cost estimates for legislation reported by congressional committees. It also establishes a long-term budget scoring division within CBO. The bill requires the long-term estimates to cover at least each of the next four ten-year periods. CBO currently provides cost estimates over a 5- or10-year period." 

An abbreviated "Dear Colleague" letter from Rep. Ribble is provided below. 

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From: The Honorable Reid J. Ribble
Bill: H.R. 282
Date: 7/15/2015

Long-Term Studies of Comprehensive Outcomes and Returns for the Economy “SCORE” Act, H.R. 282
Health care spending on chronic disease threatens the viability of our economy. Today, more than three out of every four Medicare dollars are spent on treating chronic diseases.

Cosponsors (25): Blumenauer, Collins (NY), Esty, Harper, Hastings, Higgins, Hultgren, Huffman, Jenkins (KS), Katko, Lance, Lawrence, Lujan Grisham, McKinley, Moulton, Paulsen, Peters, Pocan, Rigell, Schakowsky, Scott (Austin), Sensenbrenner, Takano, Webster, Wittman

Supported by: Campaign to End Obesity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American College of Preventive Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, American Council on Exercise, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, American Society of Bariatric Physicians, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare Leadership Council, Johnson and Johnson, National Center for Weight and Wellness, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Transitions of Care Coalition, Obesity Action Coalition, Orexigen Therapeutics, Sports and Fitness Industry Association, The Obesity Society, United States Soccer Foundation, Weight Watchers International, YMCA of the USA

Dear Colleague:

We hope you will join with us in our nation’s fight against skyrocketing health care costs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 133 million Americans live with at least one chronic condition, like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, obesity, and Alzheimer’s. Each year, these conditions account for 75 percent of all U.S. health care spending, and if we do not reduce these costs we may threaten the viability of our health care system. Alzheimer’s disease alone is estimated to cost Medicare and Medicaid $153 billion in 2015, and increase to 31 percent of all Medicare costs in 2050.

There is a real opportunity for cost savings by making modest reductions in the prevalence of chronic disease. For example, we know that a five percent reduction in population-wide body mass index (BMI) could save nearly $30 billion over just five years. If you extrapolate the same reduction over 20 years, the savings could amount to as much as $611 billion. ...

Getting Smart on CORRECTIONS

Senator John Cornyn (R., TX) recently testified before a House Committee on his and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's (D., RI) CORRECTIONS (Corrections Oversight, Recidivism Reduction, and Eliminating Costs for Taxpayers In Our National System) Act of 2015. Among other things, the bill seeks to lower the nation's prison population and save taxpayer money by "allowing lower-risk prisoners to participate in recidivism-reduction programs in exchange for earned-time credits". The measure also seeks to identify products currently manufactured outside the US that can potentially be manufactured by prisoners. 

A partial press release is provided below. 

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In The News

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Cornyn Highlights CORRECTIONS Act At House Oversight Hearing On Criminal Justice Reform

‘The CORRECTIONS Act will help restore an important part of our criminal justice system, something that we’ve almost forgotten, and that is rehabilitation.’

Jul 14 2015

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee about the bipartisan CORRECTIONS Act, a bill he introduced earlier this year with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). The CORRECTIONS Act would improve public safety, help end the cycle of incarceration for prisoners, and save taxpayer money by allowing lower-risk prisoners to participate in recidivism-reduction programs in exchange for earned-time credits.

Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s testimony are below.

“Right now, the federal government … spends billions of dollars incarcerating individuals while doing little or nothing to address the underlying cause, or to better prepare them for their eventual release into civil society. We can, and we must, do better.”

“We’ve always been tough on crime in Texas, but in 2007 the state leaders decided to get smart on crime. Instead of just building more prisons and hoping that would somehow fix the problem, they decided to try a different approach: scrapping construction plans and instead funding recidivism-reduction programs aimed at helping lower-risk offenders turn their lives around and become productive members of society.” ...

RECOVER Act (not to be confused with the Recovery Act)

Senators Ben Cardin (D., MD), Barbara A. Mikulski (D., MD), Mark Warner (D., VA) and Tim Kaine (D., VA) have introduced the RECOVER Act (Reducing the Effects of the Cyberattack on OPM Victims Emergency Response) Act of 2015. The bill looks to protect federal workers and others that have been exposed from the recent Office of Personnel Management hacks. 

A partial press release, along with the text of the bill, is located below. 

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Cardin, Mikulski, Warner, Kaine Call for Stronger Protections for the Millions Affected by the Recent OPM Data Breaches

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Thursday, July 9, 2015

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) with Senators Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) have introduced legislation to better protect federal workers and all those potentially affected by the recent cyberattacks on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data system. Outraged by the expanse of the breach, the senators found the response by OPM to be severely lacking in the duration and extent of coverage for those who had their most sensitive information stolen off the government system.

The RECOVER Act (Reducing the Effects of the Cyberattack on OPM Victims Emergency Response Act of 2015) mandates expanded identity theft coverage for federal workers, contractors and other individuals affected, including lifetime coverage and not less than $5 million of identity theft insurance. This adjustment to what OPM has previously offered more adequately addresses the egregious nature of this federal cyberattack.

“Private-sector cyberhacks and cyberattacks have become too commonplace, but when the federal government’s own computer system shows its vulnerabilities to the world, we have a responsibility to protect the people who have been put at risk,” said Senator Cardin.“Off-the-shelf solutions are not good enough. We need to plug the holes in the federal network and make sure our workers, their families and all those who have been violated are held harmless from any damage that may be done.” ...

The full text of the RECOVER Act follows: 

Title: To require the Office of Personnel Management to provide complimentary, comprehensive identity protection coverage to all individuals whose personally identifiable information was compromised during recent data breaches at Federal agencies.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Reducing the Effects of the Cyberattack on OPM Victims Emergency Response Act of 2015” or the “RECOVER Act”.

SEC. 2. IDENTITY PROTECTION COVERAGE FOR INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY FEDERAL AGENCY DATA BREACHES.

(a) Definition.—In this section, the term “affected individual” means any individual whose personally identifiable information was compromised during—

(1) the data breach of personnel records of current and former Federal employees, at a network maintained by the Department of the Interior, that was announced by the Office of Personnel Management on June 4, 2015; or

(2) the data breach of systems of the Office of Personnel Management containing information related to the background investigations of current, former, and prospective Federal employees, and of other individuals 

(b) Identity Protection Coverage.—The Office of Personnel Management shall provide to each affected individual complimentary identity protection coverage that—

(1) is not less comprehensive than the complimentary identify protection coverage that the Office provided to affected individuals before the date of enactment of this Act;

(2) is effective for the remainder of the life of the individual; and

(3) includes not less than $5,000,000 in identity theft insurance.

EACH Woman's Right to Choose

Today Congresswomen Barbara Lee (D., CA), Jan Schakowsky (D., IL) and Diana DeGette (D., CO), introduced the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH Woman) Act. According to a press release, the "bill would ensure health coverage of abortion for every woman regardless of her income, how she is insured or where she lives. In essence the bill would end the harmful Hyde Amendment policies that restrict a woman’s ability to make the best healthcare decisions for herself and her family."

Readers of this blog will probably note the contorted style of the bill's acronym. Without being selective as far as letters, the acronym would be: EAACHI. Additionally, the "Woman" part appears to be added into the acronym title even though it doesn't appear in the complete short title, which makes the acronym title quite a stretch. 

A partial press release is provided below. 

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CONGRESSWOMAN LEE INTRODUCES GROUNDBREAKING WOMEN’S HEALTH BILL

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Congresswoman Diana DeGette, led a group of 70 Democrats in introducing the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act or the EACH Woman Act.

The bill would ensure health coverage of abortion for every woman regardless of her income, how she is insured or where she lives. In essence the bill would end the harmful Hyde Amendment policies that restrict a woman’s ability to make the best healthcare decisions for herself and her family.

“Each and every day, the rights of women are under attack in America – today, we push back because every person has a right to healthcare. The EACH Woman Act is a bold and groundbreaking step forward. This legislation would ensure that every woman can access ALL of her healthcare options, regardless of how much money she earns or where she lives,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13). “Regardless of how someone personally feels about abortion, none of us, especially elected officials, should be interfering with a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions just because she is poor.” ...

(Doubly) SAFE Justice Bill to Reduce Prison Population

Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (R., WI) and Bobby Scott (D., VA) have introduced the Safe, Accountable, Fair and Effective (SAFE) Justice Act of 2015 to reform the federal criminal code and the bloated federal prison population. The sponsors really want to promote the issue of safety, given that it's not only the acronym spelled for the bill, but also what the "S" stands for in the acronym as well. When it comes to evocatively titled acronyms, there's probably not a member of Congress better at getting their legislation passed than Mr. Sensenbrenner, who's authored a number of such measures. 

Below is a partial press release regarding the measure. 

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PRESS RELEASES AND STATEMENTS

Sensenbrenner, Scott Introduce Bipartisan, State-tested Criminal Justice Reform Legislation f t # e Washington, Jun 25 | 0 comments Two years after beginning an intensive, comprehensive review of the federal criminal justice system as the leaders of the Over-Criminalization Task Force, Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Bobby Scott (D-VA) today introduced bipartisan, state-tested legislation aimed at safely reining in the size and associated costs of the federal criminal code and prison system. The Safe, Accountable, Fair, and Effective (SAFE) Justice Act of 2015 takes a broad-based approach to improving the federal sentencing and corrections system, from front-end sentencing reform to back-end release policies.  It is also the first bill that addresses the federal supervision system – ensuring that probation does a better job stopping the revolving door at federal prisons.  The legislation, which is inspired by the successes of states across the country, will reduce recidivism, concentrate prison space on violent and career criminals, increase the use of evidence-based alternatives to incarceration, curtail over-criminalization, reduce crime, and save money.  “We cannot allow our criminal justice system to remain on its current trajectory,” said Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI).  “It’s not only fiscally unsustainable, but morally irresponsible. The states have been outperforming Congress on criminal justice reform for years, so today’s introduction of the SAFE Justice Act is a major step forward in implementing effective, meaningful reform on the federal level that will enact fairness in sentencing, reduce the taxpayer burden, and ensure the increased safety and prosperity of communities across the country.”  Similar to the successful reform packages enacted in many states, the SAFE Justice Act aligns the federal prison system with the science about what works to reform criminal behavior. It reflects the growing consensus among researchers that, for many offenders, tacking more months and years onto long prison terms is a high-cost, low-return approach to public safety.  It also looks to the growing number of practices in correctional supervision that are shown to reduce recidivism. ...