Here is a quick update on the legislative issues.  As you know Congress has not acted on much of anything this cycle including our issues.  The number of cosponsors for legislation is not necessarily an indication of support- but that said many of our legislative issues have very few cosponsors.  It would be beneficial if we can get at least a few cosponsors from the various congressional districts we have federal fire fighters in across the Country during the 114^th Congress. Cosponsors may give a Committee at least a reason to give a particular Bill a second look.

Unfortunately there is a lack of interest for the members of congress.  Individual members of congress either support or don’t support/ push issues based on the input from their congressional district and of course their political stance. For example in the last congressional election in my district about 340,000 people voted out of a population of 710,000.  Getting a member of congress for to support  passage of legislation that impacts about 100 people in his district is a tough thing. 

As of right now the only issue we have with a good showing of support is the Trade Time issue in the House.  At this point however the committee it was referred to has no plans to mark it up.  Add to this the fact that the House Majority only has 10 scheduled in session days on the calendar for the rest of the year and the prospects of any action are slim.

Current Legislation

Senate

S2266, Presumptive, Introduced 4/2014, cosponsors 1

S2435, Trade Time, Introduced 6/2014, cosponsors 1

House

HR 3718, Presumptive, Introduced 12/2013, cosponsors 3

HR 4634, Penalty free TSP withdraw, Introduced 5/2014, cosponsors 4

HR 1141, Trade Time, Introduced 3/2013, cosponsors 47, (Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform but the Committee has not taken any action.)

After the first of the new year we will being the process of getting these issues reintroduced in the new 114^th Congress.

Soon Congress will begin working on a CR to keep the Government afloat during the upcoming election cycle.  The current funding ends in October so the pundits are saying we can expect a short CR to get through the November election and then another budget battle after.  It is pretty clear the Republicans will keep control of the House but as of right now control of the Senate is in question.

Jim Johnson

IAFF 16th District VP