The Senate will reconvene at 3:00 P.M. and will consider the nomination of Donna Welton, to be Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste with a vote expected at 5:30 P.M. Following disposition of the Welton nomination, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.3935, an act to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize and improve the Federal Aviation Administration and other civil aviation programs. Conversations remain ongoing as to the amendment process. The Senate still needs to reach agreement to vote on the full measure and give the House time to hold its own vote before the FAA’s Friday, May 10th authorization deadline.
The House has reconvened and is considering pursuant to a rule, H.R. 6192 – Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act. The bill from Representative Debbie Lesko, (R-Arizona) would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to allow the Energy Department to grant a petition to revoke or amend energy conservation standards if it finds they are not feasible with current technology. It would also require that any standards be “economically justified”, meaning they are unlikely to raise consumer costs while resulting in “significant conservation of energy or water.” While this language is in EPCA, Republicans said it was necessary to reaffirm these requirements due to the Biden administration’s recent rulemaking.
The House will then take up H.R. 4143 – National Construction Safety Team Enhancement Act of 2023 and S. 870 – Fire Grants and Safety Act of 2023 under suspension of the rules.
The House may then take up, Veto message to accompany H.J. Res. 98 – Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to “Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status.” The rule rescinds and replaces the current rule, which went into effect on April 27, 2020. The two rules establish different standards for determining whether two employers are considered joint employers under the National Labor Relations Act.
