November 2013

November 2013

CAPITAL ROUNDUP
BILL NAME SUMMARY OF BILL AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU
This bill wouldimpose mandatory sanctions for lawyers who file meritless suits in federal court, eliminate the safe harbor rule that allows lawyers to file frivolous claims and withdraw them within 21 days without threat of sanction, and authorize judges to order parties that pursue frivolous claims to pay the other sides legal fees and costs.

U.S. CHAMBERS POSITION

H.R. 2655 would head off meritless legal claims, which often result in innocent businesses having to settle rather than engage in more costly litigation.

STATUS

LAWSUIT ABUSE
H.R. 2655 Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2013 (LARA)

Last Action
Voted out of House committee September 11, 2013.

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ENERGY
S. 1392 Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013

S. 1392 would promote energy savings, improve industrial productivity and competitiveness, and reduce energy costs in the federal government by, among other ways, mandating federal conservation efforts, creating voluntary national building codes and encouraging states to adopt them, and training workers. This bill would save consumers as much as $13.7 billion and help businesses add up to 164,000 new jobs by 2030, according to a September 2013 report by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. This bill would reform the immigration system by providing additional visas for talented foreign workers, including a new merit-based green card program to complement, not replace, employer-sponsored green cards. It would create higher numbers of temporary worker visas for the high skilled and create new, practical constructs for temporary worker programs for the less skilled and the agricultural industry. S. 744 would preempt state laws relating to employment verification and E-Verify. It would also provide an earned legal status process for undocumented immigrants and enhance border security. H.R. 367 would strengthen congressional oversight of the regulatory process, increase the quality of agency rulemakings, and better ensure that all branches of the federal government are accountable. The REINS Act would require both houses of Congress to affirmatively approve, and the president to sign, any new major rule (i.e., a rule with a projected impact to the economy of $100 million or more) before it could become effective.

As part of its all of the above energy policy, the Chamber is a longtime supporter of energy efficiency and supports S. 1392.

Last Action
Considered by the Senate September, 19, 2013.

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IMMIGRATION REFORM
S. 744 Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013

The Chamber welcomes this legislation as a critical step toward a final law that would work for the U.S. economy and society.

Last Action
Passed the Senate June 27, 2013.

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REGULATIONS
H.R. 367 Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act

The Chamber supports this bill because it would create desperately needed checks and balances on agency power and enforce accountability on agencies and Congress alike.

Last Action
Voted out of the House August 2, 2013. Referred to Senate committee September 9, 2013.

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DEFINITION OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE

S. 1188 Forty Hours is Full Time Act of 2013 H.R. 2575 Save American Workers Act of 2013

These bills would restore the definition of full-time employment to the traditional 40-hour workweek under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), not 30 hours per week as the PPACA redefined.

The Chamber supports these bills because they protect employees and employers against what would amount to a significant redefinition of workforce status.

Last Action
S. 1188 referred to Senate committee June 19, 2013. H.R. 2575 referred to House committee June 28, 2013.
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Information is current as of press time. For the very latest, go to www.FreeEnterprise.com.

Publisher , Thomas Collamore Enterprise is published monthly by the United States Chamber of Commerce Reprinted by permission, Free Enterprise October J. 2013. U.S. ChamberFree of Commerce. Executive Editor Editor-in-Chief Editor Kevin Ganster Gregory S. Galdabini Laurie S. Frankel

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