Prism Group's Daily Summary
SMALL BIZ COMMITTEE CONVENES TWICE THIS WEEK… Today, the House Small Business Committee’s Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access Subcommittee is holding a hearing entitled, “Exploring SBA Programs: Reviewing the SBIC and SBIR Programs' Impact on Small Businesses.” The hearing convenes at 10am and features several witnesses from across the country. The following day, the full panel will convene for a markup of seven small business-focused bills covering a range of topics.
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE ZONES IN ON TRADE... Members of the House Ways and Means Committee will markup six trade bills tomorrow, April 17. The various pieces of legislation address trade regulations for electric vehicles, critical minerals, forced labor, and executive overreach on trade agreements. At stake is possible reform of deals with long term allies Japan, the European Union, and United Kingdom. Reauthorization of the Generalized System of Preferences Reform Act (GSP) through 2030 is also on the agenda for the committee. Drawing a hard line on China continues to be a major theme in all six pieces of legislation.
TAX DAY DEADLINE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO FILE YOUR RETURN... The free IRS Direct File program has reached 100,000 accepted returns. Residents of Maine and Massachusetts have until Wednesday, April 17, to file their taxes due to state holidays. Here are different ways to file for free.
THE STATE OF THE STATES
SESSIONS BY THE NUMBERS:
Thirty state legislatures are in regular session.
WHAT WE'RE WATCHING:
The Minnesota House has approved legislation to raise the minimum wage to $10.85 an hour for all workers, eliminating the lower rate for small businesses and young or foreign workers. The bill, facing Republican resistance, also includes provisions for higher inflation adjustments and mandates including salary ranges in job postings to address pay disparities.
Georgia lawmakers have passed several bills to bolster the state’s workforce, including one that allows military spouses to transfer professional licenses seamlessly across state lines. Other measures include mandatory career readiness training in schools and the publication of an annual "High-Demand Career List”. These initiatives now await Governor Brian Kemp's approval.
LAWMAKERS... IN OR OUT?
The House... convenes today at 10:00 AM ET. The full schedule may be found here.
The Senate... convenes today at 10:00 AM ET. The full schedule may be found here.
HAPPENING ON THE HILL
The House...
Committee on Small Business will hold a hearing TODAY, 4/16 at 10:00 AM on "Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access: Exploring SBA Programs: Reviewing the SBIC and SBIR Programs Impact on Small Businesses.”
Committee on Small Business will hold a hearing TOMORROW, 4/17 at 9:45AM on "A full committee markup on seven bills.”
Committee on Financial Services will hold a hearing TODAY, 4/16 at 10:00 AM on “Held for Ransom: How Ransomware Endangers our Financial System.”
Committee on Financial Services will hold a hearing TODAY, 4/16 at 2:00 PM on “Agency Audit: Reviewing CFPB Financial Reporting & Transparency.”
Committee on Ways and Means will hold a hearing TODAY, 4/16 at 10:00 AM on “Biden Administration’s 2024 Trade Policy Agenda with United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai.”
Committee on Energy & Commerce, Health Subcommittee will hold a hearing TODAY, 4/16 at 10:00 AM on "Examining Health Sector Cybersecurity in the Wake of the Change Healthcare Attack."
Committee on Energy & Commerce, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold a hearing TODAY, 4/16 at 10:30 AM on “Examining How Improper Payments Cost Taxpayers Billions and Weaken Medicare and Medicaid."
Committee on Energy & Commerce, Innovation, Data, And Commerce Subcommittee will hold a hearing TOMORROW, 4/17 at 10:00 AM on "Legislative Solutions to Protect Kids Online and Ensure Americans’ Data Privacy Rights."
Committee on Energy & Commerce, Health Subcommittee will hold a hearing TOMORROW, 4/17 at 2:00 PM on “Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Health and Human Services Budget.”
The Senate...
Committee on Finance will hold a hearing TODAY, 4/16 at 10:30 AM on “The Presidents Fiscal Year 2025 IRS Budget and the IRS 2024 Filing Season.”
Committee on Judiciary will hold a hearing TODAY, 4/16 at 2:00 PM on “Oversight of AI: Election Deepfakes.”
Committee on Judiciary will hold a hearing TOMORROW, 4/17 at 10:00 AM on “Nominations.”
Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, will hold a hearing TOMORROW, 4/17 at 2:30 PM on “Feeding a Healthier America: Current Efforts and Potential Opportunities for Food is Medicine.”
BILLS OF INTEREST
Rep. Dingell (D-MI) introduced a bill to support the direct care professional workforce, and for other purposes.
Rep. Molinaro (R-NJ) introduced a bill to provide for a memorandum of understanding between the Small Business Administration and the National Council on Disability to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes.
Rep. Stauber (R-MN) introduced a bill to amend the Small Business Act to include requirements relating to new small business entrants in the scorecard program, and for other purposes.
AT THE AGENCIES
The U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor issued a press release on their investigations at seven Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers franchise locations in Alabama finding the operator violated child labor provisions.
The U.S. Department of Labor issued a press release on a South Florida contractor being cited for lack of Heat Illness Prevention Program after death of a worker.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury
The U.S. Department of the Treasury released its Filing Season 2024 Report Card.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a press release on the IRS delivering world class customer services thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a press release on the Department targeting Belarusian Sanctions evasion networks in Russia’s war machine.
The U.S. Department of Commerce
The U.S. Department of Commerce issued a press release on the Biden-Harris Administration announcing preliminary terms with Samsung Electronics to establish a semiconductor ecosystem in central Texas.
The U.S. Trade Representative
The U.S. Trade Representative Office released a readout of the United States and Kenya's in-person negotiation round for the U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership.
The U.S. Small Business Administration
Check back tomorrow for possible updates.
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