Congressional Overview

In This Issue:

• Congressional Focus: FY 14 Spending Omnibus Passes, Debt Limit Up Next...
• Energy Policy: APPA Comments on Capacity Markets, QER Gears Up...
• Dodd-Frank: Groups Ask CFTC to Address Sub-Threshold Petition...
• Cyber Security: McCaul Cyber Bill Advances...

Congress passed omnibus legislation Jan. 16 to fund the federal government through the end of FY14 with large bipartisan majorities, removing the threat of a government shut-down for the rest of the fiscal year.  The $1.1 trillion spending bill includes $10.2 billion for energy programs within the Department of Energy (DOE) – a $620 million increase over FY13, and $8.2 billion for EPA, which is $143 million less than it received last year.

On Jan. 22, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew sent a letter to Congressional leaders indicating that the government will likely exhaust its ability to borrow in late February, setting up another fiscal showdown, earlier than congressional leaders had anticipated.  Lew said February spending will be high with 2013 tax refunds, and leaves the Treasury with little room to maneuver after the official debt limit is reached on Feb. 7.

To read the complete legislative update including the following topics, click the links below:

House Homeland Security Subcommittee Reports McCaul Cyber Bill