Capital Roundup
Sep 1, 2010
| BILL NAME | SUMMARY OF BILL AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU | U.S. CHAMBER'S POSITION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUSINESS FREE SPEECH S. 3628 DISCLOSE Act |
Under the guise of transparency, this bill would, among other things, prohibit TARP recipients and many federal government contractors from engaging in many, if not most, election-related activities. It would further restrict businesses that have 20% or more foreign ownership from engaging in political activity. The bill would also require organizations engaging in many types of political or election-related activities to disclose their contributors/members. The names of the largest contributors would potentially have to appear on the organization’s radio and television ads. | The Chamber opposes this bill because it is a blatant attempt to impact this fall’s elections, silence constitutionally protected speech, and abridge First Amendment rights. | Last Action Failed in the Senate July 27, 2010. Next Step Senate Vote |
| PAPERWORK MANDATE S. 3578 Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act |
This bill would repeal the onerous paperwork burdens imposed on business by the new health care law. Unless this section is repealed, government, nonprofits, and businesses of all sizes would be subject to data collection and information fi ling (1099 reports) on virtually all non-credit card purchases from businesses totaling $600 or more in a year. | The Chamber supports repeal of the data collection and paperwork burdens placed on small businesses under the new health care law. |
Last Action |
| HEALTH CARE REFORM S. 3501 American Job Protection Act of 2010 |
This bill would repeal the requirement in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that businesses with 50 or more full-time employees must provide employee health coverage by 2014 or pay a fine. | The Chamber supports this legislation because it would protect existing jobs and remove a significant obstacle to job creation. |
Last Action Introduced June 17, 2010. |
| MATH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION S. 3605 America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 |
This bill would provide additional support for efforts to recruit and train K–12 math and science teachers. It would also increase support for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) students at the postsecondary level, attract underrepresented groups to STEM courses and careers, support basic research, and establish programs to commercialize new innovations. | The Chamber supports legislation to strengthen U.S. competitiveness by improving America’s scientific and economic leadership and making stronger investments in science, innovation, research, and education. |
Last Action Voted out of Senate Committee July 22, 2010. Next Step Senate Vote |
| DUTY SUSPENSIONS H.R. 4380 Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act |
This bill temporarily suspends or reduces duties levied on imported materials or intermediate products that are not produced domestically or where there is no domestic opposition. Since the expiration of the last Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) on December 31, 2009, U.S. businesses both large and small have faced higher costs for imported inputs not available from domestic sources. Savings afforded by the MTB help these firms invest in training and equipment and enhance their competitiveness. |
The Chamber supported temporarily eliminating these tariffs, which lower costs and help U.S. businesses maintain their competitive edge. | Last Action Signed by the president August 11, 2010. |
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