No images? Click here Click here to hear more about GCCA’s Policy Forum, happening in Washington, D.C. July 26-28, 2021. Policy Forum 1 Week Away! Don’t miss your chance - make your plans TODAY to attend GCCA’s Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. July 26-28. The premier policy event for businesses engaged in the temperature-controlled logistics industry. This year, Cold Chain Policy Forum will continue to provide a focus on key regulatory issues impacting the industry, connecting participants with agency representatives to hear the latest policy developments. New for 2021 will be an expanded focus on legislative issues with participants having the opportunity to directly engage with Congressional offices to communicate the industry’s priorities. Sound like something you want to attend? Visit our website to register now for your opportunity to join us. We hope to see you here next week! Welcome back to this week's edition of the Washington Weekly newsletter - bringing you the latest and greatest policy updates from Washington, D.C.Senate Democrats Agree on $3.5 Trillion Budget Reconciliation Bill for Broad Healthcare and Antipoverty PlanSenate Democrats on the Budget Committee agreed to set a $3.5 trillion top-line spending level for a bill to carry most of President Joe Biden’s economic agenda into law without Republican support. Senate Democrats did not detail the tax increases that would be part of this effort, but Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said, "the wealthy and large corporations are going to pay their fair share of taxes so that we can protect the working families of this country." Republicans oppose any rolling back of tax cuts, which were achieved in their signature 2017 tax reform law, to finance Biden's infrastructure initiatives. The agreement will allow the Senate Budget Committee to advance the resolution to the Senate floor with instructions for the future tax-and-spend package, using the same tool Republicans used to bypass a filibuster of the 2017 tax law. Read more HERE. Infrastructure Talks Make HeadwayNegotiations on a $579 billion bipartisan bill focused on physical infrastructure, the second part of Biden’s two-track economic package, made some headway after meetings held between democrat and republican negotiators last week. On Thursday, July 15, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will tee up a vote this week on taking up the chamber's bipartisan infrastructure proposal. The Senate is expected to vote on Wednesday on advancing to a debate on the bipartisan plan to spend nearly $600 billion on roads, bridges and broadband that Biden endorsed last month. The vote to break a filibuster on proceeding to the bill will need 60 votes, and at least 10 Republicans -- double the number of GOP senators who joined the president at the White House to tout the agreement in June. Jennifer Abruzzo Nears Confirmation as Labor Board’s Top LawyerThe full Senate cleared the way for final votes to confirm Jennifer Abruzzo as general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board. The 50-48 vote Tuesday makes Abruzzo’s nomination eligible for the Senate floor, an action needed after the divided chamber’s labor committee voted in a party-line tie on May 12. Abruzzo, an attorney for the Communications Workers of America who served on President Joe Biden’s transition team for labor agencies, will be in line for a final confirmation vote if the full chamber approves a procedural motion to limit debate on her nomination. Abruzzo has faced opposition from Republicans over allegations that she played a role in the lead-up to Biden’s Inauguration Day firing of the NLRB’s top lawyer during the Trump era. |