On June 28, 2010, Senator Brown (D) joined a group of 11 Senators who sent a letter urging President Obama to name a federal Coordinated Response Commander responsible for organizing efforts to contain the spread of Asian carp.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus (D) issued a statement expressing support for the President's announcement at the G-20 meetings to launch a new initiative to resolve outstanding aspects of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement before the G-20's next meeting on November 11-12 in Korea. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Levin (D) and Ranking Member Camp (R) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Brady (R) also issued statement’s about the President’s announcement.
On June 25, 2010, the Senate confirmed the nomination of John S. Pistole to be Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security. House Homeland Security Chairman Thompson's statement commending Pistole's confirmation is available here.
Senator John McCain has introduced a bill that would repeal the Jones Act, which requires that all goods shipped between waterborne ports of the U.S. be carried by vessels built in the U.S. and owned and operated by Americans.
On June 25, 2010, conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 4173., the financial reform bill.
On June 24, 2010, the House Appropriations Committee’s Homeland Security Subcommittee approved the fiscal year 2011 Homeland Security Appropriations bill for full Committee action.
In written testimony before the Senate Finance Committee on June 23, 2010, Commerce Secretary Locke laid out his Department's position on the U.S. trade relationship with China, touching on issues such as currency in the context of pending countervailing duty investigations, market access, intellectual property rights, indigenous innovation, etc.
The President has written a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives asking Congress to consider amendments in his FY 2011 Budget for the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice. These amendments would support efforts to secure the Southwest border and enhance Federal border protection, law enforcement, and counternarcotics activities.The amounts requested would be partially offset by cancelling $100 million from a lower priority program within the Department of Homeland Security.
On June 24, 2010, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ordered favorably reported the nomination of John Pistole to be the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security.
On June 24, 2010, both the House and Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 2194, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act.