On June 8, 2010, Senator Harkin (D), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released a statement announcing that he hopes to get S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, to the Senate floor in June. Chairman Harkin also commented on the Institute of Medicine’s new report entitled “Enhancing Food Safety: The Role of the Food and Drug Administration.” In 2008, Congress directed FDA to contract with the National Academies for a study of the gaps in FDA’s food safety system and this report is the result.
On June 8, 2010, both the House and Senate received the following messages from the President:
On June 8, 2010, the Senate began consideration of House-passed H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (the Tax Extenders or Jobs bill). On June 9, 2010, the Senate is expected to continue its consideration of several pending amendments to H.R. 4213, including the Senate Finance Committee Chairman’s amendment in the nature of a substitute.
On June 8, 2010, S. 5545, a bill to improve the safety of motorcoaches, was reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 111-202)
On June 8, 2010, the following trade-related bill was introduced:
The following are the trade-related hearings scheduled for June 8-12, 2010:
On June 4, 2010, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Levin issued a press release urging immediate action by the Senate on the House-passed American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (H.R. 4213 aka the Tax Extender bill or Jobs bill).
On May 26, 2010, the House Energy and Commerce Committee ordered favorably reported H.R. 5381, the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010, a bill that would strengthen the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), establish new safety standards, strengthen enforcement, etc.
On May 20, 2010, Representative Delahunt (D) introduced the Cambodian Trade Act of 2010 (H.R. 5349) which would prohibit the extension of duty-free treatment to all Cambodian apparel and certain Cambodian textiles, footwear.
On June 2, 2010, the Chairmen of the Senate and House Homeland Security Committees urged the Department of Homeland Security to step up its implementation of a voluntary program to help private sector companies develop preparedness, response, and business continuity plans. The Chairmen sent a letter to DHS Secretary Napolitano noting that the program, required by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53), has still has not yet been launched.