Iowa’s four representatives to the U.S. House split on two bills passed this week, while a bill all of them support moved closer to final approval. Details are after the jump.

On November 13, the House approved the Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act by 221 votes to 199 (roll call). Representatives split mostly along party lines; only five Democrats voted for this bill, and only seven Republicans opposed it. Iowa Republicans Tom Latham (IA-03) and Steve King (IA-04) voted for the asbestos bill, while Democrats Bruce Braley (IA-01) and Dave Loebsack (IA-02) opposed it. Jonathan D. Salant reported for Bloomberg that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers lobbied heavily to pass this bill, as did Honeywell International and Koch Industries. Both Honeywell and a subsidiary of Koch Industries pay out large sums of money in asbestos-related claims.

The legislation, H.R. 982, would impose new disclosure requirements on trusts set up to pay victims of asbestos-related illnesses. […]

Proponents say the new reports will cut down on fraud by allowing companies such as Honeywell to easily discover if a person suing them also collected damages from a trust for the same illness; opponents argue that the goal is to let companies delay payments to those dying of mesothelioma and other cancers. […]

“The bill’s mandatory reporting and disclosure requirements would threaten asbestos victims’ privacy when they seek payment for injuries from an asbestos bankruptcy trust,” the White House said in a statement of administration policy opposing the bill.

“We don’t think asbestos victims should have to go through those steps,” said Julia Duncan, director of federal programs for the American Association for Justice, the Washington-based trade group for trial lawyers. “This is part of a decades-long campaign to do whatever it can to deny accountability to the victims that they poisoned.”

Other opponents of the bill include a coalition of consumer groups and relatives of those injured by exposure to asbestos […].

During House debate on the bill, several Democrats denied that there is “systemic fraud” in the asbestos trust system. Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee pointed out that Republicans had not allowed any asbestos victims to testify during House Judiciary Committee hearings on the issue.

On November 14, the House approved another corporate-backed bill along mostly party lines. Pete Kasperowicz reported for The Hill that the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act “would require courts to fine plaintiffs for bringing frivolous law suits.”

The legislation is an attempt to discourage frivolous legal actions that Republicans say tie up thousands of hours and millions of dollars for companies each year.

Under current law, judges have the option of fining plaintiffs who bring time-wasting lawsuits. But Republicans say that option is mostly unused, in part because judges are not required to award defendants legal costs. […]

Democrats opposed the bill by saying it would discourage lawsuits, and civil rights lawsuits in particular. […]

The Obama administration agreed, and said it opposes the bill because of the potential to reduce civil rights claims.

“The administration is particularly concerned that the new requirements could be used to target consumer and civil rights plaintiffs,” the White House said Tuesday. “Consumer abuse and civil rights cases rely heavily on the discovery process to prove the merits of their claims. In addition, civil rights cases often seek to challenge the law or to extend existing precedents.”

The bill passed by 228 votes to 195, with Latham and King in the majority and Braley and Loebsack voting no.

I have not seen any public comment from Iowa’s House members on either of these bills.

All four Iowans agreed on one other House vote taken yesterday: a motion to instruct conferees on the Water Resources Reform and Development Act. This bill would be the first major legislation on water infrastructure since 2007, funding projects related to dams, levees, ports, and waterways. The bill could support flood control efforts in Iowa as well as improvements to locks and dams along the Mississippi River. The U.S. Senate passed its version of the bill in May with a strong bipartisan majority of 83 votes to 14. Both Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin supported it.

Getting the legislation through the House of Representatives was more challenging, despite bipartisan support for funding more water infrastructure projects. Representative Bruce Braley wrote to House Speaker John Boehner in June urging a vote on the Water Resources Reform and Development Act. In August, all four Iowans in the House signed the following letter to Boehner (excerpt from a Braley press release of August 30):

August 29, 2013

The Honorable Speaker John Boehner

United States House of Representatives

H 232, The Capitol

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Speaker Boehner:

We are writing in support of a bipartisan Water Resources Development Act and the opportunity to vote on such a bill in the House of Representatives.

Recently, Debi Durham, Iowa’s Economic Development Director stated that the reliability of the Mississippi River’s lock and dam system is failing and is in urgent need of repair. She also stated that failure of the lock and dam system “will be a matter of time and it will have catastrophic economic ramifications for Iowa and the Midwest.”

The Senate passed S. 601, by a vote of 83 to 14 on May 15th, 2013. Unfortunately, the House has yet to report WRDA legislation.

The bill is incredibly important since it authorizes projects and studies by the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control, navigation, and environmental restoration, all of which help mitigate natural disasters. In the past, Congress has enacted WRDA legislation every two years to authorize the Corps’ projects. The last authorization, however, occurred in 2007, and prior to that, the last one was in 2000. Without WRDA, Americans will continue to suffer the ramifications of insufficient infrastructure on their economies and environments. We urge you to work swiftly to provide the House with a vote on a bipartisan WRDA bill.  

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Bruce Braley

Dave Loebsack

Tom Latham

Steve King

 

The Water Resources Reform and Development Act passed out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on a voice vote in September, but the federal government shutdown delayed its path to the House floor.

When the House finally considered the bill on October, it passed by 417 votes to 3. All the Iowans voted yes. I didn’t see any public comment from Latham or King, but both Braley and Loebsack released statements welcoming the vote.

Braley Applauds Passage of Water Resources Bill in US House

Water Resources Reform and Development Act passes House, includes $67M for Cedar Rapids flood wall

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today applauded the passage of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) out of the US House. It passed with a vote of 417-3. The legislation authorizes Army Corps of Engineers infrastructure improvements and includes $67 million for a flood mitigation project in Cedar Rapids.

“I’m glad to see that the House was finally able to come together and pass bipartisan water resources legislation. Now locks and dams along the Mississippi will get the infrastructure improvements they need and Cedar Rapids will be able to move forward with critical flood control projects.

“The last step is for the House and Senate to agree on a final bipartisan compromise. The time for action is now, because a water resources bill is too important for Iowa’s economy and Iowa homeowners for any more delays.”



The Water Resources Reform and Development Act will now go to a joint House-Senate conference committee and work towards an agreement on a final bipartisan bill. In May, the US Senate passed its version of WRRDA with a bipartisan vote of 83 to 14. Both of Iowa’s senators voted in favor of the bill.

Historically, Congress has enacted water resources legislation every two years, allowing the Army Corps to continue its projects without interruption. However, the last renewal occurred in 2007 – making a water resources bill four years overdue. The Army Corps currently estimates they are facing a $60 billion backlog of outstanding construction projects.

In June, Braley sent a letter to Speaker Boehner urging him to bring WRRDA up for a vote in the House after flooding occurred in eastern Iowa. In August, Braley along with Reps. Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Tom Latham (IA-03) and Steve King (IA-04), sent a letter pressing Speaker John Boehner to immediately allow the US House to vote on the Water Resources Reform and Development Act. Last month, WRRDA past out of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.

In April, Braley toured several of the locks and dams along the Mississippi River to view needed upgrades. In an effort to address the backlog, Braley is a cosponsor of the Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership Act (WIN P3), bipartisan legislation that would explore the creation of public-private partnerships between the Army Corps of Engineers and private entities as financing alternatives for lock and dam capital projects.

Loebsack: Water Infrastructure Bill Creates Jobs and Invests in Our Economy

Legislation includes Loebsack’s measure to move Cedar Rapids flood protection forward

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today [October 23] after the House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). This bipartisan legislation will authorize Corps of Engineers funding for improvements to ports, waterways and projects tied to flood protection, drinking water, dams and levees and environmental restoration. The legislation also includes flood protection measures that Loebsack fought to expand after the Floods of 2008. Congressman Loebsack fought to secure funding that was needed to complete the study and allow the Cedar Rapids flood protection project to be included in this bill. He also pushed to move WRRDA forward in order to address critical flood protection and transportation concerns on the Mississippi River. He is a cosponsor of legislation that was incorporated into WRRDA that will explore the creation of public-private partnerships between the Army Corps of Engineers and private entities as financing alternatives for lock and dam capital projects.

“In what has become par for the course in Washington, an issue of high importance to many Iowans and to the nation was again delayed and put on the back burner. While I am pleased that the House Republicans have finally moved the Water Resources Reform and Development Act forward, it is far past time.

“Our crumbling infrastructure is an area I believe continued investment in is absolutely critical. These are investments that create jobs, have a direct impact on our economy, and provide safety and protection for Iowans. Iowa farmers, manufacturers, businesses and local economies rely on the Mississippi River infrastructure. It is clear that the locks and dams along the Mississippi River are deteriorating and significantly harming the economic development in the region. This bill is very important to Iowa, not just for the locks and dams, but also for much of our flood protection and Army Corps projects that are needed to keep our communities safe. The House and Senate must act without further delay to work out the differences between the two bills so a comprehensive WRRDA bill can be signed into law.”

The Senate passed its version of WRRDA earlier this year and the two bills will now go to a Conference Committee to reconcile the differences.

Loebsack’s office released this statement yesterday.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after House leaders appointed members to a committee to reconcile the differences with the Senate on the long delayed Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). The legislation authorizes Army Corps of Engineers funding for improvements to ports, waterways and projects tied to flood protection, drinking water, dams and levees and environmental restoration. It also includes flood protection measures that Loebsack fought to expand after the Floods of 2008.

“I am pleased that House leadership has finally taken this step to move this important legislation forward. This updated bill is long past due. The investments included in this legislation create jobs, have a direct impact on our economy, and provide safety and protection for Iowans. The conference committee must act without further delay to work out the differences between the two bills so a comprehensive WRRDA bill can be signed into law.”

Congressman Loebsack had previously fought to secure funding that was needed to complete the study which allowed the Cedar Rapids flood protection project to be included in this bill. He also pushed to move WRRDA forward in order to address critical flood protection and transportation concerns on the Mississippi River. He is a cosponsor of legislation that was incorporated into WRRDA that will explore the creation of public-private partnerships between the Army Corps of Engineers and private entities as financing alternatives for lock and dam capital projects.

No Iowans will serve on the conference committee named to work on the water infrastructure bill.