VI Bi-weekly Legislative Update: More Talk Over USMCA & Update on Water Resource Development Act

USMCA Ratification Likely to Begin in Fall

Speculation on the timing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is growing as more lawmakers concede  that progress toward ratification will most likely begin after the August recess. Nevertheless, , several Trump Administration officials continue to express hope for movement this summer. The timing for a formal vote became a point of contention as the 9-member Democratic working group met with United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer last week. The Administration would like to see ratification completed in 2019 to avoid further politicizing the trade pact before the 2020 elections.

Despite assurances by the Administration that it will not send legislation to Congress before Speaker Pelosi is ready, Democrats maintain they are   worried  that the President might indeed move forward before their concerns have been adequately addressed. The Administration  sent its draft Statement of Administration Action for implementing the USMCA to Congress on May 30, and trade promotion authority (TPA) requires the document to be submitted to Congress at least 30 days before the Administration sends the implementing legislation. While there is no deadline for the Administration to send the legislation  in the TPA, the politics of the agreement only get more difficult the longer it lingers.

Early last week, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow reiterated in an interview that the Administration would not send Congress the implementing legislation until House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) says the time is right. At this weeks’ meeting, the second between the Democrats and USTR Lighthizer, the working group focused on the USMCA’s labor provisions. Democrats emerged from the meeting saying the talks were positive and making steady progress but acknowledged that nothing was resolved.

A group of House Democrats is heading to Mexico this weekend to look at labor standards. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who’s leading the delegation, said lawmakers would meet Mexican officials, but the full agenda hasn’t been set.

House Bipartisan Commitment to Staying on Biennial Reauthorization Schedule for WRDA

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing to start laying down the groundwork to pass the next water resources authorization bill. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) legislation authorizes water infrastructure projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Both Republicans and Democrats committee leaders committed to staying on a biennial reauthorization schedule for the 2020 WRDA.

Lawmakers emphasized the need to address the increase in flooding that is occurring across the U.S. Subcommittee Chairwoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA) and other Democrats advocated “green infrastructure” for flood control management. In a March full committee hearing, Chairwoman Napolitano said that the next WRDA bill would focus on resiliency, natural infrastructure, water recycling, and other tools, as well addressing the affordability of project funding under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Napolitano, along with Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Rep. John Katko (R-NY), co-sponsored the “Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2019” (H.R. 1497) to reauthorize and increase funding for the revolving fund, including $20 billion over five years for wastewater infrastructure. Congressional members heard testimony from wide-ranging panels of stakeholders, including Maj. Gen. Scott Spellmon, Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations of the Army Corps of Engineers.

To see previous legislative updates, click here.