We currently (May 2) have 337 cosponsors for H.R. 1140 and 54 cosponsors for S. 697. Here is what is expected along the road ahead and the anticipated speed bumps. On May 9, there is a tentative markup of H.R. 1140 in the House Railroad Subcommittee. At a markup, there will be no evidence presented and no witnesses heard. The bill is merely laid out and amendments may be offered. Each amendment will be voted on and then the bill is voted on by the full subcommittee and reported out, if it receives a majority. We do not anticipate any significant amendments to this legislation although we are certain that there will be technical amendments. We are expecting overwhelming support that day.

The legislation will go through the same process one week later on May 16 in the full Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee. Shortly after the meeting, the Committee will file a report. At that point, no more cosponsors will be accepted. It is also at this point that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) will formally score this legislation. We have been provided a tentative copy of the CBO scoring and we are anticipating that the scoring will not be helpful. This is the same problem that we had last year. We anticipate being able to overcome it in the House but it will remain a problem in the Senate. This is our first anticipated speed bump.

The bill will then move from the T&I Committee to the Ways and Means Committee. The Ways and Means Committee, or any other Committee, is not required to take up and consider H.R. 1140. It is totally up to the Chairman. Our support on this Committee is not expected to be as enthusiastic as our support in T&I Committee. We are told that they may consider H.R. 1140 as early as June. We still have work to do with this Committee but we are taking one step at a time so far. The House Leadership has been very helpful in our efforts. This Committee has the same right as other committees – they may attempt to change our legislation, may blend other legislation with ours or blend ours with someone else’s. We will not object to any effort that will help move our legislation into law. Of course, we will object strenuously to any efforts that would not have a positive impact.

After we clear the Ways and Means Committee, the bill is sent to the Rules Committee. This Committee operates similar to a yardmaster or dispatcher. The Committee schedules bills for consideration by the full House and determines what amendments would be considered. We do not know when, or if, the full House will take up the legislation. There is nothing that requires that they do. Each step is another opportunity for those who oppose our legislation to either harm or kill it. We know that Congress will take a long recess for district work periods for Memorial Day, July4^th and almost the entire month of August through Labor Day.

It is when the bill is scheduled for the floor that the Bush Administration will send to Congress a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP). If this statement supports the Railroad Retirement legislation, we will gain significant support and this legislation will move more easily. If the statement is neutral, we will not be hurt. If this statement is in opposition, it will be another speedbump to overcome. We will lose some votes in the House. The House leadership could even pull the bill from floor consideration. A bad SAP could also be extremely damaging in the Senate.

Because of the way that the system works we have less information available from the Senate. We do not expect the Senate to consider our legislation until it has passed the House. There is an outside possibility that the makeup of the Senate could change. If it does, this would significantly affect the movement of our legislation. There is a possibility that our legislation could bypass the Senate Finance Committee and could be added as a floor amendment on another piece of legislation. It is much too early to anticipate the strategy for the Senate.

We already have more House cosponsors than we did last year. This sends a signal to those who are opposed. They had hoped that the delay would have weakened support for our legislation You have proven just the opposite and now we are actually stronger. Please continue to keep up the good work contacting Representatives and Senators who are not cosponsors and encouraging them to support the legislation. Don’t be disappointed by the speedbumps. We are expecting them.

List of Co-sponsors for H.R. 1140
337 Co-Sponsors as of May 2, 2001

List of 54 Co-sponsors for S-697 - by State
as of 5/2/01

* Original Cosponsor
# Member, Senate Finance Committee