The House and Senate reconvened Monday at noon and 3 p.m., respectively.
WHAT TO WATCH
Democrats are reportedly nearing a topline agreement on the Build Back Better Act, the legislative vehicle to advance much of President Biden’s social infrastructure agenda. President Biden provided an update on negotiations last week during a televised town hall, during which he outlined the state of play with respect to some key sticking points:
- He expects the corporate tax rate to remain at 21%, although this is still being negotiated.
- He left the door open for a potential minimum corporate tax rate.
- He said paid leave will likely be reduced from 12 weeks to four.
- He opposed work requirements for the Child Tax Credit.
President Biden appeared optimistic about reaching a deal and has set this week as another unofficial deadline to reach agreement with lawmakers like Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), who continue engaging with the White House and other congressional leaders.
Sinema, for instance, spoke last week with House Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard Neal (D-MA) about the tax components of the deal. Sinema has reportedly agreed to “each of President Biden’s four proposed revenue categories—international, domestic corporate, high net worth individuals and tax enforcement—providing sufficient revenue to fully pay for a budget reconciliation package in the range currently being discussed.” Through their discussion, it became clear, according to Neal’s office, that Neal and Sinema are “in full agreement on the policy achievement, and she’s in on renewables, she’s in on the issue of child credit and she’s in on family medical leave.” Disagreement remains, however, on paid leave, Medicare expansion, prescription drug pricing and climate.
Manchin has also continued discussions, meeting over the weekend with President Biden in Delaware.
On the Sunday news shows, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) signaled that international taxes, the “billionaires tax” and Internal Revenue Service enforcement could be part of the final package now that rate increases were off the table. Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) is also expected to unveil his mark-to-market proposal this week, which would tax the unrealized gains of wealthy taxpayers.
Looking ahead, Pelosi suggested the Senate could release its proposal as early as today. She hopes for a deal on the Build Back Better Act and passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act this week. However, details remain fluid as the package continues to be negotiated.
On the Floor
The House will vote on two financial services bills: the Sovereign Debt Contract Capacity Act (H.R.4111), which would require the U.S. Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund to advocate that it provide technical assistance to members seeking to enhance their capacity to evaluate the legal and financial terms of sovereign debt contracts, and the Financial Exploitation Prevent Act (H.R.2265), which would postpone the payment date of certain securities in the case of the financial exploitation of certain adults.
The Senate will vote on several District Judge nominees.
In Committee
Senate Banking Committee
On Tuesday, the full committee will hold a
confirmation hearing to consider the following nominees:
- Reta Jo Lewis to be President of the Export Import Bank
- Elizabeth de Leon Bhargava to be Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Rohit Chopra, Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The CFPB issued its
semi-annual report to Congress on Oct. 8, covering the period between Oct. 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. Although Rohit Chopra will be testifying before the committee, he was not confirmed to lead the agency during that time. Regardless, he is likely to face questions about topics discussed in the report, such as the CFPB’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on consumer credit, rules and orders adopted by the agency and consumer complaints, among other things.
House Financial Services Committee
On Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship and Capital Markets will hold a hearing entitled “
China, Inc: Examining Risks to Investors and the U.S. Posed by Foreign Issuers in U.S. Markets,” during which the following witnesses will testify:
- Karen Sutter, Specialist in Asian Trade and Finance, Congressional Research Service
- Samantha Ross, Founder, AssuranceMark, The Investors’ Consortium for Assurance
- Claire Chu, Senior Analyst, RWR Advisory Group
- Eric Lorber, Senior Director of the Center on Economic and Financial Power, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
In late September, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a warning to potential investors in Chinese companies listed on U.S. exchanges. In an alert, the SEC detailed the risks associated with investing in such companies, which include potentially being subject to Chinese law in the enforcement of contracts. Lawmakers are likely to explore this topic and others related to it.
On Wednesday, the full committee will hold a hearing entitled “
Bringing Consumer Protection Back: A Semi-Annual Review of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,” during which the following witnesses will testify:
- Rohit Chopra, Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Chopra is expected to face similar questions to those he faced in the Senate Banking Committee.
Senate Finance Committee
On Tuesday, the full committee will hold a
confirmation hearing to consider the following nominees:
- Maria Pagan to be a Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (Geneva Office)
- Brent Neiman to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Finance and Development
- Joshua Frost to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Markets
- Samuel Bagenstos to be General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services
House Ways and Means Committee
The committee has no activity scheduled this week.
Tax and Finance Rewind
In case you missed it…
- In response to the bank information reporting requirement proposal being advanced by Democrats, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced the Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act, which would prevent the IRS from implementing the proposal.
- The U.S. and five European counties—Austria, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom—on digital taxes, seemingly averting a potential trade war. Under the deal, the countries will remove their digital services taxes when the new broader international framework goes into effect and offer a credit to companies for digital tax they may have paid.
- The Treasury Department announced on Friday the U.S. had a $2.77 trillion deficit for the fiscal year—the second highest on record. The previous fiscal year saw the largest annual deficit at $3.1 trillion.
UPCOMING ACTIVITY
Below is a complete list of all tax and financial services events in Congress, the administration and private sector for the upcoming week.
Congress
Wednesday, October 27
Joint Economic Committee
Help Wanted: A Stronger Labor Market for Robust Growth
Thursday, October 28
Senate Aging Committee
A Financially Secure Future: Building a Stronger Retirement System for All Americans
Administration
Thursday, October 28
Securities and Exchange Commission
Asset Management Advisory Committee to discuss matters in the asset management industry relating to the Evolution of Advice and the Small Advisers and Small Funds Subcommittees
Internal Revenue Service
Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Joint Committee on improving customer service at the IRS
Other
Tuesday, October 26
Economic Club of Washington, D.C.
Discussion with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) on Bipartisan Legislative Efforts
Wednesday, October 27
POLITICO
Discussion with Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) on President Biden’s Legislative Agenda
Brookings Institution
U.S. Energy Tax Policy and Climate Change
American Enterprise Institute
Unemployment Insurance at a Crossroads: Tracing Program Design During and Beyond COVID-19
Thursday, October 28
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Inflation in the Food and Related Industries