On June 24, 2010, a unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the Senate agree to the request that the Senate return to the House, H.R. 5136, Department of Defense Authorization Act.
The President has written a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives asking Congress to consider amendments in his FY 2011 Budget for the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice. These amendments would support efforts to secure the Southwest border and enhance Federal border protection, law enforcement, and counternarcotics activities.The amounts requested would be partially offset by cancelling $100 million from a lower priority program within the Department of Homeland Security.
On June 24, 2010, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ordered favorably reported the nomination of John Pistole to be the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security.
On June 23, 2010, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on “the U.S.-China Trade Relationship: Finding a New Path Forward.” Testifying at the hearing were U.S. Trade Representative Kirk and Commerce Secretary Locke.
On June 23, 2010, the House passed S. 1660, a bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to reduce the emissions of formaldehyde from composite wood products. (The Senate passed S. 1660 on June 14, 2010.)
On June 23, 2010, the Senate resumed its consideration of amendments to the House-passed H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (the Tax Extenders or Jobs bill). The Senate is expected to continue its consideration of H.R. 4213 on June 24, 2010.
On June 23, 2010, the House Homeland Security Committee marked up the following homeland security legislation: H.R. 5498, The “WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2010” and H.R. 5562, The “Homeland Security Grant Management Improvement Act.”