Economics/Trade

Rep. Eric Cantor told Republicans that the House would soon pass legislation prioritizing payments if the U.S. hits debt ceiling.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said Tuesday that he would introduce his first bill when the Senate returns next week.

Kaine said the Troop Talent Act would help transition military services members from active duty to the civilian workforce and allow military training to be applied toward certifications or licenses required for some jobs.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced Tuesday that he plans to introduce a bill when the Senate returns next week that would allow hard cider producers to pay lower tax rates.

“New York is the second-largest apple producer in the country, and there’s no doubt it should be at the core of the hard cider industry, which is rapidly growing in popularity,” Schumer said. “However, current federal tax rules make it extremely costly for Capital Region producers and consumers alike to produce, market and sell this product.”

Lawmakers won't take a pay cut because member pay is completely exempted from the sequester.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) called on the Senate Thursday to raise the federal minimum wage to help working families.

“Working full-time in a minimum wage job in Ohio pays about $16,000 per year — which isn’t much to live on when you’re trying to put food on the table, fill your gas tank, send your children to school, and provide a safe place for them to live,” Brown said. “Ensuring a fair wage is good for middle-class families and good for our economy.”

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) urged President Obama on Wednesday to support congressional efforts to exempt bulk shipments of apples to Canada from double inspection to save money.

“The double inspection of our apples to Canada is an impediment to New York apple exporters,” Gillibrand said. “The elimination of the expensive and unnecessary second inspection would put money back in our local growers’ pockets.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Wednesday that he would introduce a bill to break up banks that are “too big to jail.”

Sanders’s announcement comes after the Department of Justice said some banks have grown so big that it has not pursued prosecutions for fear an indictment would “have a negative impact on the national economy.”

“In other words, we have a situation now where Wall Street banks are not only too big to fail, they are too big to jail,” Sanders said. “That is unacceptable and that has got to change because America is based on a system of law and justice.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) demanded that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) publicly acknowledge that it has no legal right to end Saturday delivery service.

“I am urging you to make it clear to the American people that the USPS will continue Saturday mail delivery in adherence with the law,” Sanders wrote Tuesday in a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Budget Chairwoman Patty Murray had to overcome large differences within their caucus.

Republicans have been critical of President Obama’s decision to consider the treaty.