senate Archives

Oct 5, 2020

The President Authorizes the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Permanent Extension Act

On June 25, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed identical bills, H.R. 7036 and S. 3377, repealing the sunset provisions of the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act (“ACPERA”).[1] On October 1, 2020, the President signed into law a continuing resolution. The resolution contains the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Permanent Extension Act, which reauthorizes ACPERA and repeals its sunset provision. [2] ACPERA was enacted in 2004 to encourage antitrust violators to cooperate with government prosecutors and private litigants in antitrust cases. Under the Act, if an amnesty applicant into the Department of Justice’s Antitrust… Read more

Dec 21, 2017

Changes to Certain Federal and State Laws Relevant for Israeli Companies with U.S. Operations

A number of you in Israel have asked about the impact of the new U.S. tax law regime. At the time, the reconciliation process between the House and Senate versions was still underway, so it was too soon to know for sure. Now we know. There will be many updates on the Web from various sources, but my colleagues in our Employment Benefits Group have provided one which focuses on this area and will be relevant for those of who have (or who have clients who have) such arrangements in the United States. See here. In addition, a number of… Read more

Jul 11, 2017

Health Care Repeal and Replace, or Repair Instead?

According to multiple sources, the Senate Republicans will introduce an updated version of the Senate’s version of the American Health Care Act, called the Better Care Reconciliation Act (H.R. 1628) (BCRA) this week with hopes of voting on the measure next week. Protests during the July 4th recess and continuing in the halls of the Senate now make passage of BCRA less likely. Up to 10 Republican Senators have expressed reservations about the bill-passage in the Senate requires that all but 2 Republican Senators must vote for the measure. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will be briefing the full 52… Read more

Jun 26, 2017

Health Care Bill-Opposition Continues While CBO to Weigh In On Cost

As previously discussed in this blog, a discussion draft of the Senate version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) was introduced in the Senate last Thursday. Since that time, in addition to unanimous condemnation from the Democrats, including rallies by former Presidential candidate and Senator Bernie Sanders (D., Vt.), several Republican Senators have also voiced their opposition to portions of the bill. In some cases, it is demand for including certain provisions, such as opioid treatment. But the key point of contention appears to be the bill’s treatment of Medicaid. As a reminder, Medicaid is a Federal/State collaboration, with… Read more

Jun 21, 2017

Coming Tomorrow-Draft of Senate Health Care Bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) stated today that a discussion draft of the Senate version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) will be presented tomorrow, with plans for a vote next week before the July 4th break. He also stated that, although the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) still has to determine the cost of the bill, he expected that process would be completed next week. Under the House version of the AHCA, an estimated 23 million people could lose their health care according to the CBO. Senator McConnell said on Tuesday that the Senate health-care bill would… Read more