U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, alongside Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, introduced a bill Tuesday to reform the National Labor Relations Board (NLBR). The “NLRB Reform Act,” targets ending “partisanship” on the board, encouraging timely decisions and reining in activist NLRB general counsels, the Nashville Business Journal reports. Alexander’s bill would increase the NLRB board from five members to six, requiring three Democrats and three Republicans (a majority of 4 would be needed to make a decision). “Thousands of private-sector workers in Tennessee are affected by decisions made at the National Labor Relations Board – which for too long has been acting as an advocate for one interest or another instead of an impartial umpire,” Alexander said. “It’s time for the board to restore stability to workplaces in Tennessee and throughout the country – with nonpartisan decisions made more quickly, assisted by a neutral general counsel.”

Congress' must-pass budget bill ignores the Obama administration's request to accelerate spending on immigration courts to handle the flood of unaccompanied minors at the border, WATE reports from the Associated Press. Immigrant advocates complained that House Republicans who wrote the bill focused on detaining Central American youths and families who crossed the border while ignoring the need for more immigration judges to hear their cases, and lawyers to represent the youths. "The resolution includes only funding for the prison staffing and no accelerated spending for the judges who hear their legal claims," said Michelle Brané, director of the Migrant Rights and Justice Program at the Women's Refugee Commission.

The U.S. House of Representatives has hired BakerHostetler to sue President Obama for allegedly overstepping his powers by taking executive actions to revise the health-care law, the ABA Journal reports. The lead lawyer named in the contract is BakerHostetler partner David Rivkin, who outlined the legal theory supporting a lawsuit in a Wall Street Journal op-ed (subscription required) published on July 30. 

Short on votes, House Republicans abruptly abandoned a bill today to address the immigration crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border after last minute maneuvering failed to lock down conservative support. The developments were a disappointment for many House Republicans who were eager to produce a legislative solution to the situation on the border. Today marked Congress' final day of action ahead of a five-week summer recess. WSMV has more from the Associated Press.

House Republicans unveiled a scaled down bill Tuesday to address the immigration crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border by sending in National Guard troops and speeding migrant youths back home, the Associated Press reports. The bill would cost $659 million through the final two months of this fiscal year, less than the $3.7 billion requested by President Barack Obama. The measure also includes policy changes that would allow unaccompanied youths who have been arriving at the U.S. border to be sent back home without judicial hearings. House leaders predicted the bill would be on the floor on Thursday. If it does pass the House, the bill is certain to be rejected by the Democratic-run Senate, which was set to take a procedural vote on its own border package Wednesday. WRCB TV has the AP story.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, and congressional Democrats are targeting predatory lenders with new legislation aimed at capping high fees and interest rates than can eclipse 300 percent. The Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act would limit interest rates and fees at 36 percent for all consumer credit transactions, a rate cap that currently applies only for military personnel and their families. The Memphis Business Journal has more.

House Republicans announced today that they will recommend dispatching the National Guard to South Texas to help overwhelmed Border Patrol agents, increase the number of immigration judges, provide assistance to Central American nations and change a 2008 trafficking law that guarantees immigration hearings for Central American youth. Republicans also reportedly are looking to pare down President Barack Obama's $3.7 billion emergency spending request, the Associated Press reports. In response, the White House, Democrats and immigration advocates called for action on a "clean" spending bill without any controversial policy changes attached. WRCB-TV has the story.

U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais announced Friday that he has neck cancer and will undergo extensive therapy beginning this week. The Jasper Republican said his doctors have told him there is a 90 percent cure rate, the Tennessean reports. DesJarlais, 50, said he will continue his campaign for a third term. He faces state Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville in a heated primary on Aug. 7.

U.S. House Republicans took the initial step yesterday to sue President Barack Obama over the administration’s decision to delay the employer mandate of the health care law. Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced that Republicans had released a draft resolution that would authorize the House to file suit amid GOP criticism that the president has declined to faithfully execute the laws of the country. Boehner’s actions on the lawsuit come as some Republicans are demanding the far more formidable step of impeachment. The Jackson Sun has more.

National Democrats have introduced legislation to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision by exempting federally mandated health benefits, such as contraception coverage, from the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the Nashville Business Journal reports. The Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act would prohibit for-profit companies from using religious beliefs to deny employees' coverage for contraceptives or any other essential health benefit required under the Affordable Care Act.