TWICJUN8

The Senate continued unsuccessfully to complete amending S 1348, the immigration reform bill that aimed to approach identifying the estimated 12 to 20 million foreign workers in the US without documentation, document those who qualify and remove those who do not qualify to work in the US for various reasons.

The bill approached the task with border security provisions, interior enforcement of immigration laws, new visa-types, modifications of other visa-types, and provisions allowing undocumented workers already in the US to pursue a path to become documented and, in some cases, to permanent residency. .

A fairly common Senate procedure to modify, replace or remove provisions of a bill with an 'amendment in the nature of a substitute (to the bill)' brought forth other amendments to modify, add or reinstate provisions in the underlying bill. Amendments grew to over 300. It is, then, the amendment activity to the substitute that express concerns with or support for the underlying bill and the proposed substitute.

Comments by the Majority leader indicate that were Senators determined to defeat the bill due to partisan provisions within it. Opposition to the bill held that invoking cloture on the bill would eliminate their ability to bring some of their amendments to the floor for debate and vote.

The bill found opposition and support from both parties. A cloture vote (to proceed) on the substitute failed 63 to 33 with the support of 15 Majority Senators joining the 48 Minority Senators. That vote removed the Kennedy substitute amendment from the table leaving the underlying bill still open for debate A final cloture vote on the bill was a reconsideration of the cloture vote on the substitute amendment. The effort failed to gain the necessary 60 votes, 45 to 50.

{The motion to invoke cloture on the Kennedy substitute vote 33 to 63}

{The motion to reconsider the motion to invoke cloture on the Kennedy substitute Vote 45 to 50}

{S 1348 with amendments added when provisions were modified and with votes on the amendments}

{Amendments to S1348 with votes}

HOUSE BILL INCREASES ACTIVITIES

IN AFGHANISTAN

Military and Non-military Aid Increased

Bill Calls for Detailed Oversight With

Increased U.S. Involvement

Drug Interdiction, the primary non-military aid provided, is approached by encouraging Afghan farmers to grow crops other than opium poppy and perhaps receive a subsidy to pay the difference between profits from poppy cultivation and lower profits from non-narcotic crops. Non-military spending also provides assistance for energy projects along with a student exchange program and funds for support of Democratic Institutions.

A $300 million drawdown of the existing inventory of military goods and services is coupled with provisions that require a "detailed report, based on indicators and measures that gives a clear picture to Congress on political, economic and military stability in Afghanistan."

{HR 2446 with votes}

Stem Cells: Chad Cowan, Jacob Zucker, Doug Melton

STEM CELL DEBATE RESURFACES IN THE HOUSE

The House agreed with the Senate bill passed earlier this year that allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to support research that uses human stem cells. The bill would replace a law created last year that only allowed for Federal support for research using similar cells extracted from the umbilical cord after birth but prohibited Federal spending for research involving stem cells.

{S-5}

{Vote}

BILL PROHIBITING HUMAN CLONING FAILS IN THE HOUSE

The bill provides $10 million in fines for attempting to clone a human or transfer the technology to do so.

{Report with vote}

Bills Aim to Increase Study Abroad; Simplify Search for Education grants; Provide Grants for Green Energy Research and Stir Hydrogen Research

Study in Middle East Supported by Grants

The bill aims, in the interest of national security, to increase by one million students yearly over ten years.

{HR1469}

Database to Ease Scholarship Search

Sources of student scholarships for the study of science, technology, engineering, or math would link to sources and provide details.

{HR 1501}

Grants for Green Energy Research

Grants aim to produce ways to improve energy efficiency in buildings.

{HR 1716}

Prizes Awarded for Innovative Hydrogen-fueled Products

New technologies for production and delivery of Hydrogen, Hydrogen fuel celled vehicles and other products may win financial prizes.

{HR 632}

THE SENATE WILL TAKE UP

HR 6, AN ENERGY BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE IN JANUARY 2007