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Legislation News & Report (TM) The Week in Congress .com (TM) "A Democracy is Only A Democracy When You Participate" September 18, 2009 Edition Volume 6 Number 26 |
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Other Bills and Resolutions This Week +++ U.S. & The World Nothing This Week ---- Managing America +++ Appropriations & Authorization Bills Transportation & Housing / Senate; ---- Banking & Finance Limits on FHA Mortgage Guarantee Raise; ---- SIG to Report on TARP Affect on Small Businesses; --- USPS Allowed to Shift Source of Retiree Fund Payments; --- The Courts Nothing This Week ----- Education U.S. Constitution Should Be H.S. Student Curriculum; ----- Higher Education Spending Revisited; ---- Energy Energy Dept. Grants to Aid Vehicle Research; ---- Energy Holding Co. Looked at for Repeal; --- Environment and Resources Hardwood Inventory Increased; Underused; ----- Government Agencies USPS May take Donations for Commemorative Plaque Production; ---- Health & Safety Senior Healthcare Needs to Increase Rapidly; --- U.S. Ranking for Infant Mortality Falls; --- ---- Safety Efforts Called for as Injuries Increase; ---- Immigration Nothing This Week ---- Military Nothing This Week ------ Miscellaneous Resolution Addresses Heckling the President; ---- Native American Matters Nothing This Week ---- Private Relief Nothing This Week --- Privileged Resolutions ------ Public Land Private Company Gets First Refusal on Public Land Purchase; --- US / Illinois Town End Flood Contract; ---- U.S. Research Facility Gives Land for FL Firehouse; ---- Land Sale Adds to N.C. Forest; ---- Taxes Nothing This Week ---- Transportation Nothing This Week ----- Veterans American Legion Serves Many Since 1919; ---- War on Terror Nothing This Week American Legion Serves Many Since 1919; ----- Kansas Corridor Seen as Animal Science Center; ---- Forest Research Centers Recognized; --- Agency Aids Minority Businesses for 40 Years; ---- Civil Rights ---- Agency Aids Minority Businesses for 40 Years; ---- Absence of Coaches Leaves Many Youth Out of Sports; ---- The President ----- |
Photo: K. Konnors
SENATE AMENDS HOUSE TRANSPORTATION - HOUSING BILL
TheWeekInCongress.com - September 16, 2009 - The Senate continued amending The House-passed Transportation and Housing bill, HR 2388.
The amendments include some contentious issues; an amendment by Senator Johanns (R-NE) prohibit funds for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) by a vote of 83 - 7. Senator Gregg's (R-NH) amendment to prohibit the use of stimulus funds for self-congratulatory signage that allows lawmakers to promote their spending of taxpayer dollars on stimulus projects failed 45 - 52. The Senate agreed 68 - 30 to an amendment by Senator Wicker (MS) that would permit Amtrak passengers to safely transport firearms and ammunition in their checked baggage.
Highway beautification and clearing road kill from federal highways will continue to be a mandated part of funds to states with the 39 - 59 defeat amendment by Senator Coburn (R-TX) aiming to allow states to opt out of that requirement. Similarly, the Coburn attempt to cut funds for low-priority projects such as transportation museums was defeated 41 - 57.
HR 3288 provides appropriations of $69 billion for the Department of Transportation and related agencies. The amount is $14 billion more than was spent last fiscal year and $40 billion less than the President requested. The increase is consistent with improving transportation infrastructure with the goal of increasing mass-transit use and other transportation options and decreasing energy use. the bill also adds funds this year for improving the public housing stock and increasing homeownership.
The bill was agreed to by a vote of 73-25.
HOUSE EXPRESSES DISAPPROVAL OF FELLOW MEMBER
The House agreed 240 to 179, with 5 voting Present disapproving of remarks made by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) during President Obama's address to the House and Senate last week.
Rep. Wilson shouted "You Lie" when the President was explaining that the healthcare bill did not provide free healthcare for illegal aliens, a claim frequently made by Republicans in opposition to the bill. The House bill would not prohibit illegal aliens from purchasing health insurance. The provision aims to reduce the use of unpaid hospital care by illegal aliens.
The resolution, HRES 744, claims that Wilson's remarks were "a breach of decorum and degraded the proceedings of the joint session, to the discredit of the House."
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Bills require SIG report on small business access to TARP Funds; allow USPS to free up operating funds; amend higher education lending programs. Tarp Money Access
Lenders reluctance to lend TARP funds will be scrutinized USPS Annuity Shift
Running in the red, the USPS can pay retirees from another fund. Education Grants and Loans
Education program revised to assure fairness to borrowers. The bill would switch student lending from the subsidized loan program managed by lenders to a direct government loan program reported to save the taxpayers billions.
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