Wed 30 Sep 2009
The following is a roundup of political activity going on in Washington and across the nation. It’s courtesy of Scott Wilk, Community Organizer, and Anchor Consulting group. The Beacon will be posting these daily as they become available.
In the House:
- The House will convene at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.
- Last votes are expected at 3:00 p.m.
- I) One Minutes (15 per side)
- II) Suspensions (17 Bills):
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- H.Res. 731 – Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the employees of the Department of Homeland Security should be commended for their dedicated service on the Nation’s front lines in the war against acts of terrorism (Sponsored by Rep. Clarke / Homeland Security Committee)
- H.Res. 517 – Congratulating the University of Washington women’s softball team (Sponsored by Rep. McDermott / Education and Labor Committee)
- H.Res. 769 – Recognizing the benefits of service-learning as a teaching strategy (Sponsored by Rep. Platts / Education and Labor Committee)
- H.Res. 487 – Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the State News at Michigan State University (Sponsored by Rep. Rogers (MI) / Education and Labor Committee)
- H.Res. 90 – Supporting the goals and ideals of National Campus Safety Awareness Month (Sponsored by Rep. Sestak / Education and Labor Committee)
- S.Con.Res. 41- A concurrent resolution providing for the acceptance of a statue of Helen Keller (Sponsored by Sen. Sessions / House Administration Committee)
- H.Res. 692 – Supporting the goals and ideals of Tay-Sachs Awareness Month (Sponsored by Rep. Arcuri / Energy and Commerce Committee)
- H.Res. 314 – Honoring and saluting Hillerich & Bradsby Co. (Sponsored by Rep. Yarmuth / Energy and Commerce Committee)
- H.R. 3663 – Delays the date on which the accreditation requirement under the Medicare program applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies (Sponsored by Rep. Space / Energy and Commerce Committee)
- S. 1289 – Foreign Evidence Request Efficiency Act (Sponsored by Sen. Whitehouse / Judiciary Committee)
- H.R. 1727 – Managing Arson Through Criminal History Act (Sponsored by Rep. Bono Mack / Judiciary Committee)
- H.Res. 757 – Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims (Sponsored by Rep. Edwards (MD) / Judiciary Committee)
- H.R. 1333 – Exempts the transportation, shipment, receipt, or importation of explosive materials for delivery to a federally recognized Indian tribe or an agency of such a tribe from various Federal criminal prohibitions relating to explosives (Sponsored by Rep. Grijalva / Judiciary Committee)
- H.Res. 739 – Honoring the life of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug (Sponsored by Rep. Boswell / Foreign Affairs Committee)
- H.Con.Res. 151 – Expressing the sense of Congress that China release democratic activist Liu Xiaobo from imprisonment (Sponsored by Rep. Minnick / Foreign Affairs Committee)
- H.Con.Res. 51 – Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty (Sponsored by Rep. Tiberi / Foreign Affairs Committee)
- S. 1707 – Authorizing appropriations for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to promote an enhanced strategic partnership with Pakistan and its people (Sponsored by Sen. Kerry / Foreign Affairs Committee)
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- Postponed Suspension Votes (3 Bills):
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- H.R. 2442 – Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act (Sponsored by Rep. George Miller / Natural Resources Committee)
- H.R. 1771 – Chesapeake Bay Science, Education, and Ecosystem Enhancement Act (Sponsored by Rep. Sarbanes / Natural Resources Committee)
- H.R. 1053 – Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act (Sponsored by Rep. Wittman / Natural Resources Committee)
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- Special Orders
- Nancy Pelosi’s risky purity - The Constitution doesn’t say much about the office of the Speaker of the House, other than, “The House of Representatives shall chose their Speaker and other officers.” (Politico)
In the Senate:
- The Senate convenes at 10:00am.
- Morning business will be for 1 hour with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.
- Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R.2918, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act with the time until 4:30pm equally divided and controlled between Senators Nelson (NE) & Murkowski or their designees. If any points of order are raised, any roll call votes on the motion(s) to waive will occur at approximately 4:30pm. Therefore, the Senate can expect a series of at least 3 roll call votes at approximately 4:30pm.
- 12:30pm – 2:15pm – in recess for the weekly party luncheons
- Gregg pushes back as Dems try to delay a vote to raise debt limit - Senate Democrats are expected to delay a vote to increase the debt limit to $13 trillion, a move designed to avoid having the debate during the healthcare reform battle. (The Hill)
Other News:
- Senators Reject Pair of Public Option Proposals - After an intense debate that captured the essence of the national struggle over health care, a pivotal Senate committee on Tuesday rejected two Democratic proposals to create a government insurance plan to compete with private insurers. (NY Times)
- Geithner says the Federal government needs more power to prevent bailouts - The Obama administration is taking steps to defend its financial reform plan against critics who are arguing that it enshrines a long-term role for Washington to bail out Wall Street. (The Hill)
- Number, role of Obama’s policy ‘czars’ spark debate - The latest skirmish between conservatives and the Obama administration — the proliferation of “czars” named by the president to handle pressing issues — is prompting efforts in Congress to put limits on the White House. (USA Today)
- Federal stimulus-monitoring website gets an update - Recovery.gov now allows searching by ZIP Code to look up projects in specific areas. Here’s where some of the money went: The $9.5-million overhaul was paid for with stimulus funds. (LA Times)
- Senate draft climate-change bill calls for 20% cut in greenhouse emissions by 2020 - The measure seeks stricter limits than those approved by the House. But it puts many details off for later — an indication that top Democrats are willing to negotiate to ensure a bill will pass. (LA Times)
- Clinton Site Gets a Taste of the Stimulus Pie - Arkansas Governor Allots $2.5 Million of State’s Share of Federal Money to Stalled Renovation Project at Presidential Center (WSJ)
Federal Grant of the Day:
- EPA – Clean Air Research Centers- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications for Clean Air Research Centers. EPA is interested in supporting research on the health effects of exposure to particulate matter (PM), ozone, and other air pollutants, both singly and in multipollutant atmospheres. Priority research areas include: explaining regional and temporal differences in air pollution risk; determining the origins and transformations of multipollutant atmospheres and their constituents; defining exposure/concentration-response relationships; assessing susceptibility; understanding PM effects in a multipollutant context; and developing greater understanding of PM and ozone health effects. EPA is seeking proposals for integrated, multidisciplinary research centers that will advance understanding air pollution and human health effects. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, private and public institutions of higher education and others. The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is November 16, 2009. See EPA for more information.
Today in History:
- September 30, 1955- On this date, actor James Dean was killed in a car accident at the tender age of 24; he was laid to rest at Park Cemetery in his hometown of Fairmount, Indiana. His last meal occurred at the Saugus Café in Santa Clarita, California.
Source and thanks www.anchor-consult.com / For more information, contact Anchor Consulting, LLC at (703) 333-6013 or swilk@anchor-consult.com
