The following is a roundup of political activity going on in Washington and across the nation. It is 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 is not in session.
• Spratt “in early stages of Parkinson’s disease”  -  U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) said today he is suffering from Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system.  Spratt, from York, disclosed his condition in announcing that he will seek a 15th term representing the 5th Congressional District.  (The Herald-South Carolina)

IN THE SENATE

• The Senate is not in session.
• Senators form bipartisan climate bill  -  Three senior US lawmakers are piecing together a sweeping bipartisan energy and climate bill, which looks set to include sweeteners to galvanize support among Republicans and industry groups. (Financial Times)

OTHER NEWS

• Obama to Open Offshore Areas to Oil Drilling for First Time  -  The Obama administration is proposing to open vast expanses of water along the Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the north coast of Alaska to oil and natural gas drilling for the first time, officials said Tuesday. (NY Times)
• Obama signs law finalizing health care, loan redo  -  Finalizing two major pieces of his agenda, President Barack Obama on Tuesday sealed his health care overhaul and made the government the primary lender to students by cutting banks out of the process.  (AP)
• FDA reviewing whether to ban menthol cigarettes  -  Federal officials began grappling Tuesday with one of the thorniest issues surrounding the regulation of tobacco: whether to ban menthol, the most popular cigarette flavoring, which is smoked by millions of Americans every day. (Wash Post)
• Supreme Court restricts whistle-blower lawsuits  -  The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 Tuesday to limit the grounds for some lawsuits brought by whistle-blowers claiming fraud in U.S. health care, defense and other programs. (USA Today)
• Robert Ehrlich says he’ll make another run for Maryland governor  -  Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. said Tuesday that he will try to win his old job back in November, confirming plans for a much-anticipated rematch with Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, the Democrat who defeated him in a bitter contest four years ago. (Wash Post)

FEDERAL GRANT OF THE DAY

• Food Aid Nutrition Enhancement Program- The purpose of the Food Aid Nutrition Education Program (FANEP) is to enhance the short and long-term health of individuals, especially infants and young children, at risk for or suffering from malnutrition by further improving the nutritional content, product composition, packaging and other components of food products delivered through humanitarian assistance programs. FANEP grantees will develop and field test new ready-to-use foods, fortified blended foods, high energy foods, micronutrient powders or other food products designed to improve the nutritional delivery and functional form of humanitarian food assistance provided through the McGovern Dole and the Food for Peace Title II programs. FANEP projects may also field test existing food aid foods that have not yet been approved for use in food aid programs. Eligible applicants include state agricultural experiment stations and cooperative extension services, all colleges and universities, other research or education institutions and organizations, federal and private agencies and organizations and individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. For more information, see USDA. Application deadline: May 13, 2010

TODAY IN HISTORY

• March 31, 1889- On this day, the French tricolor was flown for the first time from the top of the Eiffel Tower by French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel – to mark the tower’s completion.

Source and thanks to www.anchor-consult.com / For more information or to opt-out of this list, contact Anchor Consulting at 703-333-6013 or beacon@anchor-consult.com