Mentoring & Quitting Smoking: June 26, 2008

In the Senate, here is a bill to create and support mentoring programs - I'm a big believer in the power and positive influence of mentoring:

By Mr. KERRY (D-MA)(for himself, Mr. SPECTER (R-PA), Mr. COLEMAN (R-MN), and Mr. AKAKA (D-HI)):
S. 3200. A bill to develop capacity and infrastructure for mentoring programs; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Source: GPO [S6286]

On the House side, as someone who knows full well the power of tobacco addiction, here is a bill to use several different health programs to promote quitting tobacco:

By Ms. DEGETTE (D-CO) (for herself and Mr. PLATTS (R-PA)):
H.R. 6393. A bill to amend titles V, XVIII, and XIX of the Social Security Act to promote tobacco use cessation under the Medicare Program, the Medicaid Program, and the maternal and child health program; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. Source: GPO [H6174]

Mental Health Youths & Cops with Guns: June 25, 2008

On the Senate side, a vague bill which will require reading of legislative language to see how they plan to do this, but it certainly has good intentions to help younger folks with serious mental disorders:

By Mr. SMITH (R-OR) (for himself and Mr. DODD (D-CT)):
S. 3195. A bill to provide assistance to adolescents and young adults with serious mental health disorders as they transition to adulthood; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Source: GPO [S6158]

In the House, this may be a controversial bill, it provides an exception to firearm mandatory minimums for law enforcement offices who is going after suspects:

By Mr. BRADY (R-TX) of (for himself, Mr. MCCAUL (R-TX), Mr. MARCHANT (R-TX), Mr. SAM JOHNSON (R-TX), Mr. BILBRAY (R-CA), Mr. SULLIVAN (R-OK), Mr. SHADEGG (R-AZ), Mr. ROHRABACHER (R-CA), Mr. JONES (R-NC), Mr. POE (R-TX), and Mr. CULBERSON (R-TX)):

H.R. 6367. A bill to provide an exception to certain mandatory minimum sentence requirements for a law enforcement officer who uses, carries, or possesses a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence committed while pursuing or apprehending a suspect; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [H6089]

LIHEAP & Public Safety Officials Disability: June 24, 2008

On the Senate Side, Sen. Sanders introduces a bill to give additional monies into the LIHEAP program. This is an important program for low-income Americans who cannot afford heat/air:

By Mr. SANDERS (I-VT)(for himself, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. BROWN, and Mr. CARDIN):
S. 3186. A bill to provide funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program; read the first time. Source: GPO [S6019]

In the House, a great bill by Rep. Kuhl to provide benefits to public safety officials who were disabled before the original benefits law was put into law:

By Mr. KUHL (R-NY) of New York:
H.R. 6360. A bill to provide public safety officer disability benefits to officers disabled before the enactment of the Federal public safety officer disability benefits law; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [H6009]

Vet's Dental & Price Gouging: June 23, 2008

On the Senate side, Sen. Burr introduced a bill providing dental benefits to veterans. The more we can do for our soldiers and vets, the better:

By Mr. BURR (R-NC):
S. 3178. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize dental insurance for veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Source: GPO [S5962]

In the House, another bill I'd love to see more of, in light of the huge increases in gas/oil prices:

By Mr. STUPAK (D-MI):
H.R. 6346. A bill to protect consumers from price-gouging of gasoline and other fuels, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. Source: GPO [H5864]

Foster Family Treatment Centers & Iraqi Refugees: June 10, 2008

Sad news this morning on the passing of comedic legend George Carlin, may he rest in peace.

On the Senate side Friday, a bill introduced by Sen. Rockefeller regarding foster children and their family in treatment centers:

By Mr. ROCKEFELLER (D-WV):
S. 3173. A bill to amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to allow children in foster care to be placed with their parents in residential family treatment centers that provide safe environments for treating addiction and promoting healthy parenting; to the Committee on Finance. Source: GPO [S5941]


On the House side, a bill to deal with needs of Iraqi refugees:

By Mr. BERMAN (D-CA) (for himself, Mr. ACKERMAN (D-NY), Mr. DELAHUNT (D-MA), Mr. SHAYS (R-CT), and Ms. ZOE LOFGREN (D-CA) ):
H.R. 6328. A bill to develop a policy to address the critical needs of Iraqi refugees; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Source: GPO [H5796]

Aliens with Shady Pasts & Commercial Product Packaging: June 19, 2008

In the Senate, here is a bill that sends strong message about helping immigrants with shady pasts, though there is bound to be criticisms about whether you need to (and how to) prove the individual knew of the aliens past:

By Mr. SESSIONS (R-LA) (for himself, Mr. DURBIN (D-IL), Mr. COBURN (R-OK), and Mr. CORNYN (R-TX):
S. 3166. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to impose criminal penalties on individuals who assist aliens who have engaged in genocide, torture, or extrajudicial killings to enter the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [S5832]

In the House, Rep. Weiner introduced a bill, as Congress continues to move towards more conservation programs and initiatives, to reduce packaging in commercial products:

By Mr. WEINER (D-NY):
H.R. 6325. A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a plan to reduce the total amount of packaging used on consumer products in the United States; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Source: GPO [H5789]

Commercial Volume & Submersible Vessels: June 18, 2008

In the Senate, two competing bills (that look exactly the same) and is Senate's equivalent to Rep. Eshoo's bill from June 9th dealing with the volume of commercials. Not too sure why they did not co-sponsor a bill together, but nonetheless, I love the concept of the bills:

By Mr. SCHUMER:
S. 3154. A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe a standard to preclude commercials from being broadcast at louder volumes than the program material they accompany; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Source: GPO [S5753]

By Mr. WICKER:
S. 3156. A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe a standard to preclude commercials from being broadcast at louder volumes than the program material they accompany; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Source: GPO [S5753]

On the House side, quite a peculiar bill. I wonder if the odd submarine that appeared in New York last year had anything to do with this:

By Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California (for himself and Mr. POE):
H.R. 6295. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit operation by any means or embarking in any submersible or semi-submersible vessel that is without nationality and that is navigating or has navigated into, through or from waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country or a lateral limit of that country's territorial sea with an adjacent country, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. the State; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Source: GPO [H5570]

Infant Death & Double Decker Horse Transport: June 17, 2008

On the Senate side, will need to read legislative text to understand how the bill will execute the plan, but here is a bill by Sens. Reid and Obama to enhance activities related to stillborn or sudden infant death:

By Mr. REID (for Mr. OBAMA):
S. 3142. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance public health activities related to stillbirth and sudden unexpected infant death; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Source: GPO [S5697]

In the House, here is kind of an odd bill. I'm frightened to think of what incident(s) took place that led to them pushing for this bill.

By Mr. KIRK (for himself, Mr. COHEN, Mr. REICHERT, Mr. WHITFIELD of Kentucky, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. FOSTER, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, and Mr. MOORE of Kansas):
H.R. 6278. A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit the transportation of horses in interstate transportation in a motor vehicle containing 2 or more levels stacked on top of one another; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Source: GPO [H5481]

Text Message Spam & Federal Contracting Transparency: June 16, 2008

The House was not in session yesterday, they will return to work today. On the Senate side, here is a bill introduced by Sen. Smith that I greatly appreciate:

By Mr. SMITH (for himself, Mr. NELSON of Florida, Mr. PRYOR, and Ms. SNOWE):
S. 3138. A bill to prohibit text message spam; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Source: GPO [S5657]

Since the House was out, here is another bill from the Senate. Will need to look at details on how it would work, but it is to increase accountability and transparency of contracting process within Federal Government.

By Mrs. CLINTON:
S. 3139. A bill to provide for greater accountability and transparency in the Federal contracting process, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Source: GPO [S5657]

ANWR Drilling Argument: June 13, 2008

The House and Senate were not in session on Friday, the 13th. Well, the house was in session very briefly, but nothing significant was done.

Since no bills were introduced, here is an interesting argument made by Rep. Brown of GA for oil drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Of course, there are many arguments that can be made in opposition to ANWR drilling from the financial and environmental cost of shipping (pipeline) the oil, as well as arguments about the minimal impact ANWR oil would has on America's dependence on foreign oil.

However, I thought Rep. Broun framed his argument well and like when folks use real life items instead of massive numbers and stats that are hard to wrap one's head around:

Mr. BROUN of Georgia:
'The entire area of ANWR is larger than the combined areas of five States--Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware--yet the proposed drilling area is equal to one-sixth the size of Dulles Airport here in Washington, D.C.' Source: GPO: [H5188]

Hill Watching, June 12, 2008 - Community College Climate Change & Huntington's Disease

On the Senate side, here's a bill to provide climate change workforce training and education at community colleges:

By Mr. SMITH (for himself and Mr. WYDEN):
S. 3124. A bill to require the Secretary of Labor to establish a program to provide for workforce training and education, at community colleges, in the fields of renewable energy and efficiency, green technology, and sustainable environmental practices; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Source: GPO [S5592]

On the House side, here is a bill to help those affected by the genetic neurological disorder Huntington's Disease:

By Mr. FILNER:
H.R. 6259. A bill to require the Commissioner of Social Security to revise the medical criteria for evaluating disability in a person diagnosed with Huntington's Disease and to waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for individuals disabled by Huntington's Disease; to the Committee on Ways and Means. Source: GPO [H5407]

Hill Watching, June 11, 2008 - 14th Amendment Addition & American Made American Flags

On the Senate side, this bill will likely cause some debate. Appears to be pro-life bill, adding 'pre-born' humans to the 14th amendment:

By Mr. WICKER (for himself, Mr. BROWNBACK, Mr. BUNNING, Mr. BURR, Mr. DEMINT, Mr. ENZI, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. THUNE, Mr. VITTER, and Mr. VOINOVICH):
S. 3111. A bill to implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right of life of each born and preborn human person; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [S5523]

In the House, a bill that makes a lot of sense, can't really fathom thought of an American flag hanging over the Capitol being made in China:

By Mr. BRALEY of Iowa:
H.R. 6235. A bill to require the purchase of domestically made flags of the United States of America for use by the Federal Government; to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Source: GPO [H5327]

Hill Watching, June 10, 2008 - Felony DNA & Bisphenol A

On the Senate side, a bill that will likely be controversial, though seems to make sense to me - requiring felons to give DNA sample.

By Mr. VITTER:
S. 3104. A bill to require that all individuals convicted of a felony under State law provide a DNA sample; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source GPO: [S5447]

On the House side, an bill to ban a controversial compound found in many food and beverage containers:

By Mr. MARKEY (for himself and Mr. GRIJALVA):
H.R. 6228. A bill to ban the use of bisphenol A in food and beverage containers; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Source: GPO [H5214]

Hill Watching, June 9, 2008 - Commercial Volume & Vet's Mental Health

House and Senate have a busy week ahead of them. No bills of note introduced in the Senate, but I love this bill introduced in the House which will work to fix annoying issue of commercials being broadcast louder than program you are watching:

By Ms. ESHOO:
H.R. 6209. A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe a standard to preclude commercials from being broadcast at louder volumes than the program material they accompany; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Source: GPO [H5110]


Since there was no bills of note introduced in the Senate yesterday, here is an older bill (June 5th, 2008) providing increased mental health care for vets living in rural areas who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring freedom:

By Mr. BAUCUS:
S. 3095. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program to increase the delivery of mental health services and other health services to veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and to other residents of rural areas, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance. Source: GPO [bill text]

Hill Watching, June 6, 2008 - Electoral College & Constitutional Marriage Ban

Just the Senate was in session on Friday, the House was out of session.

In Senate, here is a bill I think is great, though certainly controversial, to do away with the electoral college system. I have yet to hear a solid argument for the Electoral College in modern American politics:

By Mr. NELSON of Florida:
S.J. Res. 39. A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to abolish the electoral college and to provide for the direct popular election of the President and Vice President of the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [S5366]

Since the House was not in session, here is a bill introduced in the House at the end of May. Surely, many folks will agree strongly with the bill, but I am against any sort of discrimination being added as a law to the Constitution. I have a hard time understanding why anyone would care of 2 men or 2 women get married:

By Mr. BROUN of Georgia (for himself, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. PITTS, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. WALBERG, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr. AKIN, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. GOODE, Ms. FOXX, Mr. LINDER, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. HAYES, Mr. KING of Iowa, and Ms. FALLIN):
H.J. Res. 89. A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [bill text]

Hill Watching, June 5, 2008 - Alzheimer's & Stop-Loss Payments

On the Senate side, Menendez introduced a bill to improve Alzheimer's disease research and education. Alzheimer's, much like Cancer, seems to be one of those horrible diseases that touches nearly every family.

By Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself and Ms. MIKULSKI):
S. 3092. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure sufficient resources and increase efforts for research at the National Institutes of Health relating to Alzheimer's disease, to authorize an education and outreach program to promote public awareness and risk reduction with respect to Alzheimer's disease (with particular emphasis on education and outreach in Hispanic populations), and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Source: GPO [S5204]

On the House side, here is a bill to ensure our soldiers given a stop-loss order are being financially compensated. We must take care of those who are sacrificing so much for our country:

By Ms. SUTTON (for herself, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. KAGEN, Mr. ARCURI, Mr. HARE, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. BRALEY of Iowa, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Ms. RICHARDSON, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. COHEN, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. WOOLSEY, and Mr. YARMUTH):

H.R. 6205. A bill to amend title 37, United States Code, to require the payment of monthly special pay for members of the uniformed services whose service on active duty is extended by a stop-loss order or similar mechanism; to the Committee on Armed Services. Source: GPO [H5043]

Hill Watching, June 4, 2008 - Family Tax Relief & Vet's Housing Tax Credit

Senate spent most of yesterday (and this week) debating the Climate Change bill and the both Chambers are working on the '09 budget this week, so very few bills introduced this week.

That being said, here is a bill in the Senate to provide tax relief to families. Any tax relief for low and middle income folks is key in these critical economic times :

By Mr. SMITH (for himself and Mrs. LINCOLN):
S. 3079. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide income tax relief for families, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance. Source: GPO: [S5039]

In the House, here is a bill to assist vets in purchasing of a principal home:

By Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself and Mr. PUTNAM):
H.R. 6181. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain current and former service members to receive a refundable credit for the purchase of a principal residence; to the Committee on Ways and Means. Source: GPO [H4970]

Hill Watching, June 3, 2008 - Gov't Spending & Child Sex Crime Penalties

In the Senate today, a somewhat vague bill introduced on transparency and accountability of federal spending (the more the better), will have to read legislation in closer detail.

By Mr. REID (for Mr. OBAMA (for himself, Mr. COBURN, Mr. CARPER, and Mr. MCCAIN)):
S. 3077. A bill to strengthen transparency and accountability in Federal spending; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Source GPO: [S4969]

On the House side, I'm all for anything that strengthens penalties for sexual offenses against kids:

By Mr. KELLER of Florida (for himself and Mr. SCALISE):
H.R. 6167. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen penalties for child pornography offenses, child sex trafficking offenses, and other sexual offenses committed against children; to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. Source: GPO [H4877]

Hill Watching, June 2, 2008 - Welcome Back From Recess - Birth Control & Elder Abuse

Welcome back from the Memorial Day Recess, hope everyone had a happy and healthy holiday.

Only the Senate was in session yesterday and the House is off until today.

No bills of note introduced yesterday, so here are a couple bills from before the Memorial Day recess, these were introduced May 22nd.

On Senate side, this is bound to be a controversial bill, requiring equitable coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices:

By Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Mr. REID, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. WARNER, Mr. KERRY, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. DODD, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mrs. LINCOLN, and Mr. MENENDEZ):
S. 3068. A bill to require equitable coverage of prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, and contraceptive services under health plans; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Source: GPO [S4792]

On the House side, an interesting bill to battle elder abuse:

By Mr. YARMUTH:
H.R. 6141. A bill to establish pilot programs that provide for emergency crisis response teams to combat elder abuse; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [H4869]