First Flurry of Senate Bills of 2009 (111th Congress): Jan 6, 2008

The Senate started the year with a bang, introducing 162 bills and 3 resolutions in their first full day back at work. The House did not introduce any bills yesterday, spending much of the day swearing in Members and electing Members to standing committees.

So below, I've pasted the 1st official bill introduced by Senate for the 111th Congress, as well as 6 other bills of interest:

Here is the 1st official bill introduced in the Senate for the new Congress, which deals with President-elect Obama's and the Congress' first priority of the new year - the economic recovery package:

By Mr. REID (D-NV) (for himself, Mr. LEVIN (D-MI), Mr. KERRY (D-MA), Mr. KENNEDY (D-MA), Mr. BEGICH (D-AK), Mrs. BOXER (D-CA), Mr. DURBIN (D-IL), Mr. MENENDEZ (D-NJ), Mr. BINGAMAN (D-NM), Mr. CASEY (D-PA), Mr. LAUTENBERG (D-NJ), Ms. STABENOW (D-MI), Mrs. MCCASKILL (D-MO), Mr. LIEBERMAN (I-CT), Ms. KLOBUCHAR (D-MN), Mrs. CLINTON (D-NY), and Mr. SCHUMER (D-NY):

S. 1. A bill to create jobs, restore economic growth, and strengthen America's middle class through measures that modernize the nation's infrastructure, enhance America's energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need, and for other purposes; read the first time. Source: GPO [S39]


Here is a bill introduced by Democratic Senators to review the regulations President Bush issued in his final days occupying the White house:

By Mr. REID (D-NV) (for himself, Mr. LEVIN (D-MI), Mr. KERRY (D-MA), Mr. BEGICH (D-AK), Mr. DURBIN (D-IL), Mrs. BOXER (D-CA), Mr. MENENDEZ (D-NJ), Mr. BINGAMAN (D-NM), Mr. CASEY (D-PA), Mr. LAUTENBERG (D-NJ), Ms. STABENOW (D-MI), Mrs. MCCASKILL (D-MO), Ms. KLOBUCHAR (D-MN), Mrs. CLINTON (D-NY), Mr. SCHUMER (D-NY), and Ms. MIKULSKI (D-MD)):

S. 8. A bill to return the Government to the people by reviewing controversial ``midnight regulations'' issued in the waning days of the Bush Administration; read the first time. Source: GPO [S39]


Here is a bill to beef up work requirements of Federal prison inmates:

By Mr. ENSIGN (R-NV):

S. 41. A bill to require a 50-hour workweek for Federal prison inmates, to reform inmate work programs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [S39]


This bill is designed to help homeowners who are underwater (mortgage more than home value) restructure mortgages on their principal residences:

By Mr. DURBIN (D-IL) (for himself, Mrs. BOXER (D-CA), Mrs. FEINSTEIN (D-CA), Mr. HARKIN (D-IA), Mr. SCHUMER (D-NY), and Mr. WHITEHOUSE (D-RI)):

S. 61. A bill to amend title 11 of the United States Code with respect to modification of certain mortgages on principal residences, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [S39]


Here's a bill to ensure illegal immigrants cannot obtain credit cards, as the 9/11 hijackers did.

By Mr. VITTER (R-LA):

S. 84. A bill to close the loophole that allowed the 9/11 hijackers to obtain credit cards from United States banks that financed their terrorist activities, to ensure that illegal immigrants cannot obtain credit cards to evade United States immigration laws, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Source: GPO [S39]


Another bill by Vitter, who was busy introducing a schload of bills yesterday, requiring all felons to provide DNA samples:

By Mr. VITTER (R-LA):

S. 106. 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 [S39]


And finally, a tri-partisan bill to provide DC a voting seat and Utah an additional seat in the House of Representatives:

By Mr. LIEBERMAN (I-CT) (for himself, Mr. HATCH (R-UT), Mr. LEAHY (D-VT), Mr. KENNEDY (D-MA), Mrs. CLINTON (D-NY), Mr. DODD (D-CT), Mr. SANDERS (I-VT), Mr. KERRY (D-MA), Mr. DURBIN (D-IL), and Mr. FEINGOLD (D-WI)):

S. 160. A bill to provide the District of Columbia a voting seat and the State of Utah an additional seat in the House of Representatives; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Source: GPO [S39]

The 111th Congress Begins Today - Jan. 6th, 2009

The House and Senate will officially kick off the 111th Congress today, and new Members will be sworn in. There are still several seats still to be filled (Senate seats for Illinois and Minnesota will remain open for time being and there will be a April 7th special election for Rahm Emanuel's Congressional seat).

The Economic Recovery package is the top priority for lawmakers as they return today, with hopes of the package being ready for President-elect Obama to sign into law before the end of the month.

The other priority will be to finish the fiscal 2009 appropriations process before March 6th, when the stopgap funding runs out.

The next year or two are going to be a hell of a ride.

Postings will start back up on normal schedule tomorrow as the 111th has finally kicked off!