Presidential Pardons, Prison Work Requirements and Student Athlete Concussions: November 20, 2008

Congress was back in for three days this week and did work on an economic recovery package and the loan to automakers. The only bill to pass this week was an extension of unemployment benefits for the jobless who have exhausted their benefits.

There were a few interesting bills introduced the past two days.

The first bill is from the House and is aimed to discourage Presidential pardons of members of the administration in the final 90 days of presidency.

By Mr. NADLER (D-NY):
H. Res. 1531. A resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President of the United States should not issue pardons to senior members of his administration during the final 90 days of his term of office; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [H10856]

This next bill from the Senate deals with prison inmate work requirements.

By Mr. ENSIGN (R-NV):
S. 3695. 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 [S10659]

The final bill is another one from the House that addresses the growing problem of student athletes suffering concussions:

By Mr. PASCRELL (D-NJ)(for himself, Mr. PLATTS (R-PA), and Ms. JACKSON-LEE (D-TX)):
H.R. 7274. A bill to amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment and implementation of concussion management guidelines with respect to student athletes, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Source: GPO [H10844]