Women Entrepreneurs & Drug Test Masking Agents: July 14, 2008

Only a few bills introduced in the Senate and most of them deal with annual appropriations, however, here is a bull to reauthorize program dealing with women's business development:

By Mrs. HUTCHISON (R-TX):
S. 3262. A bill to reauthorize the women's entrepreneurial development programs of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Source: GPO [S6650]

On the House, an interesting bill introduced to combat drug masking agents:

By Mr. ENGEL (D-NY)(for himself, Mrs. SCHMIDT (R-OH), and Mr. TERRY (R-NE)):
H.R. 6486. A bill to prohibit the manufacture, marketing, sale, or shipment in interstate commerce of products designed to assist in defrauding a drug test; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Source: GPO [H6472]

Wildfires & Volunteer Fire Stations: July 11, 2008

The House was not in session on Friday, only the Senate was in, and they were only in briefly. There were small number of bills introduced, but there is one that is timely with all the problems wildfires are causing out west:

By Mr. REID (D-NV) (for Mrs. BOXER (D-CA)):
S. 3256. A bill to provide a supplemental funding source for catastrophic emergency wildland fire suppression activities on Department of the Interior and National Forest System lands, to require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a cohesive wildland fire management strategy, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Source: GPO [S6604]

Sticking with the fire fighting theme, here is a bill from early last week in the House to help volunteer fire stations with rising fuel costs:

By Mr. ALTMIRE (D-PA)(for himself, Mr. PLATTS (R-PA), and Mr. RYAN (D-OH)):
H.R. 6461. A bill to assist volunteer fire companies in coping with the precipitous rise in fuel prices; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Source: GPO [H6407]

Foot and Mouth Argentina & National Speed Limit: July 10, 2008

In the Senate, here is a bipartisan bill introduced to deal with growing food concerns. This bill deals solely with Argentina and Foot and Mouth disease:

By Mr. JOHNSON (D-SD)(for himself, Mr. ENZI (R-WY), Mr. TESTER (D-MT), Mr. BARRASSO (R-WY), Mrs. MCCASKILL (D-MO), Mr. DOMENICI (R-NM), Mr. DORGAN (D-ND), Mr. ALLARD (R-CO), Mr. SALAZAR (D-CO), and Mr. NELSON (D-NE):
S. 3238. A bill to prohibit the importation of ruminants and swine, and fresh and frozen meat and products of ruminants and swine, from Argentina until the Secretary of Agriculture certifies to Congress that every region of Argentina is free of foot and mouth disease without vaccination; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Source: GPO [S6559]

On the House side, I imagine this one will cause some controversy, as I think any bill dealing with speed limits (increase or decrease) would be. Rep. Speier is the newest Member of Congress:

By Ms. SPEIER (D-CA):
H.R. 6458. A bill to establish a national maximum speed limit of 60 miles per hour on highways, and 65 miles per hour on portions of the National Highway System located outside of an urbanized area; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Source: GPO [H6405]

Fisherman Fuel Credits & Health Coverage For All: July 9, 2008

Only a couple bills introduced in the Senate yesterday, he's one of the many bills Congress and Senate have introduced in recent weeks to help offset the rising fuel costs in different industries throughout the country:

By Ms. MURKOWSKI (R-AK) (for herself and Mr. STEVENS (R-AK)):
S. 3234. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a temporary income tax credit for commercial fisherman to offset high fuel costs; to the Committee on Finance. Source: GPO [S6504]

In the House, a major bill with decent support to provide affordable and guaranteed private health coverage:

By Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (D-FL)(for herself, Mrs. EMERSON (R-MO), Mr. BAIRD (D-WA), Mr. BLUMENAUER (D-OR), Mr. COOPER (D-TN), Mr. DAVIS (D-AL), Mr. ENGLISH (R-PA), Ms. ESHOO (D-CA), Ms. HARMAN (D-CA), Mr. HASTINGS (D-FL), Mr. HINOJOSA (D-TX), Ms. HOOLEY (D-OR), Mr. LIPINSKI (D-IL), Mr. MEEK (D-FL), Mr. MORAN (D-VA), Mr. SNYDER (D-AR), Ms. TSONGAS (D-MA), Mr. WELCH (D-VT), Mr. WU (D-OR), Mr. DICKS (D-WA), and Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (R-FL)):

H.R. 6444. A bill to provide affordable, guaranteed private health coverage that will make Americans healthier and can never be taken away; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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 [H6342]

Green Roofs & Fuel-Efficient Vehicles: July 8, 2008

Both the House and Senate are back in full force. On the Senate side, here's a bill to offer tax credits for 'green roofs'. I have to admit i love the look of green roofs and the more plant life we can add is some areas of the country, the better.

By Mr. SMITH (R-OR) (for himself and Ms. CANTWELL (D-WA)):
S. 3228. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit for green roofs; to the Committee on Finance. Source: GPO [S6441]


On the House side, Rep. Paul introduced a bill to provide tax incentives to replace your vehicle with a more fuel-efficient vehicle:

By Mr. PAUL (R-TX):
H.R. 6441. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for replacing an automobile with a more fuel-efficient automobile; to the Committee on Ways and Means. Source: GPO [H6229]

Welcome Back & Iran Sanctions: July 7, 2008

Welcome back from 4th of July break. There are 4 weeks in the legislative calendar until the big August recess (which lasts 5 weeks) so there is an awful lot for Members to get done before the break for the summer.

It was a quiet start to the month yesterday, the House was not in session but the Senate started back up and there were only a few bills introduced in the Senate, but this one could have some implications. I'll need to read the text to see the specifics once it is published, but Senator Baucus introduced a bill to impose sanctions on Iran. I don't know if this is to avoid any type of military battle or if this is a precursor to one:

By Mr. BAUCUS (D-MT):
S. 3227. An original bill to impose sanctions on Iran and for other purposes; from the Committee on Finance; placed on the calendar. Source: GPO: [S6362]

4th of July Recess: June 28 through July 7

Congress is on recess until Tuesday, July 8th - Have a great 4th of July break!