National Write Your Congressman’s Mission
To encourage responsible
Americans to use their influence in government to preserve the freedoms set
forth by our Founding Fathers.
REVIEW
Credit Card Bill of Rights: The House passed a bill by a vote of 279 - 147 that aims to establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of credit. It would require a 45 day advance notice for rate increases and a 30 day advance notice for account closures. The bill goes next to the President to be signed into law. (H.R.627)
FAA Appropriations: The House passed a bill by a vote of 277 - 136 to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for 2010 through 2012. It revises requirements for airport improvement programs and directs the FAA to develop a monitoring system for flight service staff and service contracts. (H.R.915)
Job Creation: The House passed the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act by a vote of 406 - 15. It would establish a veterans Business Center program. It would provide entrepreneurial training and procurement assistance to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. (H.R.2352)
War Supplemental Appropriations: The Senate passed a bill that would make supplemental appropriations for FY2009 for the Department of Defense. The vote was 86 - 3. The bill provides around $91.3 billion in funding. It was stripped of money for the Guantanamo Bay facility closure. (H.R.2346)
Climate Change: Legislation to address global warming was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. With a goal of creating “green” jobs and driving economic recovery, lawmakers are expressing widely differing points of view. Some want to analyze the “indirect effects” of biofuels. (H.R.2454)
National Institute of Health (NIH): Senate appropriators have expressed an interest in extending the time given to NIH to spend $10.4 billion in new research money it received under the economic stimulus law.
Auto Dealers Reprieve: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) has proposed using the war funding supplemental to give thousands of Chrysler dealers slated for closure next month a temporary reprieve. (S.1054)
Call for Investigation: The House rejected a Republican resolution to investigate Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) assertions that the CIA misled her during a 2002 classified briefing on harsh interrogation techniques. Agency records indicate that Rep. Pelosi was briefed on the use of waterbording in 2002. She has maintained she did not learn until 2003 that such techniques were used.
Cigarette Smuggling: The House passed legislation aimed at curbing the illegal sale and smuggling of tobacco. The bill would require tobacco sellers to verify the age of buyers who purchase tobacco products online or over the phone. (H.R.1676)
Pentagon Purchasing: The House passed legislation to revamp how the Pentagon purchases major weapons systems. The bill adds new oversight regulations to the Defense Department’s procurement process. (S.454)
Municipal Bond Market: House tax writers report that portions of this year’s economic stimulus law designed to assist the municipal bond market need to be extended and enhanced.
Veterans’ Gun Rights: The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee approved a bill that seeks to ensure that veterans are not wrongfully denied the right to bear arms. More than 117,000 have been determined to need assistance managing their benefit payments and have had their names submitted to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, a database used to prevent individuals with mental illness or criminal records from buying firearms. (S.669)
Renewable Electricity: A renewable power mandate has passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee. It would require that 15 percent of the nation’s electricity come from renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2021, a fivefold increase from the 3 percent produced today.
PREVIEW
The Senate and the House are taking a Memorial Day recess and are scheduled to reconvene Monday, June 1, 2009. The Senate is expected to address the U.S. - Panama Trade Deal. The House will consider a national fuel efficiency policy.
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Robin Tucker
Posts
1 comment:
Since when is buying cigarettes online considered smuggling? Seriously. My aunt got hit with a 10k tax bill after buying online for a few years. 10K - Aren't these taxes supposed to make people want to stop smoking? Why don't they support these e cigarettes as well instead of pumping out lies??
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