This week in Washington DC

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To encourage responsible
Americans to use their influence in government to preserve the freedoms set
forth by our Founding Fathers.

REVIEW:

Defense Weapons Acquisition: The Senate passed legislation by a vote of 93 - 0 to overhaul the Pentagon’s weapons acquisition process. The bill’s sponsors warned of a potential conference dispute over the details about the role of a new oversight official. (S.454)

Keep Terrorists Out of America Act: House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) introduced legislation that would seek to keep terrorists from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detention facilities from being transferred or released into the U.S. (H.R.2294)

Supplemental Spending: A House panel approved a supplemental spending measure that would give the Pentagon rather than the State Department control over $400 million in aid to Pakistan.Foreclosure Legislation: The Senate passed a bill (91 - 5) designed to broaden a federal safety net for homeowners on the brink of foreclosure. The measure would also boost the borrowing authority of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. (S.896)

The House passed a similar bill (H.R.1106) in March but the measures differ substantially in a bankruptcy provision and other key areas. Conferees will now hammer out a final bill to present to the President for his signature.Mortgage Reform: The House voted 300 - 114 in favor of the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act that aims to ensure borrowers avoid overly costly mortgages. The bill would ban compensation to loan originators for steering borrowers into higher-priced loans. It would require lenders to ensure borrowers can repay a loan. Under the bill, lenders would face additional liability for offering risky loans and could be forced to either void such mortgage loans or to rework the mortgage into a more stable 30-year fixed rate. Republicans say such language would result in a windfall for trial lawyers. (H.R.1728)

Budget Cuts: The President has asked lawmakers to cut $17 billion in funding from projects that Congress has already approved. The request is part of the fiscal 2010 budget that would eliminate or reduce spending on 121 programs. (S.Con.Res.13)

National Day of Prayer: Several lawmakers criticized President Obama for what they saw as his brush-off of National Day of Prayer observances. Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) issued a statement in which he quoted President Obama as saying, “Although … we have a very large Christian population, we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation…” Click here for more information on this issue.

Energy Legislation: The energy and climate change legislation that the President has said is top priority appears to have stalled in Congress. Bills that would expand renewable-energy production, overhaul the national electricity grid and cap carbon emissions from fossil fuels are being drafted. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has spoken out against the legislation. He said, “I certainly will provide as much push back as I possibly can because I think it’s absolutely the wrong thing to do to raise taxes during a time of recession.”

Financial Fraud Bill: The House passed legislation by a vote of 367 - 59 designed to bolster the government’s ability to combat and recover funds lost to mortgage fraud, securities fraud, financial institution fraud and other frauds related to federal assistance and relief programs such as bailouts. (S.386)

Aviation Financing: The House Ways and Means Committee has indicated support for a bill that would raise additional revenue needed to help modernize the nation’s aging air-traffic control system by raising taxes on some aviation fuels. The proposal would eventually be folded into a $70 billion bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration. (H.R.915)

Radio Royalty Fees: A coalition led by Rep. Jesse Jackson (D-IL) has expressed concern that a bill that would require radio to pay royalty fees to performers and their record labels could drive minority broadcasters out of business. Radio is among the most powerful ways to encourage minorities to vote, the representative said. (H.R.848)

PREVIEW:

The House will continue to consider the Truth in Lending Act. The Senate will address immigration and customs enforcement.

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