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Legislation News & Report (TM) The Week in Congress .com (TM) NEW- The Wednesday Galleys "A Democracy is Only A Democracy When You Participate" Week Ending November 16, 2007 Volume 4 Number 37 |
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Other Bills and Resolutions This Week +++ U.S. & The World ----- Pacific Island Agreements Extended; ----- Poland Museum to Get State Dept. Aid; ----- Afghanistan Bombing Condemned; ----- Aid Pledged for Mexican Floods; ---- Managing America +++ Banking & Finance Mortgage Reform Levies Predator Penalties; ---- The Courts Attorney Client Privilege Expanded; ----- Education Education Lending Law Revised; ---- Energy Nothing This Week Environment and Resources ---- California Water Projects Authorized; ---- Government Agencies Nothing This Week Health & Safety ----- ---- ---- Offender Reentry Program Established; ---- Inet. Voice Protocol 911 Service Required; ----- Better Protection for Inet. Transactions; ---- More Resources for Child Inet. Protection; ---- Child Exploitation Authority Expanded; ---- Predators to Register Chat Room Handles; ---- Lung Cancer Threat Accelerates; ---- Military Nothing This Week Miscellaneous Exception to 1$ Vending Machine; ----- ----- Native American Matters Nothing This Week Public Land ---- Taxes Nothing This Week Veterans Nothing This Week --- War on Terror Iraq Supplemental Calls for Redeployment; ----- --- Road Named for Former Representative; --- ---- ---- ---- Civil Rights Capitol Hall Named to Honor Slave Labor; ---- Johnson's Performance Recognized; ---- The President Iran Status as a Threat Extended; ---- ---- |
Iraqi Security Force Member (red cap) and U.S. Troops Escort Prisoner
SUPPLEMENTAL PROVIDES FUNDS, REQUIRES IMMEDIATE REDEPLOYMENT FROM IRAQ
Troops Would Remain to Protect Embassy, U.S. Interests and to Seek Targeted al Qaeda, Insurgents.
(TheWeekInCongress.com November 15, 2007) The House passed $50 billion in supplemental spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and included some spending for disaster relief and defense health programs.
Funds are included for personnel, procurement, operations and maintenance, the Afghan and Iraqi Security Forces and the Iraqi Freedom Fund. The increase in vehicles that resist mines and improvised explosive devices is also funded. Spending to establish permanent US bases and for intervention in Iraq oil resources is prohibited.
The bill requires a safe and orderly redeployment of troops from Iraq beginning thirty days from the bill's enactment to be completed by year-end 2008. The President and the Department of Defense are directed to produce a report with specific details on the redeployment, the situation regarding Iraq troop readiness, insurgency strengths, Iraq's political situation and the mission of remaining troops. Efforts are to be made to incorporate regional and international help to aid in stabilizing the region.
Other provisions require that the President certify that troops being deployed are mission capable by military standards and that interrogation techniques adhere to the US Army Field Manual on the subject.
The Minority offered the motion to recommit the bill and remove most all provisions other than the spending for military needs and the Iraq and Afghanistan Security Forces. The motion was not agreed to by a vote of 192 to 231. The bill then passed 218 to 203 with 1 voting 'Present'.
The Senate moved to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S 2340, the Senate Minority bill to provide $70 billion in bridge funds for Iraq with none of the additional requirements in HR 4156. That motion to invoke cloture failed 45 to 53. (60 votes required) The Senate then turned to the motion to invoke cloture to proceed to HR 4156. That motion failed in a 53 to 45 vote (60 votes required).
{HR 4156}
HOUSE REVISES FISA
The Bill Sets Specific Provisions Regarding When Court Warrants are Required for Electronic Surveillance of Foreign Intelligence Targets and When They are Not.
Amnesty for Communications Companies not Included.
(TheWeekInCongress.com November 15, 2007) - Congress approved some amendments to the 1978 law in July 2007 but the process was hastily fashioned and the bill amendments were approved with reluctance by some lawmakers concerned that the amendments allowed the government too much freedom to intervene in American’s phone conversations and e-mails. The primary point of contention has been that the amendments to FISA passed in August allow for surveillance of US citizens without a court order.
HR 3773 clarifies when a warrant is needed and is not needed and requires explanations of the reasons for the surveillances. The bill also requires detailed record keeping, inspector general review of surveillance application documents and an audit of surveillances done without warrant from September 11, 2007 to date.
The bill does not include any form of amnesty for communication companies, now involved in civil litigation, who allegedly violated individual rights to privacy of information when they complied with government requests for information after the September 11, 2007 attacks.
{HR 3773} MORTGAGE LENDING PRACTICES OVERHAULED
Loan Originators Would be Required to Qualify, Register and be Certified at the State Level
Predatory Lending Practices are Prohibited
Penalties for Violations Are Established {HR 3915}
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Five Bills Strengthen Anti-Child Pornography Efforts; Raise Awareness on Internet Safety. 'Possession' Redefined Possession of child pornography is redefined to include viewing images with or without downloading or otherwise saving them. Creators and importers of child pornography would be prosecuted for money laundering. Convicted Offenders to Register Online Convicted sex offenders must register current online identifiers they might use in chat rooms and other Internet socializing websites. Distribution of Images and Interstate Commerce Congress leans towards expanding its authority over distribution of child pornography by a determination that the distribution constitutes interstate commerce. Counsel Established to Oversee Investigations A Special Counsel for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction would be established at the Department of Justice to coordinate anti-child pornography efforts at a Federal, State and local level. Public Awareness Raised The Federal Trade Commission to carry out a nationwide program to increase public awareness and proven education regarding Internet safety for families, businesses, organizations and other users.
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