TWICNOV2

(TheWeekInCongress.com November 2, 2007) The Senate completed amending and passed the $11.6 billion spending bill for Amtrak. The Senate approached Amtrak's financial losses with amendments requiring the study of successful mass-rail transit systems in Canada, Germany, Great Britain, and Japan, improved oversight of financial matters and more attention to cost and energy savings in procurements and private sector contracting.

Senators continue to question if long-distance passenger rail lines not producing a profit should be continued, but a 'Sense of the Senate' amendment noted that Amtrak operates 15 long-distance trains over 18,500 route miles that serve 39 States and the District of Columbia and is the only rail service to 23 States. Long distance lines carried 3.8 million passengers in 2006 and brought in revenues of $376 million.

The bill requires improved financial accounting technology and an amendment aims to specify the details of that technology. Amtrak is required to hire an outside financial advisor with rail road experience. Amtrak is further ordered to produce an annual report to Congress that allocates revenues and costs among each of its routes and to produce a short- and long-term plan for operating within its budget limits. Private sector investment is to be encouraged and increased.

Amtrak is to develop a mission statement that includes "efficient and effective intercity passenger rail mobility consisting of high quality service that is trip-time competitive with other intercity travel options."

The Secretary of Transportation is directed to give priority to cost- and energy-effective projects when deciding where to award capital investment grants that support intercity passenger rail service.

Other amendments aimed to study passenger rail service between Scranton, Pennsylvania and Binghamton, New York, require an inspector general report on the rail route between Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Eugene, Oregon, and direct Homeland Security to provide comprehensive preclearance inspections, including customs inspections, at the Pacific Central Station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on that route.

{S294}

SENATE AGREES TO SCHIP II

Amendments Were Not made in Order.

Veto Override Vote Not Expected

(TheWeekInCongress.com-November 2, 2007) The Senate has taken up HR 3963, a bill to provide health insurance to children whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to purchase private health insurance.

The underlying bill varies little from HR 976, the House- and Senate-passed bill that was vetoed by the President last month. The $60 billion price tag over five years remains as does provisions that prohibit access to healthcare coverage for illegal aliens and the $51,000 income cap for families of three.

The prohibition on illegal aliens is clarified, however, and the bill also differs from its predecessor by emphasizing that States should encourage paying health insurance premiums for applicants who are covered by an employer plan. Supporters said that this version of SCHIP reauthorization will add another 100,000 of the lowest-income children to the program.

The Majority Leader announced just prior to the vote on passage that he has come to an agreement with House Leaders that there will not be a veto override vote on the bill should the President veto it.

Although amendments were filed, the Senate took no action on them.

The amendment that may typify opposition to the bill concerns, came from Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC). The amendment would establish a point-of-order (a procedural move to stall or stop legislation) against any bill, resolution or conference report that imposes a Federal mandate resulting in fewer low-income children being covered, that requires employer contributions or private wages that pay for private health care coverage to go to a Federally-run health care program, or that displaces the number of individuals in private health care coverage through the expansion or creation of a health care system run by the Federal Government. The Congressional Budget Office would calculate any legislation in terms of the prohibitions in the DeMint Amendment. Should a point-of-order be made over such legislation, it could be waived or suspended by a 3/5ths vote.

{HR 3963}

Bills Increase Small Business Opportunities for disabled veterans; Aids workers impacted by foreign trade adjustments; Add Safety to Manufactured Homes; Improve Safety of Dams.

Small Business Opportunities

Service-disabled vets are promised priority access to SBA opportunities with oversight provisions in the bill requiring business acumen. Small contract amounts are increased and net worth qualifiers are reduced.

HR 3867

Foreign Trade Impacts

Manufacturing and other workers who lose their jobs due to foreign trade reasons can receive benefits and adjustment training. The bill specifically denies benefits to undocumented aliens.

{HR 3920}

Manufactured Homes

Manufactured homes must come with weather radios to warn against tornadoes and other bad weather.

HR 2787

Dam Safety

Funds are released to assess, repair, replace or restore publicly owned dams.

HR 3224

The Senate is Expected to take up its version of the Farm Bill during the week ending November 9th.

In the House, conference reports on appropriation bills are in play and could come to the floor at any time.