TWICOCT26

(TheWeekInCongress.com October 25, 2007) - The House Leadership brought a modified SCHIP bill to the floor that addressed concerns of opponents to the original bill. HR. 976, the original House- and Senate-passed legislation, increased insurance coverage to approximately 4.4 million low-income children raising that programs coverage to 10 million. HR 3963, like HR 976, would cost $60 billion over 5 years and was financed mostly through an excise tax increase on tobacco products. The bill was vetoed by President Bush and the House fell 16 votes short of overriding that veto.

HR 3693 clarifies measures that States can take to verify an applicant's identity and citizenship. HR 976 provided that States can check Social Security numbers with the Social Security administration while 2006 law required documentation such as passports and birth certificates. The CBO reported that applicants dropped off with the documentation requirement and that most applicants who did not continue in the application process because they could not locate documentation. later proved to be US citizens. States will not be paid for coverage of applicants who can not prove citizenship.

HR 976 phased out coverage of childless adults within one year as does HR 3963.

The bill passed with a vote of 265 to 142

HR 976 Conference Report summary (Veto override)

HR 3963

SENATE AMENDS HEALTH, LABOR, AND EDUCATION

APPROPRIATIONS

The bill would spend over $600 billion to fund health research, education and labor programs.

The Department of Labor includes education and training programs, agencies governing workplace safety, pension guarantees, unemployment insurance, and veterans programs among others.

Health and Human services, by far the largest of the three departments in the bill, includes Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs and management, various food programs for women, children, low-income Americans and the disabled. Also under HHS are the 26 or so institutes and centers that study most every illness that Americans encounter, vaccine procurement and safety, development and stockpiling of vaccines and medicines with which to respond to a pandemic whether terrorist initiated or otherwise, and aid to refugees seeking asylum in the US and around the world.

The Department of Education provides numerous programs to help educate the disadvantaged and disabled, various groups such as Native Americans and adult education as well as carrying out programs such as the No Child Left Behind Act in traditional public schools systems. Pell Grants and the promotion and management of other education loan and grant programs also come under the Department.

{HR 3043 with amendments and votes}

AMTRAK REFORM CONSIDERED IN THE SENATE

The bill authorizes outside financial advice, keeps long-distance lines open and improves passenger safety, security and employee training for terror response. Intercity passenger service would be expanded and improved.

S 294

Bills Curtail Terror Chemical; Study 'Homegrown' Terror;

Optimize Industrial Energy Use

Ammonium Nitrate

The Chemical common in fertilizer is also an easily accessible ingredient for bomb making. The bill regulates access to create a paper trail for investigators.

HR 1680

Understanding the Roots of 'Homegrown' Terror.

Seen as a viable threat to the internal security of America, the reasons Americans turn to violence are to be studied.

HR 1955

Industrial Energy

The largest consumer of energy is the US industrial sector. Grants, contracts and cooperative agreements are authorized to study the problem and implement solutions.

HR 3375