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(TheWeekInCongress.com September 27, 2007) The Senate continued amending the $631 billion bill that authorizes spending levels, programs and sets US policy relating to the Department of Defense. Two amendments are in the spotlight this week, one calling for partitioning Iraq into federal districts and another urging the designation the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.

An amendment offered by Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) recognizes that Iraq is in a cycle of sectarian violence that poses a threat to the security of the region and the long-term security of the US. A political settlement between the competing factions, based on Iraq's constitution, is the solution the amendment suggests. The US is urged to encourage the creation of a federal system of government and the division of the country into federal divisions. The amendment would rely on various countries, the UN Security Council and the Gulf Cooperation Council to recognize Iraq's sovereignty while facilitating the transition to the federalist scheme. The trio would urge that pledges of financial help be met, that Iraq's neighbors do not interfere internally with the transition and that Iraq quickly implements a law for the equitable distribution of oil revenues. The amendment was agreed to 75 to 23.

The amendment offered by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), based on testimony from the Defense Department and the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq that began to escalate in earnest since about April 2007 asserting that Iran is providing weaponry used against US troops in Iraq, proposes a 'Sense of the Senate' that Iran should be prevented from turning Shia extremists in Iraq into a 'Hezbollah-like' force to serve its interest in Iraq. The 'Sense' is that it "should be the policy of the United States to combat, contain, and roll back the violent activities and destabilizing influence inside Iraq" of Iran and to do so by designating "the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a foreign terrorist organization". The amendment goes further to establish that designation under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. That particular designation would bring allow the president economic sanction more far reaching than those he is now authorized to implement against the Government of Iran. The amendment was agreed to 76 to 22.

Senator Kennedy (D-MA) offered a successful amendment that allows the US Attorney General to provide to any requesting State, local, or Tribal law enforcement agency, 'technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or any other form of assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any crime' that is motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim. The amendment allow Federal law enforcement to intervene if local law enforcement is not able or willing to investigate such a crime. The motion to invoke cloture on the amendment was agreed to 60 to 39. The amendment passed by voice vote.

Other amendments looked to increase and improve eye care and small business opportunities for veterans, to enhance the hiring of mental health and medical practitioners and to scrutinize plans to move or change the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery and determine why the Tomb has fallen into disrepair. Amendments would also suggest that the military use synthetic oils, that the National Guard should be equipped to accomplish the missions to protect the homeland

Individuals who were served by two drinking water systems at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina between 1958 and 1989 are to be located and notified that they were exposed to the contaminant, tetrachloroethylene.

The Senate is expected to complete work on HR 1585 Monday October 1st.

{HR 1585 with House & Senate Amendments-Votes}

{S 1547}

(Senate Amendments}

{Senate Committee Report-Indexed for Research}

{Senate Committee Statement on earmarks}

HOUSE INCREASES ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON IRAN GOVERNMENT

Penalties Would be Extended Beyond Companies Violating Trade Bans to Subsidiaries and Company Executives

"The bill ratchets up economic sanctions on Iran for the purpose of enhancing diplomatic efforts and insists that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon. The bill implies by reference that Iran is also trying to acquire chemical and biological weapons, ballistic missiles and ballistic missile launch technology."

HR 1400

CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS EXTENDS FUNDS FOR GOVERNMENT THROUGH NOVEMBER 16, 2007

HJR 52

CONGRESS AGREES TO INCREASE PUBLIC DEBT LIMIT
HJR 43

Bills Seek Protection for Popcorn Workers, Extend Some Medical Programs; Reform Flood Insurance Program.

Popcorn

Since 2000, factory workers handling diacetyl, a butter flavoring enhancer, have been afflicted with a lung disease. The bill calls for better dissemination of warnings and worker protection equipment.

HR 2693

Medical Coverage

Senior Medicare premium aid, abstinence education and health care for mothers in transition from welfare to work are extended.

HR 3668

Floods

Flood insurance subsidies are to be reigned in, premiums increased to assure a well funded national program.

HR 3121

SCHIP

The House agreed with Senate amendments to HR 976, the SCHIP bill 265 to 169.

The bill extends and expands the Federal program that provides money to States with which they can cover low-income children not covered by other programs. The bill pays for itself by raising the tax on cigarettes.

The Senate agreed 67 to 29.

The Senate expects to complete HR 1585 during the week ending October 5th and consider several appropriation bills including Defense Appropriations, State and Military Construction.