TWICJUN1909

TheWeekInCongress.com - June 16, 2009 - The House and Senate agreed to the conference report to HR 2346, a bill making supplemental appropriations for Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and pandemic flu.

The conference report, an agreement between different bills produced by the House and Senate, would spend $79.9 billion for defense and intelligence activities in Afghanistan and Iraq. $7.7 billion would be spent on a local federal and global level to combat the swine flu.

Policy provisions in the bill cut the provision of $80 million requested by the President to start efforts to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

Under the bill Guantanamo detainees may not be released in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii or DC. or the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii or DC, except to be prosecuted and only after Congress receives a plan detailing risks involved, cost of the transfer, legal rationale and court demands. A copy of the notification must provided to the Governor of the receiving state 14 days before a transfer with a certification by the Attorney General that the individual poses little or no security risk.

Current detainees cannot be transferred or released to another country unless the President submits to Congress 15 days prior, the name of the individual and the country the individual will be transferred to, an assessment of risks posed and actions taken to mitigate them, and the terms of the transfer agreement with the other country, including any financial assistance. The President must submit a report to Congress describing the disposition of each current detainee before the facility can be closed.

The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to report on Iraq troop drawdown status and prohibits the establishment of permanent bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The bill also contains the 'cash for clunkers' provisions of another House-passed bill that provides $1 billion in the form of $3500 and $4500 vouchers for those who trade in for more fuel-efficient vehicles.

HR 2346 passed by House and Senate with amendments and votes.

HR 2346 Conference Report details.

HOMELAND SECURITY SPENDING

House Approves $35 billion, Some Grants Cut, Delayed

The House voted to on passage of the DHS appropriations bill providing more funds than the President requested for several programs including spending for customs and border patrol, Coast Guard, air cargo and container security, and FEMA management.

The bill provided $30 million less than the President's request for immigrations and customs enforcement but the amount, $5.4 billion, is $439 million over FY 2009 spending.

At $248 million, $110 million over 2009 spending, the bill falls short of the President's request by $116 million for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Transportation security will receive $7.7 billion, $84 million below the President's request. The amount, however is $506 million above 2009 spending and the Economic Recovery Act provided $700 million for that security. To hire security inspectors the bill, at $61 million, spends $36 million over last year but the amount is $25 million below the President's request.

Several grant programs came under the budget knife. Eliminated is $407 million for Advanced spectroscopic portal monitors, trucking industry security grants, commercial equipment direct assistance program, regional catastrophic preparedness grants, and candidate protection.

The bill provides oversight of DHS project planning specifically for Deepwater; the Security Border Initiative; the Automated Commercial Environment; US-VISIT; National Cyber Security; National Command and Coordination Capability; BioWatch; and Next Generation Networks.

{Note. This bill will be considered by the House on Friday June 19th or Tuesday June 22nd. Further text and votes will be provided here when they become available.}

HR XXXX bill report, amendments and votes.

HR XXXX summary of bill details

SENATE RESOLUTION APOLOGIZES

FOR SLAVERY IN THE US.

The Senate passed unanimously a resolution apologizing to African-Americans for the enslavement of their ancestors from 1619 and beyond civil rights laws. The resolution makes clear that it does not support lawsuits against the US regarding the issue of slavery or provide for settlement of any cases.

SCR 26

HOUSE AGREES TO IMPEACH TEXAS JUDGE

The House voted near unanimously to support four articles of impeachment against convicted federal judge Samuel Kent. Judge Kent was indicted o felony charges, convicted and and sentenced for sexual harassment and assault and lying under oath.

HRES 520

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Bills aim to encourage tourism profits; consolidate some reporting to Congress; require school trip safety plan; and provide housing for very poor veterans;

New Tourism Office

The mission of the Corporation is to provide information to those interested in traveling to the US, to counter misperceptions about entering the US and to generally promote leisure, business, and scholarly US travel.

S 1023

Agency Reporting

Under the bill Federal agencies that inform Congress of specific information about an agency rule would be required to provide the information only the Comptroller General (GAO).

The GAO will then note major rule changes and make a weekly report to Congress and publish the report in the Congressional Record.
HR 2247

School Trip Safety

Schools sponsoring off-campus, overnight field trips provide parents with a written safety plan

HR 729

Veteran Housing

The bill’s purpose is to expand the supply of permanent housing for very low-income veteran families and provide supportive services to support the needs of those families.

HR 403

The House is expected to be in session on Friday, June 19th for consideration of the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill.

The Senate will continue consideration of S 1023 during the week beginning June 22nd.