TWICNOV609

TheWeekInCongress.com - November 5, 2009 - The House passed HR 2868, a bill that would increase DHS and EPA oversight of facilities that handle chemicals hazardous to the extent that release of them due to a terrorist attack would cause great harm to human life and the environment.

Facilities are exposed to risk-based assessments based on the type and amount of chemicals on site, the population that would be affected upon release of the chemicals, and the site vulnerability. The bill provides funds to aid in compliance through the use of Inherently Safer Technologies.

Some Members, however, opposed the increased security enhancements. They wrote in the bill report, "Against the backdrop of 10 percent national unemployment and projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics pointing to a 16 percent decrease in chemical manufacturing jobs and wages--as well as a frozen credit market and DHS estimates that the existing CFATS program alone will cost $18.5 billion by 2015--we believe that drastically changing the rules of our nation's chemical facility security program is neither wise nor warranted."

HR 2868 bill report, amendments and votes

BILL PASSED TO EXPEDITE CREDIT CARD COMPANIES COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

TheWeekInCongress.com - November 5, 2009 - The House passed 331 to 92, HR 3639, a bill requiring credit card companies to comply with congressional regulation aiming to protect consumers.

"The bill report explains that its purpose is to counter activities of credit card companies who, rather than prepare to implement the bill’s consumer protection provisions have raised interest rates and decreased credit limits on their customers before the effective date of the bill."

The bill expedites implementation of 13 consumer protection requirements that would have gone into effect in August and February 2010. Credit card companies would be required to implement the rules by December 1, 2009. Among the new rules credit card companies must provide written notice to consumers of any increases in the interest rate or otherwise makes a significant change to the terms of a credit card account; Inform consumers of their right to cancel the card before the rate hike goes into effect; are prohibited from applying arbitrary interest rate increases and universal default on existing balances; and are prohibited from charging over-limit fees unless the cardholder elects to allow the issuer to complete over-limit transactions.

HR 3639 bill report, amendments, and votes

SENATE AMENDS HOUSE UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION BILL; HOUSE AGREES

The amended bill would extend unemployment insurance by up to 14 additional weeks for jobless workers and extend benefits for six additional weeks for workers in states with unemployment levels over 8.5 percent.

The bill also extends the availability of a homebuyer credit to homes under a binding contract before April 30, 2010, allowing 60 days to close, a five-year carryback deduction for net business operating losses, and would make military homebuyer assistance --available when selling a home as a result of a permanent reassignment and for other purposes--tax exempt..

HR 3548 bill report, amendment, and votes.

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Bills Fund isotope manufacturing; Provide skills training for Vets; Approve Vet cemetery; Commission ship made of Twin Towers wreckage; Recall mine disaster.

Isotopes Needed

A shortage of foreign sources of medical isotopes prompts bill to make them in the US.

HR 3276

Veteran Training

Qualified veterans can receive financial assistance for needed skills training.

HR 1168

Veteran Cemetery

A new cemetery is approved for southern Colorado.

HR 174

Ship Commissioned

Resolution commemorates commissioning of ship containing wreckage or World Trade Center.

HRES 856

Mine Disaster

The story of the Cherry Mine disaster in Illinois on its 100th anniversary.

HRES 752

The House is adjourned until Monday, November 9th unless it receives notice from the Senate that it will adjourn until Monday, November 16th. If so notified the House will adjourn until Monday, November 16th.