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Legislation News & Report (TM) The Week in Congress .com (TM) "A Democracy is Only A Democracy When You Participate" May 6, 2011 Edition Volume 8 Number 12 |
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Bills and Resolutions This Week +++ U.S. & The World Nothing This Week ---- Managing America +++ Appropriations & Authorization Bills Nothing This Week --- Banking & Finance Nothing This Week --- Budgets Nothing This Week --- The Courts Nothing This Week ----- Education Nothing This Week ---- Energy Bill Smoothes Expired Oil Drilling Permit Renewal Process; ---- Specific Oil Drilling Permits Expedited; ---- Environment and Resources Nothing This Week ----- Government Agencies Nothing This Week ---- Health & Safety Bill Rescinds Funds For State Med Programs; --- Bill Rescinds Funds For School Health Centers; ---- Taxpayer Funds for Abortions Further Restricted; ---- Immigration Nothing This Week ---- Military Nothing This Week ------ Miscellaneous Nothing This Week ---- Native American Matters Nothing This Week ---- Private Relief Nothing This Week --- Privileged Resolutions ------ Public Land Nothing This Week ---- Taxes Nothing This Week ---- Transportation Nothing This Week ----- Veterans Nothing This Week --- War on Terror Nothing This Week ---- Civil Rights Nothing This Week --- Nothing This Week ---- The President Nothing This Week ----
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HOUSE PASSES TWO BILLS REMOVING FUNDS FROM PROVISIONS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
TheWeekInCongress.com - May 5, 2011 - The House Majority continued, with the passage of two bills this week, its effort to disassemble the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the healthcare reform law passed in March of 2010 .
HR 1213 removes the Secretary of Health and Human Services authority to award grants to states for help establishing insurance exchanges. The exchanges, a key component to the ACA, aiming to make health insurance options searchable and more affordable, are required to be established by 2014. Any unobligated funds are rescinded. HR 1213 passed the House 238 to 183.
HR 1214 removes the Secretary's authority to provide grants to schools or support organizations to establish school-based health centers. The bill passed the House 235 to 191.
HR 1213 Bill report, amendments and votes. HR 1214 Bill report, amendments and votes.
TWO BILLS AIM TO MODIFY ENERGY EXPLORATION PERMITTING PROCESSES
The House is considering to two bills involving the process of off-shore energy extraction.
HR 1229, titled the 'Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act' establishes that Secretary of Interior shall require any lessee operating under an approved plan of energy exploration to obtain a permit before drilling in accordance with the plan and must obtain a new permit before drilling any well of a design that is significantly different than the design for which and existing permit was issued. The Secretary also may not issue a permit without ensuring that the proposed drilling meet all critical safety system requirements (including blowout prevention) and oil spill response and containment requirements. HR 1229 votes will be posted here when available on Friday May 6th. * HR 1230 claims its purpose as restoring tax revenues lost due to restrictions on oil and gas leasing in the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill by expediting the permitting process for four leases in the Gulf and off the coast of Virginia.
The bill report explains, "in 2010 the Secretary of the Interior delayed the Virginia lease sale until 2012 and then later announced that no areas off the Atlantic Coast would be available for leasing and energy development in the next five-year plan (2012-2017). In 2010, the Secretary of the Interior also canceled or delayed two scheduled Gulf of Mexico lease sales from 2011 until 2012.
"H.R. 1230, the report continues, will reverse the Administration's delays by validating the existing completed Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), prepared for these lease sales under the National Environmental Policy Act, and ensuring these lease sales move forward in a prompt, timely and safe manner. H.R. 1230 expands American energy production, creates jobs and generates revenue for taxpayers."
An amendment to the bill requiring that oil and gas extracted from the four exploration sites the bill addresses was defeated 171 to 238.
HR 1230 passed the House
266 to 149. HR 1230 Bill report, amendments and votes (with dissenting views)
SMALL BUSINESS BILL STALLED IN SENATE
After weeks of consideration Senators did not agree to invoke cloture and move the bill, S 493, towards final debate. The bill would extend and expand programs requiring federal agencies to set aside portions of their research and development budgets for small businesses and for other purposes.
The bill is estimated to cost $150 million through 2016 and has been subject to extraneous or unrelated amendments. The cloture vote, 52-44, has derailed the bill's forward motion.
S 493 Bill report, amendments and votes
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Bills Increase Reach of Restrictions on Public Funds for Abortion; And Praise Capture of Osama bin Laden
Abortion
The ability of insurers to provide abortion coverage only when that coverage is paid for privately and without federal assistance would be prohibited under the bill.
HR 3 Bill report, votes and dissenting views. bin Laden
The resolution praises operatives who captured the terrorist leader and reviews the havoc he has spread.
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