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The Week In Congress .com (TM)

Week Ending September 29, 2006 Volume 3 Number 25

The House of Representatives and the Senate are adjourned until November 14, 2006. The next official edition of TheWeekInCongress.com will be published for the week ending November 17th, 2006. There are some interim 'Special Editions' planned. Either check back for the Special Editions or sign up for our e-mail update reminders.

DETAINEE BILLS PASS

President Authorized

to Interpret Geneva Conventions Provisions

But Not on Grave Issues

No Case Can be Brought in US Courts Relating

to Treatment During Detention Since 9/11

House Bill HR 6166

Senate Amendments Fail

Effort to Reinstate Habeas Corpus Defeated

Senate Bill S 3930

Photo: Alex Lobo

WIRETAPPING DEFINED;

WHO CAN DO IT AND WHY

Under the current 1976 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and subsequent amendments, the PATRIOT ACT in particular, electronic surveillance requires a warrant from the special FISA Court judge either before or within 72 hours of the surveillance. The President, having authorized surveillance without a FISA warrant and after refusing to ask for one after the fact, held that the requirement for a court warrant does not apply to him during times of war. After a federal court decision that rebuffed the President’s actions, this bill aims to make clear what electronic surveillance is, who might be subject to it, who may participate in the process and when and for how long the president may authorize electronic surveillance without a warrant and what may be done with that information in particular. Full story here...HR 5825

Photo: Morguefiles

Immigration, Border Security and The War on Terror

Expressing appreciation for 12,000 Border Patrol Agents HRES 1030

Incentives aimed at recruiting and retaining Border Patrol agents HR 6116

§ Seven hundred mile border fence passes Senate-Sent to President HR 6061 §

Are we safe yet? New group to address bio-terror countermeasures HR 5533

Thanking Great Britain for terror war participation HRES989

Benefits for disabled veterans would rise with Social Security benefit increases S 2562

Bill aims to scrutinize for border control contract abuse HR 6162

Government response preparation for biological attack found deficient, bill would correct S3678

Port Security bill modified in House / Senate Conference-Passed HR 4954

Jump to Military and Homeland Security Appropriation and Authorization Bills

	The U.S. and the World

SUDAN SANCTIONS GAIN MOMENTUM No Provisions to Avert Predicted Massacre *HR 3127* President Urged to Send Special Envoy *HRES 992* Resolution Would Require US 'Air Assets' as Interim Protection of Darfur Civilians-Takes Sides in Sudan North/South Civil War *HRES 723*
*Refugee Shelter-Darfur, Sudan*

Ros-Lehtinen Pushes Iran Sanctions *HR 6198*

New US office would bring five countries and others together to study security technology *HR 4942*
Program exposes young, potential leaders to world cultures *HCR 430*
U.S. to U.N. "No taxing or borrowing to raise funds *HR 1017*

Peru government commended for mirroring US democracy *HRES 940*

A well-meaning Resolution about Lebanon that alters reality *HRES 1017*

U.S. seeks strong enforcement of high seas fisheries *HR 5946*

	MANAGING AMERICA

Green chemistry research to reduce hazardous bi-products and other dangers *HR 1215*
Study would determine feasibility of Latino Museum in Washington, D.C. *HR 2134*
Native American Languages to be studied, taught and preserved *HR 4766*
Library planned in Virginia for President Wilson *HR 4846*
Trademarks and service marks strengthened *HR 683*

Managing Government Agencies
Bill streamlines GSA software services and sends funds to historic lighthouses *HR 2066*
District Of Columbia Government reform provisions *HR 3508*
House of representatives urged to hire disabled veterans *HRES 1016*
Veterans agency moves to protect electronic data *HR 5835*
Coast Guard and NOAA to take on marine debris *S 362*
Railroad Pension Payout Job Returned to Treasury Department-Saves Money *HR 5074*

Homeland Security to sponsor high visibility naturalization ceremonies *HR 5323*
High school science labs offered $10 billion-one year *HR 5106*
Transportation Safety Board spending authorized *S 3679*

THE COURTS
Bill pointing eminent domain cases to Federal court fails in the House *HR 4772*

HOUSE BILL TESTS CONSTITUTION Winners in Religion-based Suits Against Small Government Would be Denied Attorney Fees ACLU vilified *HR 2679*

Copyright & royalty judges get new duties *HR 1036*
Civil Rights claimants would get second chance for settlement *HR 5575*
Shuffling judges to hear patent cases *HR 5418*
The long, strange trip of Southwest Airlines *S3661*

	HEALTH & SAFETY

Social Security funds to help children affected by methamphetamine abuse and addiction *S 3525*

Criminalizing Interstate Transport of a Minor for an Abortion Stalled in Senate Cloture Vote Failed to Stop Fililbuster *S 403*
*Photo: Morguefiles*
Recognizing the illusive Myositis *HRES 974*
Pancreatic cancer among the worst *HRES 745*
Program to fund children's hospitals graduate training extended *HR 5574*

Infant Mortality Rate Rises in U.S. HRES 402

Awareness of infant death raised *HCR 222*
One in seven American youths run away from home-millions on the street *HRES 1009*

Gynecological cancer-fighting foundation in its 15th year *HCR 473*
National Institute of Health may undergo major overhaul *HR 6164*
Fire safety on campus urged *HRES 295*
Emergency need AIDS grants *HR 6143*

	Energy, Public Land & Water

*Photo: M. Connors*
National Park Service Bails Out Bad Debt Left by Defunct Grand Canyon Contractor *HR 3961*

Hydroelectric Energy
Scrutinizing the safety of US dams *HR 4981*
Delayed Hydroelectric dams to be extended Alaska S 176, Wyoming *S244; Idaho HR 4377*;
West Virginia *HR 4417; Connecticut HR 971*;
Utah dam expansion would store more water *HR 3626*

Water
Water bill from 1964 inspires renewed water supply research *HR 4588*
Revised Oregon water district includes conservation measures *HR 5079*
New Mexico seeks State-wide water plan *HR 1711*
Kansas Nebraska water war settled *HR 4750*
California water district to tap private financing *HR 5516*
California water project gets $10 million *HR 6014*
California to try new water reuse plan *HR 4545*


Land Preservation & Transfers
Agriculture to dedicate at least 15% of allotted funds to farmland preservation *HR 5313*
Evangelical missionary school gains Virginia land *HR 5103*
Wisconsin towns buy National Forest Service land for industrial parks *HR 4559*
Nevada National Guard gets Las Vegas airport property *HR 4382*
Great Lakes land patent modified *HR 3606*
Washington land swap adds to recreation areas *HR 4789*
Land conflict settled in favor of Apaches *HR 4876*
Land conflict settled in favor of the Pueblos HR 5842
Department of Interior procrastinates-Yavapai Nation gains $13 million *HR 2464*
Conservation land swap in Arizona *HR 5016*

Park Expansions
Connecticut river studied for parks system inclusion *HR 1344*
One million year-old flood path to become scenic route through four States *HR 383*
Louisiana Park and Preserve to gain 3,000 acres *HR 1515*
House rejects two inclusions to New Hampshire's Wild River Wilderness *HR 5059* & *HR 5062*
Historic preservation society scope expanded *HR 5861*
Delayed disabled veteran memorial in Capital extended *HR 4275*
Lewis & Clark Trail expanded in Nebraska *HR 3871*
River Raisin 1812 battles scrutinized for historic significance *HR 5123*
California lighthouse included in National Conservation System *HR 3534*
Mississippi River to be studied for National Trail inclusion *HR1796*
Revolutionary War battle remembered on its 225th anniversary *HRES 748*

Debris sites from Columbia shuttle disaster could become memorials *HR 5692*

	BANKING & FINANCE

Increasing bank and S & L community investments *HR 6062*
Tweaking Insurance laws in Florida *HR 5637*
Successful public housing renovation program extended *HR 5347*
Mortgage amounts for multi-family housing increased *HR 5503*
Bank merger laws modified to reduce risk *HR 5585*
Depositors would be notified when finance institution is not federally insured *HR 6072*
Government mortgages restructured regarding disaster stricken multi-family housing *HR 6115*
Better behavior for stock rating agencies targeted *S3850*

APPROPRIATION AND AUTHORIZATION BILLS

PHOTO; Air Force Tech Sgt Rick Sforza

Department of Defense Appropriations Bill & Conference Report Highlights HR 5631

Department of Defense Authorization Bill HR 5122

Department of Homeland Security Bill & Conference Report Highlights HR 5441

	SPORTS
PGA recognized for philanthropy and promoting the sport *HCR 471*

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