IMMIGRATION BILLS:

In the December 16, 2005 the TheWeekInCongress.com reported that the House passed HR 4437, a bill aiming to toughen immigration laws and punishment for violating those laws. Hallmark of the bill would make being in the US illegally an felony and would extend the authority to enforce immigration laws to local and state police.

HR 4437 House bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to strengthen enforcement of the immigration laws, to enhance border security, and for other purposes.

S 2454 the immigration reform bill offered by Senate Majority Leader William Frist.

A comparison of provisions in the House bill, the Frist bill and the bill brought by the Senate Judiciary committee. Read here the current summary of this legislation's progress.

WAR ON TERRORISM

AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO US ARMED FORCES AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

Senate Joint Resolution 23

WAR IN IRAQ

AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO US ARMED FORCES TO INVADE IRAQ

House Joint Resolution 114

HR 2206 provides supplemental funds for Iraq, the war on terror and disaster aid. the bill was the result of various other bills that attempted to create a timeline for withdrawal and provide the funds in increments. The bill also included the minimum wage increase. The bill passed the House and the Senate and was signed by the President.

LOBBY REFORM AND ETHICS REFORM

House Resolution 648

The House passed H RES 648 in February 2006. A minor Resolution that reiterates the existing rule prohibiting lobbyists from Member contact in the House Hall and adjoining areas. The Resolution also prohibited access to Members in the House exercise facilities.

S 2349

The Senate passed S 2349 in March 2006 prohibiting food and beverage donations from lobbyist and regulating Member travel and who provides it. the bill includes many other new rules.

FISA--FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE ACT

The FISA of 1978 and report of current changes  { Public Law 95-511 }

The 1978 Act to provide rules and oversight to government surveillance that might include US citizens inside the United States was modified by the PATRIOT Act including requiring a warrant from the FISA Court 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, holds that the requirement for a court warrant does not apply to him during times of war.

Backgrounder report on FISA history and the White House Actions under dispute.

S 2271 March 2006 report HR 3199 March 2006 report on the Patriot Act. {Surveillance provisions are in Sections 105 & 106} HR 5825 September 2006 report S 1927 Revises Current FISA law in a way that allows for electronic surveillance without acquiring a warrant in advance. The authority is given to the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General. HR 3356 Further fine tuning but the bill did not receive the required two thirds vote on passage. HR 3773-The House effort to better define the parameters of who can and who can not be surveilled. S 2248- The bill provides immunity to telecom companies, now facing lawsuits for providing customer information to the government.

CENSURING THE PRESIDENT     for allegedly violating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

Senate Resolution 398

The Resolution holds that the President's claim of legal authority under the Constitution during a time of war is invalid, that his refusal to get a court warrant for some NSA surveillance activities violates the law and condemns those actions.

MILITARY COMMISSIONS-TERRORIST DETAINEE BILL

House bill HR 6166----Senate Bill S 3930

Both bills establish a new chapter in the Military Code establishing the category of unlawful enemy combatant and the rules and procedures governing the detaining, trial and representation of the accused and punishment of those found guilty.