The Legislate - Legislative highlights from Congress last week

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The Legislate - Legislative highlights from Congress last week

By Chris Perry Jul 23 2008, 12:39 PM

For Government Workers

1. As reported by OhMyGov! in early June, the U.S. Senate has privatized its dining services. And now, the dining service employees, previously receiving the wonderful benefits of government employment, will continue to get these same benefits even though Uncle Sam no longer signs their paycheck. S. 2967 became law with little to no resistance last Friday.

2. A House bill that would create an "Office of the Ombudsman" in the Department of Veterans Affairs has been scheduled for debate on the House floor. The Office would act as a liaison for veterans and their families to facilitate the distribution of health care and benefits.

3. The "American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act" became law on July 17, honoring disabled U.S. troops in the form of commemorative silver dollars. These coins will be sold as part of the Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation with a $10 surcharge. Proceeds will fund the construction of a memorial for disabled veterans on the southwest side of the National Mall.

Innovations

1. H.R. 3403: the "New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008" or the "NET 911 Improvement Act of 2008" passed Congress and now awaits the President's approval. The Act requires 911 access for all internet-phone services, which most people can agree just makes sense. The innovation in this case is not the technology, but the passage of simple and effective legislation.

Just for kicks

1. President Bush vetoed the "Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008" knowing that his veto would be overridden. The Act fills a 10.6% scheduled physician payment cut and speeds up the accreditation process of image service providers (MRI, CT, PET, and nuclear medicine). President Bush vetoed the legislation last Tuesday, in what could be described as the President's first "Hey! I'm still here!" veto. Congress overrode his veto by comfortable margins hours later.

2. Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has invited the House Ethics Committee to investigate him. He has been accused by the Washington Post of soliciting donations for the "Charles E. Rangel Center for Public Service," at the City College of New York, on Congressional stationary.

3. Congress also named a few things last week, including 7 post offices, 1 lock and dam, 1 customhouse, 1 Border Patrol station, and 1 bankruptcy courthouse. Who said Congress never got anything done?