Normally at this time of year Congress is fighting tooth and nail over appropriations bills. These bills fund most federal government activity and there is always much contention over who gets what. But this year, under veto threats from the White House, the appropriations chaos does not exist.
According to one Congressman, the Bush Administration is unwilling to work with the Congress on any part of the process. What is expected to happen is a series of “continuing resolutions,” pieces of legislation making sure the government continues to run by using last year’s budget. Next year’s budget will most likely be approved in either a lame duck Congress, or next winter under a new President. Here’s a collection of what Congress did work on this past week.
For Government Workers
1. Last Tuesday the House passed S. 294, the “Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007” (never mind that we’re now in the second half of 2008). The bill reauthorizes and funds Amtrak, the national passenger train service. The bill also makes a few directives over future routes to investigate. Having passed the Senate last October, the bill will now head to a conference committee to resolve any differences before heading to the President’s desk.
2. The Senate has scheduled for debate S. 2617, the “Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008”, which would raise the rates of compensation for the Department of Veterans Affairs in accordance with inflation. A identical bill passed the House in May by a count of 417-0. Expect this bill to pass with similar margins.
3. Last Tuesday the House passed S. 2565, the “Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act of 2008.” This would establish an “awards mechanism” to honor bravery from law enforcement officers from local, state, and federal levels. The bill has now passed both houses of Congress, and awaits President Bush’s signature.
Innovations
1. On Monday the President signed into law H.R. 802, the “Maritime Pollution Prevention Act of 2008,” which will reduce the amount of air pollution from transport ships. The original language originates from the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, held in 1973.
Just for kicks
1. The Senate referred S. 2657 to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation. The bill would “require the Secretary of Commerce to prescribe regulations to reduce the incidence of vessels colliding with North Atlantic right whales by limiting the speed of vessels, and for other purposes.” The North Atlantic “right whales” can finally sleep at night.
2. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced Senate Resolution 624, to designate August 2008 as “National Truancy Prevention Month.” August is an interesting choice of months to focus on kids skipping school, Senator.
3. Last Tuesday the House passed H.R. 5235, a bill that would establish the “Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission.” Leaving aside the irony of creating a federal commission to honor the champion of smaller government, the commission formalizes one of Congress’ favorite pastimes: naming things after Ronald Reagan.
Check out prior weeks of The Legislate:
Wrap-up from July 21