March 21, 2005
Senate
Environment & Public Works Committee Passes
Transportation Reauthorization
Last week, the
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed a bill authorizing
approximately $192 billion in spending obligations for the Federal Highway
Administration from Fiscal Years 2005 through 2009. The legislation is
essentially the same as Titles I and II of the bill passed by the Senate
last year, with authorizations reduced across-the-board by approximately
10 percent. Additional changes were made to the equity bonus program also
to hold down the cost of the bill. Although many amendments were filed,
only a few were offered at mark-up, and 13 were rolled into a package and
passed en bloc at the request
of Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-OK).
The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee also approved a bill that would reauthorize the transit portion of the not yet numbered surface transportation reauthorization bill. The committee provided $51.6 billion for transit for FY 2005 through FY 2009. Last year's Senate bill provided 18.8 percent of total funding to transit, the highest percentage ever achieved for transit. Several committee members stressed their commitment to work to address the reduction when the bill moves to the floor. The
The overall Senate funding level matches the House number of $284 billion, although amendments that would increase that level are expected on the floor.
After the Senate returns from spring recess, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the Finance Committee are expected to mark-up the highway safety and tax titles.
CMS Releases Guidance on Transition Plans for Medicare Part D Implementation
Last week, CMS released two guidance documents for Medicare plans that will provide prescription drug coverage starting in January. The first document outlines the medication transition details that plans will need to submit to CMS as part of their formulary system. The transition plans are meant to accommodate beneficiaries who are stabilized on existing drug regimes when they join a Part D plan. The guidance would also address the particular needs of enrollees who reside in long term care facilities.
The second document addresses pharmacy participation standards and access standards for beneficiaries residing in long term care facilities. These minimum performance and service standards - which reflect current industry practice- include requiring a long-term care pharmacy to have a comprehensive inventory of drugs commonly used in a long term care setting the ability to package medications in the unit of use packaging typically used in nursing homes, and be able to provide a qualified pharmacist to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. For more information on the guidance documents, please visit: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/pdps/
House Subcommittee Approves Welfare Reform Reauthorization
Last Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources voted to reauthorize the 1996 welfare reform law. H.R. 240 would require adult recipients to work 40 hours per week, at least 24 hours of which must be devoted to direct work activities (employment, on the job training, community service). The remaining 16 hours per week can be devoted to education or other training activities. The measure also provides an increase of $1 billion in mandatory childcare subsidies to states over five years. The bill would allow recipients to count up to three months of voc ed and training as a direct work activity.
The House and Senate recently passed the ninth extension of the current welfare law which will expire on June 30, 2005.
Senate Judiciary Committee Approves SCAAP Reauthorization Bill
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved (by voice vote) a bill that would reauthorize the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) for six years. S. 188 helps state and local governments with the prison and jail costs of illegal immigrants who have committed crimes not related to their immigration status. The bill would authorize $750 million FY 2006, $850 million for FY 2007, and $950 per year for FY 2008 through FY 2011. The program received $297 million in FY 2005. No funding was requested for SCAAP in the President's budget. In FY 2004, Nevada received close to $3.5 million.
In addition, the Senate adopted (by voice vote) a Sense of the Senate amendment to the FY 2006 budget resolution that $750 million would be allowed in appropriations for SCAAP.
White House Submits BRAC Commission Nominees
The White House recently submitted their recommendations to the Senate for the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission. The President recommended Anthony Principi, former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to chair the commission, which will review bases recommended for closure by the Pentagon and submit a list to the President in September. A decision must then be made by the President about whether to accept the commission's recommendations, or reject them and seek a new list. If the President accepts the commission's recommendations, they become final in 45 legislative days unless Congress passes a joint resolution of disapproval.
In addition to Secretary Principi, the other nominees recommended by the White House include: James H. Bilbray, former House member from Nevada; Philip Coyle of California, a former Assistant Secretary of Defense; Retired Admiral Harold W. Gehman of Virginia, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander; James V. Hansen of Utah, a former House member; Retired Army General James T. Hill of Florida; Retired Army Lt. General Claude M. Kicklighter, of Georgia; Samuel K. Skinner of Illinois, a former U.S. Secretary of Transportation; and Retired Air Force Brigadier General Sue Ellen Turner of Texas. Nominees must be confirmed by the Senate.
For a list of this week's grant notifications, please visit our website at www.nevadadc.org