February 22, 2006
Congress returns next week from its President's Day recess and plans to address several bills in the short-term before they recess again on Friday, March 17. The Senate is slated to take a final vote on the reauthorization of the expiring provisions of the USA Patriot Act, as well as on a companion bill making minor changes to the overall authorization legislation. The Senate voted last week (96-3) to invoke cloture on the Patriot Act and allow consideration of the measure to proceed.
Congress also needs to address bills to raise the debt limit and enhance the borrowing authority for the national flood insurance program. An agreement on the $70 billion tax reconciliation bill will need to be finalized to avoid a delay in consideration of the fiscal year 2007 budget resolution.
Before adjourning for the President's Day recess, the Senate passed a House-passed measure (H.R. 4745) that would redirect $712 million in previously appropriated FEMA funds to the Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan programs. The funds allow SBA to make an additional $4.8 billion in disaster relief loans. The SBA has already approved $4.4 billion in disaster loans for hurricane relief, and it anticipates that a total of $11 billion in loans will be necessary. Both FEMA and SBA would receive additional funding under the FY 2006 supplemental request that the President sent to Congress two weeks ago.
SENATE NAMES CONFEREES TO TAX RECONCILIATION MEASURE
Last week, the Senate completed its debate on a motion to go to conference on tax reconciliation legislation, and appointed conferees. The following conferees were named: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Max Baucus (D-Mont.), as well as Senate Republican Policy Committee Chair Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). (House conferees were named on Wednesday, February 8: Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) and Ranking Member Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), as well as Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.), Rep Dave Camp (R-Mich.), and Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.).
Negotiators are expected to hold their first meeting the week of February 27. Some congressional leaders have stated their goal of finalizing an agreement before the March congressional recess, which is scheduled for the week of March 20. Action on the measure needs to be completed before both chambers agree to a fiscal year 2007 budget resolution in order to retain reconciliation procedural protections.
SECOND CHANCE ACT APPROVED BY HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE
Last week, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security approved the Second Chance Act (by voice vote) and forwarded it to the full committee for consideration. The bipartisan measure is sponsored by Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Ut) and contains 99 cosponsors. The bill would seek to break the cycle of prisoner recidivism by authorizing $40 million in FY 2007 Justice grants to enhance prisoner reentry programs that provide housing, drug treatment, counseling, job training and education services. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate.
In the last five years, states have pioneered reentry initiatives by creating innovative programs to help offenders transition back into mainstream society. Last month, Nevada opened the Casa Grande Transitional Housing Facility in Clark County. The facility will provide non-violent offenders a better path to becoming productive members of society. Casa Grande is a comprehensive, community based residential facility that will house up to 400 people. The facility will serve non-violent, non-sex crime offenders who are completing the last few months of their sentences.
CONGRESSMAN MCKEON - NEW CHAIRMAN OF HOUSE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE COMMITTEE
Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon, (R-Calif) was elected unanimously as the new Chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee last week. Chairman McKeon replaces Congressman John Boehner (R-Oh) who was recently elected as the new House Majority Leader.
LOBBYING REFORM EFFORTS
Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert is interested in pursuing action on lobbying reform rules by the end of March. He would like to see a lobbying reform package that would include tighter restrictions on gifts to Members and staff and additional disclosures about lobbyist to Member contact. Banning privately funded travel could be included in the package, however House Majority Leader John Boehner would prefer having the ethics committee pre-approve privately funded travel. By comparison, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has called for banning travel paid by outside groups, with the exception of nonprofit organizations.
CMS EXTENDS MEDICARE WAIVERS
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) has extended Medicare reimbursement waivers for states through Wednesday, March 1 (they were initially set to expire on February 15). The Medicare waivers were created to reimburse states for the cost of providing temporary drug coverage for certain beneficiaries who were unable to access prescription drugs with their new Part D coverage. CMS is willing to consider waiver extensions on a week-by-week basis.