MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2007

COLLINS MAY OFFER COMMITTEE AMENDMENT TO DELAY REAL-ID ACT

On Wednesday, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is scheduled to mark-up legislation (S. 4) implementing the unfinished recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) may offer her recently introduced legislation delaying the implementation of the REAL-ID Act of 2005 as an amendment to S. 4.  The amendment would extend the implementation deadline, create a review committee for the regulations, and provide the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security with the authority to delay or waive certain requirements that are not technically feasible.

HELLER NAMED RANKING MEMBER TO SMALL BUSINESS SUBCOMMITTEE 

Last week, Freshman Representative Dean Heller (R-NV) was named the ranking member to the Finance and Tax Subcommittee of the Small Business Committee by House Leadership.

The Subcommittee on Finance and Tax has jurisdiction over the critical Small Business Administration (SBA) lending and investment programs including the Section 7(a) long program, 504 Certified Development Company program, Small Business Investment Company program, Disaster Loan Assistance programs and general access to capital and finance issues.

Statistics from the Small Business Administration report that 96% or approximately 175,000 of all Nevada businesses are categorized as small business.  

HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS MARK UP SMALL BUSINESS TAX INCENTIVES PACKAGE

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY) announced that the committee would mark-up a bipartisan small business tax incentives bill on Monday, February 12, that would be attached to minimum wage increase legislation H.R. 2.

Although specific details on the measure have not been released, it is expected to total about $1 billion over ten years and contain offsets. House floor action could occur later next week and conference negotiations with the Senate would follow.

The House originally passed a “clean” minimum wage bill, but the Senate passed H.R. 2 with an $8.3 billion package of small business tax incentives and revenue offsets attached.

NEVADA WINS DHS FIRE GRANT

Senator John Ensign, Senator Harry Reid and Representative Dean Heller last week announced that a $260,221 grant has been awarded to the Carson City Fire Department and a $23,927 grant has been awarded to the Schurz, Walker River Volunteer Fire Department. The funding will be provided through the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. 

The Department of Homeland Security distributes grants through its Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program in an effort to strengthen the nation's overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and fire-related hazards. The funds are intended to help first responders purchase necessary response equipment, personal protective equipment and vehicles.

SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES TRANSIT SECURITY GRANTS

Yesterday, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee approved a measure to authorize $3.5 billion in transit security grants over three years.

The bill calls for $1.1 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2008, with $536 million set aside for capital investments such as security and surveillance equipment. In addition, $534 million is authorized in FY 2008 for operational assistance and $130 million over three years for research.

HUD TO SEEK IMMIGRANT STATUS EXTENSION

This week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced its intent to request an extension of their authority to bar assistance to undocumented aliens and is seeking public comments by April 2 on their website, www.HUD.gov. 

Currently, HUD is barred from providing financial assistance to anyone other than U.S. citizens or eligible immigrants.  HUD would like an extension of its requirement to obtain a declaration of citizenship or eligible immigrants seeking housing assistance. 

Under the requested extension, eligible immigrants would have to provide their original alien registration and submit verification consent form to HUD.

THE WEEK AHEAD:  Both chambers recess this Friday, February 16, for the one-week President's Day break.

The SENATE continues its debate of the House-passed $463.5 billion continuing resolution, which funds programs contained in the nine unfinished fiscal year 2007 appropriations bills through the end of the fiscal year.  A vote on a motion to invoke cloture is scheduled for tomorrow. The current CR expires on Thursday, February 15.

If consideration of the measure is completed, the chamber may turn to a bill (S. 214) barring the appointment of U.S. attorneys to serve indefinitely without Senate confirmation.

The HOUSE meets today to consider nine measures under suspension. Tomorrow, and for the remainder of the week, the schedule calls for a lengthy debate of a non-binding resolution concerning U.S. troop escalation in Iraq, as well as consideration of the Small Business Tax Relief Act.

HEARINGS TO NOTE

AGRICULTURE:

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee has scheduled a Tuesday, February 13, hearing at 9:45 a.m. in 328A Russell Senate Office Building on rural development.

The House Agriculture Committee has scheduled a Wednesday, February 14, hearing at 10:00 a.m. in 1300 Longworth House Office Building on reauthorization of the Farm Bill, with Secretary Johanns testifying.

EDUCATION:

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee has scheduled a markup of the Head Start for School Readiness Act on Wednesday, February 14, at 10:00 a.m. in 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education has scheduled a Thursday, February 15, hearing at 9:30 a.m. in 2212 Rayburn House Office Building titled “The Future of America’s Workers and Education for the 21st Century.”

HEALTH:

The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee has scheduled a Tuesday, February 13, hearing at 10:00 a.m. in 428A Russell Senate Office Building on small-business health care issues.

HOMELAND SECURITY:

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has scheduled a markup of the Surface Transportation and Rail Security Act (S. 184), the Interoperable Emergency Communications Act (S. 385), and the 911 Modernization Act (S. 93) on Tuesday, February 13, at 10:00 a.m. in 253 Russell Senate Office Building.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security has scheduled hearings on Tuesday, February 13 (at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.) in 2358 Rayburn House Office Building on aviation and transportation security.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has scheduled a markup of legislation to implement the unfinished recommendations of the 9/11 Commission on Wednesday, February 14, at 10:00 a.m. in 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building.  

TAXATION:

The House Ways and Means Committee has scheduled a markup of a small business tax incentives package today at 5:00 p.m. in 1100 Longworth House Office Building.

TRANSPORTATION:

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit has scheduled a Tuesday, February 13, hearing at 10:00 a.m. in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building on public-private partnerships.

VETERANS:

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Administration has scheduled a Thursday, February 15, hearing at 10:00 a.m. in 2358 Rayburn House Office Building on long-term health care challenges for veterans.

The Nevada Weekly is published on Mondays when Congress is in session.

The Nevada Weekly will not be published the week of
February 19th due to the President's Day Recess.

Recent and archived Federal Grants Notifications are available on our website. www.NevadaDC.org

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