|
|
|
|
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2007 |
|
|
SENATE PASSES MINIMUM WAGE BILL On February 1, the U.S. Senate passed the Minimum Wage Act of 2007 (H.R. 2) by a vote of 94 to 3. The Senate version of the bill included an $8.3 billion package of small business tax incentives and revenue offsets. H.R. 2 raises the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour in just over two years (from $5.15 to $5.85 per hour within 60 days of enactment; to $6.55 per hour in 2009). The Senate approved amendments to the package creating a moratorium on federal contracts to employers who have been cited for hiring illegal immigrants; requiring federal agencies to provide guidance for small businesses on complying with regulations; authorizing a $50 million grant program (over five years) to encourage small business to provide child care for their employees; calling for a study of advance payment of the Earned Income Tax Credit; extending (up to three years) federal grants for women’s business centers; and making permanent a series of “Buy American” reporting requirements for federal agencies. The measure is expected to be “held” at the Senate clerk desk while negotiations proceed with the House, which passed a “clean” minimum wage bill (with no amendments) last month. LEGISLATION RESOLVES LONG-STANDING WATER RIGHTS ISSUE FOR NEVADA'S NATIVE AMERICANS U.S. Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and John Ensign (R-NV) introduced legislation this week to help the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley ratify a crucial water rights agreement reached between the State of Nevada, the Tribes, upstream water users and the United States federal government. The agreement, signed last fall, has received support from all parties involved, including the Elko County Board of Commissioners. The legislation is necessary for the agreement to become effective. SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON SCHIP REAUTHORIZATION The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing yesterday on the reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The hearing focused on a variety of issues that will be debated by the committee as it develops its proposal to reauthorize the program by the end of this fiscal year (September 30, 2007). Issues discussed at the hearing included federal funding, state flexibility, and characteristics of the beneficiaries currently covered in the program, as well as uninsured children who are currently eligible for SCHIP (or Medicaid) but unenrolled.
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue
testified on behalf of the Southern Governors Association. Other
witnesses included Iowa SCHIP Director Anita Smith, a beneficiary
family from Baltimore, the General Accounting Office, and Cindy Mann
from Georgetown University. HOUSE TO CONSIDER BIO FUELS LEGISLATION THIS WEEK The House will consider a bill this week that would make bio fuels more compatible with the country’s existing petroleum-based infrastructure. H.R. 547 would authorize $10 million for the EPA to research and develop technologies to improve the storage and transport of bio fuels. While bio fuels are considered cleaner-burning they can corrode, or clog pipes and storage tanks used for petroleum fuels. The intent of the new EPA program is to solve these problems so that bio fuels have an easier time entering the transportation fuels market. BUSH ADMINISTRATION UNVEILS FARM BILL Last week, the Administration unveiled its blueprint for a Farm Bill reauthorization, including $87 billion in spending - $11 billion less than the previous authorization. The proposed reauthorization plan would end subsidy payments to farm operations with more than $200,000 in adjusted gross income, would boost funding for conservation programs and renewable fuel research, and would assist specialty-crop producers by buying more fruits and vegetables for school lunch programs. It
would also cap direct payments to individual farmers at $360,000 a
year, and restructure countercyclical payments by linking them to
revenue instead of prices. The Senate Agriculture Committee will
hold a hearing on the proposal on February 7. DEMOCRATS PROPOSE $502 MILLION BOOST TO SECTION 8 HOUSING Democrats this week proposed a measure (H. J. Res. 20) that would change the funding formula and expand the Section 8 housing program by $502 million over fiscal year 2006 spending levels. Under the current funding formula, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) distributes money for rent vouchers under the Section 8 program to local, public housing agencies based on rental and cost data. The proposed legislation is intended to change the formula so that voucher money is distributed based on data that has been collected over the past 12 months rather then relying on outdated information. Section 8 programs accounts for nearly 45 percent of HUD’s total spending; it is the nation’s chief method of providing low-cost housing to low income individuals and families. The program allows qualified recipients to receive government grants to help pay rent to private landlords. The median average income for people receiving Section 8 vouchers is $11,921. Under the current proposal, Section 8 spending would increase to $15.9 billion - up from $15.4 billion in fiscal year 2006. According to HUD’s most current statistics 6,665 Nevadan families and individuals are currently utilizing Section 8 vouchers to pay their rent. REID INTRODUCES RETIRED PAY RESTORATION ACT OF 2007 U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) last week introduced The Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2007, also known as “concurrent receipt.” The legislation would allow veterans that are eligible for both disability compensation and retirement pay to collect both at the same time. This issue has been a top priority of Nevada’s 250,000 veterans, as well as veterans across the country. Nevada is home to the third largest population of veterans’ in the country. |
THE WEEK AHEAD: The President’s nearly $3 trillion fiscal year (FY) 2008 budget was released this morning and numerous congressional hearings are scheduled on the proposal. The plan projects a balanced budget by 2012. It proposes making permanent several tax cuts; holding overall discretionary spending to below the rate of inflation with cuts in non-security discretionary spending; eliminating 141 federal programs; and reforming mandatory programs. The President also is requesting an additional $245 billion for the war effort through 2008. The SENATE is scheduled to hold a cloture vote today on whether to proceed to consideration of a bill (S. 470) incorporating language from a non-binding resolution (S. Con. Res. 7) opposing the escalation of troop levels in Iraq. Later in the week, the Senate may turn to the House-passed $473.5 billion continuing resolution, which funds programs contained in the nine unfinished fiscal year (FY) 2007 appropriations bills (Homeland Security and Defense were completed) through the end of the fiscal year (September 30), although consideration may slip to next week. The current continuing resolution expires on Thursday, February 15. The HOUSE meets today to consider six measures under suspension; tomorrow, it will consider an additional six measures under suspension. On Wednesday, February 7, and for the balance of the week, the chamber is scheduled to take-up seven more measures under suspension, including the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2007 (H.R. 365), which authorizes $5 million over two years for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to work with states to establish voluntary standards and guidelines for the clean-up of methamphetamine laboratories. In addition, the House will consider the Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act (H.R. 547), which authorizes $10 million for EPA to research and develop chemical additives and other technologies to make bio fuels more compatible with pipes and storage tanks designed for petroleum products. No votes are expected on Friday, February 9. HEARINGS TO NOTE AGRICULTURE: The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee will conduct a hearing Wednesday, February 7, at 9:45 a.m. in 106 Dirksen on the Administration’s proposal for reauthorization of the Farm Bill. BANKING: The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee has scheduled a Wednesday, February 7, hearing at 10:00 a.m. in 538 Dirksen Senate Office Building on predatory lending practices. COMMUNICATIONS: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has scheduled a Thursday, February 8, hearing at 10:00 a.m. in 253 Russell Senate Office Building on public safety communications. CRIMINAL JUSTICE: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security has scheduled a Thursday, February 8, hearing at 10:00 a.m. in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building on the National Instant Criminal Background Improvement Act of 2007. EDUCATION: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee has scheduled a Thursday, February 8, hearing at 10:00 a.m. in 216 Hart Senate Office Building on the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT:
The House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee has scheduled a markup of
legislation (H.R. 720) to amend the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act by increasing funding for the
Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program on
Wednesday, February 7, at 10:00 a.m. in 2167 Rayburn
House Office Building. COMMISSION ON THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES HOLDS HEARING Yesterday, the independent Commission on the National Guard and Reserves held a hearing on the feasibility of implementing the provisions of the National Guard Empowerment Act of 2006, which was previously introduced in the 109th Congress and reintroduced last week for consideration by the 110th Congress. The House and Senate bills would make the National Guard Bureau (NGB) a joint activity of the Defense Department, rather than the Army and Air Force; make the Chief of the NGB a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; give the NGB more authority to coordinate the use of the Guard for contingency operations; and make changes regarding oversight of the funding for developing the budget for the Guard. The Commission heard testimony from Lt. General H. Steven Blum, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, on the proposed changes to the National Guard. General Blum cited his responsibility for nearly half a million Army and Air Guard personnel, and compared those duties to a number of other four-star officers, including the commandants of the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard, who manage far fewer personnel. Several commissioners questioned General Blum about the concerns of Governors as Commanders of the Guard. He replied that Governors were concerned about the policies made by the Pentagon that affect the National Guard in their Title 32 status without any consultation of Governors. General Blum specifically cited the changes made by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2007, which amended the “Insurrection Act” to allow the President to use the Guard in “serious” emergencies without their consent. This was “slipped in without Governors’ knowledge,” General Blum said. |
|
The Nevada Weekly is published on Mondays when Congress is in session. Recent and archived Federal Grants Notifications are available on our website. www.NevadaDC.org |
|
|
The State of Nevada Washington Office is reachable by phone at (202) 624-5405. Additional contact information is available on our website. To be added to our mailing list, please contact update@nevadadc.org. |
|
