DEFENSE SPENDING PASSES, WAR DEBATE PUT ON HOLD
Early Sunday morning, the House passed the Conference Report on the FY 2008 Defense spending bill, but postponed broader debate on the Iraq War and Guantanamo Bay until September. The bill will provide $459.6 billion for the Department of Defense in FY08, $3.5 billion less than President Bush requested in his budget proposal. The bill does not fund operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, which will be considered when Congress returns from recess in September.
On September 15, President Bush must give Congress a new progress report on conditions in Iraq, starting the debate on funding for continuing military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The report will likely play heavily in the debate over the September funding measure.
HOUSE PASSES ENERGY BILL
On Saturday, August 4, the House passed H.R. 3221, the energy bill. The legislation focuses on energy conservation and renewable energy. The House also adopted an amendment to create a national renewable portfolio standard (RPS)requiring utilities to generate 15 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by year 2020. Nevada's state-level RPS, adopted in 2001, already exceeds this newly proposed federal standard.
The measure repeals $16 billion in tax breaks for the oil and gas industry to fund new alternative and renewable energy technologies is being held for conference. The Senate passed its version of the energy bill on June 21, 2007.
SCHIP REAUTHORIZATION
Last Thursday the Senate approved legislation reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), expanding funding by $35 billion over the next five years. The Senate Finance Committee originally finalized an agreement on SCHIP that would increase the five year funding program from $25 billion to $60 billion, raising the federal cigarette tax from 39 cents to $1 per pack. With a veto threat from the White House, however, the Senate compromised on a smaller $35 billion expansion.
On Wednesday the House approved the reauthorization legislation increasing the funding by $50 billion over the next five years while making changes to Medicare. The reauthorization will now go to conference committee in order to work out the differences between the two bills. Under the current plan expiring September 30, 6.6 million children are enrolled while an additional 3.3 million could have the possibility of being enrolled with new legislation.
