CONGRESS RETURNS TO A FULL FALL AGENDA; APPROPS AT THE FOREFRONT
Last week, the Senate passed two FY08 appropriations bills, Military Construction and State-Foreign Operations, in addition to the student loan overhaul conference report. The House passed a Native American housing bill as well as the student loan overhaul conference report as well as patent law reform.
Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) acknowledged this week that only 5 of the 12 appropriations bills are likely to even get through the Senate, much less through conference, before the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1. To allow federal programs and funding to be maintained, a continuing resolution (CR) will be considered prior to the end of the month.
Most Congressional observers agree that an omnibus appropriations measure will be needed to complete the appropriations process, or at the least, a combination of “minibus” appropriations bills. A presidential veto seems likely for many, if not most of the bills, making continuing resolutions more likely as a method of continued funding as we enter FY08.
SCHIP REAUTHORIZATION EFFORTS CONTINUE; LITTLE PROGRESS ACHIEVED
Both chambers of Congress have reached a stalemate over how to move forward on reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which is set to expire at the end of this month. Leaders in both the House and Senate are working to reconcile differences that have paralyzed reauthorization.
Among the major issues is whether an SCHIP conference report will include the Medicare provisions that were included as part of the House version (H.R. 3162); the Senate version (H.R. 976) did not address Medicare. Senate leaders have said adding Medicare language would jeopardize bipartisan support for the bill.
Adding to this difficulty is the looming veto threat by President Bush if certain provisions — such as expansion of services to childless adults, raising program eligibility from 200 to 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or loosening of citizenship requirements — make it into the final version of the bill.
Some in Congress believe that too much pressure is weighing down the process and that a temporary resolution to allow the program to continue for two months to one year might be the quick fix the program needs.
NEVADA FA
SENATE
PASSES BILL SUPPORTING VITAL MILITARY AND VETERANS PROGRAMS
Last Thursday, the Senate passed The Military Construction and
Veterans Affairs Administration Appropriations Act, which
includes $341 Million for Veterans Administration (VA) Medical
Facilities in Nevada - a new Veterans Hospital and Medical
Center in the Las Vegas Valley.
The Act also provides for the improvement of military
infrastructure throughout Nevada, including:
* $4.95 million for six advanced training simulators
critical to the training of Air Force personnel at Nellis AFB.
* $5.2 million for the Nevada National Guard complex in
Reno for an all new Vehicle Maintenance facility to replace a
smaller and outmoded facility.
* $11.6 million for Fallon Naval Air Station to build
two new towers and enhance training capabilities.
* $11.8 million for the Hawthorne Army Depot for a new
ground water treatment system to ensure the residents of
Hawthorne have clean drinking water.
* $1.4 million for
improvements to the Wabuska Rail Line that serves the Hawthorne Army
Depot.
SENATE PASSES BILL
TO MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE
The House and Senate on Friday, September 7, both adopted the conference
report to The College Cost Reduction and Access Act Provides (H.R.
2669).
The College Cost Reduction and Access Act is
intended to make college more affordable for more Americans by cutting
interest rates on student loans. The legislation also provides $20
billion in additional college aid to students.
The legislation, which has received wide support from Nevada education
leaders, will also increase federal grant aid and college access for
low- and middle-income students by increasing the maximum Pell Grant by
$500 this year, going up to $5400 by 2012. The legislation will also
help college graduates deal with increased education loan debt by
cutting interest rates on student loans in half from 6.8% to 3.4%.
President Bush is expected to sign H.R. 2669 into law later this month.
