HOUSE APPROVES SUPPLEMENTAL, WILL SEE RESISTANCE IN SENATE
Congressional leaders are aiming to have the war supplemental appropriations bill to President Bush by the end of the month. The latest House version of the bill contains $165 billion in funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; expanded GI education benefits that are not offset; 13 weeks of extended unemployment insurance for all states; no troop withdrawal policy language; and flood disaster funding for the Midwest. The supplemental would also delay the implementation of six Medicaid regulations.
This latest package was adopted by the House on Thursday and essentially strips out most of the Senate’s domestic spending add-ons. Those items dropped include $1 billion for LIHEAP and $490 million for law enforcement grants. The war supplemental now moves to the Senate for final approval.
FARM BILL FINALLY LAW
After a process drawn out by a
paperwork error that caused the bill to be vetoed twice and
overridden by Congress three times, the Farm Bill has become
law. Last week the House
voted 317-109 to override the latest veto; the Senate voted
80-14. All 15 titles of the bill are now enacted, including
the previously missing title on international trade and food
aid.
HOUSING BILL FACES VETO THREAT
Housing bills will continue be discussed in both houses this week. Although Congress has proven they are capable of overriding the President (twice for the Farm bill) they are now forced to receive 2/3 support in each House for the housing legislation.
Last week the White House surprised many by issuing a veto threat on the proposed housing legislation gaining steam in both houses amidst Congressional negotiations. Blue Dog Democrats in the House and fiscal conservatives in the Senate are expected to push back, since the spending measures do not include offsets.
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE WILL SEE HEARINGS IN BOTH HOUSES
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on climate change and future energy needs. The hearing is slated for June 25. Also on the 25th, there will be a joint hearing on climate change between the House Select Energy Independence and Global Warming Committee and the House Select Intelligence Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management. And, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality will hold a hearing titled “Climate Change: Costs of Inaction” on June 26.
TAX EXTENDERS BILL STILL FACING OPPOSITION
Last Tuesday, the Senate tried to take up the extenders tax package again. The chamber needed 60 votes in order to proceed with H.R. 6049. However, the motion to invoke cloture failed on a 52-44 vote. H.R. 6049 contains extensions of the popular renewable energy tax credits. The hang-up (and fight) continues to be over whether expiring tax credits should be paid for with offsets or not since Congress is simply extending existing policy.
No one is sure what
the next step is on the extenders tax package or when it will be brought
back to the Senate floor.
This week, the House will consider four energy bills that are intended
to address high oil and gasoline prices. The bills could be considered
individually or grouped as a package. They would bolster transparency of
oil futures trading, require oil companies holding federal leases to
“use it or lose it”, provide more federal funds for transit fares, and
establish anti-gouging regulations.
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES TO ADDRESS TRUST FUND, ENERGY ISSUES
There are a number of transportation hearings to highlight for this week. Three are scheduled to take place tomorrow. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on transportation and climate change. The House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit will hold a hearing titled, “Connecting Communities: The Role of the Surface Transportation Network in Moving People and Freight.”
Additionally, the House Science and Technology Subcommittee
on Technology and Innovation is holding a hearing on sustainable,
energy-efficient road infrastructure. On Wednesday, the Senate
Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on the future
federal role in surface transportation.
The Senate is working on a temporary extension of FAA programs. As part
of that aviation bill, the Senate could potentially add $8 billion to
shore up the Highway Trust Fund. The $8 billion would be a direct
transfer from the Treasury. However, the trust fund infusion is likely
to be met with demands that its cost be offset elsewhere.
