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News and updates

Majority Leader Unveils Senate Health Care Bill

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Last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) released the long awaited health insurance reform package that merges bills advanced by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), would cost roughly $848 billion over 10 years and to extend coverage to 31 million people by 2019. However, it would leave 24 million without coverage.

Full Bill: HR 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Senator Reid’s bill includes a public insurance option with a state opt-out, and creates state-based insurance exchanges to expand access to affordable insurance and create new non-profit co-ops. Initial procedural votes on the legislation could take place as early as this weekend. Analysis of the Senate health reform legislation will be available momentarily.

Timeline Slipping for Major Legislation

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Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) announced this week that a climate bill will not likely emerge before the spring of 2010. The announcement confirms that at least 1 of 3 (and likely all 3) of President Obama’s top legislative initiatives for 2009 will slip into 2010 -the other two being health care and student aid reform. Some proponents of the three pieces of legislation hoped to move to completion this year, as to avoid political considerations made by the 2010 mid-term election season. The cap-and-trade climate legislation, introduced by Senator Kerry and Senator Boxer (D-CA), initially drew support from accross the aisle; as Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) came out in support of the effort. However, since then, the bill has garnered little bipartisan support; passing the Senate Energy and Public Works Committee without Rebuplican support on the panel and after a boycott of the mark-up. At present, it appears that Senator Kerry is trying to put together a compromise that will garner the 60 votes necessary to break a filibuster; much the same tactic that is being employed by Majority Leader Reid in advancing a health-care overhaul.

Given that the Senate companion bill to the House Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) has been linked to the passage of health care reform, student aid reform remains on hold. Leaders on the Hill have indicated that both chambers will likely be in session until the third full week of December.

This Week on Capitol Hill November 16-20

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On the House & Senate Floors

The House votes Monday on a bill to increase oversight of the financial industry bailout program.  Later in the week, the House will vote on a number of small business bills and a bill to overhaul the Medicare physician pay formula (HR 3961).  The House may also take up the fiscal 2010 Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill.

The Senate will continue its consideration of the fiscal 2010 Military Construction–VA spending bill, with votes on amendments Monday and Tuesday.

Markups and Hearings

Tuesday and remainder of the week:  House Financial Services will mark up a draft bill regarding a federal office of insurance, and bills on overdraft protection (HR 3996 and HR 3904).

Wednesday: 

  • House Science and Technology will mark up HR 4061, a bill on cybersecurity.
  • Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will mark up S 510, a bill on food safety.
  • House Natural Resources will mark up several natural resources bills.  
  • House Education and Labor will mark up HR 3017, an employment non-discrimination bill
  • House Oversight and Government Reform will mark up HR 2517, a bill to provide domestic partner benefits to federal employees.
  • House Armed Services hearing on long-term defense budget needs

Thursday:

  • Senate Judiciary will mark up legislation on a media shield law; a criminal justice review; medical bankruptcy (S 1624); emergency medical service providers (S1353); cigarette trafficking; crimes against the homeless; and juvenile justice and delinquency.
  • Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs marks up draft legislation that would overhaul the financial regulatory system.
  • Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on the Fort Hood shootings.
  • House Foreign Affairs hearing on lifting the Cuba travel ban.

Higher Education Associations Set to Launch Recovery Act Successes Website

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Several national higher education advocacy associations — Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and The Science Coalition (TSC) — are preparing to launch ScienceWorksForUS.org; an effort to highlight important research made possible at institutions across the country through funding provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). University-based projects, including from the UW, will be highlighted on the website. The official lauch will take place on Tuesday November 17th at a session on Capitol Hill in DC. A draft press release is provided below.

For Planning Purposes Only:                  
November 17, 2009      

Contact:

Barry Toiv barry_toiv@aau.edu 202/898-7847
Paul Hassen phassen@aplu.org 202/478-6073
Ashley Prime aprime@qga.com  202/429-4002

 
Members of Congress, Scientists to Highlight Stimulus-funded Research and its Role in Recovery and Reinvestment Nationwide Continue reading “Higher Education Associations Set to Launch Recovery Act Successes Website”

This Week on Capitol Hill November 9-13

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The House is not in session this week.   Over the weekend, however, the House passed their version of the health care bill, 220-215.

The Senate will be in session on Monday and Tuesday only.    The Senate will take up HR 3082, Military Construction – VA Spending.

Senate Committee Meetings — Tuesday

  • Budget — full committee hearing on Proposals for Long-Term Fiscal Stability;
  • will hold a full committee hearing on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions;
  • Finance full committee hearing on Climate Change Legislation and Jobs.

Source:  CQ Weekly Printed Edition