Legislative Update XIX

The House of Representatives passed bills to boost funding for food stamps, veterans programs, and foreign aid, particularly in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, director Leon Panetta confirmed that the CIA did lie to Congress, vindicating Speaker Pelosi's previous statements.

The Senate approved a homeland security funding bill that boosts efforts against illegal immigration and to improve cybersecurity. The Senate also voted again to block detainee abuse photos.

Legislative Update XVI

The House of Representatives passed a bill tripling aid to Pakistan, including both economic aid and military aid (with conditions that require the Obama administration to certify that Pakistan remains committed to combating terrorist groups) to help the national battle extremism on more than one front. The House also passed the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act to enhance the U.S. foreign policy efforts of the State Department and the Peace Corps.

Also, the House passed "cash for clunkers" legislation that would offer up to $4,500 in cash rebates to help people who trade in cars or SUVs with a combined fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less to buy newer, more fuel efficient vehicles (I may take them up on that!).

And lawmakers who steer money and contracts to favored companies, and receive campaign contributions in return for funding for pet projects in the form of earmarks, might face a House ethics committee investigation.

The Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill (even our two Republicans Senators here in Texas voted for it!) allowing the FDA to regulate tobacco products - allowing the agency to regulate nicotine content and advertising gears towards the young. The House already passed a similar bill, but they will pass the Senate version Friday to get it quickly to President Obama's desk for signature. Unsurprisingly, many of the Senators voting "nay" receive a lot of tobacco lobby money...

The Senate also confirmed by unanimous consent the nominations of Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal to be the next commander of U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan and Navy Adm. James Stavridis to be commander of U.S. forces in Europe and the top NATO commander.

UPDATE: The House and Senate have reached compromises to give retroactive bonuses to those in the military under "stop-loss" orders and on several issues in the held-up war funding bill.

Capitol Hill Update

The House of Representatives passed the global AIDS bill, 308-116, which authorized $5o billion in spending over the next five years. While more than the White House requested, there is no veto threat, and the bill moves to the Senate. Also, the House Commerce Committee overwhelmingly approved a bill to allow the FDA to regulate tobacco.

Senate Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell announced a bi-partisan effort to tackle the housing crises, but Dem-backed provision that would allow bankruptcy judges to restructure mortgages was killed by a 58-36 vote. But in good news, HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced his resignation Monday amid the wreckage of the subprime mortage controversy. He is accused of tilting the Department of Housing and Urban Development toward Republican contractors and cronies.

Senate ups vet money, passes foreign aid bill that restricts cluster bombs, removes "global gag rule"

As part of a $34 billion measure funding foreign aid and U.S. diplomacy which the Senate passed yesterday by a 81-12 vote, provisions were included that forbid the transfer or sale of any cluster munitions with a failure rate of more than 1 percent that are responsible for many civilian deaths in war and also restrictions were lifted on family planning aid to overseas health organizations that perform abortions or promote the procedure as a method of family planning. The restrictions are from a Reagan-era executive order know as the "global gag rule" that was lifted by President Clinton only to reinstated by President Bush. Companion legislation passed the House in June, and the measure now heads to House-Senate negotiations over a final version. President Bush has threatened a veto, but the bill passed with a veto-proof majority.

Earlier Thursday, the Senate approved the Veterans Affairs Department's budget bill by a 92-1 vote with increases for medical care for veterans and construction at military bases. The bill rewards the VA with an almost 10 percent budget increase of $3.2 billion for its health care accounts next year, on top of $1.3 billion added for health care to the Iraq funding bill passed in May. Even though it breaks his budget by $4 billion, the White House has said President Bush will sign the bill as his earlier veto threat is unsustainable with the overwhelming margin of support.