Congresspedia's "Congress in the News" updates, Mar. 22 - Apr. 14, 2007
- Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) called President Bush's plan to overhaul U.S. immigration policy "unacceptable." (The Hill story)
U.S. Congress
House and Senate Face Active Committee Hearing Schedule
Both the House and Senate are in session this week, with each expected to consider numerous bills and resolutions. The House is planning to vote on a measure reauthorizing the federal Head Start program, while both the House and Senate may be forced to attempt to override President Bush’s veto of a supplemental spending bill which would call for a phased withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq.
Alaska Government Drills for ANWR Lobbyists
Submitted by Bob Burton on
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Democrats Mum on Astroturf Lobbying Disclosure
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) "seized on the recent FBI raids of the businesses of the wives of Reps.
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Government Contractors: Not Your Average Corporate Evildoers
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
"Fearing increased oversight from the newly elected Democratic-controlled Congress, the Coalition for Government Procurement (CGP), a trade group representing government product and service suppliers, is planning a PR and marketing campaign to promote its members as responsible companies and not stereotypical 'corporate evildoers,'" reports Ted McKenna. The CGP is also forming a new group, the Council on Responsible Contracting (CORC).
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TheWeekInCongress (April 23-27, 2007)
It was another active week on Capitol Hill for both the House and Senate. In addition to major legislation on the Iraq War, measures regarding small businesses, animal rights, and genetics were also considered. For a thorough look at the bills debated and considered since Monday, we again turn to Robert McElroy’s TheWeekInCongress.
Final vote this week on Iraq withdrawal bill; Bush Promises Veto
Update 2: On Thursday afternoon, the Senate followed the House in passing the spending bill, 51-46. It now goes to President Bush, who is expected to veto it.
Update: Late Wednesday night, the House passed the $124 billion supplemental spending bill which establishes timetables for a U.S. combat withdrawal from Iraq, 218-208.
House and Senate Face Busy Week of Committee Hearings
Both the House and Senate are in full swing this week, with each expected to consider numerous bills and resolutions. Most notably, both chambers plan to vote on a supplemental spending bill which would provide $95 billion for the Iraq War, but also call for a phased withdrawal of U.S. combat troops by Oct. 1, 2007 and set a non-binding goal of removing all troops by Apr. 1, 2008 (President Bush has promised to veto the bill if it passes). In addition to legislation, both the House and Senate are again planning to hold a number of important committee hearings. These include one by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee concerning the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act, as well as a House Judiciary Committee hearing where the panel is expected to issue a subpoena and grant immunity to former Justice Department Director of Public Affairs Monica Goodling for her testimony regarding the U.S. attorney firings controversy. Here, courtesy of GovTrack, is a quick rundown of all of this week’s House and Senate hearings:
DC Voting Rights March Hailed as Success; House to Consider Bill Soon
Rain and cold temperatures were not enough this past Monday (April 16) to deter residents of the District of Columbia (including newly-elected Mayor Adrian Fenty) from marching in support of long-awaited voting rights in Congress. An estimated crowd of 3,500 turned out for the largest gathering regarding the issue in decades, which featured a march down Pennsylvania Avenue to the U.S. Capitol.
Help Solve the Mystery: Which Senator Placed a Secret Hold on the Electronic Filing Bill?
Our friends at Sunlight have been closely following S.223, a bill which would require senators to file their campaign finance reports in electronic form (as House members already do). The bill, sponsored by Sen.
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