U.S. Congress

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The Senate will hold a cloture vote Tuesday on Employee Free Choice Act (S.1041). The bill passed the House by 241-185 in March and would level the playing field for workers seeking to form unions.

Current labor laws make it extremely difficult for America's workers to form unions without harassment and intimidation from their employers. Many employers want it both ways—workers who produce a lot but who are not paid enough for what they do. The union difference makes a big difference: When comparing wages alone, union workers on average make 30 percent more - that's a median weekly wage of $833 for a union worker compared with $642 for a full-time nonunion worker in 2006. (The full picture of the union difference is here.)

Both the House and Senate are in session this week, with each chamber expected to debate and consider several important bills and resolutions. Highlights include:

• The Senate will return to debating a comprehensive immigration bill. Senate leaders have agreed to a list of twenty-four amendments that will receive floor votes, with a final vote on the bill expected by the end of the week.
• The Senate will consider the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill previously passed by the House which would make it easier for workers to form unions.
• The Senate may consider the fiscal year (FY) 2008 Defense Department authorization bill, which was approved by the House last month.
• The House will vote on two fiscal year (FY) 2008 spending bills; a $21.4 billion Financial Services measure and a $27.6 billion Interior-Environment bill. If passed, the Interior measure could face a veto threat as it is $1.9 billion above the Bush administration's request.

After the jump is a full listing of this week's House and Senate hearings, courtesy of GovTrack.

For the second time in less than a year, President Bush vetoed a bill which would have lifted the current ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. The measure had passed in the House and Senate earlier this year by 247-176 and 63-34 margins, respectively (neither margin is veto-proof).

Both the House and Senate are in session this week, with each chamber expected to debate and consider several important bills and resolutions. Highlights include:

• The Senate will continue to debate a comprehensive energy bill, including provisions which would raise corporate fuel economy standards, require utilities to produce at least 15% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020, and add loan guarantees to enhance private investment in coal-to-liquids plants.
• The Senate will consider a long list of amendments pertaining to a comprehensive immigration bill, including one which would provide more than $4 billion for border security and employment verification initiatives.
• The Senate will vote on the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill previously approved by the House which would make it easier for workers to form unions.
• The House will likely take up several appropriations measures this week, most likely aiming to pass the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and State-Foreign Operations spending bills.

After the jump is a full listing of this week's House and Senate hearings, courtesy of GovTrack and Thomas.