Marking the beginning of the Fiscal Year 2008 budget season, President Bush submitted his budget proposal to Congress Monday. The $2.9 trillion blueprint calls for an additional $245 billion in military spending, seeks to make permanent the tax cuts approved by Congress in 2001 and 2003, and claims to balance the federal budget by 2012. Congressman Ehlers and his staff were reviewing the proposal when this newsletter was published.

On Monday, the House will meet at 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Suspensions (6 Bills):

(Bills on suspension are generally considered non-controversial and have reduced debate time, but require a two-thirds majority vote to be passed.)

1. H.R. 433 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1700 Main Street in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the "Scipio A. Jones Post Office Building"
2. H.Res. 69 - Recognizing and honoring former NASCAR driver Benny Parsons and expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives to his family on his death
3. H.R 577 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3903 South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, as the "Sergeant Henry Ybarra III Post Office Building"
4. H.R. 514 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16150 Aviation Loop Drive in Brooksville, Florida, as the "Sergeant Lea Robert Mills Brooksville Aviation Branch Post Office
5. H.Res. 94 - Supporting the goals and ideals of National Consumer Protection Week: Supports the goals and ideals of the Ninth Annual National Consumer Protection Week, including raising public awareness about the importance of consumer protection.
6. H.Con.Res. 35 - Supporting the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (February 7)

On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:30 a.m. for morning hour and at 12 noon for legislative business.

Suspensions (6 bills):

1. H.R. 161 - Bainbridge Island Japanese American Monument Act of 2007: Adjusts the boundary of the Minidoka Internment National Monument located in Idaho to include the Nidoto Nai Yoni ("Let it not happen again") memorial that commemorates the Japanese Americans of Bainbridge Island, Washington, who were the first to be forcibly removed from their homes and relocated to internment camps during World War II.
2. H.R. 235 - To allow for the renegotiation of the payment schedule of contracts between the Secretary of the Interior and the Redwood Valley County Water District, and for other purposes: Authorizes the Redwood Valley County Water District, California, to enter into additional non-federal obligations necessary to finance procurement of dedicated water rights and improvements needed, if the Secretary of the Interior and the District, as of January 1, 2006, have not renegotiated the schedule of payments for loans made by the United States to the District.
3. H.R. 356 - To remove certain restrictions on the Mammoth Community Water District’s ability to use certain property acquired by that District from the United States
4. H.R. 386 - Yakima - Tieton Irrigation District Conveyance Act of 2007: Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain buildings and lands of the Yakima Project, Washington, to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District.
5. H.R. 482 - American River Pump Station Project Transfer Act of 2007: To direct the Secretary of the Interior to transfer ownership of the American River Pump Station Project to Placer County (Calif.) Water Agency.
6. H.R. 512 - Commission to Study the Potential Creation of the National Museum of the American Latino Act of 2007: To establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino, which shall submit a report to the President and the Congress containing its recommendations with respect to a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of a National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday, and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for legislative business. On Friday, no votes are expected in the House.

Suspensions (7 bills):

1. H.R. 742 - To amend the Antitrust Modernization Commission Act of 2002, to extend the term of the Antitrust Modernization Commission and to make a technical correction
2. H.R. 365 - Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2007: Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish: (1) voluntary guidelines, based on the best currently available scientific knowledge, for the remediation of former methamphetamine laboratories, including guidelines regarding preliminary site assessment and the remediation of residual contaminants; and (2) a program of research to support the development and revision of such guidelines.
3. H.Res. 72 - Recognizing the work and accomplishments of Mr. Britt "Max" Mayfield, Director of the National Hurricane Center’s Tropical Prediction Center upon his retirement
4. H.Res. 99 - Commending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln volleyball team for winning the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship
5. H.Res. 120 - Recognizing the African American spiritual as a national treasure: Recognizes that African American spirituals are a poignant and powerful genre of music that have become one of the most significant segments of American music in existence; expresses the deepest gratitude, recognition, and honor to the former enslaved Africans in the United States for their gifts to our Nation, including their original music and oral history; and requests that the President issue a proclamation that reflects on the important contribution of African American spirituals to American history, and naming the African American spiritual a national treasure.
6. H.R. 187 - To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse and customhouse located at 515 West First Street in Duluth, Minnesota, as the "Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse and Customhouse"
7. H.R. 238 - To repeal a prohibition on the use of certain funds for tunneling in certain areas with respect to the Los Angeles to San Fernando Valley Metro Rail project, California

H.R. 547 - Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act: Instructs the Secretary of Energy to implement a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of materials to be added to alternative biobased fuels and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuels to make them more compatible with existing infrastructure used to store and deliver petroleum-based fuels to the point of final sale.