Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers was named by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert to serve as acting chairman of the House Administration Committee. Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids, takes over from Chairman Robert Ney, R-Ohio, who stepped down from his post.

Efforts to combat homelessness in Michigan’s Third Congressional District will receive a boost of more than $4.4 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers announced.

Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers has recorded a public service announcement (PSA) urging seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries to sign up for the program’s new Prescription Drug benefit. The PSA has been provided to local broadcast media outlets and is posted on Congressman Ehlers’ website. The website also has links to more information about the benefit plan.

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, early Monday morning, approved legislation that includes funding for a new scholarship program aimed at encouraging college-aged upperclassmen to pursue math and science studies. The program, the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grants (National SMART Grants), was included in the House bill thanks, in part, to the insistence of Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers, who has strongly advocated for enhancing math and science education in the United States.

On Monday, the House is not in session.

On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12 noon for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 3:30 p.m. A Quorum will be called for at approximately 3:30 p.m. The House will reconvene at 8:45 p.m. in joint session with the Senate for the purpose of receiving a State of the Union Address from the President of the United States.

On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for legislative business.

H.Res. XXX - Agreeing to the Senate Amendment for S. 1932 - Deficit Reduction Act of 2005: Provides technical corrections to the conference report of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. This conference report provides $41.632 billion of savings over five years in the government’s automatic-pilot mandatory spending programs. (“Mandatory spending” refers to programs that are not subject to the annual appropriations process.) These savings – pursuant to the budget resolution for fiscal year 2006 (H.Con.Res. 95), and adjusted following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita – have three principal goals: To provide a down-payment toward hurricane recovery and reconstruction costs. Congress already has provided nearly $65 billion in recovery funding, and more funding is expected in the near future; to begin a longer-term effort at slowing the growth of entitlement spending, which now consumes about 54 percent of the total budget, and will rise to 62 percent in 10 years if no action is taken, and to stimulate reform of entitlement programs, many of which are outdated, inefficient, and excessively costly.

H.Res. XXX - To eliminate floor privileges and access to Member exercise facilities for registered lobbyists who are former Members or officers of the House: Eliminates floor privileges and access to member exercise facilities for registered lobbyists who are former members or officers of the House. 

H.R. XXXX - to amend the USA PATRIOT ACT to extend the sunset of certain provisions of such Act: Extends the sunset of certain provisions of H.R. 3199 - USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 through March 14, 2006 while the Conference Report is being held in consideration.

On Thursday, there are no votes expected in the House.

On Friday, the House will meet at 2 p.m. in a Pro Forma session.

• Conference Reports may be brought up at any time.
• Motions to go to Conference should they become available.
• Possible Motions to Instruct Conferees.