Congressman Ehlers Monday received the Michigan Environmental Council’s highest award, the Helen & William Milliken Distinguished Service Award, for his work on environmental issues. Among other issues, Ehlers is the author of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Implementation Act, which would create or reauthorize several programs that will aid in cleaning up the Great Lakes. He also is the chairman of the House Science Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment, Technology and Standards.

Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers Monday introduced the Science Accountability Act (H.R. 5442), legislation to ensure that K-12 students are learning science. Members of Congress Rush Holt, D-N.J., Judy Biggert, R-Ill., and Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., joined Ehlers in introducing the bill.

Chairman Vernon J. Ehlers and other members of the House Administration Committee, in a hearing Thursday, strongly expressed their concerns to officials from the Smithsonian Institution about a controversial contract that some say could unfairly restrict the use of the Smithsonian’s resources.

Following the decision of U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow to retire, President George W. Bush nominated Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO Henry Paulson as Snow’s successor. Paulson, who is expected to play a significant role in the nation’s economic and fiscal policy, would be the 74th Treasury secretary in U.S. history, if confirmed by the Senate.

On Monday, the House is not in session.

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

H.R. 5441 - Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Unanimous Consent Agreement, Complete Consideration): Provides $32.08 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in fiscal year 2007, $1.8 billion more than the fiscal year 2006 enacted levels, and $1.065 billion more than the President’s request.  The bill balances critical homeland security and anti-terrorism activities with legacy missions; aggressively addresses new threats such as nuclear detection and the persistent challenges of border and immigration security; and requires changes in disaster assistance based upon lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina.  It also significantly moves DHS forward in the area of port, container, and cargo security.

H.Res. 842 - Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 5254 - Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act: See below.

Suspensions (13 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. 5126 - Truth in Caller ID Act of 2006: Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to make it unlawful for any person in the United States, in connection with any telecommunication service or VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) service, to cause any caller identification service to transmit misleading or inaccurate caller identification information, unless such transmission is exempted in connection with authorized activities of law enforcement agencies.
2. S. 193 - Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005: Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that, if the violator of the terms and conditions of any Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license, permit, or certificate is either a broadcast station licensee or permittee or an applicant for a broadcast license, permit, or certificate, and such violator is determined by the FCC to have broadcast obscene, indecent, or profane language, the amount of forfeiture penalty shall not exceed $325,000 for each violation or day of such violation, to a maximum of $3 million for any single act or failure to act.
3. H.Res. 265 - Supporting the goals and ideals of National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month: Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month (May 2005).
4. H.Res. 833 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with regard to the importance of National Women`s Health Week, which promotes awareness of diseases that affect women and which encourages women to take preventive measures to ensure good health
5. H.R. 5449 - To amend title 49, United States Code, to modify bargaining requirements for proposed changes to the personnel management system of the Federal Aviation Administration
6. H.Con.Res. XXX - Supporting the goals and ideals of the Vigil for Lost Promise day: A summary of this bill was not available at time of publication.
7. H.Res. 763 - Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Children and Families Day, in order to encourage adults in the United States to support and listen to children and to help children throughout the Nation achieve their hopes and dreams, and for other purposes
8. H.Res. 753 - Commending American craft brewers: Expresses support for the establishment of American Craft Beer Week (May 15-21, 2006).
9. H.Res. 729 - Supporting National Tourism Week: Expresses support for National Tourism Week (May 13-21, 2006, is the 23rd such week). 
10. H.R. 5245 - Matthew Lyon Post Office Building Designation Act (Fair Haven, Vermont)
11. H.Con.Res. 399 - Recognizing the 30th Anniversary of the victory of United States winemakers at the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting
12. H.Res. 327 - Supporting the goals and ideals of National Passport Month
13. H.Res. 626 - Congratulating Albert Pujols on being named the Most Valuable Player for the National League for the 2005 Major League Baseball season

On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for legislative business. On Wednesday, the House Floor will be cleared immediately after 10 a.m. in order to provide time for a security sweep of the House Chamber prior to the Latvian President`s arrival. The House will reconvene at 10:40 a.m. in Joint Meeting with the Senate for the purpose of receiving Her Excellency Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of Latvia. On Friday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business.

Suspensions (4 bills):

1. H.Con.Res. 421 - Expressing the sense of Congress and support for Greater Opportunities for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (GO-STEM) programs
2. H.R. 5117 - To exempt persons with disabilities from the prohibition against providing section 8 rental assistance to college students: Amends the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, relating to the tenant-based rental assistance program, to exempt certain students with disabilities from the prohibition against providing Section 8 assistance to college students.
3. H.Res. 828 - Commending the people of Mongolia, on the 800th anniversary of Mongolian statehood, for building strong, democratic institutions, and expressing the support of the House of Representatives for efforts by the United States to continue to strengthen its partnership with that country
4. H.Con.Res. 409 - Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand: Commemorates the 60th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. Offers congratulations to His Majesty King Bhumibol and best wishes for continued prosperity to his Majesty and the Kingdom of Thailand and looks forward to enduring ties of friendship between the Thai and American people.

H.R. 5521 - Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007: A summary of this bill was not available at time of publication.

H.R. 5254 - Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act: Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, upon the request of a state governor, to provide financial assistance to hire additional personnel to assist the state with expertise in fields relevant to consideration of federal refinery authorizations. Requires a federal agency responsible for refinery authorization to provide, upon the request of a state governor, technical, legal, or other nonfinancial assistance to facilitate state consideration of such authorizations. Directs the President to appoint a federal coordinator to facilitate such authorizations.

H.R. XXXX - Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007: A summary of this bill was not available at time of publication.

H.R. 5252 - Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006: Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to allow an eligible person or group to obtain a national franchise to provide cable service in a franchise area in lieu of any other authority under federal, state, or local law. Requires: (1) the filing of a franchise certification with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC); and (2) cable operators with a national franchise to provide a specified minimum of channel capacity for public, educational, and governmental use, and to meet certain other requirements. 

• Possible Motions to go to Conference
• Possible Motions to Instruct Conferees