Tuesday, March 28, 2006

THIS WEEK IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 •MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2006
 •TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2006
 •WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2006 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK

Historical Tidbits
 •On March 27 ...
 •On March 28 ...
 •On March 29 ...
 •On March 30 ...
 •On March 31 ...
       
  THIS WEEK IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2006

On Monday, the House is not in session.


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TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2006

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

Suspensions (12 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. 4882 - Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitor Center Deadline Enforcement Act: Confirms the preferred location (based on the environmental analysis) and set a deadline for the designation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial visitor center.
  2. H.Res. 680 - Recognizing Dr. I. King Jordan for his contributions to Gallaudet University and the deaf and hard of hearing community: Resolves that the House of Representatives congratulates Dr. I. King Jordan on his retirement and expresses appreciation to Dr. I. King Jordan for his many years of dedicated service to Gallaudet University, to the deaf and hard of hearing community, and to all individuals with disabilities.
  3. H.R. 4786 - H. Gordon Payrow Post Office Building Designation Act (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)
  4. H.R. 3440 - Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa Post Office Building Designation Act (Bayamon, Puerto Rico)
  5. H.R. 4805 - Gene Vance Post Office Building Designation Act (Clinton, Illinois)
  6. H.Res. 85 - Supporting the goals and ideals of "National MPS Day": States that the House of Representatives supports the goals and ideals of “National MPS Day.” Mucopolysaccharidoses and mucolipidoses (commonly known as `MPS disorders') are genetically determined lysosomal storage disorders that result in the inability of the body to produce certain enzymes needed to break down complex carbohydrates. In individuals with MPS disorders, complex carbohydrates are stored in virtually every cell in the body and progressively cause damage to the cells, affecting multiple systems, including the bones, heart and other internal organs, respiratory system, and central nervous system. The cellular damage caused by MPS disorders results in mental retardation, short stature, corneal damage, joint stiffness, loss of mobility, speech and hearing impairment, heart disease, hyperactivity, chronic respiratory problems, and, most importantly, drastically shortened life span.
  7. H.Res. 517 - Recognizing the life of Wellington Timothy Mara and his outstanding contributions to the New York Giants Football Club, the National Football League, and the United States
  8. H.R. 4057 - To provide that attorneys employed by the Department of Justice shall be eligible for compensatory time off for travel under section 5550b of title 5, United States Code: Makes attorneys employed by the Department of Justice (including assistant U.S. attorneys) eligible for compensatory time off for travel.
  9. H.R. 4979 - Local Community Recovery Act of 2006: States that in order to meet a requirement under the Stafford Act, that preference be given to local firms when soliciting for contracts for disaster relief activities. The bill clarifies that such contracts may be awarded based on a specific geographic area. (Current law requires, to the greatest extent possible, that contracts and awards be given to organizations, firms and individuals "residing or doing business primarily in the area affected by a disaster or emergency.")
  10. S. 2116 - Supreme Court Grounds Transfer Act of 2005: Transfers jurisdiction over a certain parcel of federal land in the District of Columbia from the Architect of the Capitol to the Supreme Court, without consideration.
  11. S. 2120 - Milk Regulatory Equity Act of 2005: Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to subject specified Class I milk handlers (including producer-handlers) to federal milk marketing order minimum and uniform price requirements applicable to the county in which the plant of the handler is located, at federal order class prices, if the handler has packaged fluid milk product route dispositions, or sales of packaged fluid milk products to other plants, in a marketing area located in a state that requires handlers to pay minimum prices for raw milk purchases. 
  12. H.Con.Res. 353 - Commending the people of the Republic of Haiti for holding democratic elections on February 7, 2006, and congratulating President-elect Rene Garcia Preval on his victory in these elections

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2006 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK

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

Suspensions (1 bill):

  1. H.Res. XXXX – Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives that Legal Action in Afghanistan Against Citizens Who Have Already Converted or Plan to Convert to Other Religions is Deplorable and Unjust: A summary of this bill was not available at time of publication.      

 

H.R. 609 - College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005: The College Access & Opportunity Act will provide extra Pell Grant aid for high-achieving first and second-year students; provide year-round Pell Grant aid for students attending school throughout the year, and encourage students to make progress toward degree completion; remove an incentive for colleges to raise tuition by repealing Pell Grant “tuition sensitivity;” simplify the financial aid process for needy students and families; strengthen federal college access programs (TRIO and GEAR UP); and strengthen minority serving institutions.

H.R. 1606 - Online Freedom of Speech Act (Postponed from previous week): Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to exclude Internet communications from the definition of “public communication,” thus exempting web sites, blogs, and online advertisements from Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulation.

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

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On March 27 ...
1794 -

The U.S. Congress and President Washington authorized the creation of the U.S. Navy.

1866 -

U.S. President Andrew Johnson vetoed the civil rights bill, which later became the 14th amendment.

1912 -

The first cherry blossom trees were planted in Washington, DC. The trees were a gift from Japan.

1958 -

The U.S. announced a plan to explore space near the moon.

1988 -

The U.S. Senate ratified the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

On March 28 ...
1834 -

The U.S. Senate voted to censure President Jackson for the removal of federal deposits from the Bank of the United States.

1898 -

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a child born in the U.S. to Chinese immigrants was a U.S. citizen. This meant that they could not be deported under the Chinese Exclusion Act.

1908 -

Automobile owners lobbied the U.S. Congress, supporting a bill that called for vehicle licensing and federal registration.

1921 -

U.S. President Warren Harding named William Howard Taft as chief justice of the United States.

1986 -

The U.S. Senate passed $100 million aid package for the Nicaraguan contras.

1990 -

Jesse Owens received the Congressional Gold Medal from U.S. President George Bush.

On March 29 ...
1961 -

The 23rd amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. The amendment allowed residents of Washington, DC, to vote for president.

1979 -

The Committee on Assassinations Report issued by U.S. House of Representatives stated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy was the result of a conspiracy.

1995 -

The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a constitutional amendment that would have limited terms to 12 years in the U.S. House and Senate.

On March 30 ...
1867 -

The U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million dollars.

1870 -

The 15th amendment, guaranteeing the right to vote regardless of race, was passed by the U.S. Congress.

1950 -

U.S. President Truman denounced Senator Joe McCarthy as a saboteur of U.S. foreign policy.

1981 -

U.S. President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded in Washington, DC, by John W. Hinckley Jr. Two police officers and Press Secretary James Brady were also wounded.

On March 31 ...
1776 -

Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John that women were "determined to foment a rebellion" if the new Declaration of Independence failed to guarantee their rights.

1854 -

The U.S. government signed the Treaty of Kanagawa with Japan. The act opened the ports of Shimoda and Hakotade to American trade.

1917 -

The U.S. purchased and took possession of the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million.

1918 -

For the first time in the U.S. Daylight Savings Time went into effect.

1933 -

The U.S. Congress authorized the Civilian Conservation Corps to relieve rampant unemployment.

1967 -

U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signed the Consular Treaty, the first bi-lateral pact with the Soviet Union since the Bolshevik Revolution.

1980 -

U.S. President Carter deregulated the banking industry.

1998 -

For the first time in U.S. history the federal government's detailed financial statement was released.

 

(Information from www.on-this-day.com)