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Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers was joined by the nation's top Medicare
official in Grand Rapids Wednesday to talk with health care providers
and recipients about the new Medicare Prescription coverage benefit,
which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2006.
To read the complete press release, please click this link
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On Monday, the House will meet at 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.
Suspensions (3 bills):
(Bills on suspension are generally considered non-controversial and have reduced debate time, but require a two-thirds majority vote to be passed.) H.Res. 457 - Recognizing the importance and positive contributions of chemistry to our everyday lives and supporting the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week: Recognizes that the important contributions of chemical scientists and engineers to technological progress and the health of many industries have created new jobs, boosted economic growth, and improved the Nation's health and standard of living. The resolution supports the goals of National Chemistry Week as founded by the American Chemical Society. In addition, H.Res.457 encourages the people of the United States to observe National Chemistry Week with appropriate recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate the importance of chemistry to our everyday lives. H.Con.Res. 259 - Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to raising awareness and enhancing the state of computer security in the United States, and supporting the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness Month: Supports the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness Month. The resolution works with Federal agencies, national organizations, businesses, and educational institutions to encourage the development and implementation of existing and future computer security voluntary consensus standards, practices, and technologies in order to enhance the state of computer security in the United States. H.Res. 300 - Recognizing the South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company on the occasion of its 50th anniversary and saluting the outstanding service of the Company to the people of South Carolina
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On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:30 a.m. for morning hour and 12 noon for legislative business. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for legislative business.
Suspensions (8 bills):
H.R. 1409 - Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005: Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide assistance, including through nongovernmental or international organizations, for basic care for orphans and other vulnerable children in developing countries, including assistance for: (1) community-based care; (2) school food programs; (3) education and employment training; (4) psychosocial support; (5) protection of inheritance rights; and (6) HIV/AIDS care. The bill directs the Secretary of State to appoint a Special Advisor for Assistance to Vulnerable Populations. Finally, it directs the President to: (1) establish a system to evaluate such assistance's effectiveness; and (2) develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a coordinating strategy for such assistance. The bill ensures that Federal agencies and the private sector coordinate efforts to prevent and eliminate duplication of efforts and waste in the provision of such assistance. To the maximum extent possible, the bill focuses on community-based programs that allow orphans and other vulnerable children to remain connected to the traditions and rituals of their families and communities.
H.R. 177 - Santa Ana River Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2005: Amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with the Orange County Water District (the District), to participate in the design, planning, and construction of natural treatment systems and wetlands for the flows of the Santa Ana River, California, and its tributaries into the Prado Basin.
S. 55 - Rocky Mountain National Park Boundary Adjustment Act of 2005: Directs the Secretary of the Interior to accept an offer to convey specified Federal land near MacGregor Ranch, Larimer County, Colorado, in exchange for specified non-Federal land located near the Ranch.
S. 156 - Ojito Wilderness Act: Designates most of the Ojito Wilderness Study Area (WSA) as wilderness, subject to valid existing rights, and would continue to permit grazing that was established before the designation. The Ojito Wilderness Study Area (WSA), located in Sandoval County, New Mexico, represents an area of approximately 11,200 acres that was recommended for wilderness designation by the Bureau of Land Management's New Mexico State Office in 1991. The recommendation was based on its high quality wilderness values, extensive cultural resources, both archaic and several prehistoric sites, other cultural and paleontological features and the lack of resources conflicts in the area.
H.R. 3765 - A bill to extend through March 31, 2006, the authority of the Secretary of the Army to accept and expend funds contributed by non-Federal public entities and to expedite the processing of permits (as amended by Senate)
H.R. 3549 - William F. Clinger, Jr. Post Office Building Designation Act (Warren, Pennsylvania)
H.R. 3830 - U.S. Cleveland Post Office Building Designation Act (Punta Gorda, Florida)
H.R. 3853 - Willie Vaughn Post Office Designation Act (Parkdale, Arkansas)
H.R. 554 - Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act of 2005: Prohibits obesity or weight gain-related claims against the food industry. The bill prohibits new and dismisses pending civil actions by any person against a manufacturer, marketer, distributor, advertiser, or seller of food or a trade association for any injury related to a person's accumulated acts of consumption of food and weight gain, obesity, or any associated health condition. It would, however, allow obesity-related claims to go forward in several circumstances, including cases in which a state or federal law was broken and as a result a person suffered harm. Under H.R. 554, cases could also go forward in which a company violates an express contract or warranty. Also, because H.R. 554 only applies to claims based on “weight gain” or “obesity,” lawsuits could go forward under the bill if, for example, someone gets sick from a tainted hamburger. The bill also contains essential provisions governing the conduct of legal proceedings.
S. 397 - Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act: Provides protections for those in the firearms industry from lawsuits arising out of the criminal or unlawful acts of people who criminally or unlawfully misuse their products. It prohibits causes of action against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers of firearms or ammunition products, and their trade associations, for the harm caused by the criminal or unlawful misuse of firearm products or ammunition products by others when the product has no design defect and was used as intended. The bill preserves a citizen's access to a supply of firearms and ammunition for all lawful purposes, including hunting, self-defense, collecting, and competitive or recreational shooting. The bill prevents the use of such lawsuits to impose unreasonable burdens on interstate and foreign commerce. The bill preserves and protects the separation of powers doctrine and important principles of federalism, state sovereignty, and comity among the several states.
H.Con.Res. XXX - To make amendments to H.Con.Res. 95, the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2006: A summary of this legislation was not available at time of publication.
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On Friday, there are no votes expected in the House. - Possible Motions to go to Conference
- Possible Motions to Instruct Conferees
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1777 - American troops defeated British forces in Saratoga, NY. It was the turning point in the American Revolutionary War.
1978 - U.S. President Carter signed a bill that restored U.S. citizenship to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
2001 - The U.S. Capitol building was closed because of an outside threat. The Capitol building and all House office buildings were closed for inspection following the discovery of anthrax in a Senate office building.
1867 - The U.S. took formal possession of Alaska from Russia. The land was purchased of a total of $7 million dollars (2 cents per acre).
1898 - The American flag was raised in Puerto Rico only one year after the Caribbean nation won its independence from Spain.
1997 - A monument honoring U.S. servicewomen, past and present, was dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery.
1765 - In the U.S., The Stamp Act Congress met and drew up a declaration of rights and liberties.
1781 - British General Charles Lord Cornwallis surrendered to U.S. General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia. It was to be the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War.
1951 - U.S. President Truman signed an act officially ending the state of war with Germany.
1960 - The United States imposed an embargo on exports to Cuba covering all commodities except medical supplies and certain food products.
1983 - The U.S. Senate approved a bill establishing a national holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
1774 - The new Continental Congress, the governing body of America's colonies, passed an order proclaiming that all citizens of the colonies "discountenance and discourage all horse racing and all kinds of gaming, cock fighting, exhibitions of shows, plays and other expensive diversions and entertainment
1803 - The U.S. Senate approved the Louisiana Purchase.
1984 - The U.S. State Department reduced the number of Americans assigned to the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.
1925 - The U.S. Treasury Department announced that it had fined 29,620 people for prohibition (of alcohol) violations.
2003 - The U.S. Senate voted to ban what was known as partial birth abortions.
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