Script to print out a page with out banner and other graphic elements

Accomplishments of the 109th Congress

While the U.S. Senate has been preoccupied with judicial nominations and filibusters, the House of Representatives has been working hard to advance important legislation to meet the priorities of the American people.

Among the legislative accomplishments passed so far this year are:

  • Deficit Reduction Act (S. 1932) - is a historic piece of legislation that is a modest first step in addressing our national debt and curbing federal spending. Through entitlement reforms and other government waste-reducing measures, this legislationwill save taxpayers approximately $40 billion over the next five years. Became Law
  • Class Action Fairness Act (S. 5) – This common sense plan addresses one of the most serious forms of lawsuit abuse by allowing larger interstate class action cases to be heard in federal court and preventing trial lawyers from harassing local businesses by ‘forum shopping’ in overused state courts. Became Law
  • Consumer Protection Act (S. 256) - A reform of the Bankruptcy system to ensure the practice is available to those truly in need and not abused by those looking to use bankruptcy to cheat or to defraud their way out of debt. Became Law
  • Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R. 6) – This comprehensive energy policy will help make energy more affordable for consumers, decrease America’s dependence on foreign oil, promote alternative fuel, and eventually help lower gasoline costs.Became Law
  • Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2005 (H.R. 8) – This permanent repeal of the Death Tax ends an unjust and unfair tax that drives millions of small businesses out of business. Passed House
  • Transportation Equity Act (H.R. 3) – Provides new funding for federal highways to improve infrastructure, increase efficiency and reduce congestion. This bill also contains a new funding formula that will allow Florida to see a higher percentage return on its contributions to the Highway Trust Fund.Became Law
  • REAL ID (H.R. 418) -To establish and rapidly implement regulations for State driver's license and identification document security standards, to prevent terrorists from abusing the asylum laws of the United States, to unify terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility and removal, and to ensure expeditious construction of the San Diego border fence. Became Law when language was included in(Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief of 2005)

Spending and Budget Update:

For 2006, the House and Senate approved a budget to aggressively reduce the growth of government. Total discretionary spending increases at 2.1% (that is below the inflation rate) and non-homeland security non-defense discretionary spending is decreased. 0.8%. Also included in the budgetwere instructions for the eight authorizing committees to find $34.7 billion in savings over the next five years.

Each of the Spending bills passed for FY2006 has been passed at the spending levels included in the FY2006 Budget. The spending bills passed so far are:

· Agriculture(Became Law 12/3/05)

· Energy and Water (Became Law 11/9/05)

· Homeland Security (Became Law 10/18/05)

· Interior and Environment (Became Law 8/2/05)

· Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs (Became Law 11/30/05)

· Defense (Became Law 12/30/05)

· Foreign Operations (Became Law 9/30/05)

· Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (Became Law 12/30/05)

· Science, the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce (Became Law 11/22/05)

· Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, The Judiciary, District of Columbia (Became Law 11/30/05)

Fiscal Restraint and the FY2007 President's Budget:

For 2007,the President has proposed a budget where discretionary spending would total $870.7 billion, an increase of $27.4 billion or 3.2% over FY 2006. Defense would total $439.3 billion, an increase of $28.5 billion or 6.9% over FY 2006, while $33.1 billion is provided for homeland security spending, an increase of $1 billion or 3.3% over the prior fiscal year. However, non-security discretionary spending would be reduced by $2.2 billion or 0.5% below FY 2006.

The President's Budget also terminates or reduces 141 programs that are not getting results or not fulfilling essential priorities, for a proposed savings of $14.7 billion.

This legislation is a step toward restoring fiscal responsibility and accountability to government. Rather than blindly spending more we need to spend smarter and wiser so that taxpayer money actually serves its intended purpose. It is not just how much we spend, but how we spend that matters.

We are in a time of historic deficits and an $8 trillion national debt. It is the responsibility of Congress to set priorities and make tough choices. As we face the challenges of recovering from Katrina and supporting the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq, these common sense reforms are long overdue.