House Completes July Legislative Session,
Passes a Range of Measures
Prior to adjourning for the Summer District Work Period, the House completed a legislative session during which a wide range of measures were passed. These measures included health care initiatives, final agreements on both an energy bill and a transportation bill, and two trade bills. (For more information on the transportation and trade bills, please see "Web Page Highlights" below.)
With respect to health care, the House passed three bills aimed at making health care more affordable and accessible as well as one bill intended to reduce medical errors. Congressman Todd Platts supported each of these measures.
The first health care bill, which passed without objection, would reauthorize funding for state health insurance pools that aid "high-risk" individuals in obtaining health insurance (H.R. 3204). Another bill would allow small businesses to join together across state lines to purchase health insurance for their employees, thereby enjoying the same uniform regulation, economies of scale, and administrative efficiencies that large companies currently enjoy (H.R. 525). A medical malpractice bill would limit punitive damages, damages for pain-and-suffering, and attorney's fees, while still allowing full recovery for medical costs, lost wages, and other economic damages (H.R. 5). H.R. 525 and H.R. 5 passed by a vote of 263-165 and 230- 194, respectively. Finally, a patient safety bill would establish procedures for the reporting of medical errors to "patient safety organizations" charged with improving patient safety (S. 544). The House passed this bill by a vote of 428-3, and President George W. Bush signed it into law on July 29, 2005.
The energy agreement (H.R. 6) was a final compromise between the House and Senate, where it passed by a vote of 275-156 and 74-26, respectively. Congressman Platts voted in favor of this legislation. H.R. 6 will provide approximately $12 billion over 11 years in tax incentives for energy production and conservation, including $2.7 billion in tax credits for renewable energy production, $1.3 billion for the purchase of alternative and hybrid motor vehicles, and $1.3 billion for energy efficiency. It also: authorizes research into hydrogen fuel cell technology; requires the federal government to obtain more energy from renewable sources and significantly reduce its energy consumption; and, requires a study of the impact of increased fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks on the automobile industry, gasoline supplies, and air quality. President Bush signed H.R. 6 into law on August 8, 2005.
Web Page Highlights (www.house.gov/platts)
House Approves Transportation Bill
Congressman Todd Platts helped to secure in the final, six-year federal highway bill nearly $40 million in road and other transportation projects for the 19th Congressional District. A list of the projects is available on the web site. (http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/finalreauth.html)
House Passes CAFTA, Trade Enforcement Legislation
Congressman Platts' statement on the House passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and United States Trade Enforcement Act is available on the web site. (http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/pa19_platts/cafta.html)
Platts Amendment Aims to Rein in Student Tuition Hikes
The House Education and Workforce Committee adopted an amendment offered by Congressman Platts regarding college costs. (http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/highered.html)
House Passes Anti-Terror Legislation
On July 21, 2005, the House passed legislation which would extend and slightly modify the Patriot Act (H.R. 3199) by a largely bipartisan vote of 257-171. Certain provisions of the Patriot Act, enacted shortly after 9/11 in order to lower the "wall" which existed between intelligence gathering and law enforcement as well as to provide additional tools to counter-terrorism investigators, are scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2005 if not reauthorized by Congress prior to that time. This sunset date was purposefully included to provide Congress with an opportunity to reevaluate the law and its impact on civil liberties. For more information on the Patriot Act, you may want to visit http://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/pa19_platts/patriotact.html.
Multiple hearings have been held by both House and Senate committees on the Patriot Act. Although no abuses under the law have been documented, H.R. 3199 would adjust several provisions of the original Act in order to create additional layers of protection against hypothetical abuses. Importantly, these adjustments would not create loopholes for terrorists or otherwise sacrifice the ability of investigators to do their job. For example, H.R. 3199 would: create a clearer process for the challenging of subpoenas issued under the Patriot Act; clarify that the recipient of a subpoena has the right to consult with an attorney; require the FBI Director to personally sign-off on any requests for library records; and, limit "delayed notification" searches to 180 days, with the possibility of 90 day extensions.
The Senate passed similar legislation unanimously on July 29, 2005. Differences between the House and Senate versions must now be resolved by a joint House-Senate conference committee.
The Month in Review
The following is a list of some additional key votes taken by the United States House of Representatives during the month of July of 2005:
Postal Reform (H.R. 22)
The House voted 410-20 to pass legislation aimed at reforming the U.S. Postal Service. Among other provisions, H.R. 22 would limit postage rate increases to a rate no greater than inflation, unless an independent commission determines a greater increase to be "reasonable and equitable and necessary" after a public hearing and comment period. Congressman Platts voted in favor of this legislation.
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