Bills Pass in the House, Compromise with Senate Still Needed
In January 2007, the House of Representatives passed multiple bills covering a variety of subjects. Final agreements on these bills must still be reached with the Senate before they are enacted into law.
The 9-11 Commission Recommendations Implementation Act (H.R. 1) would enact a variety of measures which are related to the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. For example, similar to a bill which passed the House but not the Senate last session, H.R. 1 would distribute more federal first-responder funding based on assessed risks. It would also build on a program enacted by Congress last year which is aimed at making emergency communications more interoperable.
The Fair Minimum Wage Act (H.R. 2) would increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour over two years. The federal minimum wage has not been increased since 1997, and Pennsylvania law is already scheduled to increase the state minimum wage to $7.15 per hour. An amendment was offered to allow small businesses to band together across state lines in order to obtain health insurance for their employees at a cheaper rate, as well as to extend and expand certain tax relief for small businesses. This amendment was blocked from having a straight up-or-down vote.
The Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (H.R. 4) would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to participate in price negotiations with pharmaceutical companies under the Medicare "Part D" program. To prevent HHS from interfering with seniors' access to prescription drugs, H.R. 4 would also ban the Department from establishing a one-size-fits-all national prescription drug formulary.
The Clean Energy Act (H.R. 6) would repeal a special top tax rate of 32% for energy companies, versus 35% for most corporate income. H.R. 6 would also correct the terms of certain leases from 1998 and 1999 that erroneously provided royalty relief to oil companies in violation of federal statute. The revenue generated by these changes would be used to fund research into renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
The bills mentioned above passed by margins of 299-128, 315-116, 255-170, and 264-163, respectively. Congressman Todd Platts voted in favor of each of the bills. He also supported the small business health care and tax relief amendment to the minimum wage bill. Direct consideration of that amendment was blocked by a vote of 232-197.
Web Page Highlights (www.house.gov/platts)
Congressman Platts Named Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities
Congressman Todd Platts was named the Ranking Member of the Education subcommittee handling youth programs, child abuse prevention, low income home energy assistance, services for the elderly, and an array of other issues.
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/healthyfamilies.html)
Congressman Platts' Statement on the College Student Relief Act (H.R. 5)
Congressman Platts spoke on the House floor regarding legislation (H.R. 5) which would gradually reduce interest rates on student loans from the current 6.8% to 3.4%. However, the 3.4% rate would not apply to existing student loans, would not go into effect until 2011, and would revert back to 6.8% after only six months. The bill passed by a vote of 356-71.
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/pa19_platts/college.html)
The Month in Review
The following is a list of some other key votes taken by the United States House of Representatives during the month of January of 2007:
Lobbying Reform (H. Res. 6, Title II)
The House voted 430-1 to ban lobbyist-paid meals and gifts, privately-sponsored travel arranged by or with lobbyists, and the use of corporate jets by Members of Congress. Congressman Platts voted in favor of the ban, which is similar to a proposal he supported in 2006.
Delegate Voting (H. Res. 78)
The House voted 226-191 to change House rules so as to allow delegates from U.S. territories-American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico-to vote on amendments on the House floor. Residents of the territories do not pay federal income taxes and, except for Puerto Rico, the population of the territories is substantially less than the population of other Congressional Districts. Congressman Platts voted against the change.
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