Updated May 7, 2008

CURRENTLY IN CONGRESS

April 16-30, 2008

Bills on the Floor

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)

Both the House and the Senate have passed the final version of a bill (HR 493) to prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment. The bill was first introduced thirteen years ago, but never made final passage through Congress until now. It is expected to be signed into law soon.

Food and Energy Security Act

The House and Senate are close to agreement on the final conference version of a bill (HR 2419) to reauthorize agricultural programs for the next five years. The bill, which authorizes funding for a wide variety of programs, from crop subsidies to rural electrification to biofuel refineries and research, would eliminate subsidies for the wealthiest farmers, and increase funding for domestic nutrition programs such as food stamps. The bill will likely be signed into law soon.

Government Contractor Accountability Act

The House passed a bill (HR 3928) to compel privately held companies who earn more than 80% of their annual income from government contracts, to disclose the names and salaries of their most highly compensated officers, something which publicly-traded companies and NGOs already have to do. This would ensure greater accountability and transparency in how the public’s tax dollars are spent on these companies. The bill’s primary target is Blackwater, which has earned millions in recent years by providing security services to the federal government in Iraq. The bill has been sent to the Senate.

Students in Business Development in Africa Assistance Act

A bill has been introduced in the House (HR 5836) to help prepare the next generation of business leaders in Africa for the complexities of the global market by establishing partnerships between businesses and postsecondary educational institutions in developing countries in Africa, to increase economic freedom and competitiveness, promote civil society, and improve the quality of life in such countries. The bill has been referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee for consideration.

Global Poverty Act

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed a bill (S 2433) introduced last year by Senator Barack Obama, to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to promote the reduction of global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day. The House passed its version of the bill (HR 1302) last year.

Resolution on Zimbabwe

The Senate passed a resolution (S Res 533) expressing support for the people of Zimbabwe in their aspirations for a free, democratic, and more prosperous future; calling for an end to the politically motivated violence; and calling for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release the legitimate results of the presidential election. The resolution also urges SADC and the AU to play an active role in resolving the crisis.

Hearings

(The links below provide access to prepared witness testimonies. Full transcripts are available upon request.)

Economics

U.S. Export Promotion Strategy.
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, House Foreign Affairs Committee, April 24
View the hearing (scroll to date & link directly to testimonies)
The Role of Small Businesses in Stimulating the Economy.
House Small Business Committee, April 24.
View the hearing
Affordable Housing Opportunities: Reforming the Housing Voucher Program.
Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, April 16.
View the hearing

Education

Environmental Education: Teaching Our Children To Preserve Our Future.
House Education and Labor Committee, April 22.
View the hearing

Energy and the Environment

E-Waste: Can the Nation Handle Modern Refuse in the Digital Age?
House Science and Technology Committee, April 30.
View the hearing
Oversight on EPA Toxic Chemical Policies.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, April 29.
View the hearing
Rising Tides, Rising Temperatures: Global Warming's Impacts on the Oceans.
House (Select) Energy Independence and Global Warming Committee, April 29.
View the hearing
Pumping up Prices: The Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Record Gas Prices.
House (Select) Energy Independence and Global Warming Committee, April 24.
View the hearing
Opportunities and Challenges for Nuclear Power.
House Science and Technology Committee, April 23.
View the hearing

Foreign Relations

Building on International Debt Relief Initiatives.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, April 24.
View the hearing
The Continuing Crisis in Darfur.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, April 23.
View the hearing
Foreign Assistance Reform in the Next Administration: Challenges and Solutions.
House Foreign Affairs Committee, April 23.
View the hearing (scroll to date & link directly to testimonies)

Government & Politics

Leading By Example: Making Government A Role Model For Hiring And Retaining Older Workers.
Senate (Special) Committee on Aging, April 30.
View the hearing
Secret Law and the Threat to Democratic and Accountable Government.
Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights, Senate Judiciary Committee, April 30.
View the hearing
Wasted Visas, Growing Backlogs.
Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, House Judiciary Committee, April 30.
View the hearing

Information & Media

The Future of the Internet.
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, April 22.
View the hearing

Law & Justice

Living on the Street: Finding Solutions to Protect Runaway and Homeless Youth.
Senate Judiciary Committee, April 29.
View the hearing
Challenges and Solutions for Protecting our Children from Violence and Exploitation in the 21st Century.
Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, Senate Judiciary Committee, April 16.
View the hearing

Security

Oversight of Defense Department Acquisitions.
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, April 29.
View the hearing
Implementing Smart Power: Setting an Agenda for National Security Reform.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, April 24.
View the hearing
National Security Letters: The Need for Greater Accountability and Oversight.
Senate Judiciary Committee, April 23
View the hearing
War Powers for the 21st Century: The Executive Branch Perspective.
Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, House Foreign Affairs Committee, April 24.
View the hearing (scroll to date & link directly to testimonies)

Social Affairs

Domestic Abstinence-Only Programs: Assessing the Evidence.
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, April 23.
View the hearing

 

Capitol

This fortnightly update of selected current events in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate is compiled by Amy Bell Mulaudzi, Director: American Library in Cape Town.

Bills can be introduced in either the House or Senate but must pass in identical versions in both chambers before being presented to the President for signing into law. If the House and Senate disagree on a bill, a conference committee is appointed to reconcile the differences. The conference version then goes back to both houses for a vote.

Bill status and texts can be found at Thomas.

To learn more about the powers of the House and Senate, the qualifications of members, the various officers of Congress, the committee process, their investigative powers, and more, see “The Legislative Branch: the Reach of Congress,” Chapter 4, Outline of the U.S. Government, International Information Programs, U.S. Dept of State.

 

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