Capital Hill Review

 

Senate

 

Thursday, August 5, 2010

 

 

Confirmation Elena Kagan of Massachusetts, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S.

 

On Thursday, August 5, 2010, U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan was confirmed as the 112th  justice to the Supreme Court by the Senate by a 63-37 vote (To view how your senators voted visit: 00229 ) Miss Kagan will succeed retired Justice John Paul Stevens.  She is the fourth woman to sit on the court and is the second member President Obama has placed on the Supreme Court.

 

Article:  Senate confirms Elena Kagan's nomination to Supreme Court

 

 

FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 1586)

 

The Senate passed by a 61-39 vote (To view how your senators voted visit: 00228 ), the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 1586; Full text of the legislation) on Thursday, August 5, 2010.  The $26 billion bill provides some $10 billion in emergency aid to school districts in hopes of reversing layoffs of tens of thousands of teachers.  To states another $16 billion was provided to extend for six months increased Medicaid payments. This would free up money for states to meet other budget priorities, including keeping more than 150,000 police officers and other public workers on the payroll.

 

Note: The title shown above is that of the last version of the bill that contained a title that in previous versions funded aviation programs.  However, as enacted, the bill funds education jobs and Medicaid.

 

Article:  Senate approves jobs bill to stop teacher and police layoffs

 

 

Thursday, July 22, 2010

 

 

Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010 (H.R.5297)

 

A Republican filibuster was overridden as two Republican Senators George LeMieux (Florida) and George V. Voinovich (Ohio) joined with Democrats to support an amendment that includes a proposed $30 billion lending program in a package of aid for small businesses.  On a 60-37 vote (To view how your senators voted visit: 00218) the Senate passed the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010 (H.R.5297; Full text of the legislation  ).  Republicans harshly criticized the proposal as a “bailout” and a mini version of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the huge government rescue of the financial system.  On the overall small business measure, which also includes more than $12 billion in various tax breaks and an expansion of several other government lending programs, the Senate must still vote on. Pressing to offer amendments to the bill are Republican leaders.  And it is not yet clear if it will be approved.


Article:  Senate Votes for Small-Business Aid

 

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

 

 

Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 (H.R.4213)

 

Clearing the way for the House of Representatives passage and President  Barack Obama's swift signature, the Senate approved the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 (H.R.4213; Full text of the legislation ) by a 59-39 vote (To view how your senators voted visit: 00215).  The measure extends unemployment benefits for 2.5 million jobless Americans.

 

Article:  Senate passes jobless aid after lengthy debate

 

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

 

Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 (H.R.4213)

 

Despite Republican objections that it would add $34 billion to the nation’s bloated deficit, the Democrat-led Senate on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, passed by a 60-40 vote (To view how your senators voted visit: 00209 ) the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 (H.R.4213; Full text of the legislation ) breaking  a months-long stalemate over a plan to restore emergency jobless benefits to millions of people who have been out of work for more than six months. The Republican filibuster was overridden and the bill advanced for a final vote in the Senate when two Republicans, US Senator of Maine Olympia J. Snowe and US Senator of Maine Susan Collins and newly appointed  US Senator of West Virginia Carte Goodwin (D), who was sworn in on July 20, 2010, to fill the seat of US Senator of West Virginia Robert Byrd (D) who died June 28, 2010, voted for the measure.  This vote all but assured that the bill would pass the Senate when the final vote was taken on July 21, 2010.

 

Articles:  Senate votes, 60-40, to advance jobless benefits legislation ; Senate advances jobless benefits

 

Thursday, July 15, 2010

 

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R.4173)

 

The Senate passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R.4173; Full text of the legislation   ) by a 60-39 vote (To view how your senators voted visit: 00208 ) The bill, named after US Senator of Connecticut Christopher Dodd (D) and US Representative of Massachusetts Barney Frank (D) who ushered it through the House of Representative, has the stiffest restrictions on banks and Wall Street since the Great Depression, clamping down on lending practices and expanding consumer protections to prevent a repeat of the 2008 economic meltdown . Three Republican senators―Scott Brown (Massachusetts), Olympia J. Snowe (Maine) and Susan Collins (Maine ) joined 57 members of the Democratic caucus in support of the bill. The lone Democrat opponent of the measure was US Senator of Wisconsin Russell Feingold.  The bill is a vast federal overreach that will drive financial-sector jobs overseas said Republicans.

 

 

Articles:  Senate OKs Financial Regs Overhaul ; Congress passes financial reform bill

 

House of Representatives

 

Tuesday, August 10, 2010


FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act (H.R.1586)

 

The FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act (H.R.1586; Full text of legislation ) was passed on 247-161 vote (To view how your representative voted visit: 518 ) on Thursday, August 10, 2010.  The $26 billion jobs bill to protect 300,000 teachers and other nonfederal government workers from election-year layoffs was pushed through by House of Representative Democrats.   Also, $10 billion in funding was provided for school districts to rehire laid-off teachers or ensure that more teachers won't be let go before the new school year begins. It is estimated by the Department of Education that this could save 160,000 jobs.  To states another $16 billion was provided to extend for six months increased Medicaid payments. This would free up money for states to meet other budget priorities, including keeping more than 150,000 police officers and other public workers on the payroll.

 

Article: House passes bill to help teachers, public workers

 

 

Note: The title shown above is that of the last version of the bill that contained a title that in previous version funded aviation programs.  However, as enacted, the bill funds education jobs and Medicaid.

 

House approves more agents, drones on border

 

In a rare moment of bipartisanship, the House of Representatives on Tuesday, August 10, 2010, approved $600 million to pay for more unmanned surveillance drones and about 1,500 more agents along the troubled Mexican border. After brief debate the House of Representatives passed the bill by an unrecorded voice vote.

 

During a special session on August 12, 2010, an identical bill was passed by unanimous consent by the Senate.  And on Friday, August 13, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the $600 million bill into law.

 

Articles: House approves more agents, drones on border ; Obama signs $600 million bill for border

 

 

Thursday, July 22, 2010

 

Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4213)

 

 

On Thursday, July 22, 2010, the House of Representatives passed the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4213; Full text of legislation ) by a 272-152 vote (To view how your representative voted visit: 463 ).   The measure would restore unemployment benefits  for millions of Americans who have exhausted their standard benefits.   The measure was sent to President Barack Obama who signed it into law.  The subject of a fierce partisan battle in Congress over whether the cost should be offset with spending cuts or tax increases to avoid enlarging the federal deficit was the $34 billion measure.  Republican spending cut proposals were countered by Democrats who said the economic crisis amounted to a fiscal emergency, permitting the measure to be financed with deficit spending. Voting for the measure were 241 Democrats and 31 Republicans and voting against the measure  were 142 Republicans and 10 Democrats.

 

 

Article: House Passes Jobless Benefit Extension

 

 

What Can You Do?

 

If your representative or senators have or have not reflected your views, let them know how you feel.

 

Contact Information:

 

US House of Representatives:

 

Capitol Hill Switchboard Numbers: 202-224-3121 (Those numbers will direct you to the Capitol Hill operator. Ask for representative or senator's office.)

 

To go to your representative's website, find his E-mail or to find out who your representatives are...   http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html.

 

To electronically mail your U.S. House of Representative, go to https://writerep.house.gov.  

 

Addressing Correspondence: 

 

The Honorable (full name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative (last name):  

 

US Senate:  

 

 

Contact Information:  

To go to your senators' websites, find their E-mail or to find out who your senators are... http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm

 

 

Addressing Correspondence: 

 

 

The Honorable (full name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510   

Dear Senator (last name):