Bill Text and Background for the Week of March 19, 2007
(Click on Bill to go to Relevant Section in Whip Pack)
H.R. 1433 - To provide for the treatment of the District of Columbia as a Congressional district for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives, and for other purposes (Subject to a Rule)
HR. ____ U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act (Subject to a Rule)
H.R. 1227 – Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act of 2007(Subject to a Rule)
H.R. 835 – Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act of 2007
H.R. 137 - Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2007
H.R. 251 - Truth in Caller ID Act of 2007
H.R. 1433 — To provide for the treatment of the District of Columbia as a Congressional district for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives, and for other purposes (Del. Norton - House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Judiciary) (Subject to a Rule)
Bill Text: HTML Version, PDF Version
Bill Summary and Status
Rules Committee: Closed Rule, one hour and twenty minutes of general debate, Rule, Committee Report, and Roll Call Votes
Committee: House Committee on the Judiciary, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Committee Staff Contact: Judiciary - 5-3951, Oversight 5-5051
Legislation at a Glance: H.R. 1433
- The District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 is a bipartisan measure that will provide District of Columbia residents a vote in the House of Representatives.
- District of Columbia residents have been denied full representation in Congress for over 200 years. There are 600,000 citizens living in the District of Columbia who pay billions of dollars in federal taxes. They proudly serve in the military and have sacrificed their lives in every war since the American Revolution. Many District residents dedicate their service to working for the federal government. Yet these Americans get no vote in Congress.
- This bill permanently increases the size of the House of Representatives by two members, thereby increasing membership from 435 to 437. One seat will go to the District of Columbia permanently and the other seat will go to the next state in line to get a congressional seat. Based on the 2000 Decennial Census and apportionment calculations, Utah will get the second seat until the reapportionment takes place after the 2010 Decennial Census. The bill requires the two new members to be seated on the same day, and special elections would be needed to elect those members. H.R. 1433 has no effect on the Senate. The bill also limits the District to one member, thereby restricting it from receiving additional seats through reapportionment, even if its population justified it.
- The bill provides for the treatment of the District of Columbia as a congressional district for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives. Additionally, the bill repeals certain provisions of current laws that conflict with the goal of providing the District of Columbia with direct voting representation in the House.
- H.R. 1433 contains a “non-severability clause” providing that if a court holds one section of this bill invalid, all other sections will be invalid. This applies to final court actions as well as injunctions. This means that a court can not enjoin or strike down the bill’s provision creating a new seat in the District of Columbia without also enjoining or striking down the new at-large seat for Utah.
House Report 110-52:
Part 1: HTML Version, PDF Version
Part 2: HTML Version, PDF Version
Oversight and Government Reform Committee Mark-up:
House Oversight and Government Reform Markup, March 13, 2007
Opening Statement: Chairman Waxman
National Journal Report
Committee Vote: Ordered Bill Reported to House, as Amended, by Recorded Vote of 24-5: R 6-5; D 17-0.
Committee on the Judiciary Mark-up:
House Committee on the Judiciary Markup, March 15, 2007
National Journal Report
Committee Vote: Ordered Bill Reported to House, as Amended, by Recorded Vote of 21-13: R 2-13; D 19-0.
CRS Reports:
RL33824, The Constitutionality of Awarding the Delegate for the District of Columbia a Vote in the House of Representatives or the Committee of the Whole
RS22579, District of Columbia Representation: Effect on House Apportionment
RL33830, District of Columbia Voting Representation in Congress: An Analysis of Legislative Proposals
CBO Reports:
Cost Estimate: Ordered Reported by Oversight and Government Reform
Cost Estimate: Ordered Reported by Judiciary
Committee Hearing:
Judiciary Hearing on H. R. 1433, March 14, 2007
Testimony of Viet D. Dinh, Professor of Law and Co-Director Asian Law & Policy Studies Georgetown University Law Center
Testimony of Bruce V. Spiva, Partner Spiva & Hartnett, LLP
Testimony of Jonathan Turley, Professor of Law George Washington University Law School
Testimony of Richard P. Bress, Partner Latham & Watkins. LLP
Legislative History:
Similar Measure Introduced with No Floor Action.
Coalition Support Letters, Press Releases and Statements
For List of Organizations Supporting DC Voting Rights - Click Here for the DC Vote Coalition
- 25 Former Elected and Appointed Officials, March 12, 2007
- 25 Legal Scholars Support Constitutionality of DC Voting Rights, March 9, 2007
- LCCR, National Urban League and NAACP Letter, January 25, 2007
- DC Vote and 28 Coalition Organizations Letter,, January 19, 2007
- Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, March 21, 2007
- Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, March 21, 2007
- People For the American Way, March 12, 2007
- Democracy for Utah, March 12, 2007
- League of Women Voters of the U.S., February 14, 2007
- National Urban League, February 14, 2007
- DC for Democracy and Democracy For America, February 7, 2007
- International Association of Fire Fighters, February 6, 2007
- League of Women Voters of the U.S., January 18, 2007
- DC GOP press release, December 7, 2006
- National Urban League press release, December 5, 2006
- League of Women Voters, March 15, 2007
Administration Position:
Potential Veto, HR 1433
Fact Sheets & Talking Points
Press Releases & News Articles:
Other Resources:
Cosponsors of H.R. 1433
H.R. 1591 — Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes (Rep. Obey-Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule)
Bill Text: HTML Version, PDF Version
Bill Summary and Status
Rules Committee: Closed Rule, 4 hours of general debate, Rule, Committee Report, and Roll Call Votes
Committee: House Committee on Appropriations
Committee Staff Contact: 5-2771
Legislation at a Glance:
- Funding for Iraq, Afghanistan and the troops
- Afghanistan: $1 Billion for DOD; 226.5 million for State and USAID programs
- Defense Health Care: $2.8 Billion ($1.7 billion above President’s request)
- Veteran’s Health Care: $1.7 Billion (including $550 million to address maintenance backlog at VA health care facilities)
- BRAC: $3.1 Billion to fully fund FY07 needs
- Readiness: $2.5 Billion to ensure that our troops are properly equipped and trained
- Protecting Our Troops
- Direct the President to adhere to current military guidelines for:
- Unit Readiness
- Length of Deployment
- Time Between Deployments
- Meeting Benchmarks and Ending Our Involvement in Iraq’s Civil War
- Progressing Toward Political and Military Benchmarks-
- By July 1, 2007, the President must certify that Iraq is making meaningful and substantial progress in meeting political and military benchmarks
- If the President does not provide this certification then U.S. forces must begin an immediate redeployment to be completed no later than December 2007 (180 days)
- Achieving Political and Military Benchmarks
- By October 1, 2007, the President must certify that Iraqis have achieved the political and military benchmarks.
- If the President does not provide this certification then US forces must begin an immediate redeployment to be completed no later than March 2008 (180 days)
- Ending U.S. Participation in the War
- Should both certifications be provided, the Administration must begin redeploying U.S. forces from Iraq by march 1, 2008 and complete the redeployment by August 2008 (180 days)
- No Permanent Bases
- Prohibits Torture
- Homeland Security
- Aviation Security: $1.25 Billion (including $1 Billion for explosive detection systems)
- Port, Transit and Border Security: $1.25 Billion
- Gulf Coast Recovery
- Army Corps: $1.3 Billion to repair an complete flood and storm damage reduction projects in the greater New Orleans area and $37 Million for hurricane and costal storm damage reduction projects in Mississippi
- FEMA Disaster Relief Fund: $910 Million to cover the cost of waiving Stafford Act state and local government matching fund requirements
- Agriculture Disaster: $140 Million for farmers and ranchers
- Loan Forgiveness: Eliminates rules that prohibit loan forgiveness
- Continued Assistance: Extends FEMA’s ability to pay utility costs through February 2008
- Additional Assistance: $205 Million ($30 Million for Colleges and Universities; $120 Million for fishing industry; $30 Million for schools)
- Contracting and Oversight
- Improving Contractor Oversight
- Penalize Poor Contractor Performance
- Minimize Wasteful Private Contracts
- Improve FEMA and HUD Hurricane Relief Oversight
- Domestic and Foreign Assistance
- Minimum Wage and Small Business Tax Cuts
- Food Assistance- $450 Million to support food in Aid in African nations and Afghanistan
- Agricultural Assistance- $3.7 Billion for agricultural disasters
- Wildfire Suppression- $500 Million for wildfire suppression emergency reserve accounts
- County Payments- $400 Million to continue funding for the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program- $400 Million to restore cuts
- Pandemic Flu Preparedness- $1 Billion to purchase vaccines
- State Children’s Health Insurance Program- $750 Million to ensure continued healthcare coverage for children in 14 states currently facing shortfalls
- Foreign Aid- Security assistance for Liberia and Jordan
Committee Summary:
PDF Version
House Report 110-60:
HTML Version, PDF Version
Committee Mark-up:
House Appropriations Markup, March 15, 2007
House Military Supplement Bill Includes Troop Timetable – National Journal
Office of the Speaker -The Markup Begins
Office of the Speaker - Iraq Supplemental Markup: Opening Statements
Office of the Speaker - Iraq Supplemental Markup: The Lewis Amendment
For the Full Text of Amendments Click Here
CBO Report:
(TBA)
CRS Reports:
RL33837, Congressional Authority To Limit U.S. Military Operations in Iraq
RS20775, Congressional Use of Funding Cutoffs Since 1970 Involving U.S. Military Forces and Overseas Deployments
RL33900 - FY2007 Supplemental Appropriations for Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Other Purposes
RL33110 - The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11
RL33226 - Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Legislation for Disaster Assistance: Summary Data, FY1989 to FY2007
RS21605: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Estimated Allocations
RL33933: U.S. Foreign Aid to Lebanon: Issues for Congress
Committee Hearings:
Click Here for the Committee on Appropriations List of Hearings
Testimony from Hearings
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Testimony
Statement of Ambassador Peter W. Galbraith
Coalition Support Letters, Press Releases and Statements
Majority Whip Support Documents
- Military Leaders on Iraq
- Max Cleland, Former U.S. Senator, Vietnam Combat Veteran
- Lee Hamilton, Co-Chair of Iraq Study Group
- Bob Graham, Former Chairman of Senate Intelligence Committee: “The American people expect Congress to take action on Iraq. The House bill provides a responsible way forward and I support it.”
- Former National Security Advisor Brzezinski, “A means must be devised to end the U.S. combat role in Iraq and reduce our troop levels, so that we can begin to rebuild our military and reclaim our position of leadership in the world. The bill the House will consider this week does that in an effective and responsible way.”
- General Wesley K. Clark
- Senior Retired Military Officers: “We urge you to put pressure on the Iraqi government to take control of their own country and relieve the burden from American troops by setting a clear and definite timeline for a phased and deliberate redeployment of American combat forces from Iraq …”
- MoveOn Members: “In an online survey over the weekend, 85% of MoveOn members directed the organization to support the House Democratic Leadership measure that sets a date certain for redeploying American troops out of Iraq.”
- Council for a Livable World: “As Republicans are likely to be nearly unanimously united in opposition to the Supplemental Appropriations bill, it is vital that Iraq war opponents unite in support of the bill. Defeat of the legislation will be interpreted by President Bush and Vice-President Cheney as giving them a free hand to pursue the Iraq war as they wish. They will be able to say that Congress has given them an all clear sign to escalate the conflict.”
- Alliance for Children and Families, First Focus, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Council of La Raza, National Human Services Assembly, PICO National Network, United Neighborhood Centers of America, United Way of America Voices for America’s Children, YMCA of the USA “we urge you to take into account the millions of low-income Americans who are on the brink of losing coverage due to the $745 million FY 2007 SCHIP funding shortfall.”
- Current and Former Generals
Statement of Administration Policy:
Potential Veto, HR 1591
Talking Points & Fact sheets:
Press Releases & News Articles:
- Statement by Speaker Nancy Pelosi
- Statement by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
- Statement by Majority Whip James Clyburn
- Statement by Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel
- 30-Something Democrats Discuss the Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health & Iraq Accountability Act
- Office of the Majority Whip - Democrats Deliver Emergency War Time Spending Bill Includes Gulf Coast Recovery Assistance, March 13, 2007
- Office of the Majority Whip - Democrats Make Progress on Iraq Emergency Spending Request, March 08, 2007
- Office of the Majority Whip - Clyburn On Starting The Fifth Year Of The Iraq War, March 19, 2007
Office of the Majority Whip - Iraq Whip Team Shifts Into Gear, Roll Call, March 19, 2007
- Democratic Leaders Announce Iraq, Veterans Proposal, Appropriations Press Release, March 8, 2007
- Talking Points : U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act
- The Washington Post: The (Necessarily Messy) Way Out, March 14, 2007
- Democrats shift debate to Iraq endgame, Los Angeles Times
- Politico - Democrats’ Iraq Plan Draws Broad Support, Poll Shows – DCCC
- AP - Pelosi: Hospital scandal is part of Bush administration neglect
- Bush Threatens to Veto Democrats' Iraq Plan
- Washington Post: Ending an Open-Ended Commitment – Speaker Pelosi
- Speaker Pelosi Statement on the Fourth Anniversary of the War in Iraq
- Speaker Pelosi Statement on Appropriations Committee Approval of Military Funding Bill
- Speaker Pelosi: Administration’s Admissions This Week Demonstrate that Bush’s Iraq Policies Not Working and Necessitate New Direction in Iraq
- Pelosi Remarks on Democratic Plan to Support Our Troops, Help Our Veterans and Hold Iraqis Accountable, March 08, 2007
- On Bush Veto Threat of Military Funding Bill, March 10, 2007 by Speaker Pelosi
- Speaker Pelosi - Continuing Revelations at Walter Reed Show a Troubling Trend, March 1, 2007
Other Resources:
H.R. 1227- Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act of 2007 (Rep. Waters – House Financial Services Committee) (Subject to a Rule)
Bill Text: HTML Version, PDF Version
Bill Summary and Status
Rules Committee Meeting: Structured Rule, Committee Report, Roll Call Votes, Summary of Amendments Submitted, Text of Manager’s Amendment
Committee: House Financial Services, House Transportation and Infrastructure
(Discharged)
Committee Staff Contact: 5-4247
Legislation at a Glance: H.R. 1227
- Expediting Housing Assistance & Cutting Red Tape. H.R. 1227 includes many provisions designed to improve flexibility for previously appropriated funds for hurricane recovery efforts on the Gulf Coast. The bill would free up for use $1.175 billion in funds made available for use to the State of Louisiana under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, but which FEMA will not approve for use under its Road Home program. The bill also would eliminate an unduly restrictive “duplication of benefits” provision that has resulted in homeowners in Louisiana receiving less than the funds they need to rebuild under the Road Home Program, while instating a prohibition against anyone receiving a “windfall gain” under that program. The bill would eliminate a provision from a prior supplemental funding bill prohibiting CDBG funds from being used as a match for any other federal programs. And, the bill would expedite the handling of loss claims for lenders in the case of FHA insured 1- to 4-unit properties where there are problems with the conveyance of title.
- Preserving Affordable Housing. H.R. 1227 includes a number of provisions designed to preserve the supply of affordable rental housing. The bill would require HUD to give timely approval of all feasible requests to restore project-based rental assistance or transfer such assistance to another site, in the case of damaged or destroyed federally assisted housing developments. The bill would authorize 4,500 new housing vouchers for the purpose of project based assistance for supportive housing units for seniors, disabled persons, and the homeless. The bill would require HUD to provide a replacement voucher for every public housing and assisted housing unit that is not brought back on line. The bill also would preserve the availability of affordable housing units in hurricane-affected areas by preventing the sale of public housing units without preserving long-term affordability requirements. It would condition demolition of public housing units on providing alternative housing units for residents of the units being demolished and on replacing such units either with other public housing or comparable units that are affordable. Specifically, the bill would require the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) to survey pre-Katrina residents to identify which residents want to return and when, and to provide public housing or comparable units to those residents that want to return, but in any case no less than 3,000 units by August 1st. Funding is also authorized for repair, rehabilitation, and development of HANO public housing units. In addition, the bill would authorize $10 million for Fair Housing activities, to ensure that housing activities in areas affected by Katrina and Rita are carried out in a manner that furthers fair housing.
- Extending Duration of Voucher Program. Faced with a looming September deadline for the cutoff of some 12,000 families currently receiving Disaster Voucher Program (DVP) assistance, H.R. 1227 would extend this deadline through at least the end of the year, and would authorize replacement vouchers to affected families when the program terminates. The bill would also provide a clarification that HUD should make adjustments in the voucher formula funding allocation changes made in the Continuing Resolution, so that Gulf Coast housing agencies will not be adversely impacted by the Hurricanes.
Text of Amendments in Order:
Committee Summary:
PDF Version
House Report 110-51 Part 1:
HTML Version, PDF Version
Committee Mark-up:
House Financial Services Markup, March 6-7, 2007
Hurricane Housing Recovery Bill Moves to Full House - National Journal Report,
Debate on Hurricane Recovery Act Stalls in House Finance - National Journal Report
Summary of House Financial Services Committee Votes Decided by Roll Call Vote
For Full List of Amendments Offered Click Here
- Rep. Neugebauer, R-Texas Strike Permanent Voucher Section Amendment – Amendment would have struck Section 306 of the bill (relating to transfer of DVP vouchers to permanent voucher program). Rejected by Recorded Vote of 28-35: R 28-0; D 0-34.
- Rep. Brown-Waite, R-Fla. Funding Stipulations Amendment – Amendment would have changed the use of Road Home Program funds to hazard mitigation and would have required that funds used under the Road Home Program be utilized only for property acquisition and relocation projects that met requirements under clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Rejected by Recorded Vote of 27-39: R 27-3; D 0-36.
- Rep. McHenry, R-N.C Strike Tenant Vouchers for Units Amendment - Amendment would have struck Section 304 of the bill. Section 304 authorizes such sums in fiscal 2008 "as may be necessary" to provide replacement tenant vouchers for all assisted dwelling units destroyed by the hurricanes. Rejected by Recorded Vote of 30-37: R 30-1; D 0-36.
- Rep. Price, R-Ga. Offset Requirement Amendment – Amendment would have required all new spending authorized in the bill to be offset by budget cuts elsewhere. Rejected by Recorded Vote of 28-34: R 28-1; D 0-33.
- Rep. Hensarling, R-Texas $755 Million Cap Amendment – Amendment would have set a limit of $755 million on appropriations authorized under the bill for rebuilding public housing in New Orleans. As introduced, the bill would authorize "such funds as may be necessary" for New Orleans public housing reconstruction. Rejected by Recorded Vote of 30-35: R 30-0; D 0-35.
- Rep. Hensarling, Work Requirements Amendment – Amendment would have required rental voucher recipients to work for 20 hours or more. "Work activities" would have been defined by Section 407(d) of the Social Security Act. Some voucher recipients would have been exempt from the proposed work requirement, including: Minors; People 62 years of age and older; Blind or disabled individuals; Individuals already exempt from work requirements under the Social Security Act. Rejected by Recorded Vote of 18-47: R 18-11; D 0-36.
- Rep. Price, R-Ga. Funding Match Amendment – Amendment would have struck Section 102 of the bill (section eliminating the current prohibition on using federal monies to meet funding match requirements). Rejected by Recorded Vote of 16-50: R 16-14; D 0-36.
- Ordered Reported, as Amended, by Recorded Vote of 50-16: R 14-16; D 36-0.
CBO Report:
HTML Version, PDF Version
Financial Services Committee Hearings:
Federal Housing Response to Hurricane Katrina, February 6, 2007
- Panel One: The Honorable Gene Taylor, The Honorable William H. Jefferson, The Honorable Charles W. Boustany, Jr., The Honorable Charlie Melancon
- Panel Two: The Honorable Roy A. Bernardi - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. David Garratt - FEMA, Mr. Walter Leger - Housing and Redevelopment Task Force, Louisiana Recovery Authority . Mr. Gray Swoope - Mississippi Development Authority
- Panel Three: Ms. Sheila Crowley - National Low Income Housing Coalition, Mr. Kirk H. Tate - Orion Real Estate Services, Mr. Ghebre Selassie Mehreteab - NHP Foundation, Mr. James H. Perry - Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, Mr. Edgar Bright, III - Standard Mortgage Corporation, Dr. James A. Richardson - E.J. Ourso College of Business, Louisiana State University
- Panel Four: Ms. Doris Koo - Enterprise Community Partners, Mr. Derrick Johnson, Mississippi State Conference NAACP, Mr. James R. Kelly - Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, Ms. Julie Andrews - Residents United and a Public Housing Resident, Ms. Margery Austin Turner - Metropolitan Housing and Communities, The Urban Institute, Ms. Judith A. Browne-Dianis - Advancement Project, Ms. Martha J. Kegel - UNITY of Greater New Orleans
- Available Member Statements: Rep. Maxine Waters (CA) . Rep. Julia Carson (IN) . Rep. Joe Baca (CA) . Rep. Albio Sires (NJ) . Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (FL) . Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ)
Solving the Affordable Housing Crisis in the Gulf Region Post Katrina: Why no progress and what are the obstacles to success?, February 22-23, 2007
- February 22 Panel One: The Honorable Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Governor, State of Louisiana, The Honorable William J. Jefferson
- February 22 Panel Two: The Honorable C. Ray Nagin, Mayor, City of New Orleans, The Honorable Oliver Thomas, President, New Orleans City Council
- February 22 Panel Three: Ms. Dominique Blom - Office of Public Housing Investments, Mr. Gil Jamieson - Gulf Coast Recovery FEMA , Mr. Walter J. Leger, Jr. - Louisiana Recovery Authority, Dr. Edward Blakely - Director of Recovery, City of New Orleans, Mr. C. Donald Babers - Housing Authority of New Orleans
- February 22 Panel Four: Mr. James H. Perry - Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, E.D., Mr. James R. Kelly - Catholic Charities, Mr. Steve Bradberry - Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Dr. Sherece West - Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, Ms. Gloria Williams – Tenant, Ms. Donna Johnigan – Tenant, Mr. Ben Dupuy, The Cypress Group , Ms. Emelda Paul – Tenant
- February 22 Panel Five: Ms. Isabel Reiff - ICF International, Inc., Mr. Mark Rodi - President-elect of the Louisiana Realtors Association , Ms. Tracie L. Washington - NAACP Gulf Coast Advocacy Center, Mr. Paul R. Taylor, President, SRP Development
- February 23 Panel One: The Honorable Gene Taylor, The Honorable Brent Warr, Mayor, Gulfport, Mississippi
- February 23 Panel Two: Mr. Gil Jamieson - Deputy Director for Gulf Coast Recovery, FEMA , Ms. Donna Sanford - Disaster Recovery Division, Mississippi Development Authority, Mr. Delmar Robinson - Biloxi Housing Authority, Mr. Chuck Benvenutti -Chairman of the Governors Commission, Hancock County, MS
- February 23 Panel Three: Mr. Derrick Evans - Turkey Creek Initiative, Mr. Jason Mackenzie, North Gulfport Community Land Trust, Ms. Lillie Bender - Unity Homes Project, Mr. H. Rodger Wilder - Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Mr. Jon Jopling - Mississippi Center for Justice, Mr. William J. Bynum - Enterprise Corporation of the Delta , Ms. Diane Collier – Tenant, Mr. Brian Sanderson - Gulf Coast Business Council, Mr. Walter O. Hendrix - DASH Neighborhood Revitalization, Inc.. Mr. Rodger Clark - Paralyzed Veterans of America
Legislative History:
No Relevant Legislative Hisory.
Press Releases & News Articles:
House Financial Services Committee Passes Comprehensive Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Bill, March 7, 2007
Organizational Statements:
(TBA)
Other Resources:
Cosponsors of H.R. 1227
Bills considered under Suspension of The rules
H.R. 835 — Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act of 2007 (Rep. Abercrombie-House Financial Services)
Bill Text: HTML Version, PDF Version
Bill Summary and Status
Committee: House Financial Services
Committee Staff Contact: 5-4247
Legislation at a Glance: H.R. 835
- This bill authorizes, through 2012, the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant and Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee programs, which provide grants to assist affordable housing for low-income Native Hawaiian families and provides guaranteed loans to families residing on the Hawaiian Home Lands. It also requires that loans provided by the loan guarantee program be used to construct, acquire, refinance, or rehabilitate one-to-four family dwellings.
- The measure also authorizes the Title VI loan guarantee program, which provides guarantees to Native American Block Grant recipients so they can leverage their funding by pledging future grants as security for the repayment of a loan, through FY 2012.
Committee Summary:
(TBA)
House Report 110-50:
HTML Version, PDF Version
Committee Mark-up:
House Oversight and Government Reform Markup, February 13, 2007
- Ordered Bill Reported to House, as Amended, by Voice Vote.
CBO Report:
HTML Version, PDF Version
Legislative History:
Similar Measure Introduced with No Floor Action.
Press Releases & News Articles:
House Committee Approves Abercrombie's Native Hawaiian Housing Bill, Rep. Abercrombie
Press Release
Organizational Statements:
(TBA)
Other Resources:
Cosponsors of H.R. 835
H.R. 137 — Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2007 (Rep. Gallegly – House Committee on the Judiciary)
Bill Text: HTML Version, PDF Version
Bill Summary and Status
Committee: Committee on the Judiciary
Committee Staff Contact: 5-4748
Legislation at a Glance: H.R. 137
- Bipartisan Measure with 303 cosponsors.
- Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) sponsoring or exhibiting a bird in a fighting venture in a state where it would not otherwise be in violation of the law, only if the person knew that any bird in the venture was knowingly bought, sold, delivered, transported, or received in interstate or foreign commerce for such purpose; or (2) knowingly sponsoring or exhibiting in an animal fighting venture any other animal that was moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
- Defines an "animal fighting venture" as any event involving a fight between at least two animals that is conducted "for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment." In states where bird fighting is legal — currently, only Louisiana and New Mexico — the measure prohibits an individual from sponsoring or exhibiting a bird in a fight, if the bird was knowingly bought, sold, delivered, transported, or received in interstate or foreign commerce.
- Makes it a federal felony to use the Postal Service or any other "instrumentality of interstate commerce" — defined as any "written, wire, radio, television or other form of communication" — to distribute through interstate or foreign commerce any commercial speech promoting animal fighting that is performed within the United States.
Committee Summary:
(TBA)
House Report 110-27 Part 1:
HTML Version, PDF Version
Committee Mark-up:
House Committee on the Judiciary Markup, February 07, 2007
Animal Cruelty Bill Moves To Full House – National Journal Report
- Ordered Bill Reported to House, as Amended, by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Mark-up:
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Markup, February 06, 2007
Sub panel OKs Bill To Ban Organized Animal Fights - National Journal Report
- Ordered Bill Reported to House by Voice Vote.
CBO Report:
HTML Version, PDF Version
Subcommittee Hearing
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Hearing, February 6, 2007
Testimony of Wayne Pacelle, The Humane Society of the United States
Testimony of Jerry Leber, United Gamefowl Breeders Association
Legislative History:
In the 109th Congress, the Senate passed a similar bill (S. 382) by unanimous consent on April 28, 2005. The House did not act on that measure, however, nor did it act on a House version of the legislation (H.R. 817).
.
Press Releases & News Articles:
“Cockfighting is a barbaric, malevolent and violent pastime that has no place in civilized society. Now it also has the potential to lead to the deaths of nearly 2 million Americans. It’s imperative that we bring the full weight of the law down on the blood sport and jail those who practice it.”
– Column by Rep. Elton Gallegly, Smuggling Cockfighting Roosters a Conduit to Bird Flu Santa Barbara News-Press, December 11, 2005
Organizational Statements:
The Humane Society
Other Resources:
Cosponsors of H.R. 137
Animal Fighting Ban Clears Senate Judiciary – National Journal
H.R. 251 — Truth in Caller ID Act of 2007 (Rep. Engel- Energy and Commerce Committee)
Bill Text: HTML Version, PDF Version
Bill Summary and Status
Committee: Committee on Energy and Commerce
Committee Staff Contact: 5-2927
Legislation at a Glance: H.R. 251
- Bipartisan Bill with 31 cosponsors.
- Makes it a crime to knowingly modify caller ID information with the intent to mislead the recipient of a call in interstate of foreign commerce and to use the caller ID information of other people without their knowledge in order to mislead the recipient of a call. The measure applies to calls made over traditional telephone lines, and to calls made over the Internet through Voice Over Internet Protocol systems.
- Such offenses committed for commercial gain would be federal felonies and carry a prison sentence of up to five years. Offenses not committed for commercial gain would be misdemeanors and carry a prison sentence of up to one year. If convicted of these offenses, an individual would have to forfeit to the court any property or money obtained through the offense, as well as any equipment or other technology used in the crime, or intended to be used in such crimes. The bill explicitly exempts modifications to caller information that are part of law enforcement investigations, witness protection programs, or federal intelligence operations.
Committee Summary:
(TBA)
House Report:
(TBA)
Subcommittee Mark-up:
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet Completes Markup of H.R. 251,
The Truth in Caller ID Act, February 27, 2007
Spoofing Bill Gains Telecom Subcommittee Support– National Journal
- Reported to Full Committee, as Amended, by Voice Vote.
Committee Mark-up:
Bill To Outlaw Caller ID Spoofing Moves To House Floor – National Journal
- Ordered Bill Reported to House, as Amended, by Voice Vote.
CBO Report:
(TBA)
Subcommittee Hearing
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, February 28, 2007
Testimony of Kris Montieth, Federal Communications Commission
Testimony of Ms. Staci Pies, PointOne and Voice on The Net Coalition
Testimony of Ms. Allison Knight, Electronic Privacy Information Center
Legislative History:
In the 109th Congress, the House suspended the rules and passed a nearly identical measure (H.R. 5304) by voice vote on Dec. 9, 2006
Organizational Statements:
(TBA)
Press Releases & News Articles:
Honorable John D. Dingell Before the National Association of Broadcasters State Leadership Conference
Other Resources:
Cosponsors of H.R. 251
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