2007 Archive
April 1-30
Bills on the Floor
U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act, 2007
Upon their return from spring recess, the House and Senate both passed a reconciled version of the Fiscal Year 2007 Supplemental Spending bill (HR 1591). Because the $124 billion bill includes language calling for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq by March 2008, as well as substantially more funding than requested for domestic programs, such as Hurricane Katrina recovery, children's health insurance, a minimum wage increase and small business tax incentives, President Bush is expected to veto it. Neither the House nor the Senate have enough votes to override the veto. Possible alternatives mooted would likely maintain benchmarks for the Iraqi government, including a reversal of the recent troop "surge" if these are not met, or perhaps a series of smaller, short-term funding bills.
Court Security Improvement Act
The Senate has passed a bill (S 378) to protect judges, prosecutors, witnesses, victims, and their family members. In particular, the bill would allow the court system to conceal from the public crucial personal information, such as home addresses, from judges' financial disclosure forms. A similar bill is being considered at House committee level (HR 660).
Promoting math and science
Several bills have passed in the Senate and House recently to boost education and research in math and science, to make Americans more competitive in these fields. Two of the bills, S 761 and HR 363, would double grant opportunities through the National Science Foundation, with HR 363 aimed at supporting promising young scientists and engineers. Another House bill, HR 362, would increase scholarship opportunities for math, science and engineering students to train as teachers in return for an in-service teaching obligation. These bills must now be passed by the other chamber.
Peace in Africa resolution
The Senate has passed a resolution (S Res 76) calling on the United States Government and the international community to promptly develop, fund, and implement a comprehensive regional strategy in Africa to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian operations, contain and reduce violence, and contribute to conditions for sustainable peace in eastern Chad, northern Central African Republic, and Darfur, Sudan. A resolution is a non-binding measure intended to express the sense of Congress.
Open Government Act
The Senate Judiciary Committee has passed a bill (S 849) to promote accessibility, accountability, and openness in Government by strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In particular, the bill would compel government departments and agencies to respond more promptly to FOIA requests from the public. The House passed a similar version (HR 1309) last month.
Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act
The House passed a bill (HR 1678) to fund, for another two years, domestic and foreign programs and centers for the treatment of victims of torture. The funding goes to the Department of Health and Human Services for domestic treatment centers, to the President's office for grants to treatment centers and programs in foreign countries, and to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. The bill is under consideration in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Hearings
(The links below provide access to prepared witness testimonies. Full transcripts are available upon request.)
Clean Coal Technology.
Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Innovation, Senate Science, Commerce and Transportation Committee, April 26.
View the hearing
Alternative Transportation Fuels: An Overview.
Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, House Energy and Commerce Committee, April 18.
View the hearing
Economic Challenges and Opportunities Facing American Agricultural Producers Today (3 parts).
Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.
Part 3, April 25Part 2, April 24Part 1, April 18
Wildlife and Oceans in a Changing Climate.
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans, House Natural Resources Committee, April 17.
View the hearing
The State of Climate Change Science 2007, Pt. II
House Science and Technology Committee, April 17.
View the hearing
Efforts to Deal with America's Image Abroad: Are They Working?
Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, House Foreign Affairs Committee, April 26.
View the hearing (scroll to title and date)
Extraordinary Rendition in U.S. Counterterrorism Policy: The Impact on Transatlantic Relations.
Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, House Foreign Affairs Committee, April 17.
View the hearing (scroll to title and date)
Casualties of War: Child Soldiers and the Law.
Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law, Senate Judiciary Committee, April 24.
View the hearing
Darfur: A 'Plan B' to Stop Genocide?
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, April 11.
View the hearing
Malaria Awareness Day: Leveraging Progress for Future Advances.
Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, House Foreign Affairs Committee, April 25.
View the hearing (scroll to title and date)
PEPFAR: An Assessment of Progress and Challenges.
House Foreign Affairs Committee, April 24.
View the hearing (scroll to title and date)
The Federal Government's Role in Empowering Americans to Make Informed Financial Decisions.
Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, April 30.
View the hearing
Proposals for Reducing Poverty.
Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, House Ways and Means Committee, April 26.
View the hearing
Strengthening the Middle Class: Ensuring Equal Pay for Women.
House Education and Labor Committee, April 24.
View the hearing
Is "Free Trade" Working?
Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism, Senate Science, Commerce and Transportation Committee, April 18.
View the hearing
Digital Future of the United States: Part IV, Broadband Lessons from Abroad.
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, House Energy and Commerce Committee, April 24.
View the hearing
Department of Justice Oversight [with testimony of Alberto Gonzales].
Senate Judiciary Committee, April 19.
View the hearing