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Morning Briefing: Senate Slogs
Through Transportation-HUD Spending Bill
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
8:30 AM |
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The Senate yesterday continued to slog through the FY
2010 Transportation-HUD appropriations bill (H.R.
3288), legislation that would fund programs within the
Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban
Development during the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2009. The
chamber adjourned yesterday evening after voting on one
amendment and leaving several proposals pending.
On a
68 to 26 vote, the Senate tabled -- or killed -- language
offered by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) that would have required
the $1.7 billion in member-requested projects -- also called
earmarks -- within the Transportation-HUD
spending legislation to be directed to the Next
Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)
program.
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"Most Americans will never benefit from these earmark
projects," McCain argued during yesterday's floor debate.
"Alternatively, all Americans are impacted daily by our
nation's air traffic control system."
The
Senate is scheduled to vote on the following amendments today:
- Coburn/McCain
- Allows states to opt out of a provision that requires them
to spend 10 percent of their surface transportation funds on
enhancement projects such as road-kill reduction and highway
beautification.
-
Coburn/McCain
- Prohibits funds from being used on road-kill reduction programs,
transportation museums, scenic beautification projects, or
bicycle paths if the Highway Trust Fund does not contain
amounts sufficient to cover unfunded highway authorizations.
-
Coburn/McCain -
Prohibits funds from being used on
transportation museums.
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Coburn -
Requires a study on the total cost to taxpayers of government ownership of
residential homes.
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Coburn -
Requires
public disclosure of certain reports.
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Wicker -
Allows Amtrak passengers to safely transport firearms and
ammunition in their checked baggage.
-
Vitter - To affirm the
continuing existence of the community service requirements
under section 12(c) of the United States Housing Act of 1937.
A vote on whether to end debate on the Transportation-HUD bill
will occur on Thursday. A final vote on the measure is
expected by
week's end.
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Across the Capitol, House lawmakers yesterday passed several
bills without amendment, including:
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21 Century
FHA Housing Act (H.R.
3146) - Aims to improve to FHA mortgage insurance
programs through information technology upgrades and
training programs, among other provisions.
-
FHA
Multifamily Loan Limit Adjustment Act (H.R.
3527) - Amends the National Housing Act to revise the
maximum mortgage loan principal amounts the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development may insure for certain
elevator-type structures, among other provisions.
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SIG TARP
Small Business Awareness Act (H.R.
3179) - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act
of 2008 to require the Special Inspector General for the
Troubled Asset Relief Program to include the effect of the
Troubled Asset Relief Program on small businesses in the
oversight, audits, and reports provided by the Special
Inspector General.
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Legislation
to allow the U.S. Postal Service to pay its share of
contributions for annuitants' health benefits out of the
Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund (H.R.
22).
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A final
vote on the
Advanced Vehicle
Technology Act (H.R.
3246) is expected in the House today. The bill would authorize a
total of $2.85 billion over the fiscal year (FY) 2010-2014 period for
the Department of Energy to support research activities to reduce the
use of vehicle fuels that generate high emissions, including $1.75
billion to support the development of technologies that would improve
fuel efficiency, promote the use of alternative fuels, and optimize
traffic flow for passenger and commercial vehicles. About $1 billion
would go to support a research and development program for medium-
and heavy-duty vehicles, with $60 million used to support a pilot
program to transfer new technologies between the on-road and off-road
vehicle sectors.
The House is also
scheduled to begin debate today on the
Student Aid and Fiscal
Responsibility Act (H.R.
3221), legislation that would amend the Higher Education Act of
1965 by prohibiting new federally guaranteed loans from being made
under the Federal Family Education Loan Program, and shifting those
loans to the William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan program. |
© Copyright
Capitol Hill Reports, Inc. (2009). No claim to original government
works.
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