June 30, 2010
House Democrats intend to bring a scaled back version of the FY10 supplemental spending bill to the floor by the end of this week, with aid to school districts to prevent teacher layoffs reduced from $23 billion to $10 billion. The teacher funding is intended to help prevent layoffs for 140,000 school employees next year. … Read More
June 30, 2010
On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Justice-Science approved its FY11 draft bill, which would provide $60.5 billion in discretionary spending. The draft measure would provide $3.9 billion (6 percent) less than 2010 levels, mostly because of the significant increase provided last year to perform the census, and just $2.7 million less than President Obama… Read More
June 28, 2010
Members of Congress face a busy week as they attempt to advance some major bills before the start of the July Fourth recess. At the same time, the FY11 appropriations process may also begin to gear up this week and move forward after the July recess period. House Democrats would like to approve the FY10… Read More
June 28, 2010
Senate Floor Activities On Monday, the Senate convenes and will begin confirmation hearings on the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. House Floor Activities The House of Representatives may take up the FY10 war supplemental spending bill later in the week. Senate Committee Activities Tuesday, June… Read More
June 28, 2010
Early this morning, US Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) passed away at a hospital in Virginia. Byrd was 92. Byrd, who was first elected to the Senate in 1958, was President Pro Tem, a largely ceremonial post but one that put him third in succession to the presidency. On November 18th of this year, his 20,774th day… Read More
June 25, 2010
On Thursday, Senate Democrats failed for a third time to pass a jobs and economic relief bill (tax extenders bill). Republicans rejected the $100 billion-plus package, which included payments to states to cover for Medicaid costs and an extension of unemployment benefits. This latest version of the bill reduced the original $24 billion in new… Read More
June 23, 2010
Leaders in the House and Senate have apparently decided to forgo the development and passage of a typical 5-year budget resolution and will instead set a one-year spending plan. The plan will provide caps for discretionary spending in the 12 appropriations bills that fund federal government operations. According to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD),… Read More
June 21, 2010
The U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education Comprehensive Program (FIPSE) will accept competitive FY10 proposals. FIPSE supports innovative reforms and improvements in postsecondary education that respond to problems of national significance. Approximately $27 million will be available for 37 awards of up to $750,000 per year; projects can last up… Read More
June 21, 2010
The consideration of FY11 spending bills has been delayed for weeks, largely due to the inability of the House and Senate to produce a budget resolution. Each year, one of the first steps Congress takes in the appropriations process is the development of a budget resolution. A budget resolution sets the spending limits for the 12… Read More
June 17, 2010
The Gulf oil spill continues to complicate negotiations on a legislative pathway for energy and climate legislation. While many agree, including the President, that Congress must take action on an energy bill this year, several moderate senators remain unconvinced that a climate bill can garner the necessary votes in the Senate. The Senate continues to… Read More
