This Week in Congress: 10.29.07-11.2.07

SCHIP

The House passed a revised bill last week to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. This week, the Senate will vote on the new bipartisan SCHIP legislation. President Bush vetoed the first SCHIP bill several weeks ago, delivering a blow to quality, affordable coverage for low-income children.

Read more on SCHIP:

• Overriding the SCHIP Veto by the Numbers 
• Getting the Facts Straight on Children’s Health Insurance 
• Interactive Map: Chipping Away at the Number of Uninsured
  

Workers

The House will consider two pieces of legislation that are designed to expand protections for laid-off workers. The Early Warning and Health Care for Workers Affected by Globalization Act and the Trade and Globalization Act would both benefit American workers affected by the consequences of a global marketplace.

Read more on trade, globalization, and American jobs:

• Realizing Dignity Through Decent Work 
• Assisting Workers in Global Competition
  

FISA

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act will be up for reauthorization in February. Congress is already working to ensure that the Bush administration does not force through another last-minute measure that compromises privacy in the name of security. The Senate Judiciary Committee will take up the issue this week in a hearing on protecting Americans’ security and privacy while preserving the rule of law and government accountability.

The RESTORE Act, introduced recently in the House, would correct the most glaring deficiencies allowed under FISA as a result of the Protect America Act, the Bush administration’s August changes. The RESTORE Act would restore the protections for Americans’ security and privacy while granting the government the expanded powers it says it needs to intercept terrorist communications.

Read more on FISA:

• Restoring Our Liberties: New Surveillance Bill Would Begin to Restore Checks and Balances
• Ensuring that FISA is Legal and Effective 
• Liberty and Security for All

To speak with our experts on these issues, please contact:

For TV, Sean Gibbons, Director of Media Strategy
202.682.1611 or sgibbons@americanprogress.org
For print or radio, John Neurohr, Press Assistant
202.481.8182 or jneurohr@americanprogress.org
For web, Erin Lindsay, Online Marketing Manager
202.741.6397 or elindsay@americanprogress.org