This Week in Congress: 12.03.07 – 12.07.07
December 3, 2007
Energy
After negotiators reached a deal
late last Friday to increase fuel economy standards from an average of 25 miles
per gallon to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, the House will consider its version
of the energy bill (HR. 6) and its accompanying tax package (HR. 3221) this week.
The bill also includes mandates for production of alternative fuels and for
increased use of renewable energy sources. The Rules Committee is expected to
meet on the bill Tuesday, leading to floor consideration on Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, the Senate Environment and Public Works
Committee will hold a hearing to mark up S. 2191, America's Climate Security Act. The bill, sponsored by Senators
Lieberman and Warner, is designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions through a
cap-and-trade program.
For more information on CAP’s energy policies, see:
Intelligence
The Senate is scheduled to debate revisions to the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act program. Two separate proposals will be
considered, one originating from the intelligence committee, and a substitute
proposal from the judiciary committee. Debate is
expected to revolve around the intelligence committee’s version, which includes
a controversial provision granting retroactive legal immunity for telecom
companies who were involved in warrantless wiretapping.
Conferees will also be named this week to begin official
negotiations on the 2008 intelligence authorization bill. Passed by the House
in May, the annual authorization bill outlines policies for the intelligence
community. Conference negotiations are expected to be brief, and the House is
scheduled to consider it on the floor later this week.
For more information
on CAP’s intelligence policies, see:
Defense
Although Congress has passed the FY08 defense appropriations
measure into law, negotiations are still ongoing on the defense authorization
bill for the year. The bill does not include any war-related policy changes.
Conferees hope to reach an agreement this week, but the main obstacle to
passage is a Senate-passed provision expanding hate crimes laws to include
crimes based on sexual orientation. If an agreement is reached this week, the
conference report will be voted on in the House.
For more information
on CAP’s defense appropriations and hate crimes policies, see:
Agriculture
The Senate will again try to pass the farm bill this week,
as final passage has been postponed repeatedly due to disagreements over
amendments. Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell have so far
failed to reach a compromise to limit the number of relevant amendments. If
cloture is invoked through the support of 60 Senators, final passage of the farm
bill could happen this week.
For more information
about CAP’s policies on the Farm Bill, see:
Foreign Affairs
Following up on last week’s Annapolis
summit, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday
focusing on the Middle East peace process. See
Middle East Progress, a
project of the Center for American Progress, for more information.
The Senate Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance will also
hold a Thursday hearing on foreign aid to Pakistan. CAP’s Larry Korb,
co-author of “The Forgotten Front,” will testify.
For more information
on these issues, see:
To speak with our experts, 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
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