This Week in Congress 2.11.08-2.15.08

FISA

The Senate is expected to finish work this week on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Discussion on the remaining amendments will begin on Monday, and votes on the amendments, as well as final passage, is scheduled for Tuesday.

Three of the remaining amendments deal with retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies, and the other amendments deal with the president’s authority to conduct electronic surveillance. Once the Senate finishes work, negotiations between the House and Senate are expected to begin quickly in order to pass a bill before the current law expires this Friday.

For information about CAP’s position on FISA, see:

• Playing Politics with Intelligence: Bush Puts Security at Risk
• Safeguarding Liberty and Security Under FISA

 

Economic Stimulus

The president is expected on Wednesday to sign the Economic Stimulus package passed by the House and Senate last week.

For information about CAP’s position on the economic stimulus package, see:

• Congress’ Work Has Just Begun: Stimulus Marks Important First Step

 

Budget

The House and Senate will continue to hold hearings this week on the president’s $3.1 trillion budget, which was released last Monday.

For information about CAP’s position on the president’s budget, see:

• Nussle’s Revenge: Bush Budget Director Strikes at State and Local Governments
• Treating a Symptom, Not a Disease
• Interactive Map: Bush’s Budget Cuts Aid to Displaced Workers
• Bush’s Energy Budget: Proposals Not Consistent with Claims

 

Housing

On Wednesday, the House will consider HR 3521, the Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act. This bill requires the federal government and local public housing agencies, after April 2009, to negotiate reasonable management fees with property managers and other interested parties. It also increases the number of units local housing agencies can manage before they are required by new rules to manage each housing development on an individual basis, rather than managing all developments in their jurisdiction as a single entity.

The Senate Special Committee on Aging is holding a hearing on the effects of the home mortgage crisis on elderly homeowners on Wednesday morning.

For information about CAP’s position on housing, see:

• Throwing Homeowners a Lifeline
• Strengthening Our Economy: Foreclosure Prevention and Neighborhood Preservation

 

Environment and Economy

The House will consider a bill that will extend tax credits and deductions for alternative energy and energy-efficient investments, offset in part by repealing or reducing tax benefits for large oil and gas companies. The provisions to extend the tax credits and deductions were taken out of last year’s energy bill and were not included in the final stimulus package. The White House has threatened a veto of similar legislation in the past.

On Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee is holding a hearing on an International Cap and Trade Program.

For information about CAP’s energy positions, see:

• Capturing the Energy Opportunity: Creating a Low-Carbon Economy

To speak with our experts on this topic, please contact:

For TV, Sean Gibbons, Director of Media Strategy, 202.682.1611 or [email protected]
For print or radio, John Neurohr, Press Assistant, 202.481.8182 or [email protected]
For web, Erin Lindsay, Online Marketing Manager, 202.741.6397 or [email protected]