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Washington Summary
Daily Edition
December 8, 2006
Congressional Record, Vol. 155, Nos. 133-134 (December 6-7, 2006)
CQ Today, Vol. 42, No. 157 (December 8, 2006)
Federal Register, Vol. 71, No. 236 (December 8, 2006)
The Senate is in session today.
The House is in session today.
Business Law
Bills Introduced
HR 6416 ( McHenry, R-NC), to amend the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to exempt certain financial institutions from the internal control assessment requirement under such act; to Financial Services. H8978, CR 12/7/06.
Children/Families
Bills Introduced
HR 6411 ( Fitzpatrick, R-PA), to amend Title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties with respect to employers' conduct relating to persons engaging in sexual conduct with children; to Judiciary, and Education and the Workforce. H8978, CR 12/7/06.
HR 6390 ( Hunter, R-CA), to provide a civil action for a minor injured by exposure to an entertainment product containing material that is harmful to minors; to Judiciary. H8887, CR 12/6/06.
HR 6391 ( Jefferson, D-LA), to provide emergency child care in the Gulf Coast Region; to Education and the Workforce. H8887, CR 12/6/06.
Floor Action
On 12/7/06, the Senate passed HR 4416, to reauthorize permanently the use of penalty and franked mail in efforts relating to the location and recovery of missing children, clearing the measure for the President.
On 12/7/06, the House passed HR 864, to provide for programs and activities with respect to the prevention of underage drinking, clearing the measure for the President.
Courts/Judiciary
Nominations
On 12/8/06, the Senate will vote on the nomination of Kent A. Jordan, of Delaware, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit.
On 12/7/06, the Senate received the nomination of Thomas Alvin Farr, of North Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Committee Action
On 12/7/06, the Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee, Senate Judiciary Committee, adopted a motion approving the Interim Report on the Administrative Law, Process, and Procedure Project for the 21st Century.
Criminal Law
Bills Introduced
HR 6382 ( McKinney, D-GA), to deny federal assistance to any state or local law enforcement agencies whose officers use excessive force or violence leading to the death of innocent or unarmed citizens, or who fail to establish, enforce and follow transparent and accountable procedures that fully protect the lives and health of citizens during surveillance, interrogation, arrest or imprisonment from torture, excessive physical or psychological abuse and death, and to require a system of allegations and cases that can result in the sanction, punishment and removal of officers who perpetrate such abuses or their superiors; to Judiciary. H8888, CR 12/6/06.
Elder Law
Bills Introduced
HR 6380 ( Carson, D-IN), to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require reporting of the quality measures by hospitals in order to reduce medication errors; to Ways and Means. H8888, CR 12/6/06.
Floor Action
On 12/7/06, the Senate passed S 4091, to provide authority for restoration of the Social Security Trust Funds from the effects of clerical error.
Environmental Law
Floor Action
On 12/7/06, the Senate amended and passed HR 5946, to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to authorize activities to promote improved monitoring and compliance for high seas fisheries, or fisheries governed by international fishery management agreements. On 3/8/06, Robert D. Evans, Director of the ABA Governmental Affairs Office, sent a letter to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee regarding the issue.
Health Law
Bills Introduced
HR 6412 ( Herger, R-CA), to amend Title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the use of interstate commerce for suicide promotion; to Judiciary. H8978, CR 12/7/06.
HR 6395 ( Jefferson, D-LA), to ensure an adequate supply of public health professionals; to Energy and Commerce,, and Ways and Means. H8889, CR 12/6/06.
HR 6400 ( Jefferson, D-LA), to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for access to health benefits under the Medicare program for certain individuals 21 to 65 years of age; to Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce. H8889, CR 12/6/06.
Floor Action
On 12/7/06, the House passed HR 6344, to reauthorize the Office of National Drug Control Policy Act.
Election Law
Bills Introduced
S 4102 ( Obama, D-IL), to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the use of telecommunications devices for the purposes of preventing or obstructing the broadcast or exchange of election-related information; to Commerce, Science, and Transportation. S11498, statement and text S11502, CR 12/7/06.
HR 6414 ( Holt, D-NJ), to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to establish standards for the open and accurate tabulation of votes and aggregation of vote counts in elections for federal office; to House Administration. H8978, CR 12/7/06.
Immigration Law
Bills Introduced
S 4100 ( Voinovich, R-OH), to expand the visa waiver program to countries on a probationary basis; to Judiciary. S11498, statement and text 511500, CR 12/7/06.
HR 6418 ( Shadegg, R-AZ), to create a new nonimmigrant visa category for registered nurses; to Judiciary. H8978, CR 12/7/06.
International Law
Bills Introduced
HR 6415 ( Kirk, R-IL), to limit immunity from criminal jurisdiction for accredited representatives of foreign governments to the United States and accredited representatives of foreign governments to the United Nations with respect to acts of disbursing radioactive or other substances posing a lasting, clear and present danger to public health; to International Relations. H8978, CR 12/7/06.
H Res 1103 ( Lee, D-CA), to create a new nonimmigrant visa category for registered nurses; to Judiciary. H8978, CR 12/7/06.
National Security
Bills Introduced
HR 6384 ( McKinney, D-GA), to repeal Public Law 109-366, the Military Commissions Act of 2006, signed into law 10/17/06; to Armed Services, Judiciary, and International Relations. H8888, CR 12/6/06.
