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The WashingtonWatch.com blog will tie the bills in Congress to the day’s headlines, discuss the bills being debated on the House and Senate floor, and reveal some hidden stories.

Featured Items

This week, the Senate will consider S. 2731, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008.

The bill would authorize spending for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to provide assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. It was mentioned in our recent blog post on the passing of Senator Jesse Helms.

Passage of S. 2731, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, would cost the average U.S. family just about $300.

Among other things, the House will debate H.R. 3999, the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act of 2007. The bill would increase spending on the reconstruction of structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway System and it seeks to improve the safety of Federal-aid highway bridges and strengthen bridge inspection standards.

Passage of H.R. 3999, the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act of 2007, would cost the average U.S. family a little under $20.

S. 2731
The Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008
Costs $299.75 per family

H.R. 3999
The National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act of 2007
Costs $17.37 per family

What People Think

The Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 45% For, 55% Against Vote on this Bill

The National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act of 2007 38% For, 62% Against Vote on this Bill

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family.

New Items

H.R. 2780
To amend section 8339(p) of title 5, United States Code, to clarify the method for computing certain annuities under the Civil Service Retirement System which are based on part-time service, and for other purposes
Costs $0.45 per family

H.R. 5983
The Homeland Security Network Defense and Accountability Act of 2008
Costs $1.42 per family

H.R. 3815
The Homeland Security Open Source Information Enhancement Act of 2007
Costs $0.04 per family

H.R. 5057
The Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2008
Costs $13.08 per family

H.R. 6193
The Improving Public Access to Documents Act of 2008
Costs $0.04 per family

H.R. 5531
The Next Generation Radiation Screening Act of 2008
Costs $1.56 per family

H.R. 2343
The Education Begins at Home Act
Costs $6.53 per family

H.R. 2490
To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a pilot program for the mobile biometric identification in the maritime environment of aliens unlawfully attempting to enter the United States
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 1499
The Marine Vessel Emissions Reduction Act of 2007
Costs $91.75 per family

H.R. 3036
The No Child Left Inside Act of 2007
Costs $0.22 per family

H.R. 3329
The Homes for Heroes Act of 2007
Costs $15.16 per family

S. 2229
The Wyoming Range Legacy Act of 2007
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 4461
The Community Building Code Administration Grant Act of 2007
Costs $0.78 per family

H.R. 4806
The Reducing Over-Classification Act of 2007
Costs $0.04 per family

H.R. 5170
The Department of Homeland Security Component Privacy Officer Act of 2008
Costs $0.18 per family

H.R. 6098
The Personnel Reimbursement for Intelligence Cooperation and Enhancement of Homeland Security Act
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 6184
The America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008
Saves $0.19 per family

H.R. 6216
The Asset Management Improvement Act of 2008
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 3230
The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009
Costs $6,123.96 per family

S. 160
The Lower Brule and Crow Creek Tribal Compensation Act
Costs $1.64 per family

S. 1255
The Indian Arts and Crafts Amendments Act of 2007
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 2120
The Social Investment and Economic Development for the Americas Act of 2007
Costs $6.57 per family

S. 2382
The FEMA Accountability Act of 2007
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 3175
The Predisaster Hazard Mitigation Act of 2008
Costs $6.16 per family

H.R. 4174
The Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2007
Costs $0.70 per family

Updated Items

H.R. 6331
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
Costs $25.10 per family

Passed Items

P.L. 110-261
The FISA Amendments Act of 2008