On the Blog: Skip the Spending Debates

House and Senate leaders have agreed to pass a temporary spending measure to fund the federal government for the first six months of fiscal 2013. They will take it up when Congress returns in September.

Is that good because it makes for stable government management? Or is it bad because of “The Debate(s) That Won’t Happen“?

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Congress continues its August recess. It will return the second week of September.

One of WashingtonWatch.com’s most visited bills last week was H.R. 1361, the Restroom Gender Parity in Federal Buildings Act.

The bill would have the federal government construct and lease buildings with the number of toilets in women’s restrooms equal to or greater than the number (including urinals) in men’s restrooms.

No official cost estimate for H.R. 1361 is available yet.

H.R. 1361
The Restroom Gender Parity in Federal Buildings Act

What People Think

The Restroom Gender Parity in Federal Buildings Act 20% For, 80% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

H.R. 6131
To extend the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders Act of 2006, and for other purposes
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 3410
A bill to extend the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders Act of 2006, and for other purposes
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 357
The Wildlife Disease Emergency Act of 2011
Costs $0.11 per family

H.R. 6007
The North Texas Zebra Mussel Barrier Act of 2012

H.R. 6122
To revise the authority of the Librarian of Congress to accept gifts and bequests on behalf of the Library, and for other purposes
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 250
The Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2011
Costs $5.44 per family

Updated Items

none

Passed Items

P.L. 112-156
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1021 Pennsylvania Avenue in Hartshorne, Oklahoma, as the “Warren Lindley Post Office”

P.L. 112-157
To amend the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act to allow the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribe to determine blood quantum requirement for membership in that tribe
Costs $0.00 per family

P.L. 112-158
The Iran Threat Reduction Act of 2011
Costs $1.27 per family

P.L. 112-159
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2810 East Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, Florida, as the “Reverend Abe Brown Post Office Building”

P.L. 112-160
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1421 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville, Louisiana, as the “Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post Office Building”

P.L. 112-161
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, Indiana, as the “SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office”

P.L. 112-162
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 150 South Union Street in Canton, Mississippi, as the “First Sergeant Landres Cheeks Post Office Building”

P.L. 112-163
To amend the African Growth and Opportunity Act to extend the third-country fabric program and to add South Sudan to the list of countries eligible for designation under that Act, to make technical corrections to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States relating to the textile and apparel rules of origin for the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, to approve the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, and for other purposes

P.L. 112-164
The La Pine Land Conveyance Act
Costs $0.00 per family

P.L. 112-165
The Wallowa Forest Service Compound Conveyance Act
Costs $0.00 per family

P.L. 112-166
The Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011

P.L. 112-167
A bill to authorize the Architect of the Capitol to establish battery recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in parking areas under the jurisdiction of the Senate at no net cost to the Federal Government
Costs $0.00 per family

P.L. 112-168
The Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act of 2011

P.L. 112-169
A bill to provide for the use of National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center Commemorative Coin surcharges, and for other purposes