From the Blog: The Latest on Annual Spending

Congress is still in the midst of spending decisions for the 2010 fiscal year, which began October 1st. This week, in addition to the bills listed below, there are likely to be debates on the Commerce/Justice/State spending bill and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill. Read the latest on annual spending in a blog post entitled: “The Latest on Annual Spending“

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Featured Items

This week, Congress returns from a Veterans Day week recess.

The House will debate H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009.

Under current law, Medicare’s payment rates for physicians’ services will be cut by about 21 percent in January 2010, and by about 2 percent annually for several subsequent years. The bill would cancel those cuts and increase payments by 1.2 percent.

Passage of H.R. 3961 would cost the average U.S. family about $2,800.

The House will also debate H.R. 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009.

The bill would reauthorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (”SAFER”) program until 2014.

Passage of H.R. 3791 would cost about $52 per U.S. family.

H.R. 3961
The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009
Costs $2,813.79 per family

H.R. 3791
The Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009
Costs $52.47 per family

What People Think

The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 53% For, 47% Against Vote on this Bill

The Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009 56% For, 44% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

H.R. 118
To authorize the addition of 100 acres to Morristown National Historical Park
Costs $0.09 per family

S. 1670
The Satellite Television Modernization Act of 2009
Costs $10.41 per family

H.R. 3820
The Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2009
Costs $6.69 per family

H.R. 2843
The Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 3542
The State Admission Day Recognition Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2213
To reauthorize the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act
Costs $0.32 per family

S. 1755
The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 1825
A bill to extend the authority for relocation expenses test programs for Federal employees, and for other purposes
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 1860
A bill to permit each current member of the Board of Directors of the Office of Compliance to serve for 3 terms
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 86
To eliminate an unused lighthouse reservation, provide management consistency by bringing the rocks and small islands along the coast of Orange County, California, and meet the original Congressional intent of preserving Orange County’s rocks and small islands, and for other purposes
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2781
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Molalla River in Oregon, as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2994
The Satellite Home Viewer Reauthorization Act
Costs $0.10 per family

Updated Items

H.R. 3224
To authorize the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design, and construct a vehicle maintenance building at the vehicle maintenance branch of the Smithsonian Institution located in Suitland, Maryland, and for other purposes
Costs $0.04 per family

H.R. 3795
The Over-the-Counter Derivatives Markets Act of 2009
Costs $7.81 per family

Passed Items

P.L. 111-91
The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act of 2009

P.L. 111-92
The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009
Costs $24.39 per family

P.L. 111-93
The Credit CARD Technical Corrections Act of 2009

P.L. 111-94
Proclaiming Casimir Pulaski to be an honorary citizen of the United States posthumously

P.L. 111-95
A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes

P.L. 111-96
A bill to allow the funding for the interoperable emergency communications grant program established under the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 to remain available until expended through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes

P.L. 111-97
The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act
Costs $0.00 per family

P.L. 111-98
A bill to authorize a major medical facility project at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Walla, Walla, Washington, and for other purposes

From the Blog: New Cost Estimate for the Health Care Bill

The House of Representatives passed health care legislation in a rare Saturday session this past weekend. A new cost estimate for the bill came out, too. It placed the cost of the bill at $15,000 per U.S. family. Read about it in a blog post entitled: “New Cost Estimate for the Health Care Bill“

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Late last week, the House passed H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. The bill would make substantial changes to the way health insurance and health care are paid for and provided in the United States.

Passage of H.R. 3962 would cost the average U.S. family over $15,000, according to a new cost estimate. The bill now goes to the Senate, where its prospects are uncertain.

Last week, the House and Senate both passed identical versions of H.R. 3548, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009. This cleared it for the president’s signature.

The bill would grant 14 weeks of additional unemployment benefits in all states and 20 weeks in states where the unemployment rate is above 8.5%.

Passage of H.R. 3548 would cost the average U.S. family a little over $24. There have been over 55,000 comments on the bill on the WashingtonWatch.com page for the bill.

H.R. 3962
The Affordable Health Care for America Act
Costs $15,256.35 per family

H.R. 3548
The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009
Costs $24.40 per family

What People Think

The Affordable Health Care for America Act 14% For, 86% Against Vote on this Bill

The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009 81% For, 19% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

H.R. 3962
The Affordable Health Care for America Act
Costs $15,256.35 per family

P.L. 111-67
The Defense Production Act Reauthorization of 2009
Costs $6.90 per family

H.R. 3961
The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009
Costs $2,830.95 per family

H.R. 3795
The Over-the-Counter Derivatives Markets Act of 2009
Costs $7.84 per family

H.R. 1506
To provide that claims of the United States to certain documents relating to Franklin Delano Roosevelt shall be treated as waived and relinquished in certain circumstances
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 1178
The Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2009
Costs $0.48 per family

H.R. 3791
The Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009
Costs $52.64 per family

H.R. 42
The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 1849
The World War I Memorial and Centennial Act of 2009
Costs $0.02 per family

H.R. 2190
The Mercury Pollution Reduction Act
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 3237
To enact certain laws relating to National and Commercial Space Programs as title 51, United States Code, “National and Commercial Space Programs”
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 1735
The Lumbee Recognition Act
Costs $7.21 per family

H.R. 3949
The Veterans’ Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009
Costs $0.72 per family

Updated Items

H.R. 3962
The Affordable Health Care for America Act
Costs $15,256.35 per family

Passed Items

P.L. 111-88
The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $323.00 per family

P.L. 111-89
A bill to provide for additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and for other purposes

P.L. 111-90
The Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Amendments Act of 2009

From the Blog: The Bill for the Health Care Bill

Health care reform legislation will be debated in the House this week. The bill up for consideration was introduced and received a cost estimate last week. Read about it in a blog post entitled: “The Bill for the Health Care Bill: $7,800“

Featured Items

This week, the Senate is scheduled to resume debate on H.R. 3548, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009.

The bill would grant 14 weeks of additional unemployment benefits in all states and 20 weeks in states where the unemployment rate is above 8.5%.

Passage of H.R. 3548 would cost the average U.S. family a little over $24. There have been over 46,000 comments on the bill on its WashingtonWatch.com page.

The House will debate H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

The bill would make substantial changes to the way health insurance and health care are paid for and provided in the United States.

Passage of H.R. 3962 would cost the average U.S. family over $7,800.

H.R. 3548
The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009
Costs $24.40 per family

H.R. 3962
The Affordable Health Care for America Act
Costs $7,871.23 per family

What People Think

The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009 81% For, 19% Against Vote on this Bill

The Affordable Health Care for America Act 22% For, 78% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

H.R. 1168
The Veterans Retraining Act of 2009
Costs $3.11 per family

H.R. 3962
The Affordable Health Care for America Act
Costs $7,871.23 per family

H.R. 1147
The Local Community Radio Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 3276
The American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2009
Costs $1.18 per family

H.R. 3633
To allow the funding for the interoperable emergency communications grant program established under the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 to remain available until expended through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes
Saves $0.26 per family

S. 1776
The Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009
Costs $1,892.01 per family

H.R. 3258
The Drinking Water System Security Act of 2009
Costs $9.30 per family

H.R. 3639
The Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009
Costs $1.41 per family

S. 1692
The USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act of 2009
Costs $0.10 per family

S. 1782
The Federal Judiciary Administrative Improvements Act of 2009
Costs $0.03 per family

Updated Items

H.R. 2868
The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009
Costs $10.63 per family

P.L. 111-84
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
Costs $14.18 per family

Passed Items

P.L. 111-82
A bill to authorize major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes

P.L. 111-83
The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $442.12 per family

P.L. 111-84
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
Costs $14.18 per family

P.L. 111-85
The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $316.14 per family

P.L. 111-86
The Girl Scouts USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act

P.L. 111-87
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009

From the Blog: FY 2010 Spending Update

The federal government is operating under a temporary spending measure, but it expires at the end of the week. Congress has passed only four of the twelve bills that set funding levels for the fiscal year, which started October 1st. Read about it in a blog post titled: “FY 2010 Spending Update.”

Featured Items

Annual spending bills dominate the business of Congress this week.

But to start, the House is scheduled to debate H.R. 3854, the Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009.

The bill is intended to improve programs providing access to capital for small businesses.

No cost estimate for H.R. 3854 is available yet.

The House is also scheduled to debate H.R. 2996, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

The bill spends money on operation of the Department of Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and related agencies and programs.

Passage of H.R. 2996 would cost about $320 per U.S. family.

The Senate will also debate spending legislation. It is scheduled to consider H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

The bill spends money on the operations of the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, and on agencies and programs dealing with science.

Passage of H.R. 2847 would cost the average U.S. family about $650.

The current spending picture for fiscal year 2010, which began October 1st, is reviewed in our recent “FY 2010 Spending Update” blog post.

H.R. 3854
The Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009

H.R. 2996
The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $323.06 per family

H.R. 2847
The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $665.01 per family

What People Think

The Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009 56% For, 44% Against Vote on this Bill

The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 28% For, 72% Against Vote on this Bill

The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 16% For, 84% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

H.R. 3596
The Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 1478
The Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009
Costs $22.09 per family

H.R. 1110
The PHONE Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 1319
The Informed P2P User Act
Costs $0.05 per family

H.R. 3618
The Clean Hull Act of 2009
Costs $0.04 per family

H.R. 3598
The Energy and Water Research Integration Act
Costs $1.96 per family

H.R. 3254
The Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act
Costs $0.23 per family

H.R. 3342
The Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act
Costs $0.53 per family

H.R. 2495
The Federal Real Property Disposal Enhancement Act of 2009
Saves $0.02 per family

S. 1261
The PASS ID Act
Costs $1.15 per family

H.R. 3650
The Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2009
Costs $1.67 per family

Updated Items

none

Passed Items

P.L. 111-74
To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at McKinley Avenue and Third Street, SW., Canton, Ohio, as the “Ralph Regula Federal Building and United States Courthouse”

P.L. 111-75
To designate the United States courthouse located at 525 Magoffin Avenue in El Paso, Texas, as the “Albert Armendariz, Sr., United States Courthouse”

P.L. 111-76
To provide for the transfer of certain Federal Property to the Galveston Historical Foundation
Costs $0.00 per family

P.L. 111-77
To designate the Federal building located at 844 North Rush Street in Chicago, Illinois, as the “William O. Lipinski Federal Building”

P.L. 111-78
To designate the United States courthouse located at 301 Simonton Street in Key West, Florida, as the “Sidney M. Aronovitz United States Courthouse”

P.L. 111-79
The Foreign Evidence Request Efficiency Act of 2009

P.L. 111-80
The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $1,178.80 per family

P.L. 111-81
The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009
Costs $1,670.13 per family

From the Blog: Comment Control

The bills in Congress can be controversial, not everyone deals with conflict well, and it’s tough to balance free speech with civility. The 25,000 comments on a bill to extend unemployment benefits illustrate that tension well.

So last week we added an “automated schoolmarm” to our comment system, inviting people to tone down their language when they post harsh comments. Does it work? Eh . . . so so. Read about it in a post called: “A Fun New Comment System Improvement!“

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Featured Items

This week, the House and Senate will address a variety of different issues.

The House will debate H.R. 3619, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. The bill would authorize spending on the operation of the Coast Guard for the 2010 fiscal year.

The Coast Guard is a military service that protects the maritime economy and environment, defends U.S. maritime borders, and rescues boaters in peril.

Passage of H.R. 3619 would cost the average U.S. family about $87.

The House will also debate H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act. This bill would guide and provide for research, development, and demonstration of solar energy technologies.

Passage of H.R. 3585 would cost the average U.S. family about $12.50.

The Senate will debate S. 1776, the Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009.

The bill would repeal the “sustainable growth rate” formula that is currently used to establish Medicare physician payment rates each year.

Future payment updates would be set at zero, for now, setting the stage for creating a new payment formula as part of broader health care reform or other legislation.

A cost estimate for S. 1776 is not yet available.

H.R. 3619
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010
Costs $86.94 per family

H.R. 3585
The Solar Technology Roadmap Act
Costs $12.48 per family

S. 1776
The Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009

What People Think

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 53% For, 47% Against Vote on this Bill

The Solar Technology Roadmap Act 56% For, 44% Against Vote on this Bill

The Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009 40% For, 60% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

H.R. 3570
The Satellite Home Viewer Update and Reauthorization Act of 2009
Costs $10.96 per family

H.R. 3585
The Solar Technology Roadmap Act
Costs $12.48 per family

S. 965
The Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act
Costs $0.23 per family

S. 1105
The Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act
Costs $1.54 per family

S. 1388
The Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Grand Coulee Dam Equitable Compensation Settlement Act
Costs $1.01 per family

H.R. 3548
The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009
Costs $24.41 per family

H.R. 1471
To expand the boundary of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in the State of Georgia, to redesignate the unit as a National Historical Park, and for other purposes
Costs $0.45 per family

H.R. 2811
To amend title 18, United States Code, to include constrictor snakes of the species Python genera as an injurious animal
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2489
The AmericaView Geospatial Imagery Mapping Program Act
Costs $0.42 per family

Updated Items

none

Passed Items

P.L. 111-70
To amend the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 to reauthorize the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy

P.L. 111-71
To amend the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to extend by one year the operation of Radio Free Asia, and for other purposes

P.L. 111-72
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay the date on which the accreditation requirement under the Medicare Program applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies

P.L. 111-73
The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009