From the Blog: The Winners in the Earmarks Contest

When it started back in mid-July, we had no idea of the response our earmark hunting contest would get. But earmarks have definitely touched a nerve across the country. Read about the conclusion of our earmarks contest in a post called: “And the Earmarks Contest Winner Is . . . !“

Featured Items

Though the new fiscal year began October 1st, Congress has delayed final decisions on spending levels for the year. It continues debating spending bills this week.

The Senate will continue debating its version of H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. The bill funds the Departments of Commerce and Justice, as well as science-related agencies and programs for the 2010 fiscal year.

Passage of H.R. 2847 would cost the average U.S. family about $720.

The House will debate the conference report for H.R. 2892, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010. The bill funds the Department of Homeland Security for FY 2010.

This is a version of the bill negotiated between the House and Senate. If both pass this version, it will be ready for the president’s signature.

Passage of H.R. 2892 would spend a little over $480 per U.S. family.

H.R. 2847
The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $716.84 per family

H.R. 2892
The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $483.42 per family

What People Think

The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 18% For, 82% Against Vote on this Bill

The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010 34% For, 66% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

H.R. 1700
The National Women’s History Museum Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 233
The Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 1612
The Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2009
Costs $1.09 per family

H.R. 3537
The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Reauthorization Act of 2009
Costs $0.02 per family

H.R. 3433
To amend the North American Wetlands Conservation Act to establish requirements regarding payment of the non-Federal share of the costs of wetlands conservation projects in Canada that are funded under that Act, and for other purposes
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 1593
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of Illabot Creek in Skagit County, Washington, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 3619
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010
Costs $86.99 per family

Updated Items

H.R. 2647
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
Costs $6,661.13 per family

Passed Items

none

From the Blog: Earmarks in the “CJS” Spending Bill

We have been linking the 40,000+ earmark requests collected in our earmarks contest to spending bills. Most of the earmarks in the Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill are listed on the page for that bill. It goes to the Senate floor this week. Read about it in a blog post entitled “Earmarks in the Senate CJS Spending Bill.”

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Featured Items

Though the new fiscal year began October 1st, Congress has delayed final decisions on spending levels for the year. It continues considering spending bills this week.

The Senate will debate its version of H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. The bill funds the Departments of Commerce and Justice, as well as science-related agencies and programs for the 2010 fiscal year.

Passage of H.R. 2847 would cost the average U.S. family about $720.

The House will debate the conference report for H.R. 2997, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. The bill funds the Department of Agriculture, the FDA, and various programs for rural development.

This is a version of the bill negotiated between representatives of the House and Senate. If both pass this version, it will be ready for the president’s signature.

Passage of H.R. 2997 would spend about $1,160 per U.S. family.

H.R. 2847
The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $716.96 per family

H.R. 2997
The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $1,160.27 per family

What People Think

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

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 26% For, 74% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

S. 1462
The American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009
Costs $596.11 per family

H.R. 2442
The Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act of 2009
Costs $0.35 per family

H.R. 2950
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to allow for prepayment of repayment contracts between the United States and the Uintah Water Conservancy District
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 797
The Tribal Law and Order Act of 2009
Costs $9.63 per family

H.R. 2711
The FBI Families of Fallen Heroes Act
Costs $0.00 per family

Updated Items

S. 252
The Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009
Costs $5.52 per family

Passed Items

P.L. 111-65
To provide for the award of a gold medal on behalf of Congress to Arnold Palmer in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship in golf

P.L. 111-66
To provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and for other purposes

P.L. 111-67
The Defense Production Act Reauthorization of 2009

P.L. 111-68
The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $40.09 per family

P.L. 111-69
The Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act

From the Blog: Annual Spending Process Kicked Over

The 2010 fiscal year begins on Thursday, but Congress has not passed bills funding the government for the year. So it has put off making its final spending decisions. Read about it in a blog post entitled “Annual Spending Process Kicked Over a Month.”

Featured Items

As noted above, Congress has not finished the spending process for fiscal year 2010, and it continues considering spending bills this week.

The Senate will debate H.R. 3326, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010. As the name suggests, the bills funds the Department of Defense for the 2010 fiscal year.

Passage of H.R. 3326 would cost the average U.S. family about $6,250 per U.S. family.

The House will debate the conference report for H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. The bill funds the Army Corps of Engineers, parts of the Department of the Interior, and other agencies for a variety of programs.

This is a version of the bill negotiated between representatives of the House and Senate. If both pass this version, it will be ready for the president’s signature.

Passage of H.R. 3183 would spend about $400 per U.S. family.

H.R. 3326
The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $6,255.52 per family

H.R. 3183
The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $413.96 per family

What People Think

The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 27% For, 73% Against Vote on this Bill

The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 37% For, 63% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

S. 1194
The Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011
Costs $146.94 per family

H.R. 685
The United States Civil Rights Trail System Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2806
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to adjust the boundary of the Stephen Mather Wilderness and the North Cascades National Park in order to allow the rebuilding of a road outside of the floodplain while ensuring that there is no net loss of acreage to the Park or the Wilderness, and for other purposes
Costs $0.02 per family

H.R. 3290
The September 11 Family Humanitarian Relief and Patriotism Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2265
The Magna Water District Water Reuse and Groundwater Recharge Act of 2009
Costs $0.11 per family

H.R. 2522
To raise the ceiling on the Federal share of the cost of the Calleguas Municipal Water District Recycling Project, and for other purposes
Costs $0.14 per family

H.R. 2741
To amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the City of Hermiston, Oregon, water recycling and reuse project, and for other purposes
Costs $0.06 per family

S. 1599
The Reserve Officers Association Modernization Act of 2009
Costs $0.00 per family

Updated Items

H.R. 2008
The Bonneville Unit Clean Hydropower Facilitation Act
Costs $0.01 per family

H.R. 22
To amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to allow the United States Postal Service to pay its share of contributions for annuitants’ health benefits out of the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund
Costs $0.00 per family

Passed Items

P.L. 111-63
The WIPA and PABSS Reauthorization Act of 2009

P.L. 111-64
A joint resolution providing for the appointment of France A. Cordova as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution

From the Blog: The Catfish Genome

The earmark data collected on WashingtonWatch.com reveals some interesting proposed spending. One is a plan to spend for research on the genes of catfish. Read about it in a post entitled, “You and the Catfish Genome.”

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Featured Items

This week, the Senate is scheduled to debate its version of H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

The bill spends money on the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other agencies for the 2010 fiscal year, which begins October 1st.

Passage of H.R. 3288 would cost the average U.S. family about $1,300.

The House is scheduled to consider H.R. 3246, the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009.

The bill would fund research, development, demonstrations, and commercial applications for vehicle technologies.

Passage of H.R. 3246 would cost about $21 per U.S. family.

The House will also consider H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009.

Among other things, the bill would fund the Pell grant program, revise the student financial aid process, replaces the Perkins Loans program with a direct Perkins Loans program, and make grants to states for the modernization, renovation, or repair of public schools.

Passage of H.R. 3221 would cost the average U.S. family would cost about $14 per U.S. family.

H.R. 3288
The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Costs $1,302.32 per family

H.R. 3246
The Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009
Costs $21.00 per family

H.R. 3221
The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009
Costs $14.31 per family

What People Think

The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 51% For, 49% Against Vote on this Bill

The Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009 67% For, 33% Against Vote on this Bill

The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 39% For, 61% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

S. 372
The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009
Costs $0.48 per family

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

S. 1510
The United States Secret Service Uniformed Division Modernization Act of 2009
Costs $0.77 per family

H.R. 3371
The Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009
Costs $0.14 per family

Updated Items

none

Passed Items

none