On the Blog: Abortion Spurred by the trial that sent a doctor to jail for life, the abortion debate returns to Capitol Hill this week. Read about the bill the House plans to consider in a post entitled: “The Abortion Issue Comes to the Capitol.”

Featured Items This week, the House will debate its version of this year’s “farm bill.” H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, reforms and continues agricultural and other programs in the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2018. Passage of the bill would cost a little over $7,500 per U.S. family. A Senate farm bill passed last week. We compared the two in a post entitled: “A Tale of Two Farm Bills.” The Senate will continue debate on the widely discussed “Gang of Eight” comprehensive immigration reform bill. S. 744 is called the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.” The bill‘s provisions address: border security, immigrant visas, interior enforcement, and nonimmigrant visa programs. There is no cost estimate for S. 744 yet. H.R. 1947 The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 Costs $7,504.87 per family S. 744 The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act

What People Think The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 14% For, 86% Against Vote on this Bill The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act 32% For, 68% Against Vote on this Bill

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family. New Items S. 534 The National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Reform Act of 2013 Costs $7.39 per family H.R. 1299 The White Sands Missile Range Security Enhancement Act Saves $0.00 per family H.R. 1676 The Johnson Valley National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area Establishment Act Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1672 The Limestone Hills Training Area Withdrawal Act Costs $0.00 per family S. 736 The Alaska Subsistence Structure Protection Act of 2013 Saves $0.01 per family H.R. 1960 The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 Costs $5,751.91 per family S. 305 The Champion Hill, Port Gibson, and Raymond Battlefields Addition Act Saves $0.49 per family S. 211 A bill to amend certain definitions contained in the Provo River Project Transfer Act for purposes of clarifying certain property descriptions, and for other purposes Costs $0.00 per family S. 284 The Fort Sumner Project Title Conveyance Act Saves $0.00 per family S. 342 The Pine Forest Range Recreation Enhancement Act of 2013 Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 910 The Sikes Act Reauthorization Act of 2013 Costs $0.19 per family H.R. 982 The Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act of 2013 Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1080 To amend the Sikes Act to promote the use of cooperative agreements under such Act for land management related to Department of Defense readiness activities and to amend title 10, United States Code, to facilitate interagency cooperation in conservation programs to avoid or reduce adverse impacts on military readiness activities Costs $0.05 per family H.R. 1341 The Financial Competitive Act of 2013 Costs $0.01 per family H.R. 1380 The Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act Costs $0.05 per family S. 368 The Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act Reauthorization of 2013 Costs $1.16 per family

Updated Items H.R. 1960 The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 Costs $5,751.91 per family H.R. 1947 The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 Costs $7,504.87 per family

Passed Items P.L. 113-14 The Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2013 Costs $2.59 per family

On the Blog: Surveillance! A record of every phone call you make today will be transmitted to the National Security Agency and warehoused by this secretive government agency. The revelation of this program last week has caused some controversy. Read about it—and what to do about it—in a post entitled: “Surveillance!“

Featured Item This week, the Senate will debate the widely discussed “Gang of Eight” comprehensive immigration reform bill. S. 744 is called the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.” The bill’s provisions address: border security, immigrant visas, interior enforcement, and nonimmigrant visa programs. There is no cost estimate for S. 744 yet. S. 744 The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act

What People Think The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act 62% For, 38% Against Vote on this Bill

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family. New Items H.R. 1691 The Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range Transfer Act of 2013 Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1673 The Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake Security Enhancement Act Costs $0.00 per family S. 757 The Multispecies Habitat Conservation Plan Implementation Act Costs $0.04 per family H.R. 1171 The FOR VETS Act of 2013 Costs $0.00 per family S. 241 The Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area Establishment Act Costs $0.00 per family

Updated Items none

Passed Items P.L. 113-12 The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 Costs $0.00 per family P.L. 113-13 The Freedom to Fish Act

On the Blog: Spending Season Each year, Washington’s most under-reported tradition occurs: consideration of the annual spending bills. That tradition has started again. Read all about it in a post entitled: “Spending Season Underway.”

Featured Items This week, the House and Senate return from their Memorial Day week at home. The House will debate two annual spending bills. The first is bill is H.R. 2216, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014. Its sponsor is Rep. John Culberson (R-TX). The bills funds construction programs in the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and a smattering of agencies relevant to these areas. Spending in the bill amounts to about $1,480 per U.S. family. The other bill is H.R. 2217, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2014, sponsored by Rep. John Carter (R-TX). The bill funds the Department of Homeland Security for FY 2014, spending about $450 per U.S. family on that agency. The Senate will continue debate on S. 954, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013. The bill would reauthorize expiring federal agriculture programs through 2018 and extend those authorizations through 2023. Passage of S. 954 would cost the average U.S. family about $7,700. Similar legislation in the House is H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013. Passage of H.R. 1947 would cost about $7,630 per U.S. family. H.R. 2216 The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014 Costs $1,481.70 per family H.R. 2217 The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2014 Costs $452.46 per family S. 954 The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 Costs $7,707.56 per family

What People Think The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014 50% For, 50% Against Vote on this Bill The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2014 50% For, 50% Against Vote on this Bill The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 14% For, 86% Against Vote on this Bill

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family. New Items S. 27 The Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act Costs $0.00 per family S. 59 The Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act Costs $0.00 per family S. 225 The Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 819 The Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act Costs $0.02 per family S. 312 The Carson National Forest Boundary Adjustment Act of 2013 Costs $0.00 per family S. 349 The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1169 The Naval Air Station Fallon Housing and Safety Development Act Costs $0.00 per family S. 761 The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013 Costs $3.45 per family H.R. 1919 The Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act of 2013 Costs $0.51 per family H.R. 1063 The National Strategic and Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2013 Costs $0.16 per family S. 609 The San Juan County Federal Land Conveyance Act Costs $0.01 per family H.R. 1300 To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize the volunteer programs and community partnerships for the benefit of national wildlife refuges, and for other purposes Costs $0.05 per family S. J. Res. 12 A joint resolution to consent to certain amendments enacted by the legislature of the State of Hawaii to the Hawaiian Homes Commission, Act, 1920 Costs $0.00 per family S. 156 The Huna Tlingit Traditional Gull Egg Use Act Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 801 The Holding Company Registration Threshold Equalization Act of 2013 Costs $0.00 per family S. 476 A bill to amend the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Development Act to extend to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Commission Costs $0.00 per family S. 507 The Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act Costs $0.19 per family H.R. 2217 The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2014 Costs $452.46 per family H.R. 981 The RARE Act of 2013 Costs $0.09 per family H.R. 2216 The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014 Costs $1,481.70 per family

Updated Items H.R. 677 The Inter-Affiliate Swap Clarification Act Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1256 The Swap Jurisdiction Certainty Act Costs $0.11 per family H.R. 634 The Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act of 2013 Costs $0.00 per family

Passed Items P.L. 113-11 To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley, in recognition of the 50th commemoration of the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church where the 4 little Black girls lost their lives, which served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement

On the Blog: The Farm Bills The Senate and House are both considering legislation to reauthorize agriculture programs. There are differences between the two bills, but the story is what they have in common. Read about it in a post entitled: “A Tale of Two Farm Bills.”

Featured Items Last week, the Senate debated S. 954, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013. It will resume debate on the bill when Congress returns the first week of June. The bill would reauthorize expiring federal agriculture programs through 2018 and extend those authorizations through 2023. Passage of S. 954 would cost the average U.S. family about $7,750. Similar legislation in the House is H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013. Passage of H.R. 1947 would cost about $7,630 per U.S. family. S. 954 The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 Costs $7,748.25 per family H.R. 1947 The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 Costs $7,626.55 per family

What People Think The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 12% For, 88% Against Vote on this Bill The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 11% For, 89% Against Vote on this Bill

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family. New Items S. 256 A bill to amend Public Law 93-435 with respect to the Northern Mariana Islands, providing parity with Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1157 The Rattlesnake Mountain Public Access Act Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1407 The Animal Drug User Fee Amendments of 2013 Costs $2.63 per family H.R. 1574 To amend the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation Act of 1992 to rename a site of the park H.R. 1104 The Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2013 Costs $0.77 per family H.R. 1234 The Electronic Message Preservation Act Costs $0.13 per family S. 682 The Comprehensive Student Loan Protection Act Saves $49.72 per family S. 579 A bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the triennial International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly, and for other purposes Costs $0.00 per family S. 657 The Foreign Prison Conditions Improvement Act of 2013 Costs $3.24 per family S. 793 The Organization of American States Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013 Costs $0.01 per family S. 953 The Student Loan Affordability Act Costs $145.70 per family S. 330 The HIV Organ Policy Equity Act Costs $0.05 per family S. 447 The Black Hills Cemetery Act Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1384 The Wildlife Refuge System Conservation Semipostal Stamp Act of 2013 Costs $0.13 per family H.R. 1211 The FOIA Act Costs $0.18 per family H.R. 1233 The Presidential and Federal Records Act Amendments of 2013 Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1417 The Border Security Results Act of 2013 Costs $0.04 per family H.R. 1911 The Smarter Solutions for Students Act Saves $24.55 per family H.R. 271 The Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2013 Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1092 To designate the air route traffic control center located in Nashua, New Hampshire, as the “Patricia Clark Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center” Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1613 The Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act Costs $0.21 per family H.R. 1949 The Improving Postsecondary Education Data for Students Act Costs $0.01 per family

Updated Items H.R. 1947 The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 Costs $7,587.39 per family H.R. 316 The Collinsville Renewable Energy Promotion Act Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 570 The American Heroes COLA Act Saves $1.10 per family H.R. 678 The Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act Costs $0.01 per family H.R. 992 The Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act Costs $0.00 per family

Passed Items P.L. 113-10 To specify the size of the precious-metal blanks that will be used in the production of the National Baseball Hall of Fame commemorative coins

On the Blog: The IRS Scandal Last week’s revelation that the IRS had given closer scrutiny to conservative non-profit applications sent shockwaves through Washington, D.C., and spurred the introduction of several bills. We took a look at a few of them in a post appropriately entitled: “Scandal!“
Featured Item This week, the Senate will debate S. 954, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013. The bill would reauthorize expiring federal agriculture programs through 2018 and extend those authorizations through 2023. Passage of S. 954 would cost the average U.S. family about $7,750. S. 954 The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 Costs $7,748.25 per family	What People Think The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 33% For, 67% Against Vote on this Bill

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family. New Items H.R. 742 The Swap Data Repository and Clearinghouse Indemnification Correction Act of 2013 Costs $0.00 per family S. 306 The Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act Costs $0.01 per family S. 954 The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 Costs $7,748.25 per family H.R. 2019 To eliminate taxpayer financing of presidential campaigns and party conventions and reprogram savings to provide for a 10-year pediatric research initiative through the Common Fund administered by the National Institutes of Health, and for other purposes Saves $0.11 per family H.R. 357 The GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act of 2013 Saves $0.08 per family H.R. 671 The Ruth Moore Act of 2013 Saves $0.12 per family H.R. 993 The Fruit Heights Land Conveyance Act Costs $0.00 per family S. 607 The Electronic Communications Privacy Act Amendments Act of 2013 Costs $0.01 per family H.R. 1412 The Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013 Saves $0.10 per family H.R. 126 The Corolla Wild Horses Protection Act Costs $0.03 per family H.R. 862 To authorize the conveyance of two small parcels of land within the boundaries of the Coconino National Forest containing private improvements that were developed based upon the reliance of the landowners in an erroneous survey conducted in May 1960 Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1241 To facilitate a land exchange involving certain National Forest System lands in the Inyo National Forest, and for other purposes Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1405 To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include an appeals form in any notice of decision issued for the denial of a benefit sought Saves $0.96 per family H.R. 570 The American Heroes COLA Act Saves $10.17 per family H.R. 674 The Rota Cultural and Natural Resources Study Act Costs $0.00 per family S. 545 The Hydropower Improvement Act of 2013 Costs $0.02 per family H.R. 1156 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 $0.03 per family H.R. 1206 The Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013 Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 602 The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 701 To amend a provision of the Securities Act of 1933 directing the Securities and Exchange Commission to add a particular class of securities to those exempted under such Act to provide a deadline for such action Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 723 The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 1062 The SEC Regulatory Accountability Act Costs $0.42 per family H.R. 1947 The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 Costs $7,626.55 per family

Updated Items H.R. 3 The Northern Route Approval Act Costs $0.00 per family H.R. 742 The Swap Data Repository and Clearinghouse Indemnification Correction Act of 2013 Costs $0.00 per family S. 954 The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 Costs $7,748.25 per family H.R. 267 The Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013 Costs $0.02 per family

Passed Items none