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House Passes Economic Recovery & Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1)
On January 28, the House passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, H.R. 1, on a 244-188 vote. No Republicans voted for the bill. The $819 billion recovery package includes $43 billion for job training and unemployment benefits and $39 billion to help the unemployed keep employer-provided health care.
The Senate stimulus package, S.1/S.366, approved in separate pieces by the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees this week, totals approximately $888 billion, due in large part to the inclusion of a one-year alternative minimum tax (AMT) "patch" to prevent the AMT from affecting millions of taxpayers in 2009. Debate on the Senate package will begin February 2.
To access a comparison chart of the House and Senate bill funding levels for WIA programs and other items of note regarding the Act click here.
Omnibus
On Tuesday, January 27, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD) said that the House would likely take up an omnibus spending bill with the nine FY 09 appropriations bills Congress has yet to pass next week, now that the chamber has passed the $819 economic recovery bill. Senate Democrats want the House to delay taking up an omnibus package until the Senate has completed action on the economic recovery package. The Senate request to hold off comes as Republicans are prepping procedural maneuvers to hold up the nearly $900 billion Senate package, which includes $366 billion in discretionary spending and $522 billion in tax and other provisions.
Delaying consideration of the omnibus poses the risk that Congress may have to pass another Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the federal government running. Federal government programs are currently being funded through a CR Congress approved in September of last year that expires March 6, 2009. The CR included three FY 09 spending bills - Defense, Military Construction-VA and Homeland Security - and funds most other federal programs at FY 08 levels.
Solis' Nomination for Labor Secretary at a Standstill
Senate Democrats and labor groups are increasing pressure for confirmation of Congresswoman Hilda Solis (CA) as Secretary of Labor. By declining to state her position on politically charged labor issues (i.e. card-check bill) during a confirmation hearing on January 9, Solis frustrated Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Republicans. Despite the slowdown, Solis remains on track for confirmation according to Senate Democrats. A White House official reported that Solis should be confirmed after she responds to a second round of questions from the Committee. Currently, there are no plans to schedule a Committee vote.
Wage Discrimination
On Thursday, January 29 President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act of 2009 (S. 181) following passage in the House on Tuesday, January 27 by a vote of 250-177. The bill will apply the statue of limitations to each discriminatory paycheck and workers who win their claims can collect up to two years of back pay.
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