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Appropriations
House Announces 302(b) Spending Allocations; Congress Likely to Return to Five-Day Workweek
On Tuesday, June 9, House Appropriations Chairman David Obey released a tentative schedule for the 12 FY10 appropriations bills, indicating they would all be passed by July 30, before the start of the August recess.
Provided that other high priority legislation does not intervene, Obey expects to keep to the schedule. Under the schedule, the Homeland Security spending bill would be the first to see House floor action, slated for Friday. The Defense appropriations bill would be the last, scheduled for July 30.
On Tuesday, the Appropriations Committee Tuesday passed the Commerce-Justice-Science bill and signed off on the binding FY10 302(b) spending allocations for the 12 Appropriation subcommittees.
To access the 302(b) allocations click here http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/2010-302B.PDF.
In recent years, congressional leaders have had a difficult time meeting the October 1 goal, which is the start of the new fiscal year. For example, work on nine FY09 bills was wrapped up in March, months after the start of the current fiscal year, when Congress passed a $410 billion omnibus package. The FY08 appropriations process was funded through a nearly yearlong continuing resolution enacted in December 2007.
Democratic leaders are contemplating lengthening the congressional workweek as they face a full legislative schedule this summer. Congress will likely go back to the five-day workweek as lawmakers aim to complete work on a war supplemental measure and appropriations bills, while continuing to make headway on high profile policy items like health care and climate change. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) pledged Monday and Friday votes in July in order to complete all twelve appropriations bills before the end of the fiscal year.
Restoration of Pay/Go Provision
On Tuesday, June 9, President Obama called on Congress to act quickly to restore pay/go spending constraints that he credited with the surpluses of the late 1990s.
Obama was joined by House Speaker Pelosi, House Majority Leader Hoyer, and House Budget Chairman John Spratt and about 40 other House members, mostly members of the Blue Dog Coalition. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-MO., also attended.
Hoyer said he will introduce pay/go legislation for Obama as early as next week.
The White House said Medicare payments to physicians, the estate tax, the alternative minimum tax, and tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 would be exempt.
Department of Education
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Announced $7 Million Special Competitive Grant
On Thursday, June 4, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced a $7 million special competitive grant to establish innovative and sustainable community college programs that prepare displaced workers for second careers. According to Duncan, the winning states could receive up to three quarters of a million dollars. The new grant program will be used to develop national models that can be replicated across the country, especially in communities where autoworkers have lost their jobs.
For more information please visit: http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/06/06042009.html.
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