H.Res. 868 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) October 23, 2009.

 

H.Res. 868 would resolve that the House of Representatives:
• "Honors and recognizes the service and achievements of current and former female members of the Armed Forces;
• "Encourages all people in the United States to recognize the service and achievements of women in the military and female veterans on Memorial Day;
• "Encourages all people in the United States to learn about the history of service and achievements of women in the military; and
• "Supports groups that raise awareness about the service and achievements of women in the military and female veterans through exhibitions, museums, statues, and other programs and activities."

 

BACKGROUND

According to the resolution findings, women are and have historically been an important part of all United States war efforts, voluntarily serving in every military conflict in United States history since the Revolutionary War.

H.Con.Res. 139 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The legislation was introduced Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) June 3, 2009.

 

H.Con.Res. 139 would resolve that the House of Representatives:
• "Congratulates the 207 graduates (157 surviving as of April 2009) of the first United States Air Force Academy class on the 50th anniversary of their graduation;
• "Acknowledges the continued excellence of the United States Air Force Academy and its critical role in the defense of the United States; and
• "Recognizes the outstanding service to the Nation that graduates from the United States Air Force Academy have provided."

BACKGROUND

According to the resolution's findings, on April 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation establishing the United States Air Force Academy to prepare young men for careers as Air Force officers.

 

H.Res. 856 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Jerrold Nadler on October 22, 2009.

H.Res. 856 would resolve that the House of Representatives:
• "Recognizes the commissioning of the USS New York LPD 21;
• "Congratulates the captain and commissioning crew of the USS New York LPD 21 on the occasion of their vessel entering into the service of the United States Navy;
• "Recognizes the sacrifices made by the men and women in uniform who put themselves in harm's way in order to protect and defend the United States;
• "Honors those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001; and
• "Recommits itself to the counter-terrorism mission of the USS New York LPD 21 and all the members of the United States Armed Forces."

BACKGROUND

According to the resolution's findings, on September 6, 2002, the Secretary of the Navy announced the name of the fifth vessel of the San Antonio-class Amphibious Transport Dock ships would be named USS New York LPD 21.

H.Res. 880 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) October 29, 2009.

H.Res. 880 would resolve that the House of Representatives:
• "Recognizes the efforts of career and technical colleges to educate and train workers for positions in high-demand industries; and
• "Supports the connection career and technical colleges provide between employers and students."

BACKGROUND

According to the resolution findings, more than 80 percent of respondents in the 2005 National Association of Manufacturers Skills Gap report indicated that they are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers.

H.R. 2136 is expected to be considered under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) on April 28, 2009. The Committee on Education and Labor took no official action on the bill.

H.R. 2136 directs the Secretary of Education to make competitive grants to private or public colleges or universities, fraternities, or sororities for installing fire sprinkler systems, or other fire suppression or prevention technologies, in student housing. These grants may cover up to half the cost of installing such systems. Priority will be given to applicants with the greatest financial need. The bill reserves at least 10 percent of total funding for historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and institutions of higher education that are eligible for Institutional Aid under the Higher Education Act of 1965; and at least 10 percent for social fraternities and sororities.

The Secretary must report to Congress within one year of enactment on the grant program. The bill authorizes such sums as necessary for fiscal years 2010-2012.

This legislation states that applications or negative determinations under this Act may not be admissible as evidence in the proceeding of any court.

 

BACKGROUND

On May 21, 2008, a fire at an off-campus house in Ithaca, New York, killed one student.  Eighteen people died in campus-related fires during the 2007-2008 academic year.  This is the second-highest total since 2000.  To find more information on College Fire Safety, see the U.S. Fire Administration website. 

COST

There is no CBO estimate available for H.R. 2136.

ADDITIONAL VIEWS

The program includes Native Hawaiian-serving institutions as beneficiaries of grant money.  Since Native Hawaiians are a racial group and not a tribe, some Members may be concerned that such financial assistance on the basis of race would likely be subject to "strict scrutiny" in federal courts and presumptively unconstitutional.

H.Res. 752 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for passage. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Deborah Halvorson (D-IL) on September 17, 2009, and referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, which took no official action.

H.Res. 752 would express the sense that the House of Representatives:

 

•  "Honors the 259 miners lost in the tragedy known as the Great Cherry Mine Disaster on its 100th anniversary;

•  "Supports the important safety measures that were enacted as a resulted of this terrible incident and others around the country like it; and

•  "Recognizes the important role organized labor has played in protecting the physical and economic security of workers in the United States."

 

BACKGROUND

According to the resolution's findings, the St. Paul Mine Company began operation of a mine in Cherry, Illinois, in 1905. In 1909 an electrical outage caused mine workers to use lanterns and torches for light. A torch caught fire 500 feet into the mine, and the fire quickly spread throughout the mine. To stop the spread of the fire, two of the mine shafts were closed, causing miners to become trapped in the mine with the toxic gasses from the fire. 259 miners, including 4 children, were killed in the ensuing tragedy, which became known as the Great Cherry Mine Disaster. Some Members may make note that the findings also state, "United Mine Workers have been an important and consistent ally in promoting workplace safety and fair wages and compensation for United States workers, as has organized labor as a whole."

H.Res. 878 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for passage. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Todd Platts (D-PA) on October 29, 2009, and referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, which took no official action.

H.Res. 878 would express the sense that House of Representatives:

 

•  "Supports the goals and ideals of National Family Literacy Day; and

•  "Recognizes the benefits of parental involvement in a child's education."

 

BACKGROUND

According to the resolution's findings, children spend up to five times as much of their time outside the classroom than at school. National Literacy Day is held annually on November 1 to encourage parents to become more involved in kid's schoolwork at home. In honor of National Family Literacy Day, educational events activities for families will take place at schools and within literacy programs across the country.

H.R. 3276 is expected to be considered under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) on July 21, 2009. H.R. 3276 was approved by the Committee on Energy and Commerce by voice vote on October 21, 2009.

H.R. 3276 would authorize funding to support projects to produce molybdenum-99, a radioactive isotope used in certain medical procedures.

Specifically, the bill authorizes $163 million in Fiscal Years 2011 through 2014 for the Department of Energy to establish a program to evaluate and support projects for production in the U.S., without the use of highly enriched uranium, of significant quantities of molybdenum-99 for medical uses. The legislation also directs the Department to make low enriched uranium (LEU) available through lease contracts to producers of molybdenum-99. The contracts would allow the Department to retain financial responsibility for radioactive waste generated by the irradiation, processing, or purification of LEU.

 

BACKGROUND

Molybdenum-99 is an isotope whose decay product is used in approximately two-thirds of all diagnostic medical isotope procedures in the U.S., or about 16 million medical procedures annually. It is used for the detection of cancer, heart disease, and thyroid disease, investigating the operation of the brain and kidney, imaging stress fractures, and tracking cancer stages. The isotope cannot be easily stockpiled, so its production must be scheduled to meet the projected demand and any interruption of the supply chain from production, to processing, packaging, distribution, and use can disrupt patient care.

There are no facilities in the U.S. that are dedicated to the production of the isotopes for medical uses, so all supplies are imported from foreign facilities. Most reactors which produce molybdenum-99 utilize highly enriched uranium (HEU), which can also be used in the construction of nuclear weapons. This January, the National Academy of Sciences encouraged producers to convert from HEU to low enriched uranium (LEU), and found that there are "no technical reasons that adequate quantities cannot be produced from LEU targets in the future." The National Research Universal reactor in Canada, which is responsible for producing over half of U.S. demand for the isotope, was shut down unexpectedly earlier this year. As a result there is a shortage of molybdenum-99, and medical procedures requiring the isotope are being delayed.

 

COST

Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that implementing the bill would cost $130 million over five years.

 

 

H.Res. 858 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Monday, November 2, 2009, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) October 22, 2009.

H.Res. 858 would resolve that the House of Representatives:
• "Congratulates the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) on its 40th anniversary;
• "Recognizes that the IAF has demonstrated that its grassroots model for United States foreign assistance is effective; and
• "Declares that the IAF is a vital component of United States foreign policy in the Americas and of the United States development agenda."

BACKGROUND

The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) is an independent agency of the United States government that provides grants to nongovernmental and community-based organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean for self-help programs.

H.Res. 839 is expected to be considered under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) on October 15, 2009.

H.Res. 839 resolves that the House of Representatives:

•  "Calls on people of Madagascar to immediately undertake a democratic, consensual process to restore constitutional governance, culminating in free, fair and peaceful elections;

•  "Strongly condemns the illegal extraction of Madagascar's natural resources and its impact on biodiversity and livelihoods of rural communities, including illegal logging, smuggling of wild species, and illegal mining;

•  "Supports action by competent authorities and the people of Madagascar to stop this illegal devastation and bring those perpetrating these crimes to justice;

•  "Calls upon importing countries to intensify their inspection and monitoring processes to ensure that they do not contribute to the demand for illegally sourced precious woods from Madagascar; and

•  "Calls upon consumers of rosewood and ebony products to check their origin, and boycott those made of Malagasy wood, until constitutional order is restored."

 

BACKGROUND

According to the resolution's findings, Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island, and home to up to 150,000 species of unique flora and fauna. The country's natural resources provide benefits and services for the basic needs of the majority of Madagascar's people, three-quarters of whom live in rural areas. The resources also provide economic development in the tourism sector. The Obama Administration has condemned Marc Ravalomanana's forced resignation as President of the Republic of Madagascar, and Andry Rajoelina's installation as the de facto head of state in March 2009. In October 2009, environmental organizations condemned an order issued by the current administration in Madagascar which granted sweeping authorization to export raw and semi-processed hard wood.

H.Res. 711 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for passage. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) on July 17, 2009, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which took no official action.

H.Res. 711 would express the sense that the House of Representatives:

 

•  "Urges the Sri Lankan Government to guarantee the safety and speedy release of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps and to ensure the rights and privileges of these refugees in the reestablishment of their homes and properties;

•  "Calls on the Sri Lankan Government to turn the operation of the camps over to civilian authorities and allow the day to day presence of international government agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and independent nongovernmental organizations to assist in the care of the IDPs;

•  "Calls on the Sri Lankan Government to allow an independent group to assess the accuracy of the allegations of large numbers of deaths, diseases, and sicknesses due to poor sanitation and inappropriate healthcare in the camps containing the IDPs and to prepare a plan of action to resolve the problems;

•  "Request the Sri Lankan Government to establish reasonable conditions to allow foreign agencies access to the IDPs and to ensure the rebuilding process of war torn areas in Sri Lanka; and

•  "Urges the Tamil people to continue to be patient while the government reestablishes normalcy and urges the Sri Lankan Government to move forward in creating political reforms that will resolve the political concerns of the Tamil people."

 

BACKGROUND

According to the resolution's findings, in May, 2009, a 26 year war in Sri Lanka between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan Government came to an end. At the conclusion of the strife, the government of Sri Lanka agreed to care for civilians displaced during the conflict and to ensure their speedy return. Meanwhile, the government of Sri Lanka is attempting to identify former members of the LTTE that fought against the government during the war. To facilitate this goal, the government has established temporary housing for roughly 280,000 people who fled their homes as the war ended. Allegations have been made that the conditions within the 30 military camps for these internally displaced persons are "grossly wanting when compared to the principles set as standards by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for guiding states and organizations dealing with internally displaced populations."

H.Res. 641 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for passage. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) on July 14, 2009, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which took no official action.

H.Res. 641 would express the sense that the House of Representatives:

 

•  "Recognizes the 60th anniversary of the founding of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and honors its contribution to promoting freedom and liberty around the world; and

•  "Commends the employees and reporters of RFE/RL for their commitment to provide fair and unbiased news to people living under oppressive regimes."

 

BACKGROUND

According to the resolution's findings, Radio Free Europe was founded in 1949 to promote democratic values to countries behind the Iron Curtain. Since its creation Radio Free Europe has been touted for its importance in bringing an unbiased message to people struggling for freedom. In 1991, Radio Free Europe was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by the President of Estonia. Radio Free Europe, which now broadcasts in 28 languages to 30 million listeners in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Central and Southwest Asia, celebrates its 60th year of existence in 2009.

H.Res. 863 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Tuesday November 3, 2009, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) October 23, 2009.

H.Con.Res. 863 would resolve that the House of Representatives:
• "Affirms its commitment to international child survival and development programs that prioritize protection, prevention, and treatment against pneumonia;
• "Salutes the health professionals and community health workers on the front lines in the world's poorest countries who are extending preventative care and treatment to children most at-risk of contracting pneumonia;
• "Reaffirms the United States commitment to reaching the Millennium Development Goals, particularly for reducing child mortality; and
• "Recognizes World Pneumonia Day."

BACKGROUND

According to the resolution findings, World Pneumonia Day is recognized on November 2 annually.

H.Res. 867 is expected to be considered under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) on October 23, 2009.

H.Res. 867 resolves that the House of Representatives:

•  "Considers the ‘Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict' to be irredeemably biased and unworthy of further consideration or legitimacy;

•  "Supports the Administration's efforts to combat anti-Israel bias at the United Nations, its characterization of the ‘Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict' as ‘unbalanced, one-sided and basically unacceptable', and its opposition to the resolution on the report;

•  "Calls on the President and the Secretary of State to continue to strongly and unequivocally oppose any endorsement of the ‘Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict' in multilateral fora;

•  "Calls on the President and the Secretary of State to strongly and unequivocally oppose any further consideration of the ‘Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict' and any other measures stemming from this report in multilateral fora; and

•  "Reaffirms its support for the democratic, Jewish State of Israel, for Israel's security and right to self-defense, and, specifically, for Israel's right to defend its citizens from violent militant groups and their state sponsors."

 

BACKGROUND

According to the resolution's findings, on January 12, 2009, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution which authorized a "fact-finding mission" regarding Israel's conduct of Operation Cast Lead against militants in the Gaza Strip between December 27, 2008, and January 18, 2009. On September 15, 2009, the report, headed by Richard Goldstone, a South African judge, was released- making unsubstantiated determinations that the Israeli military had deliberately attacked civilians during Operation Cast Lead. This report never noted that Israel had the right to defend its citizens from the repeated attacks committed against civilian targets in southern Israel by Hamas and others operating from Gaza.

The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution endorsing the Goldstone Report, condemning Israel, and encouraging other UN bodies to take action on the report. The President of the UN General Assembly has indicated that the General Assembly will consider the report before the end of the year, and the Report itself called for further action by the Security Council, the General Assembly, and the International Criminal Court, among others. Secretary of State Clinton has assailed the report's mandate, and President Obama instructed the United States Mission to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva to vote against the resolution which endorsed the report and condemned Israel. Members may be concerned that the report reflects the bias at the United Nations against the democratic State of Israel, a strong U.S. ally.

 

 

H.R. 1849 is expected to be considered under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) on April 1, 2009. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform marked up the bill and ordered the bill to be reported by unanimous consent on September 28, 2009.

H.R. 1849 designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial. The bill also establishes the World War I Centennial Commission to: (1) plan, develop, and execute programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I; (2) encourage private organizations and state and local governments to organize and participate in such activities; (3) facilitate and coordinate such activities throughout the United States; and (4) serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information about centennial events and plans.

The bill determines that the purpose of the Commission is to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I that promotes the values of honor, courage, patriotism, and sacrifice, in keeping with the representation of these values through the four Guardian Spirits sculpted on the Liberty Memorial Monument at America's National World War I Museum.

COST

A CBO score for H.R. 1849 is not yet available.