Tuesday, July 31, 2007


Jul. 31, 2007 (AP Online delivered by Newstex) -- Actions in Congress on Monday as lawmakers worked toward adjourning next week for their August recess.

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ETHICS

Democratic leaders released a package of ethics changes they hope to have through the House and Senate before the beginning of their August recess. Under the bill, senators would have to identify their pet projects, or 'earmarks,' publicly two days before a vote. Lobbyists and their clients would be prohibited from giving gifts, including meals and tickets, to senators and their staffs. The House added the gift ban in January.

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

The head of the House Education Committee wants the No Child Left Behind law changed to allow merit pay for teachers and a new way of judging schools. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., says the law should pay teachers extra for boosting student achievement. He also says other tests or graduation rates _ instead of just math and reading tests _ should be considered for judging schools. The House could vote on the legislation in September.

JAPAN SEX SLAVES

The House approved a resolution urging Japan to apologize for coercing thousands of women to work as sex slaves for its World War II military. The resolution is symbolic, but it has caused unease in Japan and added tension to an otherwise strong alliance. Officials in Tokyo say their country's leaders have apologized repeatedly.

MEDICARE

House Democrats want changes to Medicare and plan to dramatically scale back federal subsidies to HMOs that cover millions of seniors. They also plan to sweeten the Medicare payment system for doctors, provide free colon cancer screening for all beneficiaries and add funds for the low-income. Republicans claim the measure would destroy the private Medicare plans that insure 8 million seniors.

ENERGY

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made changes to her energy package to quell a rebellion among some oil-patch Democrats. They argue the legislation would hurt U.S. energy production. A Pelosi spokesman said some changes were made in the oil and gas sections of the bill. The oil and gas industry opposes tax changes that the industry says would cost oil companies $15 billion over 10 years. Pelosi wants to shift the money to tax incentives for renewable energy sources and energy conservation measures.

SURVEILLANCE

Congress and President Bush's aides are working to expand the government's surveillance authority without jeopardizing citizens' rights. Aides say the new plan would change the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to allow surveillance without a warrant of terror suspects who are overseas. Details remained undecided, chiefly over whether after-the-fact court approval would be required for emergency surveillance.

VETERANS

The House required the Veterans Affairs Department to provide outreach and mental health services to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns with brain injuries and post traumatic stress disorder. The House also waived co-payment for veterans receiving hospice care, and passed a bill allowing disabled veterans living temporarily with a family member to become eligible for adaptive housing assistance. The fourth bill extends pension benefits to World War II veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine.

Newstex ID: AP-0001-18538462


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