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NC Congressional Delegation Activity January 6-9
Submitted by Betsy Muse on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 3:06pm
It is impossible to cover every meeting, phone call, hearing and interview our members of congress participate in and I'll do my best to give you a weekly rundown each weekend following the weeks they are in session. I'm covering Democrats. I'll let someone else take care of the Republicans.
H.R. 11: To amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and to modify the operation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to clarify that a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice that is unlawful under such Acts occurs each time compensation is paid pursuant to the discriminatory compensation decision or other practice, to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes.
NC Co-Sponsors
Rep. G.K. Butterfield, NC-01
Rep. David Price, NC-04
Rep. Mel Watt, NC-12
Rep. Brad Miller, NC-13
NC Yea Votes
Rep. G.K. Butterfield, NC-01
Rep. Bob Etheridge, NC-02
Rep. David Price, NC-04
Rep. Mike McIntyre, NC-07
Rep. Larry Kissell, NC-08
Rep. Heath Shuler, NC-11
Rep. Mel Watt, NC-12
Rep. Brad Miller, NC-13
H.R. 12: To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes.
NC Co-Sponsors
Rep. G.K. Butterfield, NC-01
Rep. David Price, NC-04
Rep. Heath Shuler, NC-11
Rep. Mel Watt, NC-12
Rep. Brad Miller, NC-13
NC Yea Votes
Rep. G.K. Butterfield, NC-01
Rep. Bob Etheridge, NC-02
Rep. David Price, NC-04
Rep. Mike McIntyre, NC-07
Rep. Larry Kissell, NC-08
Rep. Heath Shuler, NC-11
Rep. Mel Watt, NC-12
Rep. Brad Miller, NC-13
H.R. 31: To provide for the recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, and for other purposes.
NC Sponsor
Rep. Mike McIntyre, NC-07
NC Co-Sponsors
Rep. G.K. Butterfield, NC-01
Rep. Bob Etheridge, NC-02
Rep. David Price, NC-04
Rep. Larry Kissell, NC-08
Rep. Mel Watt, NC-12
Rep. Brad Miller, NC-13
Committee
House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action
1/6/2009 Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources.
H.R. 32: To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
NC Sponsor
Rep. Mike McIntyre, NC-07
NC Co-Sponsors
Rep. Bob Etheridge, NC-02
Rep. Larry Kissell, NC-08
Committee
House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action
1/6/2009 Referred to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
H.R. 33: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 5-month waiting period for entitlement to disability benefits and to eliminate reconsideration as an intervening step between initial benefit entitlement decisions and subsequent hearings on the record on such decisions.
NC Sponsor
Rep. Mike McIntyre, NC-07
Committee
House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action
1/6/2009 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
H.R.37: To establish a systematic mortgage modification program at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and for other purposes.
NC Co-Sponsor
Rep. Mel Watt, NC-12
Committee
House Financial Services
Latest Major Action
1/6/2009 Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
H.R.44: To implement the recommendations of the Guam War Claims Review Commission
NC Co-Sponsor
Rep. G.K. Butterfield, NC-01
Committee
House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action
1/6/2009 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources
H.R.150: To make payments by the Department of Homeland Security to a State contingent on a State providing the Federal Bureau of Investigation with certain statistics, to require Federal agencies, departments, and courts to provide such statistics to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and to require the Federal Bureau of Investigation to publish such statistics
NC Sponsor
Rep. Walter Jones, Jr., NC-03
Committees
House Judiciary; House Homeland Security
Latest Major Action
1/6/2009 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
H.R.156: To prevent Members of Congress from receiving any automatic pay adjustment in 2010
NC Co-Sponsors
Rep. Walter Jones, Jr., NC-03
Rep. Howard Coble, NC-06
Rep. Larry Kissell, NC-08
Rep. Sue Myrick, NC-09
Rep. Heath Shuler, NC-11
Committees
House Administration; House Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Major Action
1/6/2009 Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
H.R.186: To establish a grant program to provide screenings for glaucoma to individuals determined to be at high risk for glaucoma, and for other purposes
NC Co-Sponsors
Rep. G.K. Butterfield, NC-01
Committees
House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means
Latest Major Action
1/6/2009 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
H.R.225: To amend title 11 of the United States Code with respect to modification of certain mortgages on principal residences, and for other purposes
NC Sponsor
Rep. Brad Miller, NC-13
NC Co-Sponsors
Rep. G.K. Butterfield, NC-01
Rep. Mel Watt, NC-12
Committee
House Judiciary
Latest Major Action
1/7/2009 R Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
H.R.277: To provide an alternate procedure for the prosecution of certain criminal contempts referred for prosecution by the House of Representatives, and for other purposes
NC Sponsor
Rep. Brad Miller, NC-13
Committee
House Judiciary
Latest Major Action
1/7/2009 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
H.R.278: To ensure that Congress is notified when the Department of Justice determines that the Executive Branch is not bound by a statute
NC Sponsor
Rep. Brad Miller, NC-13
Committee
House Judiciary
Latest Major Action
1/7/2009 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
H.R.327: To establish the National Hurricane Research Initiative to improve hurricane preparedness, and for other purposes
NC Co-Sponsors
Rep. Mike McIntyre, NC-07
Committee
House Science and Technology
Latest Major Action
1/8/2009 Referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology
H.R.333: To amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes
NC Co-Sponsor
Rep. Mike McIntyre, NC-07
Committees
House Armed Services; House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action
1/8/2009 Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
H.R.366: To establish the national ocean exploration program and the national undersea research program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish and maintain an undersea research program, and for other purposes
NC Co-Sponsor
Rep. Mike McIntyre, NC-07
Committees
House Science and Technology; House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action
1/9/2009 Referred to the Committee on Science and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
H.R.404: To establish the National Landscape Conservation System, and for other purposes
NC Co-Sponsor
Rep. David Price, NC-04
Committee
House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action
1/9/2009 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources
H.R.406: To award a congressional gold medal in recognition of Alice Paul's role in the women's suffrage movement and in advancing equal rights for women
NC Co-Sponsors
Rep. Walter Jones, Jr., NC-03
Rep. Mel Watt, NC-11
Committee
House Financial Services
Latest Major Action
1/9/2009 Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services
H.R.454: To amend the National Trails System Act to provide for the inclusion of new trail segments, land components, and campgrounds associated with the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, and for other purposes
NC Co-Sponsors
Rep. Heath Shuler, NC-11
Committee
House Natural Resources
Latest Major Action
1/9/2009 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources
It was a busy week.
What do you think of how our reps are spending their time?
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This is really nice reporting, Betsy.
Do you plan to make this a weekly effort?
Thank you.
Are you focusing on the Dems? Or have Howard Coble and that little whiny guy not made it to D.C. yet?
Good stuff.
Person County Democrats
Thanks, PD
I plan on making it weekly while they are in session. I'm only going to report on the Dems unless the Reps do something dangerous (likely) or stupid (highly likely).
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good luck
this is a huge effort you have undertaken. very valuable, but very tough.
good luck
"Keep the Faith"
Coble has generated a lot of publicity in his district
about turning down the raise. However, he did pledge to limit himself in the number of terms he would serve when he signed Gingrich's Contract on America. So if he were truly a man of his word, he would not even be there to vote on the measure.
__________________
My darling girl, when will you understand that 'normal' is not necessarily a virtue. It rather denotes a lack of courage. Alice Hoffman
Keeping up with Congress Critters
The Washington Post provides an incredible resource here: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/
I subscribe to all of Price's, Burr's and, soon, Hagan's and Larry K's votes from here:
Burr RSS feed: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/rss/members/b001135/
Prices RSS feed: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/rss/members/p000523/
You can also see their historical votes, for instance for Price:
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/p000523/votes/
Bills here:
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/bills/
Hope that helps with the book keeping Betsy!!!
CitizenWill
there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right. MLK,Jr. to SCLC Leadership Class
Thanks, Will
I usually use WaPo, but they weren't up and running for 111th when I started gathering this. I will probably use Thomas (Library of Congress), Open Congress and WaPo to find what I need.
I think it will be a good idea for us to be a little more connected to what our members of congress are working on. If we find something that we feel is important to oppose or support we can get started before its out of committee instead of after it is headed to the floor for a vote.
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Thanks for this, Betsy
Something I've discovered while researching Congress is that so many of the things we wish they would do (but assume they haven't) have already been attempted, but ended up getting stuck in Committee.
Figuring out the reason why something gets stuck is a whole 'nother mystery, but diaries like this help us figure out better questions to ask.
Much coolness. :)
For years, NE NC has been
under the concern by representatives of maintaining our "military friendly" image. Yet when a bill comes up that would benefit the military member and those who have a military related disability only one North Carolina representative is on that band wagon?
H.R.333: To amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes
NC Co-Sponsor
Rep. Mike McIntyre, NC-07
What I do not understand is why isn't Jones and Butterfield on this co sponsor list? Between the two, they own Seymore Johnson, Cherry Point, Coast Guard station at Elizabeth City, Dare County bombing range. Jones might own Jacksonville with Camp Lejeune also? A lot of military and a lot of folks being hurt supporting our country. They should be there as token co sponsors similar to some of the other bills.
Not sure how many people understand this. I am a 30% disabled American vet. The VA gives me a month non-taxable allowance of $376.
My Navy retirement is $2,231 / month. Because I am disabled but under 50% the process says to take that $376 provided by the VA from the $2,231. This leaves $1,855 for tax purposes. The process calls for a one for one trade of retirement dollars for disability allowance. My disability allowance is paid in lieu of the full military retirement I am entitled to if I was not disabled.
What this bill is proposing is to not take out the $376 but provide me the $2,231 for my service, tax it and then to include the $376 allowance for my service related disability.
I actually get two checks a month. One from DOD and one from the VA.
Under the current plan, I receive a few extra dollars a month in tax savings, about $4. The only rational for this not being made into a law already is Congress cannot find the money for it.
This 30% disability is not calculated in any way directly onto my retirement. A Navy captain, Chief, or 2nd class would all receive $376 if single. The 30% is a VA figure. It does not really represent that I am 30% broken! Nor does someone who is 100% disabled equate to bedridden. It is just a scale achieved based on the individual ailment vs a predetermined set of criteria. When you meet that, you get called that level of disabled.
The Charlotte Observer's coverage of the SCHIP vote
I thought this was well done and I like the drop-down box to the right of the article that highlights Rep. Kissell's issue with the funding. Nice touch.
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I see Kissell's dilemna especially for NC
Yeah, loved that info box.
I can see Rep. Kissell's dilemna on increasing the cigarette tax. I mean, North Carolina is a tobacco state...isn't it THE tobacco state? He did the right thing eventually voting for this measure. Democrats and republicans alike in majority favor making health care available for ALL of our children. Hard to imagine how we, as a country, could not make that happen.
I don't like increasing taxes any more than the next guy. But, let's be honest....there's just no way we're gonna be able to improve things without doing that and, well, I personally have no problem increasing taxes on such things as cigarettes.
The best thinking is independent thinking.