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2003 Budget Proposal Due Today (02/04/02)
Featuring a record for defense spending, President Bush's 2003 federal budget proposal is scheduled to be presented to the House of Representatives today. Total spending in the 2003 budget proposal is expected to approach $2.12 trillion, including $379 billion for defense. [Details on CNN]

Enron Hearings Open Without Kenneth Lay (02/04/02)
A week of congressional hearings on the failure of Enron begins today. Late Sunday, lawyers  for Kenneth Lay announced that the former Enron CEO would not testify before the Senate Commerce Committee and House Financial Services Committee as scheduled. The attorneys advised Lay not to testify under what they called a "prosecutorial atmosphere" in Congress. [Details on CNN]

State of the Union Address (01/29/02)
Focusing on his administration's "three great goals for America," President George W. Bush presented his State of the Union Address to a joint session of Congress.

Senate Considering Adoption Tax Credit Act (01/24/02)
The Senate is scheduled to begin debate on H.R. 622, the Adoption Tax Credit Act. This bill would amends the Internal Revenue Code respecting the adoption credit and the exclusion from income of employer-provided adoption assistance to: (1) increase such amounts to $10,000 per child, including special needs children; (2) increase the beginning of the adjusted gross income phase-out to $150,000; and (3) make such credit and exclusion permanent for all children (eliminates the sunset date for non-special needs children).

Legislation Related to Terrorist Attacks
From Thomas Legislative Information System

Economic Stimulus Bill May Die in Senate (12/20/01)
While the House passed President Bush's economic stimulus bill 242-193, with the support of nine Democrats, the Senate's Democratic leaders have called called the bill unacceptable. With Congress due to adjourn for Christmas this week, the chances for an economic stimulus package during this term now appear dim. [See: House Passes Stimulus Plan; Measure Dead in Senate (Reuters)]

Senate Passes Education Bill (12/18/01)
By a vote of 87-10, the Senate passed the conference report on H.R. 1, Elementary and Secondary Education Act Authorization, sending the bill to President Bush who has indicated he will sign it. The bill authorizes up to $26.5 billion for public elementary and secondary schools. The bill formed the basis of President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" program of school reform and requires annual reading and math testing of students in grades three though eight. Under the bill, poorly performing schools will be eligible for additional federal support including special tutoring programs.

Ashcroft to Defend Military Tribunals (12/06/01)
Attorney General Ashcroft will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to explain and defend the need for military tribunals in prosecuting suspected terrorists. Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy who chairs the powerful Senate committee has been a leading critic of many of the White House's announced policies modifying the legal system to deal with the war on terrorism.

House Passes Insurance Industry Protection Bill (11/29/01)
The House passed 227 - 193, the bill H.R. 3210,Terrorism Risk Protection Act. The bill, if passed by the Senate, would provide up to $100 billion in financial assistance to commercial property and casualty insurers for losses above certain thresholds due to future terrorist acts.

Congress Passes Airport Security Bill (11/16/01)
Both House and Senate on Friday overwhelmingly approved the Airport Security Federalization Act of 2001, a law intended to greatly improve security at America's airports. President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law on Monday. What will this new law mean to American air travelers?

On the 2002 Budget - Congress has approved a fourth continuing resolution for the fiscal year 2002 federal budget. The resolution will keep the government running at 2001 spending levels through November 16. Lawmakers hope to have completed the 11 remaining 2002 spending bills by then. [See: Federal Budget Process]

Senate Gives Final Okay to Anti-Terrorism Bill (10/25/01)
By a vote of 98-1, the Senate approved H.R. 3162, the Counterterrorism Bill expanding the powers of law enforcement officials investigate and apprehend suspected terrorists. The lone vote against the bill came from Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin. President Bush will sign the bill on Friday.

House Passes Anti-Terrorism Bill (10/24/01)
The House passed 357-66, H.R. 3162 - the bipartisan, compromise anti-terrorism bill granting law enforcement agencies greater latitude in conduction searches of the homes of suspected terrorists and for monitoring telephone and electronic communications of those suspects. The bill now goes to the Senate. [Details on CNN]

House Passes Economic Stimulus Bill (10/24/01)
By a narrow 216-214 vote, the House today passed H.R. 3090, the Economic Security and Recovery Act of 2001. The bill offers tax incentives to businesses costing the government about $159 billion over the next 10 years. The Senate is working on its own version of the bill. [Details on CNN]

Two New Members to Enter House (10/23/01)
Newly elected Representatives Stephen F. Lynch, D-Mass., and Jeff Miller, R-Fla., are scheduled to be sworn in today. Both won special elections held on October 16. Lynch replaces former Rules Committee ranking Democrat Joe Moakley, who died on May 28. Miller succeeds Republican Joe Scarborough, who resigned. With the swearing in of Lynch and Miller, the political division in the House now stands at 220 Republicans, 211 Democrats, 2 Independents and 2 seats vacant. [Details on Vacancies]

House Closes for Anthrax Screening (10/17/01)
After over 30 members of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's staff tested positive for exposure to anthrax, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert announced that the House would adjourn until Tuesday, Oct. 23 in order to allow for an "environmental sweep" of all House offices. The Senate will convene as usual on Thursday and Friday.

The Words of a Child Said It Best
President Bush promised the in public education there would be "No Child Left Behind." What about children in need of special education? Are they to be left behind? Some in Congress would cut funding and drive away the best special needs educators. Now, Special Education Guide Barbara Day reports that there may be glimmer hope for the future of special education in America.

House Passes Its Anti-Terrorism Bill (10/13/01)
The House on Friday passed its own version of an anti-terrorism bill, H.R. 2975, PATRIOT Act of 2001. The bill is similar to S. 1510 passed in the Senate, but there are differences. A conference committee will now be needed to work out those differences and get a consolidated bill to President Bush.

Senate Passes Anti-Terrorism Bill (10/12/01)
The Senate has passed by a vote of 96-1 its version of the Anti-Terrorism Act - S. 1510. The dissenting vote came from Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin. The House is expected to take up its version of the bill H.R. 2975, PATRIOT Act of 2001 on Friday.

Senate Passes Airport Security Bill (10/12/01)
The Senate passed its version of the Airport Security Bill calling for federal marshals on airplanes, increased cockpit security and hijack training for pilots. The Senate version also calls for the federalization of all airport screening procedures. House Republicans have said they would demand a bill that places airport screening under federal oversight, but allows for screening jobs to be controlled by private industry. The bill - S. 1447 - passed by a 100-0 vote.

Terrorism-related Committee Hearings Scheduled:

Oct. 9, 2001
Senate Energy and Natural Resources 
Defense of Critical Infrastructure - To receive testimony on S. 1480, a bill to amend the Reclamation Recreation Management Act of 1992 in order to provide for the security of dams, facilities, and resources under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Reclamation; and other proposals related to energy infrastructure security

Senate Health and Education
Bioterrorism - No details available.

Oct. 10, 2001
House Energy and Commerce
Bioterrorism Preparedness - . The hearing is entitled “A Review of Federal Bioterrorism Preparedness Programs from a Public Health Perspective.”

Oct. 11, 2001
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Terrorism Response - Rolls and needs of the Coast Guard and fire services in responding to terrorism.

Senate Judiciary 
Homeland Defense - Full committee hearing to examine homeland defense matters.

Sen. Jesse Helms Will Not Run in 2003 (August 22, 2001)
U.S. Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina, considered the voice of Republican right-wing conservatives since 1972, has announced he will not seek reelection when his fifth term expires in 2003. From your About Guide.

House Passes Bush's Patient Right Bill (CNN)
By a narrow 226-203 vote the House approved the patients' rights bill - H.R. 2563 - backed by President Bush placing additional limitations on lawsuits filed against health plans.

House Okays Arctic Drilling (August 2, 2001)
The US House has passed President Bush's comprehensive energy bill including provisions allowing oil and gas production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

House Passes Total Human Cloning Ban (July 31, 2001)
Struggling over the ethical issues of stem cell research, the US House has passed a bill banning all forms of human cloning, including cloning for purposes of stem cell research.

House Passes Faith-Based Initiative Act (July 19, 2001)
The U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 233-198, today passed H.R. 7 - the Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Act. Tougher opposition is expected in Senate.

Flag Protection Amendment Passes House (July 17, 2001)
A resolution calling for a constitutional amendment granting Congress the power to prohibit desecration of the US flag has again passed the House. Senate rejection is expected.

House derails campaign reform bill (CNN, June 12, 2001)
In a 203-228 vote, the House decided not to go forward with debate on H.R. 2356 - The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2001. The bill would have banned unregulated "soft-money" donations to political parties. The prospects of any campaign finance reform bill passing during this session of Congress are now dim indeed.

Senate votes to ban drilling in national monuments (CNN, July 11, 2001)
"WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Democratic-led Senate voted Wednesday to bar coal mining and oil and gas drilling inside federally protected national monuments in the West, dealing a fresh blow to President Bush's energy production plans." [More...]

Senate Passes Patients' Rights Bill
On Friday, June 30, the Senate, by a vote of 59-36, approved its version of S. 1052, Patients' Bill of Rights. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to protect consumers in managed care plans and other health coverage.

Senate Passes Education Bill (6/14/01)
By a vote of 91-8, the Senate on Thursday approved its the Elementary and Secondary Education Support Bill, S. 1. A Joint Conference Committee will now be called to reconcile differences between the House- and Senate-approved versions of the education bill. [... More]