Copyright 2000 The National Journal, Inc.
The National Journal
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May 27, 2000
SECTION: OUTLOOK; Pg. 1686; Vol. 32, No. 22
LENGTH: 485 words
HEADLINE:
Hot Bills
BODY:
Here is
the status of major legislation on the
congressional front burner:
CHINA
TRADE
House: Approved H.R. 4444 on May 24, 237-197.
Senate: Finance
Committee approved S. 2277 on May 17, 19-1.
Outlook:
While the Senate is inclined to back permanent
normal trade relations for
China, the Finance Committee wants to
review House-added amendments on human
rights monitoring and
import-surge protections. Proponents hope that the
Senate will
pass the House bill, because they want to avoid a time-consuming
House-Senate conference and another tough vote in the House.
BANKRUPTCY
REFORM
House: Approved H.R. 833 on May 5, 1999, 313-108.
Senate:
Approved an amended H.R. 833 on Feb. 2, 83-14.
Outlook: Republican leaders
tried a last-ditch gambit to tack
sweeping changes in bankruptcy laws to a
popular crop insurance
and farm aid bill (H.R. 2559), but protests from
farm-state
members forced them to back down on May 25. Backers of the bill
are still looking for a train for this caboose.
MARRIAGE PENALTY TAX
RELIEF
House: Approved H.R. 6 on Feb. 10, 268-158.
Senate: Effort to end
debate on S. 2346 failed on April 27.
Outlook: Senate leaders are still
committed to moving the bill
this year, probably by adding it to a budget
reconciliation
measure to avoid nongermane amendments and a filibuster. But
it
may be more politically attractive to campaign on this issue than
to
pass a bill.
DIGITAL SIGNATURES
House: Approved H.R. 1714 on Nov. 9,
1999, 356-66.
Senate: Approved S. 761 on Nov. 19, 1999, by unanimous
consent.
Outlook: House-Senate negotiators ended their latest round of
talks without a deal on a final bill, which would provide a
presumption
of legal validity to electronic signatures and
records. All except Senate
Republicans are backing the latest
compromise version, and talks are likely
to extend through the
Memorial Day recess.
PATIENTS' RIGHTS
House:
Approved a bipartisan patients' rights bill (H.R. 2723) on
Oct. 7, 1999,
275-151, then merged it with an insurance access
bill (H.R. 2990).
Senate: Approved S. 1344 with narrower reforms favored by health
insurers on July 15, 1999, 53-47.
Outlook: Senate Minority Leader Thomas
A. Daschle, D-S.D., says
no relief is at hand in curing the severe heartburn
between the
House and Senate versions. Democrats have proposed new remedies,
but Republicans in both chambers haven't been able to stomach any
compromises in their own private meetings.
GUN CONTROL
House:
Approved juvenile-justice bill (H.R. 1501) on June 17,
1999, 287-139.
Senate: Approved juvenile-justice bill (S. 254) with new gun-
control
measures on May 20, 1999, 73-25.
Outlook: There are no encouraging signs
that conferees will
produce a final bill. Senate Democrats still aim to
force more
votes on gun control amendments to other bills.
LOAD-DATE: May 29, 2000 
