05-13-2000

CONGRESS: The Sausage Factory: House-Senate Committee Action, May 8-11

+Hot Bills


Here is the status of major legislation on the congressional front
burner:


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: Democrats say talks on a final bill are going nowhere, and
Republicans fear that President Clinton's latest attempts to prod
negotiators into a settlement are meant to "politicize the
process," which lawmakers agree could collapse in a
heartbeat.


BANKRUPTCY REFORM


House: Approved H.R. 833 on May 5, 1999, 313-108.


Senate: Approved amended version of H.R. 833 on Feb. 2, 83-14.


Outlook: Senate GOP leaders are ready to let the bill die if a deal can't
be reached with pro-consumer Democrats, who are blocking moves to untangle
the Senate bill from an amendment raising the minimum wage. Prospects of
breaking a Senate filibuster are fading, and bill supporters may try to
attach bankruptcy provisions to another measure.


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: Under White House and industry pressure, House Republican leaders
want to wrap up talks soon on a final bill, which would set a legal
standard for e-commerce and online contracts-and give Republicans
something to show Silicon Valley.


AFRICA TRADE ENHANCEMENTS


House: Approved conference report on H.R. 434 on May 4, 309-110.


Senate: Approved conference report on May 11, 77-19.


Outlook: With the explosive China trade vote drawing nearer, House GOP
leaders stepped in to resolve lingering disputes with the Senate to
produce a final Africa trade bill, which includes a Caribbean Basin trade
initiative. The bill overcame last-minute protests from textile-state
Senators, and Clinton is expected to sign it into law.


EDUCATION


House: Floor action pending on the last of four parts of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act reauthorization (H.R. 4141).


Senate: Began debate on an omnibus ESEA bill (S. 2) on May 1.


Outlook: As a fiery Senate floor debate continues over the control of
federal aid to schools, Democrats say they will try to defeat the bill if
they can't amend it to include President Clinton's school spending
priorities-and to possibly include gun-control provisions.


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: Partisan differences over the size and scope of the Senate
Republican bill seem irreconcilable, so Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott,
R-Miss., has a new tactic: He wants to attach the bill to a budget
enforcement measure that the Senate expects to take up in June. Senate
rules bar filibusters and nongermane amendments to such a measure.


National Journal News Service

National Journal