Summary In responding to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, thousands of first responders and other Americans were exposed to toxins and are now in need of treatment and compensation. H.R.847 builds upon the current World Trade Center (WTC) Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program (MMTP) to provide full medical screening, treatment benefits, and compensation…
Summary The Senate will soon vote on whether to begin consideration of the Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act, S.3985,legislation to provide a one-time $250 benefit to Social Security recipients and veterans, as well as other individuals whose federal benefits depend on the annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).[1] This payment would be provided in lieu…
Summary Public-safety employees, including police, firefighter and emergency personnel, do not have full collective bargaining rights in approximately 20 states. These dedicated men and women who serve our communities are not permitted to collectively negotiate with their employers, state and local governments. First responders are vital to the safety of our communities, but many lack…
Summary Senate Democrats are committed to protecting tax cuts for America’s middle class and bolstering the economy to create jobs, help families and businesses meet the challenges of these tough economic times, and ensure a strong recovery from the recession. Unfortunately, Republicans continue to hold critical middle-class tax cuts and job creation incentives hostage in…
Summary and Background Today, women make up half of the workforce yet earn only 77 cents for every dollar paid to men. This wage disparity places all women at a significant economic disadvantage and harms American families. The pay gap exists across all education levels and is exacerbated by race and ethnicity. There is no…
NOTE The following summary of S.510 reflects the manager’s amendment, as released by the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on August 12, 2010. Summary and Background During the week of November 15th, the Senate may consider S.510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. The Senate’s consideration of this legislation has been preceded by over…
Summary In the coming days, the Senate is expected to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 3815, the Promoting Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles Act. This legislation is identical to the natural gas and electric vehicle provisions that were included in S.3663, the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil…
H.R.3081 is the legislative vehicle for the Continuing Resolution Act, 2011, which will allow continued government operations through December 3, 2010. Under the Continuing Resolution, funding would continue at Fiscal Year 2010-enacted levels for most programs. The Senate began consideration of this legislation on September 28, 2010. Major Provisions This summary was provided by the…
Summary On September 21, 2010, Senator Enzi introduced a resolution (S.J.Res39) that would disapprove and nullify an interim final rule submitted by the Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services relating to status as a grandfathered health plan under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148, 111-152, Affordable Care Act). …
Summary U.S. workers have faced the most serious financial challenges since the Great Depression. Employers have slashed jobs at an alarming rate, particularly in the manufacturing sector, with millions of jobs lost over the course of the recession. That is why Senate Democrats have made a manufacturing-based jobs bill a top priority. This legislation will…