MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE 110TH CONGRESS
California Political Desk
October 16, 2008
SPEAKER PELOSI AND HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE FOCUSED ON THE PRIORITIES OF AMERICANS ON MAIN STREET BY PASSING MORE THAN 230 KEY MEASURES –70% WITH SIGNIFICANT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
The House had a quick, successful start (Six for ´06/100 Hours Agenda) and continued to build on that record of accomplishment throughout the Congress. Listed below are selected highlights of the legislation signed into law:
>> Comprehensive energy legislation, including raising vehicle fuel efficiency standards (35 mph by the year 2020) for the first time in 32 years, and making an historic commitment to American homegrown biofuels
>> Tax incentives for clean renewable energy that will create and save more than 500,000 jobs
>> Largest expansion of college aid in six decades, cutting loan rates in half and increasing Pell Grants
>> New GI Bill to provide free college education to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan
>> COMPETES Act to promote high‐tech jobs, expand math and science education, and boost research and innovation
>> Reauthorization of Head Start – first reform and expansion in 10 years
>> Protecting 25 million middle‐class families from paying the Alternative Minimum Tax
>> Minimum wage increase – first in 10 years, a $4,400 raise for 13 million Americans
>> Economic Recovery and Stimulus package with Recovery Rebates for 130 million American families to jump start the economy – with unprecedented speed and bipartisan support
>> Comprehensive housing foreclosure crisis reform to prevent families from losing their homes and stop the decline in home values at the root of the current financial crisis, and to impose tough independent regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
>> Economic rescue legislation to protect Main Street from the crisis on Wall Street including limits on CEO and executive compensation, tough taxpayer protections (requiring a plan that to ensure that Wall Street repays the taxpayers in full protections for homeowners and small businesses, and increased accountability, transparency and oversight.
>> Preserving Medicare for 44 million seniors and people with disabilities, assuring access to doctors you know and trust
>> Largest investment in Veterans´ health care in the 77‐year history of the VA
>> Mental Health Parity to end coverage discrimination against patients seeking treatment for mental illnesses
>> Improvements in homeland security by enacting the independent 9/11 Commission recommendations
>> Landmark Lobby and Ethics Reform, including creating of an outside, independent ethics panel
MANY MAJOR INITIATIVES PASSED BY THE HOUSE WERE BLOCKED BY PRESIDENT BUSH´S VETOES (11), VETO THREATS (64) OR AN HISTORIC LEVEL OF FILIBUSTERS BY SENATE REPUBLICANS
Among the bills passed by the House that were blocked by the President´s veto or obstruction by Republicans in the Senate were:
>> Responsible redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq
>> Children´s health insurance for 10 million children ‐ SCHIP
>> Fall Economic Recovery and Stimulus Effort to create jobs, build essential infrastructure, help states meet soaring health care costs, expand emergency food programs, and extend
>> Unemployment Insurance benefits
>> Expansion of life‐saving Stem Cell Research
>> Giving Medicare the authority to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices, saving seniors hundreds of dollars a year
>> Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to ensure women are paid equal pay for equal work
>> Curbing excessive oil speculation– which is inflating gas prices
>> Employee Free Choice Act to restore workers´ rights by removing obstacles that prevent workers from choosing whether or not they want to form or join a union
The House had a quick, successful start (Six for ´06/100 Hours Agenda) and continued to build on that record of accomplishment throughout the Congress. Listed below are selected highlights of the legislation signed into law:
>> Comprehensive energy legislation, including raising vehicle fuel efficiency standards (35 mph by the year 2020) for the first time in 32 years, and making an historic commitment to American homegrown biofuels
>> Tax incentives for clean renewable energy that will create and save more than 500,000 jobs
>> Largest expansion of college aid in six decades, cutting loan rates in half and increasing Pell Grants
>> New GI Bill to provide free college education to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan
>> COMPETES Act to promote high‐tech jobs, expand math and science education, and boost research and innovation
>> Reauthorization of Head Start – first reform and expansion in 10 years
>> Protecting 25 million middle‐class families from paying the Alternative Minimum Tax
>> Minimum wage increase – first in 10 years, a $4,400 raise for 13 million Americans
>> Economic Recovery and Stimulus package with Recovery Rebates for 130 million American families to jump start the economy – with unprecedented speed and bipartisan support
>> Comprehensive housing foreclosure crisis reform to prevent families from losing their homes and stop the decline in home values at the root of the current financial crisis, and to impose tough independent regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
>> Economic rescue legislation to protect Main Street from the crisis on Wall Street including limits on CEO and executive compensation, tough taxpayer protections (requiring a plan that to ensure that Wall Street repays the taxpayers in full protections for homeowners and small businesses, and increased accountability, transparency and oversight.
>> Preserving Medicare for 44 million seniors and people with disabilities, assuring access to doctors you know and trust
>> Largest investment in Veterans´ health care in the 77‐year history of the VA
>> Mental Health Parity to end coverage discrimination against patients seeking treatment for mental illnesses
>> Improvements in homeland security by enacting the independent 9/11 Commission recommendations
>> Landmark Lobby and Ethics Reform, including creating of an outside, independent ethics panel
MANY MAJOR INITIATIVES PASSED BY THE HOUSE WERE BLOCKED BY PRESIDENT BUSH´S VETOES (11), VETO THREATS (64) OR AN HISTORIC LEVEL OF FILIBUSTERS BY SENATE REPUBLICANS
Among the bills passed by the House that were blocked by the President´s veto or obstruction by Republicans in the Senate were:
>> Responsible redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq
>> Children´s health insurance for 10 million children ‐ SCHIP
>> Fall Economic Recovery and Stimulus Effort to create jobs, build essential infrastructure, help states meet soaring health care costs, expand emergency food programs, and extend
>> Unemployment Insurance benefits
>> Expansion of life‐saving Stem Cell Research
>> Giving Medicare the authority to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices, saving seniors hundreds of dollars a year
>> Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to ensure women are paid equal pay for equal work
>> Curbing excessive oil speculation– which is inflating gas prices
>> Employee Free Choice Act to restore workers´ rights by removing obstacles that prevent workers from choosing whether or not they want to form or join a union
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