NETWORK's Legislative Hot News

In session
October 2006

Bishops urge comprehensive immigration reform
Congress urged to keep foreign aid focused on world's poor
NETWORK's Legislative Hot News
USCCB opposes 700-Mile Border Fence

NETWORK's Legislative Hot News
109th Congress, 2nd Session
October 2, 2006

Sponsored by NETWORK, a Catholic Lobby

Congress vacated Washington in pursuit of campaign trails, leaving a plethora of work undone. Here is NETWORK’s report on what was done, and what remains for the “lame duck” session commencing on November 14th.

Network's Legislative Update will return when Congress returns.

1. Appropriations
Only Defense and Homeland Security Appropriations were sent to the President before the election recess. Other appropriations will likely be combined in an “Omnibus” budget bill, which may not sufficiently fund critical human services.

Appropriations passed
Defense Appropriations:
Congress passed a $447.6 billion Defense spending bill including $70 billion in “emergency supplemental” spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Homeland Security Appropriations:
$34.8 billion has been made available, with $31 billion going to border security.

-$1.2 billion of this is provided for 700 miles of physical and electronic “fence”

-$2.5 billion goes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), $1.5 of which is for a disaster relief fund.

This legislation requires the use of a passport for re-entry from Canada and Mexico, as well as from other nations, effective January 2008.

Appropriations NOT passed
Labor, Health and Human Services and Education:
This is the only appropriations bill not to come to the floor for a vote in the House, as leadership opposes inclusion of a provision to increase the minimum wage. All other Appropriations legislation remain in Conference.

2. Continuing Resolution
A Continuing Resolution temporarily funds all federal agencies besides Defense and Homeland Security. Spending will continue at the 2006 level, or the House proposed 2007 level (whichever is smaller) until November 17th.

3. Minimum Wage
No raise in the minimum wage ensures that full-time low-wage workers will continue to live below the poverty threshold.

4. Iraq: A Small Success
NETWORK is grateful that the Defense Appropriations bill prohibits use of money for any permanent bases in Iraq.

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