Status of legislation in Congress

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - The status of various legislation produced so far by the Congress that convened in January:

Signed into law:

? First minimum wage increase in a decade.

? Implementation of many remaining 9/11 commission recommendations, including screening of all air cargo.

? Short-term authority to expand the government's ability to eavesdrop without warrants on communications that pass through the United States.

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Vetoed by President Bush:

? Timeline to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. House upheld the veto.

? Expansion of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. No override votes have been held.

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Passed and awaiting presidential action:

? Tighter congressional ethics provisions and greater disclosure of lobbyists' fundraising for candidates.

? Legislation calling for $33.6 billion over the next three years for science, technology, engineering and mathematics research and education programs.

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Passed House and Senate in different forms; awaiting compromise:

? Expansion of the health care program that covers lower-income children. Both bills raise the tax on tobacco products. The House bill also includes significant changes in Medicare. Bush has threatened to veto both versions.

? Student aid expansion.

? Energy legislation with new efficiency standards for appliances, tax breaks and subsidies for hybrid cars and demonstration projects for burying greenhouse gases underground. The Senate bill also mandates a 40 percent increase in auto, SUV and small truck fuel efficiency; the House bill does not. The House bill levies $16 billion in new taxes on the oil industry and requires utilities to generate 15 percent of their electricity from renewable resources; the Senate bill does neither.

? $20 billion for water projects. Bush has threatened to veto. (Compromise bill has passed the House and is awaiting a Senate vote.)

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Passed House:

? Farm bill that includes crop payments to farmers and funds for conservation and nutrition programs. Bush has threatened a veto.

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Killed by Republican filibuster in Senate:

? Immigration legislation.

? Requirement for the government to negotiate directly with drug makers for lower consumer prices under Medicare.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070806/ap_on_go_co/status_of_legislation [link]