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The Congressional Connector |
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Week of Sept 22 - 26, 2008 |
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House Approves Comprehensive Energy Package
On September 16, the House of Representatives approved a major energy bill [H.R. 6899, the “Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act”] that includes responsible development of additional oil and gas resources, greater energy efficiency, tax incentives to spur alternative energy, investment in new technologies, and relief to American consumers. The House passed the measure on a vote of 236 to 189.
Speaking in favor of the bill, Rep. Levin said, “It is clear that a more-of-the-same approach to energy will not work. If we’ve learned nothing else from the last eight years, we’ve learned that we cannot drill our way to energy security. Neither will conservation alone do the job.... The approach taken by this bill is comprehensive. It addresses both the supply and demand sides of our nation’s energy policy. It is a balanced, responsible and long-term approach to addressing the challenges of energy security.”
The fight over energy policy now moves to the United States Senate, which is considering its own energy package. For more information, click here.
Lawmakers Work to Extend Unemployment Benefits
Rep. Levin and several other House members recently introduced legislation [H.R. 6867] providing a further extension of unemployment benefits for Americans struggling to find work. H.R. 6867 would provide a 7-week extension of unemployment benefits nationwide, with an additional 13-week extension for high unemployment states like Michigan. The lawmakers are currently working to pass the measure before Congress adjourns.
“The number of long-term unemployed is over double what it was in the past recession and economic conditions are worsening,” said Rep. Levin, “Unemployed individuals and their families need federal support while they continue to look hard for work.”
For more information, click here.
Click here to read a Macomb Daily article on this issue.
Disability Hearing Backlog a Focus for Social Security Subcommittee
On September 16, the House Social Security Subcommittee held a hearing to further investigate ways to eliminate the backlog in disability claims hearings. When people apply for disability insurance through the Social Security Administration, they can appeal if their claim is denied. Right now there is an enormous backlog in processing these appeals; on average, people must wait over a year and a half to receive a decision on their appeal. Rep. Levin has made eliminating this backlog one of his highest priorities.
Rep. Levin said at the Subcommittee hearing: “It is shameful that people have to wait so long to receive a decision on their appeals. We must never forget that when we speak about the disability hearing backlog, we are talking about real individual people, many of whom desperately need the assistance they are seeking.”
The Week Ahead
The House has a full plate of work in front of it this week. With the end of the federal government’s fiscal year approaching on September 30, the House and Senate must take action on a temporary budget agreement (called a Continuing Resolution, or CR) to fund federal programs for the next few months to give Congress and the President time to hammer out a long-term budget for 2009. Although the details of the CR are still being negotiated, it will very likely include federal assistance for areas devastated by hurricanes and floods. Many House lawmakers, including Rep. Levin, are working to include an extension of Unemployment Insurance benefits in the package.
Congress is also dealing with the Bush Administration’s $700 billion economic recovery package which seeks to respond to the freezing up of the credit markets and the run on money market accounts. The leadership of the House and Senate has pledged to work quickly to address the financial crisis, but have made it clear Congress will insist that changes be made to the Administration’s proposal in order to protect the taxpayers’ interest, increase oversight and transparency, help homeowners, and put limits on executive compensation for Wall Street executives.
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