Major Legislative Priorities of the New Direction Congress Signed Into Law
12/14/2007
Soon to be
added to this list:
Historic energy legislation,
including the first congressionally mandated increase in fuel efficiency
standards in 32 years – click here to learn
more.
ENACTING THE
9/11 COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS - MAKING AMERICA SAFER
FROM TERRORISM
On August 1st, Congress sent one of
the most critical bills of the 110th Congress to the President’s desk—H.R. 1, Implementing the
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. The first bill passed by the
new Democratic-led Congress, H.R. 1 is strong, comprehensive legislation that
will make America safer from terrorism by
finally enacting the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations. The bill was signed
into law by the President on August 3rd.
THE FIRST
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE IN 10 YEARS –BENEFITING 13 MILLION
AMERICANS
In May, the House increased the minimum wage for
the first time in almost a decade. The previous Republican-controlled
Congresses blocked minimum wage proposals from being considered. In 2006 alone,
Republicans blocked minimum wage legislation from coming to a vote 11 times.
The President signed this
bill into law on May 25th and the first pay raise for working
Americans in almost 10 years went into effect on July
24th.
INNOVATION
AGENDA – ENSURING AMERICA’S CONTINUED LEADERSHIP IN THE
GLOBAL ECONOMY
On August 2nd, the House passed
The America COMPETES
Act to increase investment in math and science education, boost technology,
research and development. This new law ensures American students,
teachers, businesses, and workers are prepared to continue leading the world in
innovation, research, and technology well into the future. The
President signed this bill into law on August 9th.
MAKING
COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE – LARGEST INVESTMENT SINCE THE GI BILL
On September 7th, the House passed
The College Cost Reduction
and Access Act making the largest increase in college aid since the GI
Bill in 1944, boosting college aid by roughly $20 million dollars over the next
five years. The
President signed this bill into law on September 27th.
REAUTHORIZATION
OF HEAD START – THE FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS
On November 14th, the House
overwhelmingly passed the joint House-Senate conference report on Improving Head Start for
School Readiness Act by a vote of 381 to 36. This legislation will
reinvigorate Head Start and help more children arrive at school with the tools
necessary to succeed. The
President signed this bill into law on December 12th.
LANDMARK
LOBBY & ETHICS REFORM – BREAKING THE LINK BETWEEN LOBBYISTS &
LEGISLATORS
On July 31st, the House passed the
Honest Leadership, Open
Government Act which provides an unprecedented level of disclosure on
the interactions between lobbyists and legislators. This is tough legislation
that ends the culture of corruption, and restores accountability in Washington. The
President signed this bill into law on September
14th.
CRITICAL
RELIEF TO GULF COAST STATES RAVAGED BY HURRICANES KATRINA & RITA
In May the House passed a $6.4
billion Gulf Coast
Recovery Package including $1.3 billion to repair and complete key
levee protection and flood control projects in Louisiana, $1.35 billion in
Community Disaster Loan forgiveness; $4.3 billion in FEMA disaster recovery
grants and $550 million in Social Services Block Grant funding to meet the
health care needs of the region. The
President signed this bill into law on May 25th.