Up for Debate This Week: Foreign Health Assistance, Fire Safety, and Energy

WASHINGTON, March 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This is the
WashingtonWatch.com federal legislative update for the week of March 31, 2008.
Congress returns from its two-week spring recess this week.
The House is scheduled to consider H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J.
Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and
Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. Named after two leaders of the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs who recently passed away, the bill would
authorize spending to assist foreign countries with combatting HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis, and malaria.
Passage of the bill would cost the average U.S. family about $300.
H.R. 5501
The Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 Costs
$301.75 per family
What People Think: 52% For, 48% Against
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5501.html

The House will also consider H.R. 4847, the United States Fire
Administration Reauthorization Act of 2007. It would reauthorize the United
States Fire Administration, a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
that seeks to reduce loss of life and economic losses due to fire and related
emergencies.
Passage of the bill would cost the average U.S. family about $2.50.

H.R. 4847
The United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2007
Costs $2.59 per family
What People Think: 38% For, 62% Against
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_4847.html

The Senate may continue debating H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy
Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act. The bill would
establish and amend a number of programs dealing with energy independence and
security, technology, carbon emissions, "green jobs," consumer protection,
renewable energy production, and energy infrastructure.
Passage of H.R. 3221 would cost the average U.S. family about $325.
H.R. 3221
The New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer
Protection Act Costs $326.94 per family
What People Think: 49% For, 51% Against
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_3221.html

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or
savings per family.

New Items

H.R. 3754
To authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
accept, as part of a settlement, diesel emission reduction Supplemental
Environmental Projects, and for other purposes Costs $0.00 per family
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_3754.html

H.R. 2515
The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Act
Costs $0.00 per family
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_2515.html

S. 2304
The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization
and Improvement Act of 2007 Costs $4.37 per family
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SN_2304.html

H.R. 5551
To amend title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, to implement the
increase provided under the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2008, in
the amount of funds made available for the compensation of attorneys
representing indigent defendants in the District of Columbia courts, and for
other purposes Costs $0.31 per family
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5551.html

Updated Items

S. 550A bill to preserve existing judgeships on the Superior Court of the
District of Columbia Costs $0.19 per family
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SN_550.html

Passed Items

P.L. 110-198
The Higher Education Extension Act of 2008
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_PL_110-198.html

SOURCE WashingtonWatch.com

Jim Harper, WashingtonWatch.com, +1-202-486-0824