Up for Debate This Week: Oil Speculation, Foreclosures, and Global Health Aid

WASHINGTON, July 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This is the WashingtonWatch.com
federal legislative update for the week of July 21, 2008.

This week, the Senate will debate legislation to curb speculation in oil and
natural gas. S. 3268, The Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act of 2008, would
suppress trading that is not regarded as "legitimate" hedge trading. It is
intended to prevent excessive price speculation in energy commodities, hoping
that this would bring prices down.

Cost information for the bill is not yet available. It was discussed in a
recent post on the WashingtonWatch.com blog.

S. 3268
The Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act of 2008
What People Think: 50% For, 50% Against
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SN_3268.html
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/blog/2008/07/19/the-debate-on-oil-speculation/

The House will debate H.R. 3221, The Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008. The
bill takes many steps intended to reform housing. It would modernize the
Federal Housing Administration, protect military servicemembers against
foreclosure, give money to state and local governments for redeveloping
abandoned and foreclosed homes, and more.

Passage of H.R. 3221, the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008, would cost the
average U.S. family a little over $190.

H.R. 3221
The Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008
Costs $193.68 per family
What People Think: 39% For, 61% Against
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_3221.html

The House will also take up H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United
States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria
Reauthorization Act of 2008, which passed the Senate last week.

The bill would authorize spending for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to
provide assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and
malaria. It was mentioned in our recent blog post on the passing of Senator
Jesse Helms.

Passage of H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global
Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of
2008, would cost the average U.S. family just 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 $299.97 per family
What People Think: 43% For, 57% Against
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5501.html

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

New Items

S. 3258
The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009
Costs $315.23 per family
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SN_3258.html

S. 3260
An original bill making appropriations for financial services and general
government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other
purposes
Costs $425.29 per family
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SN_3260.html

S. 3261
An original bill making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation
and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes
Costs $1,111.84 per family
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SN_3261.html

Passed Items

P.L. 110-275
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
Costs $24.90 per family
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_PL_110-275.html

P.L. 110-277
The American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin
Costs $0.06 per family
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_PL_110-277.html

P.L. 110-278
The Children's Gasoline Burn Prevention Act
Costs $0.01 per family
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_PL_110-278.html

SOURCE WashingtonWatch.com

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