110th CONGRESS: DEMOCRATS TAKE CONTROL

On January 4, 2007, Democrats took control of both houses of Congress for the first time
in a dozen years and elected the first female speaker of the House, Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). House Democrats wasted little time as they proceeded to pass numerous pieces of legislation in their first 100 hours in the majority, including a bill to lift
restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research (see “Bills” section) and
new rules aimed at reining in deficit spending (see “Inside the Beltway” section).

APPROPRIATIONS- STATUS AND OUTLOOK FOR FY2007 SPENDING BILLS (NIH, NSF & DOE)

Republicans failed to pass ten of the twelve FY2007 appropriations bills, and instead passed a continuing resolution (CR) through February 15, 2007, for those agencies whose FY2007 spending bills have not yet been enacted.

Democrats continue to maintain that their plan is to extend current funding levels (FY
2006 funding levels) until the end of the FY2007 fiscal year (September 30, 2007).
Democratic leaders still intend to make “limited adjustments” to such programs as
veterans’ medical care and to agencies that would have to furlough employees if they
were forced to operate at their FY2006 levels.
 

More Details >

APPROPRIATIONS- HOUSE AND SENATE APPROVE SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

On January 10, 2007, the Democratic and Republican Caucuses approved new subcommittee chairs for the House Appropriations Committee and selected subcommittee
members. The Senate unveiled its subcommittee memberships too, reorganizing to mirror the structure to that of the House Appropriations Committee.

More Details >

INSIDE (The Beltway) SCOOP
- Jon Retzlaff, Legislative Director

With majority control of Congress for the first time in a decade, Democrats are advocating for fiscal responsibility in order to avoid the dreaded “tax and spend” label. To this end, Democrats have stated that they intend to propose a long-term plan to balance the budget by 2012. In addition, one of the main pieces of legislation that House Democrats passed in its first 100 hours was the “pay-as-you-go” (PAYGO) budget rules. Under this provision the House, for the first time in years, will be required to pay for any proposal to cut taxes or increase spending on federal programs by raising taxes or cutting spending elsewhere.

 More Details >

BILLS, BILLS, BILLS

House and Senate Pass H.R. 3, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act
On January 11, 2007, the House passed H.R. 3, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act
of 2007. The bill would expand the number of embryonic stem cell lines available for
federal funding by requiring the Secretary of HHS to conduct and support research using
human embryonic stem cells regardless of the date on which such cells were derived.
H.R. 3 had 211 cosponsors upon introduction. FASEB’s Office of Public Affairs sent a
letter to every member of Congress urging them to support the bill, and issued a press
release once the bill passed the House.

More Details >

CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE

The House and Senate returned on January 4, 2007, for the start of the 110th Congress.
The next scheduled recess is the week of February 19.

More Details >