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TODAY'S HILL ACTION
NO RECESS?!?!
Congressional
Climate Bill Tracking 
Keyhole Image S. 1451 - FAA Reauthorization Bill
Keyhole Image H.R. 2454 - American Clean Energy & Security Act
Keyhole Image S.1 - Stimulus Bill
Keyhole ImageH.R. 3200 - America's Affordable Health Choices Act
Keyhole Image S.560 - Employee Free Choice Act
Keyhole Image H.R.3288 - Department of Transportation Appropriations
Keyhole Image H.R.3126 - Consumer Financial Protection
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Greetings!
 
Please enjoy today's issue of the Congressional Climate newsletter, brought to you by Keys to the Capitol!
Today's Hill Action: 
 
THE SENATE:
The Senate convenes at 9:30 a.m. ET, with morning business until 11 a.m. The Senate will resume consideration of H.R.3288, Transportation and HUD appropriations.
 
SENATE COMMITTEES:
Senate Foreign Relations (2:30 p.m.): Hearings to examine exploring three strategies for Afghanistan. SD-419.
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation (2:30 p.m.): Subcommittee on Science and Space - Hearings to examine options from the review of the United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee. SR-253.

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (2 p.m.): Hearings to examine the nomination of Richard Serino, of Massachusetts, to be Deputy Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security. SD-342.

Senate Judiciary (10 a.m.): An oversight hearing to examine the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). SD-226.

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (10 a.m.): Hearings to examine the nomination of Daniel I. Werfel, of Virginia, to be Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget. SD-342.

Senate Appropriations (10 a.m.): Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government - Hearings to examine the use, impact, and accomplishments of Federal appropriations provided to improve the education of children in the District of Columbia. SD-192.
THE HOUSE:
The House meets at 10 a.m., with votes lasting until approximately 5 p.m. The House will begin consideration of H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009.

HOUSE COMMITTEES: 
House Transportation and Infrastructure (10 a.m.): Aviation Subc. On the Hudson River airspace and management of uncontrolled airspace corridors. 2167 RHOB.
House Oversight and Government Reform (2 p.m.): Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia Subc. On reviewing the benefits of deployed federal employees. 2154 RHOB.

House Oversight and Government Reform (10 a.m.): Domestic Policy Subc. on the impact of private health insurance companies on patients' medical care. 2154 RHOB.

House Natural Resources (10 a.m.): On H.R. 3534 - The Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act. Ken Salazar, Secretary, Department of the Interior. 1324 LHOB.

House Financial Services (10 a.m.): On proposals to enhance the Community Reinvestment Act, which fosters programs to encourage banks to make loans in low-and moderate-income neighborhoods. MC's and public witnesses. 2128 RHOB.

House Small Business (10 a.m.): Rural Development, Entrepreneurship, and Trade Subc. On the economic impact of auto dealers closings on rural communities. 2360 RHOB.

House Small Business (10 a.m.): Rural Development, Entrepreneurship, and Trade Subc. On the economic impact of auto dealers closings on rural communities. 2360 RHOB.

Chairman Baucus Releases Health Care Reform Bill:

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) Wednesday afternoon introduced his long-awaited $856 billion health care reform bill, saying it would accomplish President Barack Obama's goals of improving quality and access while lowering premium costs over the long term.

Baucus, standing alone at the lectern, said his bill is the only legislation unveiled so far that not only addresses Americans' concerns with the nation's $2.3 trillion health care system but also can pass the Senate, if not the full Congress. The proposal has already run into strong resistance from Republicans and liberal Democrats. Baucus plans to begin marking up the measure in Finance next week.

"The chairman's mark I'm releasing today delivers on these critical reforms. It meets the criteria laid out by President Obama," Baucus told reporters in a packed Finance Committee hearing room in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. "It reflects an effort to reach common ground. ... It's a balanced, common-sense bill that can pass the Senate."

Baucus worked for months with a bipartisan group of six Finance negotiators hoping to reach a deal on bill. Although the gang of six pledged to continue talking into next week's legislative markup, it was clear on Wednesday that Baucus was not going to receive the bipartisan support he had sought.

The gang of six includes Baucus, Finance ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Democratic Sens. Jeff Bingaman (N.M.) and Kent Conrad (N.D.), and GOP Sens. Mike Enzi (Wyo.) and Olympia Snowe (Maine). None of these Senators joined Baucus as he formally unveiled the bill on Wednesday.

However, Bingaman said he has informed the Finance chairman that he would be willing to vote the bill out of committee in its current form. Still, Bingaman, who is also a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said he prefers the public insurance option in that panel's bill as opposed to the nonprofit health cooperatives proposed in Baucus' legislation.

Bingaman said he would like to see the public insurance option replace the co-op proposal when the Finance and HELP bills are merged. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to wed the competing measures and bring one bill to the floor later this month.

"This is a big, complicated piece of legislation, and we knew that going in," Bingaman said. "I think Sen. Baucus deserves great credit for producing a bill that is very credible in accomplishing the main objectives that the president has set out."

Baucus' package would use industry fees, taxes on premium health care plans and mandates on businesses and individuals to keep the bill deficit-neutral. Baucus also argued his bill would drive down overall health care costs and consumer premiums.

The legislation would expand access to Medicaid as a means to extend health care to the uninsured poor, require individuals to purchase health insurance and require that most businesses provide coverage to employees. Baucus said the bill would strengthen Medicare and lower prescription drug costs for seniors, as well as implement popular insurance reforms for all Americans, including a proposal to outlaw private insurers from refusing coverage based on pre-existing medical conditions.

KTC 
Until tomorrow,
 

Keys To The Capitol