SPECIAL REPORT | November 16, 2007

Democratic Accomplishments in the 110th Congress: A New Direction for America

Nearly a year into the two-year term of the 110^th Congress, Senate Democrats have made significant strides in advancing the priorities of the American people. After nearly a decade of Republican control, we have worked to restore fiscal responsibility in Washington and pass key legislation on countering terrorism, homeland security,troop readiness, veterans’ care,energy independence, competes, ethics reform, labor and wages, small businesses, health care, education, stem cell research, economic security, housing, transportation, water infrastructure, and Gulf Coast revitalization. 

As we move through this year and next, Senate Democrats will remain committed to working in a bipartisan manner, maneuvering around obstructionist tactics, and overcoming veto threats in an effort to pursue the domestic andinternational priorities that matter most to the American people. Together, we will take the country in a new direction.

Restoring Fiscal Responsibility and Investing in America’s Priorities 

With Democrats at the helm, Congress passed a budget that restores fiscal discipline and puts middle-class families first, without raising new taxes. In 2001, the country enjoyed a $5.6 trillion ten-year projected surplus. Under the Bush Administration, that surplus was squandered, and the national debt ballooned from $5.8 trillion in 2001 to a projected $9 trillion by the end of 2007, all the while key domestic programs were left un-funded or under-funded and, as a result, average Americans suffered. In May, Democrats began the process of reversing six years of fiscal mismanagement and irresponsible budget cuts by passing S. Con. Res. 21,the Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2008 (2008 Budget Resolution). 

The Democratic-led Congress passed a budget that will lead to balance and a surplus. Measures in the 2008 Budget Resolution provide for cutting middle-class taxes, and funding domestic andforeign priorities, including education, children’s health care, veterans’ care, troops readiness, energy independence, and environmental protection. Under the resolution,the federal budget would be balanced within five years and, by 2012, there would be a surplus of more than $40 billion, all without raising a penny of new taxes. 

The2008 Budget Resolution also re-established the pay-as-you-go rule in the Senate, which requires that any new mandatory spending or tax cuts be offset or get 60 votes. This rule helped restore fiscal discipline before, in the 1990s, and its reinstatement represents a major step toward fiscal responsibility now. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, Democrats Pass Budget That Restores Fiscal Discipline, Invests in Middle-Class Priorities, for more information on the 2008 Budget Resolution.

Congressional Democrats began the 110^th Congress by completing the fiscal work of the Republican Do-Nothing Congress. After running up trillions of dollars in new debt, last year’s Republican-led Congress left town without trying to pass a budget resolution and after completing only two of 11 annual appropriations bills. As a result, three months into the fiscal year that began in October 2006, 13 of 15 federal agencies were left to operate under a series of short-term continuing resolutions. Within six weeks of convening the 110^th Congress, before beginning the 2008 budget and appropriations process, Democrats passed H. J. Res. 20, the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007 (2007 Continuing Resolution), which provided funding for the nine remaining appropriations bills that were not completed by Republicans in the 109^th Congress. 

-Additional funding for health and education programs. Democrats stayed within budget limits, eliminated earmarks, and increased funding for programs, including Pell grants, elementary and secondary education, the National Institutes of Health, and global AIDS prevention and treatment. 

-Additional funding for veterans health care. The resolution also provided a total of $32 billion for VA medical care, which was an increase of $3.5 billion over Fiscal Year 2006 levels, and the funding level approved by the Republican-passed Continuing Resolution during the last Congress. These funds were vital for improving mental health services, enhancing inpatient and outpatient care for veterans, and also allowing the VA to better address its backlog of pending benefits claims. 

-Additional funding for law enforcement.Democrats further provided $2.6 billion for state and local law enforcement assistance programs. Included in the funding was $519 million for the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne/JAG) program, which is an increase of $108.7 million over Fiscal Year 2006 levels, and $541.7 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services Program (COPS), which is an increase of $67.9 million from Fiscal Year 2006 levels. 

-Additional funding for energy and environmental programs.Democrats increased funding for basic science research at the Department of Energy by $200 million and for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs by $300 million. Efficiency and conservation are the cheapest and fastest ways to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Senate Democrats passed an emergency spending bill to meet critical Fiscal Year 2007 national security funding needs.H.R. 2206, the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (2007 Emergency Supplemental) included $120 billion in emergency funds, primarily for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, critical health care improvements for returning troops and veterans, Gulf Coast recovery efforts, and for addressing major shortfalls in homeland security funding needs and providing emergency drought relief to farmers. Specifically, the bill provided: 

-A $1 billion funding increase for National Guard equipment needs;

-An additional $1.1 billion for military housing requirements;

-$3 billion, or $1.2 billion above the President’s requested amount, for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles;

-$4.8 billion to fund health care improvements for troops and veterans;

-$6.4 billion for continued recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast, including $25 million for the small business economic injury disaster loan program;

-$3 billion to help farmers and ranchers recover from severe drought and agricultural disasters; and

-More than $1 billion in homeland security investments, including funds for port and mass transit security, and the installation of explosives detection equipment at airports. 

The legislation also included measures to increase the minimum wage, provide tax incentives for small businesses and promote small business entrepreneurship amongst women. 

Democrats passed a historic funding bill, to invest in the resources needed to care for our veterans and fund critical military construction needs.The Military Construction and Veterans AffairsConference Report, 2008 provides a total of $64.7 billion in discretionary funding for military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which is $4 billion above the President’s budget request, and $18 billion above the Fiscal Year 2007 funding level, excluding emergency supplemental funding. It would provide the largest increase in veterans’spending in the history of the United States. Veterans affairs programs would receive $43.1 billion, which is $3.7 billion above the requested amount. 

-Veterans’ health care. The conference includes $37.2 billion for veterans’health care and medical research, which is $2.6 billion over the President’s request for veterans’ medical care, VA hospitals and clinics, and medical research. This total would exceed the funding suggested in the Independent Budget, a comprehensive budget and policy document created by Veterans Service Organizations. This significant investment would reverse the Bush Administration’s record of shortchanging the needs of our veterans, and ensure that the VA has the resources it needs to provide for the growing needs of our servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. 

-Claims processors.The conference includes $124.2 million to provide up to 1,800 new claims processors to address the 400,000 benefits claims backlog at the Veterans Health Administration. 

-National Guard and Reserve. $1.1 billion, which is $367 million above the President’s budget request, to fund the infrastructure needs of the National Guard and Reserves. This funding is critical to improving the readiness of the Guard and Reserve forces stretched thin by repeated and extended deployments. 

-Military construction needs.The conference report includes $21.5 billion for military construction, which is $306 million above the President’s request to support the construction and maintenance requirements, including critical renovations and repairs to military facilities and military family housing. This includes $129 million to construct 16 new child development centers. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, The Priorities of Senate Democrats Are Aligned with the Priorities of the American People,for more information on the 2008 appropriations bills.

Under Democratic leadership, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization bill. On October 1, Senate Democrats led the effort to pass H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (2008 Defense Authorization), by a vote of 92-3. The Senate-passed bill would authorize $672.4 billion for Fiscal Year 2008 defense-related spending, including $129.8 billion in emergency supplemental funding to support military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill would advance Democratic priorities for troops and veterans by: 

-Providing our servicemembers with the resources, equipment, cutting-edge technology, and training they need for missions at home and around the world;

-Ensuring our troops and returning veterans are provided the fair compensation, benefits, and first-rate health care; and

-Investing in programs that promote small business entrepreneurship amongst veterans and reservists. 

Additionally, the bill includes provisions to advance Democratic priorities on national security by: 

-Promoting the transition of our military to meet 21^st Century threats;

-Strengthening nonproliferation and cooperate threat reduction programs;

-Eliminating terrorist save havens in Pakistan and strengthening initiatives to combat al Qaeda and bring Osama bin Laden to justice;

-Ensuring a fair process for detainees held at Guantanamo Bay;

-Improving the efficiency of Defense Department programs; and

-Strengthening oversight and accountability of war time contractors. 

The bill would also expand protections and defend against hate crimes in the Untied States. 

Democrats passed legislation to strengthen our military and ensure adequate funding for the Department of Defense.On October 3, the Democratic-led Senate approved H.R. 3222, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2008. The bill provides $459.3 billion in funding to the Department of Defense, which represents an increase of 9.5 percent over Fiscal Year 2007 levels. These funds will help restore the readiness of our overstretched forces and fully support the needs of our servicemen and women by investing in equipment, training, and cutting-edge weaponry, and also providing our military personnel and their families with the care and benefits they have earned and deserve. The bill was signed into law by the President on November 13, 2007 (P.L. 110-116). Specifically, the legislation will provide: 

-Military health care.The bill provides $23.5 billion for military health care, which is $918 million above the President’s requested amount. 

-Military pay raise.The bill funds a 3.5 percent raise for all military personnel, which is 0.5 percent above the President’s request. 

-National Guard and Reserve equipment.The bill includes $980 billion above the President’s requested amount to address critical equipment shortfalls. 

-Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.The bill includes $11.6 billion for MRAP funding, to better-protect our troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan from deadly roadside bombs; 

-Family support initiatives.The bill provides $2.6 billion for family support and advocacy programs, which is $237 million above the President’s request; and 

-Readiness programs.The bill includes $140.1 billion for key readiness programs that prepare forces for combat operations as well as critical peace-time missions. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, The Priorities of Senate Democrats Are Aligned with the Priorities of the American People,for more information on the 2008 appropriations bills.

Democrats provided critical funding for the Department of Homeland Security, to better secure American borders, ports, and transit systems.The 110th Congress, under Democratic leadership, passed H.R. 2638, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2008. The bill invests $37.6 billion for homeland security programs, an increase of $2.2 billion over the President’s budget request and $2.8 billion more than the amount appropriated for Fiscal Year 2007, excluding emergency supplemental appropriations. The Senate bill would provide more than an eight percent increase over Fiscal Year 2007 funding for the Department of Homeland Security, rather than the Administration’s proposed 1.7 percent increase. 

-First responders.The bill includes an additional $1.93 billion over the President’s requested amount, in order to reverse the Bush Administration’s proposed cuts for critical state and local first responder grants and training programs. 

-Aviation security.The Senate-passed bill includes an additional $89.4 million to purchase and install explosives detection equipment at airports, for a total of $529.4 million. The President’s budget proposed cutting funding for this program by 17 percent. 

-Port security.The bill provides more than $300 million in additional funding for port security programs above the requested amount, including an increase of $15 million over the President’s budget request to double the frequency of spot checks at U.S. ports and $190 million in additional funding for port security grants, to fully fund security improvements as authorized by the SAFE Port Act of 2006. 

-Border security.The bill provides an additional $3 billion in emergency spending for border security, not requested by the President, to fill in gaps in border security and immigration enforcement programs. These funds will allow for the hiring of 23,000 new Border Patrol agents, emergency funding to complete 700 miles of border fencing, and resources for immigration enforcement efforts. 

-Chemical security.The bill provides $15 million more than the President’s budget request to address vulnerabilities in security at chemical facilities across the country. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, Democrats' New Direction for Homeland Security Will Make America More Secure, and the DPC Legislative Bulletin for S. 1644, the Fiscal Year 2008 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Billfor background information on this issue.

The Senate passed funding legislation for the State Department and foreign aid programs.The Fiscal Year 2008 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill provides a total of $34.4 billion in funding for the State Department operations and foreign aid programs, as well as U.S. contributions to the United Nations, World Bank and other international organizations. This amount is nearly $2.725 billion more than Fiscal Year 2007 funding level, but $700.7 million less than the President’s budget request. The bill includes increased funding for key Democratic priorities, including: 

-HIV/AIDS funding.The bill provides $5.1 billion, which is $940 million above the amount requested by the President, for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care programs around the world. 

-Peacekeeping.The legislation includes $1.35 billion, $245 million above the President’s budget request, to support global peacekeeping operations. 

-Development assistance.The bill provides $1.455 billion for development assistance initiatives, which is $413.75 million above the President’s request. 

-Educational and cultural exchange.The bill provides $509.5 million, $23 million above the President’s budget request, for global educational and cultural exchange programs. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, The Priorities of Senate Democrats Are Aligned with the Priorities of the American People,for more information on the 2008 appropriations bills.

Senate Democrats passed an appropriations bill to invest in the health, education, economic security of the American people. On November 7, the Senate approved the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Conference Report, 2008 (the “Labor-HHS-Education”). This legislation would provide $150.7 billion in discretionary funding, which is $9.8 billion above the President’s budget request, to fund cancer, heart disease, and diabetes research; educate our children; provide access to health care for rural America; and heat the homes of low-income elderly Americans. 

Health. The Labor-HHS-Education Conference Report would provide $68.5 billion, $5.3 billion more than the President’s budget request, for the Department of Health and Human Services. 

-Medical cures.The Conference Report would provide more than $30 billion to fund biomedical research at the 27 institutes and centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”), an increase of $1.1 billion over the Fiscal Year 2007 funding level and almost $1.4 billion above the President’s budget request. This additional funding would enhance the NIH’s ability to provide leadership and financial support to biomedical researchers, resulting in medical discoveries that improve the health and save lives of Americans. This is the first time in five years that NIH funding has kept pace with biomedical inflation. 

-Access to health care.The Community Health Centers program includes community health centers, migrant health centers, and health care centers for the homeless. These organizations provide primary health care and social services for those without other access to care. The Labor-HHS-Education Conference Report would provide $2.22 billion for the Community Health Centers program. This is $225 million above the Administration's Fiscal Year 2008 budget request and the Fiscal Year 2007 level. 

-Head Start.Head Start, a successful federal-to-local grant program established in 1965, provides early childhood education and services, including health, nutrition, and social and behavioral development for low-income pre-school children and their families. Due to inadequate funding, Head Start currently serves only about half of all eligible pre-school children and fewer than five percent of eligible infants and toddlers. TheConference Report would provide $7.04 billion for Fiscal Year 2008 for Head Start, $153.6 million more than last year, and $253.6 million more than the Administration’s budget request. This increased funding would help provide America’s neediest children with cognitive, social-emotional, and academic skills to help prepare them for success in school. 

-Students with disabilities.The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides assistance to ensure that all children with disabilities have access to a free, appropriate public education. The Labor-HHS-Education Conference Report would provide $11.29 billion for IDEA Part B state grants, an increase of $509 million over the Fiscal Year 2007 funding level. These additional funds would reverse the declining share of federal resources for educating students with disabilities. The Bush Administration proposed slashing $291 million from special education. 

-Economic development and poverty. The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program helps states meet the needs of low-income individuals with services such as adult education, housing assistance, nutrition programs, emergency services, employment aid and health services. CSBG services and activities are provided to over 95 percent of all U.S. counties. The Social Services Block Grant program (SSBG) helps each state meet the needs of its most disadvantaged residents, including child care, protective services, help for the disabled, adoption, counseling, transportation, foster care, substance abuse, meals for seniors, and other critical services for low-income families. While the President’s budget calls for a 50 percent cut in funding poverty programs, the Conference Report would strengthen aid to poor children and families by providing $2.4 billion for these programs, $1.17 billion above the President’s request. 

-Energy costs. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assists low-income households in meeting the costs of home energy. The Labor-HHS-Education Conference Report would provide $2.4 billion in state grants for heating and cooling assistance for low-income individuals and families, $250 million over last year’s funding. Despite record-high energy prices, the President’s budget request called for a $379 million cut to LIHEAP. 

Education. The Labor-HHS-Education Conference Report would provide $60.7 billion, $4.5 billion more than the President’s budget request, for the Department of Education.

-College affordability. Pell grants provide need-based financial assistance that helps low- and middle-income undergraduate students and their families pay the costs of post-secondary education and vocational training. The Pell Grant program serves more than 5.5 million low- and middle-income students and their families. The Conference Reportwould provide discretionary funding to raise the maximum Pell Grant award which is currently $4,435. Combined with new mandatory funding in the recently-enacted College Cost Reduction Act, the maximum Pell Grant would increase to $4,925, an increase of $615 over last year. The Administration’s budget request would support a maximum Pell Grant of just $4,540, falling short of the amount needed to offset the increasing cost of tuition. 

-School investments.The federal government has fallen short of its commitment to provide the resources promised for the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), bipartisan K-12 education reform legislation signed into law in early 2002. Each year since NCLB’s enactment, the gap between the authorized and appropriated levels has grown wider, for a cumulative total of almost $55 billion dollars since 2002. The Labor-HHS-EducationConference Report would reverse this trend by providing $1.6 billion in additional funding for NCLB programs, enough to provide Title I academic support services to 430,000 additional disadvantaged children. This year, the Bush budget called for $1 billion in additional funding for NCLB, while eliminating all funding for school technology, school counselors, and arts in education. 

Labor.The Labor-HHS-Education Conference Report would provide $12 billion, $1 billion more than the President’s budget request, for the Department of Labor. 

-Middle class expansion.The Conference Reportwould support efforts to provide quality job training and education programs and job placement services for veterans, civilian adults, and at-risk youth. The bill would allocate more than $5 billion for these programs, including JobCorp and the Transition Assistance Program (a program for veterans), which is approximately $850 million more than the President’s budget request. 

-Workplace safety.TheLabor-HHS-EducationConference Report would strengthen the ability of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to hold employers and mine operators accountable for the health and safety their employees. The Conference Report would provide approximately $840 million for OSHA and MSHA, which is nearly $40 million more than the President’s budget request. In the wake of recent mining disasters and continuing concerns about workplace safety, this funding is vital to the health and safety of American workers.

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, The Priorities of Senate Democrats Are Aligned with the Priorities of the American People,for more information on the 2008 appropriations bills.

Senate Democrats passed an appropriations bill to provide critical investments in transportation, housing, and community development projects across the nation. Few issues resonate with Americans like housing and transportation issues: we all need a safe place to call home and travel is essential to our daily lives. On September 12, 2007, the Senate took steps to meet our nation’s transportation and housing needs by passingH.R. 3074, the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2008 (THUD) on an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 88 to 7. If President Bush does not stand in the way, THUD will make key investments in the nation’s highway and bridge systems; securing pipelines and railways; housing services for those in need, the elderly, and veterans; and neighborhood revitalization and community development. The bill will allocate a total of $105.6 billion for appropriate agencies, which is $5.3 billion above the Bush Administration's Fiscal Year 2008 budget request. 

Transportation. THUD would invest $66.71 billion, $2.23 billion more than the President’s budget request, to address the nation’s transportation needs. 

-Bridges. The legislation would allocate more than $41 billion to maintain, repair, and replace America’s roads and bridges, including one billion to specifically address our nation’s aging bridges. 

-Traffic. The bill would invest $9.65 billion in projects to improve public transportation -- relieving traffic congestion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions -- across the country. 

-Highway safety. THUD would provide $826 million to reduce highway fatalities and injury by establishing stricter vehicle safety standards, investing in highway safety grants, and supporting drunk driving prevention programs. 

-Air travel. The measure would appropriate nearly $15 billion to improve air travel by modernizing air traffic control, repairing and expanding runways, increasing the numbers of air safety staff. This appropriation would include $110 million, nearly $60 million more than the President’s request, to continue essential air service to small and rural communities. 

-Train. The bill would invest $1.45 billion for improvements to Amtrak service and railway infrastructure. 

-Pipelines. The bill would also allocate nearly $80 million for investments in pipeline safety. 

Housing.THUD would invest $38.66 billion, $3.1 billion more than the President’s budget request, to address the nation’s housing and urban development needs. 

-Foreclosure mitigation. The bill would help American families weather the current subprime mortgage storm by investing $200 million in foreclosure mitigation and avoidance services. 

-Housing for veterans and Americans in need. The legislation would create a new housing voucher program for our nation’s veterans, providing safe, affordable, permanent housing for approximately 7,500 homeless veterans. The measure would also create voucher programs for disabled Americans and families at risk of being separated due to lack of housing. 

-Rental assistance. THUD would provide $16.4 billion for the Section 8 tenant based voucher program, which would assist nearly 2 million low-income American families and individuals with rental housing costs. 

-Housing projects.The legislation would also invest $6.4 billion in the Section 8 project based voucher program, which would provide housing for 1.3 million families and individuals, most of whom are elderly and disabled. 

-Housing infrastructure for elderly and disabled Americans. The measure would invest in the acquisition, rehabilitation or construction of housing for elderly and disabled Americans by providing $735 million for the Housing for the Elderly program and $237 million for the Housing for the Disabled program. 

-Community development. Thebill would provide nearly $4 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program and $100 million for the Hope VI program, both of which invest in housing infrastructure projects in states and localities to provide affordable housing for low- and moderate-income Americans. 

-Lead poisoning prevention. The measure would protect the health of our nation’s children by providing $145 million for grants to conduct lead-based paint hazard reduction and abatement activities in private, low-income housing. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, The Priorities of Senate Democrats Are Aligned with the Priorities of the American People,for more information on the 2008 appropriations bills.

Senate Democrats passed an appropriations bill to secure the American economy and safeguard our streets. On October 16, 2007, the Senate passed H.R. 3093, the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2008(CJS or 2008 CJS Appropriations Bill). The bill is currently in conference, but the Senate-passed measure would invest over $54 billion, $3.2 billion more than the President’s request, in the agencies and programs that promote American competitiveness, protect out nation from terrorism and violent crime, and promote scientific advancements. 

Justice. H.R. 3093, as passed by the Senate,would provide more over $24 billion for the Department of Justice, which is approximately $2 billion more than the President’s request. 

-Counterterrorism. The legislation would improve America’s counterterrorism efforts by providing $6 billion for the FBI, which has the mission of dismantling dirty bombs and terror cells on U.S. soil. This allocation includes approximately $47 million to help the FBI focus its core investigative work on threats against U.S. interests, develop enterprise-wide intelligence policies and capabilities, and provide useful and timely information and analysts to the national security, homeland security, and law enforcement communities. The bill would also provide nearly $80 million for the National Security Division, which coordinates the DOJ’s national security and terrorism missions through law enforcement investigations and prosecutions. 

-Violent Crime. The bill would invest in traditional crime fighting programs in an effort to counter the recent increase in violent crime nation-wide. President Bush and Congressional Republicans have cut these programs by more than 30 percent since 2001. The legislation would begin to restore these cuts by investing more than $30 million in the FBI account for 100 new agents to combat violent crime and additional joint task forces to target violent crimes and gang violence. Thebill would also increase much-needed funding for federal, state, and local law enforcement grant programs, like COPS ($660, including $110 million for officer hiring), Byrne/JAG ($660 million), State Criminal Alien Assistance Program ($400 million), and Byrne Discretionary Grants ($190 million). Each of these programs is used by law enforcement agencies to prevent, investigate, and prosecute violent and non-violent crime across the nation, thereby ensuring the safety of our families. 

-Drugs. H.R. 3093would also fund efforts to combat illegal drug sales and abuse by providing more than $2 billion for the Drug Enforcement Administration, which, in addition to other functions, assists state and local law enforcement in combating drug abuse, including methamphetamine usage, which has contributed to the rise in violent crime across the nation. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, Senate Democrats Are Committed to Combating Methamphetamine Abuse Across the Nation,for more information on this issue.

-Violence against women. The bill would allocate $400 million for the Office on Violence Against Women, which coordinates legislative and other initiatives amongst state, local, tribal, prosecutorial, advocacy, health care, and community agencies/organizations in an effort to prevent, detect, and stop violence against women, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking. 

-Internet-crime. The legislation would also provide more than $9 million, far more than the President’s request, to investigate Internet-related crimes against children. 

Commerce.H.R. 3093, as passed by the Senate,would provide approximately $7.35 billion for the Department of Commerce, which is $754.2 million above the President’s Fiscal Year 2008 budget request. 

-Climate change. The bill funds nearly 85 percent of federal climate change research. This year’s bill would provide more than $4 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency that promotes safe and efficient marine and air navigation; assesses the health of coastal and marine resources; and monitors and predicts coastal, ocean, and global environments (including weather forecasting); and protects and manages the nation’s coastal resources. The bill would aid in evaluating and improving weather satellites.

-Technology. H.R. 3093 would provide more than $860 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which assists industry in developing technology to improve product quality, modernize manufacturing processes, ensure product reliability, and facilitate rapid commercialization of products based on new scientific discoveries. 

-Trade. The legislation would further provide more than $400 million for the International Trade Administration to, amongst other functions, better enforce U.S. trade remedy laws, which is vital in our efforts to safeguard U.S. industries and jobs against injurious, unfair foreign trade practices. 

-Economic development. The bill would also provide more than $280 million for the Economic Development Administration, whichprovides grants for economic development projects in economically-distressed communities and regions, such as the Gulf Coast states impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The bill also restores budget cuts sought by the Bush Administration to the Economic Development Assistance Programs, which have attracted billions of dollars in private sector investment for distressed communities and, in so doing, created or retained approximately 100,000 jobs. 

Science. H.R. 3093would provide approximately $6.55 billion for the National Science Foundation, which promotes science and engineering education from pre-kindergarten through career development in an effort to ensure the United States has an internationally competitive and globally engaged workforce well into the future. The bill would also appropriate approximately $18 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to, more broadly, strengthen the agency’s ability to continue being a leader in aviation and space exploration and, specifically, expand the International Space Station and the groundbreaking scientific research that takes place on the station. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, The Priorities of Senate Democrats Are Aligned with the Priorities of the American People,for more information on the 2008 appropriations bills.

Combating Terrorism and Strengthening Homeland Security 

Democrats led the way toward implementing key 9/11 Commission recommendations.Congressional Democrats’ first priority is to protect our nation from further terrorist attack. After years of inadequate action on critical homeland security needs, the 110th Congress passed H.R. 1, the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The bill was signed into law by the President in early August (P.L. 110-53). This law will make America more secure by giving our first responders the tools they need to keep us safe, making it more difficult for potential terrorists to travel into our country; advancing efforts to secure our rail, air, and mass transit systems; and improving intelligence and information sharing between state, local, and federal law enforcement. The new law will also enhance the existing Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board to ensure government adherence to civil liberties guidelines. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, The Bush Administration Has Not Made America More Secure From Terrorism,for more information on this issue.

Senate Democrats are committed to giving the intelligence community the tools it needs to protect our nation from terrorist attack.On October 3, the Senate passed H.R. 2082, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, to authorize appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States government, including the nation’s 16 intelligence agencies and the director of National Intelligence. The bill includes provisions that will ensure greater flexibility and authority to the Director of National Intelligence; require greater accountability from the Intelligence Community and its managers; improve the mechanisms for conducting oversight of intelligence programs; and reform acquisition procedures. The bill also includes a classified annex including detailed budget recommendations. While the Republican-led Senate failed to pass the Intelligence Authorization bill for the past two years, Democrats have made this critical national security bill a top priority. 

Democrats approved important reforms that will strengthen the nation’s economy and security. In July, the Democratic-led Congress presented H.R. 556, the Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2007 to the President for his signature, which he signed into law on July 26 (P.L. 110-49). The measure implements important reforms to ensure that there is a comprehensive and transparent process for assessing the national security implications of foreign investments in the United States. The new law strengthens the role of the Director of National Intelligence, makes the process more accountable to Congress and the public, and provides for a review and investigation, if warranted, of transactions covered by the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States to determine its effects on national security. P.L. 110-49 represents long-overdue, balanced reform that will strengthen our nation’s security and provide a more predictable process that enhances our security and encourages job-creating foreign investment in the United States. 

The Senate unanimously approved a Democratic initiative to enhance compliance with U.S. sanctions law. On June 26, the Senate unanimously approved S. 1612, the International Emergency Economic Powers Enhancement Act, whichwould increase penalties on violators of U.S. sanctions law. The bill was passed by the House on October 2 and was signed into law on October 16, 2007 (P.L. 110-96). Under the bill, individuals who have invested in a country or terrorist organization designated by the President as a major threat to the United States – such as Iran or Sudan – would be subject to significant fines.

Senate Democrats extended a program to help American businesses and workers recover from terrorist attacks. In November,the Democratic-led Senate approved S. 2285, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007.” This legislation extends for seven years a program that was originally passed by Congress and signed into law after the terrorist attacks of September 11th to provide a federal backstop against catastrophic losses in the property and casualty insurance marketplace associated with massive terrorism damages. Without this extension, the program was scheduled to expire at the end of 2007. Large and small businesses, labor unions, manufacturers, builders, lenders, universities, hospitals, as well as insurers, have all voiced their support for help from the federal government to stabilize the market and ensure the availability of affordable insurance against terrorist attacks.

The Senate passed legislation to assist 9/11 families in resolving legal claims from that tragic day. In the wake of 9/11, survivors and the families of those who did not survive had many tough choices to make, including legal ones, in addition to dealing with their grief. One of those decisions was whether to participate in the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund. Many chose to opt out of the fund and bring civil suits instead, and Congress required that victims and families bring those suits in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, however, this meant that they could only subpoena testimony and documents within 100 miles of that court. The unintended result was that many parties were legally barred from securing much-needed documents and testimony for their cases. In October, the Senate voted unanimously to fix this problem by passing S. 2106, the Procedural Fairness for September 11^th Victims Act, which will give nation wide subpoena power to all parties -- victims, families, and defendants -- when litigating 9/11 claims. 

Fighting Crime Across the Nation

Senate Democrats are working to restore federal funding to state and local law enforcement programs. For years local law enforcement officers across the country have warned that funding cuts to state and local law enforcement programs at a time when law enforcement agencies are already stretched-thin by increasing homeland security responsibilities and national guard deployments would lead to fewer cops on the street, fewer resources for traditional crime fighting, and, eventually, an increase in violent crime. President Bush and Congressional Republicans, however, ignored their warning in favor of drastic funding cuts to critical law enforcement programs, including the COPS program and the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. In 2005, the country reaped the consequences of that failed fiscal policy when the nation’s violent crime rate increased significantly for the first time in nearly 15 years and then increased again in 2006. 

Democrats are committed to reversing the nation’s violent crime trend by funding the law enforcement programs that keep our nation safe from crime both foreign and domestic. In addition to funding included in the 2007 Continuing Resolution and the 2008 CJS Appropriations Bill, the Senate passed S. 231, a bill to authorize the appropriations for the Byrne/JAG program through Fiscal Year 2012, in June. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, Bush Republicans Cut Law Enforcement Funding, Violent Crime Increases For Second Consecutive Year,for more information on this issue.

The Senate passed a bill to combat gang violence across the country. On September 21, the Senate passed S. 456, the Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2007. This bipartisan, comprehensive legislation would provide more than $1 billion in funding for gang prevention, intervention, and suppression programs, as well as create tough federal penalties to deter and punish members of illegal street gangs. Included in this allocation is $411.5 million in funding over five years for newly designated “High Intensity” Gang Activity Areas, gang protection block grants, and mentoring and after-school programs, all of which will focus on prevention and intervention efforts. The bill would also authorize $100 million over five years to expand crime control grants to state and local governments to better enable them to investigate and prosecute more cases against gangs and violent criminals, and allocate $100 for the expansion of the Project Safe Neighborhood, which will focus on preventing violence and gun crimes by gang members. The bill would further authorize $270 million over three years for witness protection efforts and increases penalties for interfering with witnesses. The bill would also establish new federal crimes, including making it illegal to recruit members for a criminal street gang. 

Senate Democrats are working to strengthen the ability of federal, state, and local governments to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. According to the FBI, in 2005 alone, there were 8,804 victims of hate crimes in the United States. Of these, 55.7 percent were targeted on the basis of race; 16 percent were targeted on the basis of religious belief; 14 percent were targeted on the basis of ethnicity or national origin; 13.8 percent were targeted on the basis of particular sexual orientation; and 0.6 percent were targeted on basis of disability. Senate Democrats are committed to ensuring that hate crimes are prosecuted. 

In October, Senate Democrats passed the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007,as an amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization, to address this serious national problem. The legislation would provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial and other assistance to state and local law enforcement officials; would authorize the Justice Department to issue grants of up to $100,000 to state, local, and Indian law enforcement officials who have incurred extraordinary expenses associated with investigating and prosecuting hate crimes; and would give the Justice Department jurisdiction over crimes of violence committed because of a person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or gender identity.

In addition to its 30 bipartisan cosponsors, the bill is supported by more than 200 religious, civil rights, disabilities, and other organizations. These organizations include the, International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriffs Association, the National District Attorneys Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.

Democrat-led Senate passed legislation to fight identity theft and cyber crime. As the number of Americans using the Internet to conduct business transactions increases so do the incidents of internet crime. In 2006, more than 200,000 Internet fraud crimes alone were reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. These crimes wreak havoc on their victims, ruining finances and lives. S. 2168, the Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act of 2007, would assist the victims and aid in the prosecution and punishment of perpetrators of identity theft and cyber crimes, including spyware crimes. The bill would: 

-Allow victims to seek restitution for the loss of time and money spent restoring credit;

-Close loopholes to ensure identity thieves who impersonate businesses to steal sensitive data can be prosecuted under federal identity theft laws;

-Extend federal jurisdiction over intrastate identity theft crimes;

-Establish a misdemeanor charge for unauthorized access to a computer where the damage is less than $5,000;

-Make it a felony to employ spyware or keyloggers to damage ten or more computers, regardless of damage amount;

-Make it a crime to threaten to steal or release information from a computer; and

-Enhance the ability of federal prosecutors to combat cyber crime by adding civil and criminal forfeiture to the list of crimes that can be used to prosecute offenders. 

The Senate, under Democratic leadership, passed legislation to ensure the safety of our courts and judicial officers. Recent violence against judges and their families, including the murders of United States District Judge Joan Lefkow’s mother and husband in Chicago and the murders of Superior Court Judge Rowland W. Barnes, a court reporter, and a deputy in Atlanta, has heightened concerns about judicial security. In an effort to better protect witnesses and the officers and personnel who work in our courts, the Senate passed S. 378,theCourt Security Improvement Act of 2007. The bill would improve court security by enhancing measures that protect judicial personnel, witnesses, and family members of judicial personnel; increasing funding for judicial security at the federal and state levels; and strengthening relevant criminal penalties. The Democratic-lead Congress also passed, and the President signed, H.R. 1130, the Judicial Disclosure Responsibility Act, which amended rules relating to judicial disclosure forms to better shield judges and their family from danger. 

Supporting, Honoring, and Caring for Our Troops and Veterans 

Democrats passed landmark legislation to care for wounded warriors.The neglect and mismanagement discovered at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center has highlighted the Bush Administration’s lack of focus on the well-being of our nation’s veterans and servicemembers. H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007, will reverse the Administration’s record of neglect, by improving military health care facilities, filling in gaps in health insurance coverage, increasing severance pay, and providing a seamless transition from active duty to the Veterans Administration. The bill was passed as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization bill on July 12, 2007. 

The Democratic-led Senate passed a measure to strengthen veterans’ suicide prevention initiatives.According to DoD, suicide rates in the Army are the highest they have been since the Vietnam War. Today, the suicide rate for Iraq war veterans is 35 percent higher than that of the general population. Democrats led the effort to advance a bipartisan initiative to address this growing problem. H.R. 327, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act of 2007, would significantly improve mental health services for returning war veterans. Specifically, the measure would ensure 24-hour access to mental health care for veterans at risk for suicide; provide suicide prevention education for VA staff and medical personnel caring for veterans; create a family education program to address the mental health needs of veterans, and implement a veterans peer support program to program to augment mental health services and suicide prevention efforts. The President signed the bill into law on November 7, 2007. 

The Senate adopted legislation to expand benefits for veterans with service-related vision impairment and enhance VA burial and memorial benefits.Vision impairment is a common battlefield injury, and is becoming a more prevalent concern among Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, as it is often associated with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). On November 2nd, the Senate passed H.R. 797, the Blinded Veterans Paired Organ Act of 2007, which would modify the standard used by the VA when determining blindness and would enhance disability compensation benefits for veterans who suffer impairment of vision in both eyes. The bill also includes several burial and memorial benefits provisions for veterans.

Under Democratic leadership, the Senate provided a cost of living increase to veterans. On October 18, 2007, the Senate passed H.R. 1284, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2007, to provide a 2.3 percent cost of living increase for veterans. The bill was signed into law by the President on November 5, 2007 (P.L. 110-111).

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, Senate Democrats' Commitment: Honoring the Service of Our Nation's Veterans,for more information on veterans’ issues.

Improving the Health of Americans 

Congress, under the leadership of Democrats, is working to ensure health care coverage for children in need. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)has played a crucial role in helping to reduce the rate of uninsured low-income children over the past ten years. By every measure, CHIP is cost-effective, and has been shown to work well in meeting the basic health care needs of our nation’s children. In September, the House and Senate overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan, bi-cameral agreement to invest significant new federal resources into the program and cover millions more low-income uninsured children who are eligible for the CHIP and Medicaid, but whose families cannot afford private insurance. But President Bush vetoed the legislation.

Although the President’s arguments against the legislation to renew CHIP are unfounded, Democrats and Republicans have worked together to produce a revised CHIP reauthorization bill in an effort to address the concerns of the President and those Republicans who opposed the original bill. In October, Congress overwhelmingly approved this updated CHIP legislation, which, as did the original bill, would still help cover nearly ten million low-income American children. 

Despite the overwhelming support for this legislation and the promise it offers to our nation’s children, President Bush has threatened to veto it. This latest veto threat, along with the President’s continually- shifting rationale as to why he’s against CHIP legislation, make it clear that the President has no intention of signing legislation to strengthen CHIP. As a result, millions of children stand to lose access to doctors, life-saving prescription drugs, immunizations, preventive screenings and the basic medical care necessary to start life healthy. But the 69 Senators, 43 governors, hundreds of organizations, and the vast majority of the American people who support the bipartisan CHIP reauthorization agreement will continue to oppose President Bush’s misguided approach, and work to give our nation’s uninsured children the promise of a healthy start in life. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled,President Bush Threatens to Veto Kids’ Health Care…Again, for more information about this issue. 

Senate Democrats led the way toward creating a stronger Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by establishing a new and better direction for the safety of the drugs we take and the food we eat.On September 27, the President signed into law the Food and Drug Amendments Act of 2007, legislation that will reauthorize the successful drug and medical-device user-fee programs; greatly improve the FDA’s oversight of drug safety; and provide important incentives for the development of drugs for children. The legislation provides over $400 million this year for the review of drugs and medical devices at FDA, and over $50 million for needed safety reforms to give the agency the tools it needs to do the job we are counting on it to do. To help patients, providers and researchers learn more and make better health care decisions, the legislation creates a public registry of clinical trials and their results. The bill helps preserve the integrity of scientific review by improving the FDA’s safeguards against conflicts of interest. The bill also addresses misleading prescription drug ads by putting in place parameters for strong safety disclosures for direct-to-consumer ads, coupled with an effective enforcement mechanism. The legislation will further end the abuse of so-called “citizen petitions,” still allowing ordinary citizens to submit petitions to the agency about drugs it is reviewing to protect public health, but precluding those who seek only to delay the entry onto the market of generic drugs from using the process to do so. By creating a registry and a requirement to report problems, the legislation also takes important first steps toward ensuring a safer food supply. 

In this new era for the life sciences, Democrats have no doubt that medical advances will continue to bring immense benefits for our citizens. Thus, we are working to ensure that we have strong, vigilant public health watchdogs to guarantee that new drugs and medical devices are safe and beneficial, and that they actually reach the patients who urgently need them. 

See the background and summary section of the DPC Legislative Bulletin entitled,S. 1082, the Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act, for more information on this legislation.

The Senate unanimously approved mental health parity legislation.Mental illness is a pervasive and often devastating health problem that, fortunately, is often treatable. Yet many Americans do not receive necessary mental health services due to financial constraints, stigma, and other factors. To help reduce these barriers to care, the Democratic-led Senate has approved S. 558, the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007. This bipartisan legislation prohibits a group health plan that offers mental health coverage from imposing financial requirements or treatment limitations on mental health benefits that are more restrictive than the financial requirements or treatment limitations applied to the plan’s medical and surgical benefits. While the legislation does not mandate that group health plans provide mental health coverage, it does not preempt states laws that require mental health benefits.

Senate Democrats passed landmark legislation to ban the use of asbestos.On October 4, 2007, the Senate unanimously passed S. 742, the Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2007. The use of asbestos in a number of materials commonly found throughout homes and businesses like fire insulation, floor tiles, and textured paints. Exposure to asbestos fibers can accumulate in lungs that can cause cancer, mesothelima, and scarring of long tissues. The legislation will: 

-Require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that asbestos products go out of circulation within two years of the bill becoming law; 

-Allow researchers to expand the clearinghouse of information available to scientists; 

-Strengthen the existing asbestos disease registry by enabling it to include information on patients with assorted types of asbestos-related diseases; 

-Expand the treatment and research of asbestos-related diseases by creating a $50 million account to provide for the construction of treatment centers across the country; and 

-Require the Administrator at the EPA to conduct a public education campaign with a wide range of public health groups to educate the public on the dangers of using asbestos-related projects in their homes and places of business. 

The 110^thCongress worked in a bipartisan manner to ensure the availability of breast and cervical cancer screenings for low-income women. In April, the President signed into law P.L.110-18, theNational Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Reauthorization Act of 2007, which reauthorized and increased funding for the program to subsidize mammography exams, pap tests, and other screening exams. The law would also allow some states to spend grant money on outreach programs to underserved women who may not otherwise know about the program. 

Democrats are committed to expanding federally funded embryonic stem cell research.Embryonic stem cells have the unique ability to develop into virtually every cell and tissue in the body, and stem cell research is giving hope to millions of people with debilitating diseases and disabilities who may one day benefit from embryonic stem cell therapies. Scientists report that the restrictions President Bush has imposed on the number of stem cell lines eligible for federally-funded research is hindering progress. Last year, the President vetoed bipartisan legislation that would have expanded the number of embryonic stem cell lines eligible for federally-funded research. 

Undeterred, Congress again passed legislation to expand the number of human embryonic stem cells eligible for federally-funded research. S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, directs the Health and Human Services Secretary to conduct and support embryonic stem cell research, regardless of when the stem cells were derived, provided that: 1) the stem cells were derived from embryos donated from in vitro fertilization clinics, were created for fertility treatment, and are in excess of what was needed for those treatments; 2) the embryos would never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded; and 3) the individuals who donated embryos have provided their written informed consent and have not received any financial or other inducements for making the donation. 

On June 20, President Bush vetoed S. 5, for the second time, blocking legislation to advance research on embryonic stem cells. Both S. 5 and the legislation vetoed by the president in the last Congress were approved by bipartisan majorities in both the House and the Senate, with nearly universal support from Democrats. S. 5 has the support of the overwhelming majority of Americans, as well as major medical and scientific associations, research universities and institutions, and dozens of patient advocacy organizations. More than 100 million Americans suffer from diseases or conditions that could one day be treated with therapies derived from stem cell research. The President’s veto is a devastating setback for them. That is why Democrats will continue to fight to expand the President’s misguided policy. 

See DPC Fact Sheets entitled, President Bush Blocks Legislation to Advance Stem Cell Research...Again and NIH Director Agrees that Federally Funded Scientists Should Have Access to New Embryonic Stem Cell Lines,for more information on this issue.

Senate Democrats also passed a measure to better ensure the safety of our seniors. On August 1, 2007, the Senate unanimously approved S. 845, the Safety of Seniors Act of 2007. This legislation would authorize new programs to help prevent falls among older adults through public education, research and demonstration projects. Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among persons over 65, and this bill will take significant steps towards preventing falls among our nations’ seniors. 

Expanding Educational Opportunities

Landmark legislation to make college more affordable has become law. Higher education is becoming more and more important to achieving the American dream, yet it is also becoming increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible. Democrats recognize that students and their families are struggling to cover the rising cost of college and have made college affordability a top priority. That is why under Democratic leadership, Congress overwhelmingly approved the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, legislation that will increase access to higher education, and direct federal dollars where they are needed most. 

This legislation will increase student aid for low- and middle-income students, providing over $20 billion in new student aid and benefits, the largest increase in student aid since the G.I. bill. The bill will also make student loan debt more manageable, forgive student loan debt for those who commit to public service, and reform the student loan system to work for students, not banks. Moreover, the higher education legislation, approved by the Senate, will provide benefits to students at no cost to taxpayers by reducing excessive lender subsidies and redirecting federal aid to students who need it most. The President signed this legislation into law (P.L. 110-84) on September 27. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, Democrats Send the President Landmark Legislation Calling for the Largest Increase in Student Aid Since the G.I. Bill, for information on this legislation.

Under Democratic Leadership, the Senate has passed legislation to expand the Head Start program. For more than 40 years, Head Start has provided America’s neediest children with cognitive, social-emotional, and academic skills, helping to prepare them for success in school. Studies show that at-risk children who have participated in Head Start programs are better prepared for school than their peers who have not had the benefit of Head Start. However, Head Start currently serves only about half of all eligible preschool children and fewer than five percent of eligible infants and toddlers. 

On November 14, the Senate unanimously approved the conference report to accompany H.R. 1429, the Head Start for School Readiness Act, which would increase funding and expand access for Head Start program to include additional low-income children up to 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill also takes important steps to expand Early Head Start (a component of Head Start that benefits infants and toddlers and their families) to serve and additional 8,000 low-income infants and toddlers over the next five years. To improve and expand the availability of quality early childhood education, the legislation would establish an Early Education and Care Council in each state to develop a coordinated and comprehensive system of early childhood education and development. The President is expected to sign this legislation 

Strengthening the Economy and American Competitiveness 

Democrats sought better pay for working Americans by passing legislation to raise the minimum wage. In May, after a ten year battle, Congress, under Democratic leadership, gave workers a long overdue raise by increasing the federal minimum wage to $7.25/hour. While the Senate passed H.R. 2, theFair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, earlier in the year, the wage was finally increased as part of 2007 Emergency Supplemental. 

The bill, which raises the minimum wage from $5.15/hour to $7.25/hour in three steps over two years, will benefit 13 million workers -- 5.6 million directly and 7.4 million indirectly -- and help reverse years of wage stagnation, without harming the economy. Nearly 59 percent of those who will benefit are women and 10 percent are single parents. Minimum wage earners also serve as the sole breadwinners of 46 percent of families who will benefit. Moreover, the raise will help well-over six million children under the age of 18 whose parents will receive an increase in earnings. 

The increase of $2.10/hour will help many of the approximately 37 million (or 12.6 percent) Americans who live below the poverty line by adding nearly $4,400 to a full-time, year round minimum wage worker’s income. In some areas of the country, this additional money could be enough for a low-income family of three to cover months of groceries, utilities, or rent or nearly two years of child care or college tuition at a public two-year college. When combined with the Earned Income Tax Creditand assistance programs, the additional income could lift a family of four above the poverty line, even afterpayroll taxes. While more needs to be done, raising the federal minimum wage was an important step toward economic security for working Americans. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, After a Ten Year Battle, Democrats Raised the Minimum Wage for American Workers, for more information on this legislation and issue.

The 110^th Congress is determined to keep America competitive in the global economy. In early August, on a broad bipartisan basis and with the strong support of the technology, business, and academic community, the House and the Senate approved the conference report to H.R. 2272, the AmericaCreating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act (America COMPETES). The bill was signed into public law on August 9, 2007 (P.L. 110-69). The law ensures that the United States retains its competitive position in the world through increased resources for math and science education for teachers and students in elementary through graduate school; and increased investments in science and technology research and innovation in the public sector. America COMPETES also supports private sector research and innovation, including investing in programs that ensure small- and medium-sized businesses have the tools needed to contribute to the global economy. 

America COMPETES is the culmination of a two-year, bipartisan, bicameral effort to pass a package of competitiveness bills in response to recommendations in the 2005 National Academies report, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm.” Earlier in the year, the House and Senate passed comprehensive legislation (H.R. 2272, S. 761) that served as the basis for the multidisciplinary America COMPETES conference agreement, which passed the House on an overwhelming 367 to 57 vote and the Senate by unanimous consent. The America COMPETES Act follows through on a commitment by Democratic Leadership to ensure U.S. students, teachers, businesses and workers are prepared to continue leading the world in innovation, research, and technology -- well into the future. 

See the DPC Legislative Bulletin entitled,The 110th Congress Passes a Bipartisan Initiative to Strengthen American Competitivenessand S. 1745, the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2008for more information on this issue.

The Democratic-led Senate unanimously passed important disaster aid legislation. In August, as the two-year anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma approaches, the Senate unanimously approved bipartisan legislation to improve assistance to business owners and homeowners after a disaster. S. 163, the Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act, would improve assistance to disaster victims by: 1) establishing a private disaster loan program to be used in the aftermath of catastrophic disasters; 2) creating a new expedited disaster assistance business loan program; 3) creating a new presidential declaration of “Catastrophic National Disaster” that will allow the Small Business Administration to issue nationwide economic injury disaster loans to small businesses affected by a large-scale disaster; 4) improving the disaster loan application process; and 5) increasing the maximum size of a disaster loan and allows non-profit groups to be eligible for disaster loans. 

Democrats enacted small business tax relief. The Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act, passed as a part of the 2007 Emergency Supplemental, provides important tax relief for America’s small businesses. These deficit-neutral tax incentives include measures to: 

-Encourage the hiring of low-income and disadvantaged workers (extension of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit); 

-Help growing businesses save when they buy new equipment (extension and expansion of Section 179 Small Business Expensing); 

-Assist economic growth in the Gulf Opportunity Zone – the area still struggling to recover from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma (enhancement of GO Zone tax incentives); 

-Reduce reporting requirements for family businesses (family business tax simplification); 

-Help entrepreneurs hit by the alternative minimum tax (waiver of individual and corporate AMT limitations on WOTC and tip credits); 

-Make sure employers don’t lose current tax benefits when the minimum wage increases (enhanced tip credit); and 

-Help small businesses keep the tax benefits of being a small business, even as they grow (S-Corp tax incentives). 

The Senate unanimously extended a program to assist workers who have been adversely affected by international trade. On September 28, the President signed into law a three-month extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program (P.L. 110-89). This will ensure that eligible U.S. workers, farmers, fishermen, and manufacturing firms do not fall through the cracks while Congress completes its work on a broad expansion and reauthorization of the current program. Originally established by the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the TAA program provides temporary federal assistance to hundreds of thousands of individuals, farmers and firms facing job losses as a consequence of free trade agreements, when it can be demonstrated that the job losses resulted from increased imports or production being moved overseas due to a trade agreement. Eligible individuals, who currently include workers in the textiles, electronic, transportation, apparel, and other industries, can receive reemployment services, training in new occupational skills, and income support while the worker is in training. 

The Senate also passed legislation to give travelers and commuters more options, relieve crowding on highways and in airports, and reduce oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.S. 294, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007 would reauthorize Amtrak for six-years at $11.6 billion. This legislation would: 

-Improve Amtrak’s operations save taxpayer money by reducing Amtrak’s federal operating subsidy by 40 percent; 

-Repair Amtrak’s deteriorating infrastructure by authorizing $818 million in capital grants per year, $1.4 billion in grants to states for new passenger rail projects, funding to return the Northeast Corridor -- America’s busiest rail corridor, running from Boston, MA, to Washington, DC -- to a state of good repair; 

-Expand Amtrak’s operations and allow it to operate more efficiently by authorizing $11.4 billion over six years to fully fund Amtrak’s capital and operating needs; and 

-Improve the service of Amtrak’s passengers by setting a minimum standard of 80 percent on-time performance record for Amtrak trains and allowing the Surface Transportation Board to issue fines to freight railroad companies for delaying Amtrak trains. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, Senate Democrats Invest in Passenger Rail Service: American Travelers, Taxpayers, and our Environment Benefit, for more information on this issue.

Congress passed a law to extend the moratorium on taxes on Internet usage and electronic commerce. In October, Congress passed and the President signed the Internet Tax Freedom Act Amendments Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-108). The new law will extend the moratorium for seven years and ensure that that certain internet services, such as e-mail and homepages, remain included in the definition of tax-exempt internet access. 

Demanding Transparency, Accountability, and Ethics in Washington

The Democratic-led Congress passed comprehensive ethics and lobbying reform. In the last election, Americans sent a clear message that unethical and illegal behavior in government will no longer be tolerated. Democrats responded by making ethics reform their first priority in the 110^th Congress. In August, Democrats delivered on that promise by achieving final passage of S. 1, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007. The legislation willstrengthen Senate rules regarding gifts and travel, slow the “revolving door” for former Senators and staff, enhance and better enforce lobbying disclosures, reduce “dead of night” changes to conference reports, require earmark transparency, and ban the pay-to-play K Street Project. When the President signed the bill into law (P.L. 110-81) on September 14, the 110th Congress, under Democratic leadership, accomplished what previous Republican congresses would not: enact the toughest, most sweeping ethics and lobbying reform in a generation. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, The Democratic-led, 110th Congress Delivered a Victory for the American People by Passing Ethics and Lobbying Reform, for background information on this legislation.

The Senate, under Democratic leadership, passed bipartisan legislation to increase transparency and accessibility in government.In August, Senate Democrats and Republicans worked together to pass S. 849, the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act (OPEN Government Act), which, if passed in the House, would provide the first reforms to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in over a decade. 

FOIA was passed in 1966 to establish the public’s presumptive right to access government documents. In recent years, however, concerns have been raised about the slowness with which FOIA requests are processed and answered. Some requests have been backlogged for years due to both bureaucratic red-tape and intentional delays. Under the Bush Administration, government agencies shifted the long-held presumption in favor of complying with requests to a presumption againstcomplying with requests -- a policy change that has resulted in the frivolous denials of requests and conflicts directly with the spirit of FOIA. 

TheOpen Government Act would address the administrative and policy hurdles that have caused the FOIA backlog to balloon and would work to shine the light on government actions. The bill would restore meaningful deadlines for agency action under FOIA; impose penalties on federal agencies that fail to meet FOIA's 20-day statutory deadline; close loopholes that would have limited public access to public records held by outside private contractors; create a FOIA ombudsman to provide the public and agencies with a meaningful alternative to costly litigation; and give agencies the tools they need to process FOIA requests in a timely manner. 

See the DPC Oversight Highlights for the Week of March 12, 2007 for a summary of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on FOIA. 

The Senate passed bipartisan legislation to clean-up government contracting abuses. On November 7, the Senate passed by unanimous consent S. 680, the Accountability in Government Contracting Act of 2007. The bill would strengthen competition in federal contracting, add transparency to the process, and help curtail waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayers’ money by: 

-Requiring more information in a contract's statement for orders over $5 million; 

-Strengthening oversight and transparency of “sole source” contracting; 

-Curtailing the practice of awarding contracts missing key terms, such as price, scope, or schedule; 

-Limiting the award on an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity, single vendor contract valued at more than $100 million; 

-Reining-in wasteful use of government purchase cards by seeking better analysis of purchase card use; and 

-Placing a limit on the length of contracts awarded non-competitively under urgent and compelling circumstances. 

The Senate passed bipartisan legislation to restore checks and balances to the appointment process for United States Attorneys and safeguard the integrity of our justice system. This year’s probe into the firing and hiring of U.S. Attorneys for allegedly political reasons has revealed excessively partisan, at best, and illegal, at worst, action by officials at the highest levels of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the White House. The Bush Administration has caused many to question the independence of U.S. Attorneysacross the nation and, in so doing, heightened concerns about the overall politicization of the Justice Department, especially the Civil Rights Division. Moreover, mismanagement and poor judgment by former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other DOJ officials have the left the once revered agency in disarray. 

In March, the Senate took concrete steps to restore the effectiveness and legitimacy of the federal justice system by overwhelmingly passing the Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act of 2007, which ensures the Senate’s role in the placement of U.S. Attorneys. Under a provision that was slipped into the USA Patriot Actreauthorization by Republicans in 2006, the appointment process for U.S. Attorneys was altered so that the Attorney General could appoint “interim” U.S. Attorneys indefinitely – thus completely avoiding the Senate confirmation process. The measure, now signed into law (P.L. 110-34), restores the process that existed for 20 years prior to the 2006 change and will require an interim appointment made by the Attorney General to expire after 120 days or when a permanent U.S. Attorney is nominated by the President and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate. After the 120 days, if a successor is not in place, the U.S. District Court will then appoint the U.S. Attorney. Returning to this effective, proven process ensures that the appropriate checks and balances are in place for the appointment of U.S. Attorneys.

As Judge Michael Mukasey begins his tenure as the new Attorney General, Democrats look forward to working with him through consultation and oversight to restore the Justice Department’s reputation and ensure its unbridled commitment to enforcing the nation’s laws, safeguarding the country from harm, and ensuring the civil rights of all Americans. 

See the DPC Legislative Bulletin entitled,S. 214, the Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act of 2007, for more information on this legislation.

Advancing Energy Independence, Improving Water Infrastructure, and Focusing on the Environment

Congress, under Democratic leadership, overrode the President Bush’s veto of important, bipartisan legislation to improve water infrastructure.The House and Senate’s override (361 to 54 and 79 to 14, respectively) of the President’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act on November 9 will protect millions of Gulf Coast residents from catastrophic hurricanes and floods. The new law (P.L. 110-114)will also protect sensitive areas like the Florida Everglades and Mississippi River and improve water quality across the country. The act will: 

-Improve hurricane protection for Louisiana and the Gulf Coast by authorizing activity that will restore coastal wetlands, give New Orleans increased hurricane protection and allow for a peer review process of construction work performed by the Army Corps of Engineers. 

-Ensure levee safety by creating a national levee safety program that will allow inspections on the general condition of levees throughout the country. 

-Continue the restoration for the Florida Everglades by authorizing projects to increasefreshwater flows into natural areas, avert the loss of wildlife habitat, and maintain the hydrologic balance of the region. 

-Improve flood control for New Orleanians and other Louisiana Gulf Coast residents by giving it 100-year flood protection. 

-Re-nourish and restore beaches that are damaged by storm surges which if not done can leave coastal communities at risk. 

See the DPC Fact Sheet Bulletin entitled,Ten Reasons Democrats Have Overridden the President's Veto of the Water Resources Development Act, for more information on this issue. 

Senate passed the legislation to promote energy independence, reduce global warming, and protect consumers. In June, the Senate passed H.R. 6, theRenewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007, which will help move the country away from the Bush-Cheney energy policy -- a policy that has worked for big oil companies, helping them accumulate $500 billion in profits since 2001, but has failed the American people. The bill would: 

-Raise fuel economy standards for automobiles for the first time in 25 years from 25 MPG to 35 MPG; 

-Raise the annual requirements for the amount of renewable fuels used in motor vehicles to 36 billion gallon requirement by 2022; 

-Require a 35 percent, or 9.4 million barrel per day, reduction in oil consumption by 2030; 

-Make gasoline price-gouging a federal crime by enhancing federal authority to prevent and prosecute manipulation of fuel supplies and anti-competitive behavior, and increases the transparency of petroleum markets; and 

-Make the government a leader in cutting energy consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions byreducing petroleum usage by the federal government by 30 percent by 2015 and requiring that the federal government increase its purchases of renewable electricity to 10 percent by 2010 and 15 percent by 2015. 

The bill would also create incentives for small businesses to invest in green technologies, provide the resources to help entrepreneurs conduct energy audits, and ensures that the Bush Administration implements an energy efficiency information program that Congress enacted two years ago. 

DPC