On Tuesday December 14, the Senate Appropriations Committee released their $1.1 trillion omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2011.  The bill, which includes all 12 annual appropriations bills along with over $8 billion in earmarks, faces an uncertain future in the Senate with Republican leadership and rank-and-file Republicans objecting to the bill en masse.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is expected to hold a vote either late this week or next week on the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. 

As a result of the November election and Republican control of the House in the next session, the GOP is planning to utilize the oversight function of all standing Committees to seriously evaluate the Obama administration’s regulatory agenda.  

Following two failed votes in the U.S. Senate Saturday to extend the Bush-era tax cuts only for the middle-class or those making less than $1 million a year, the White House and GOP Congressional leadership Monday struck a deal to extend current tax rates for all taxpayers for another two years with economic stimulus provisions sought by the president. 

Surface Transportation and Aviation Authorization Extensions Included in CR On Wednesday, the House passed (212-206) a nearly $1.1 trillion continuing resolution (CR) for the remainder of fiscal year 2011.  Almost all of the appropriations would be extended at the funding level and under the conditions they were for fiscal year 2010.

Today, the Senate failed to move forward on the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.   This bill would provide health benefits for 9/11 workers and would limit the liability of the contractors that worked at the site of the terrorist attack in New York City. 

On Wednesday, the Democratic leadership in the House made an attempt to push forward a mine safety bill. Under the procedure they chose to pursue, supporters would have needed two-thirds of the House to approve the bill and were unable to meet that threshold. 

On December 1, the co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (otherwise known as the deficit reduction commission) released the commission’s final report.

Surface Transportation Authorization Extension Remains Unresolved, FAA Reauthorization Poised For Yet Another Extension

During the lame duck session, the Senate may take action on the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.  This bill would provide health benefits for 9/11 workers and also includes language that would limit the liability of the contractors that worked at the site of the terrorist attack in New York City.