Submitted by Conor Kenny on
Both chambers of Congress scrambled to pass weighty and complicated pieces of legislation before they adjourned for the August recess, with the House finally wrapping things up on Sunday. The biggest measures were on domestic wiretapping, ethics, childrens' health insurance and energy. The headlines below link to the respective full Congresspedia articles. Know something about the bills? Help out by editing the articles:
- Both the House and Senate approved bills which give the president greater authority to conduct electronic surveillance on U.S. citizens.
- Both the House and Senate passed a comprehensive ethics bill. The measure would bar lawmakers from taking gifts from lobbyists or their clients, and also increase earmark disclosure requirements.
- The House and Senate passed separate versions of a bill designed to expand the federal SCHIP program, which provides health insurance for children.
- Both the House and Senate passed a bill providing $250 million in funds to repair a collapsed bridge in Minnesota.
- The House passed a comprehensive energy bill designed to encourage the increased use of renewable energy sources, combat climate change and pollution, and improve the country’s energy infrastructure.