Straight Talk with Congressman Sam Graves 5/22/2009

Below is the most recent Straight Talk with Congressman Graves, this is his weekly email newsletter.

This Week in Washington-

Congress often likes to use the hurry up and wait approach to legislation. After having very little legislation on the floor for the entire month of May, there were a lot of bills on voted on this week.

Legislation

Small Business Bill: On Wednesday, the House passed H.R. 2352, the Job Creation through Entrepreneurship Act by a strong bi-partisan vote of 406-15. The bill expands programs like Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women's Business Centers (WBCs) and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). The bill also creates new support services for veteran-owned and Native American-owned small businesses. In addition, new online learning programs are included in the bill to assist entrepreneurs in rural regions and underserved communities. Finally, it creates a grant program for SBDCs designed to assist small firms in securing capital and credit.

Defense Procurement: On Thursday, the House passed the conference report for S. 454, the Weapons Acquisition System Reform through Enhancing Technical Knowledge and Oversight Act of 2009. This was legislation authored by my Missouri colleague Ike Skelton and it passed unanimously. The conference report reforms the Department of Defense's weapons acquisition process and requires the President to nominate a senior official within DoD for cost assessment and program evaluation. The conference report also requires the Secretary to assign responsibility to independent officials within the Pentagon for oversight of developmental test and evaluation, systems engineering, and performance assessment.

FAA Reauthorization: On Thursday, the House passed H.R. 915, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 by a vote of 277-136. The bill would reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding and safety oversight programs for four years with a total authorized spending level of $70 billion. The bill also increases the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) on airline flights from $4.50 to $7. I opposed this legislation because there were a number of provisions that I felt were bad public policy. The bill now goes to the Senate who will draft their own version.

Mortgage Fraud Bill: On Monday, the House passed S. 386, the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009, by a vote of 338-52. The bill broadens the coverage of current laws against financial crimes, including fraud affecting mortgages, securities, and federal assistance and relief programs. The bill also established a Congressional Financial Markets Commission to examine all causes, domestic and global, of the current financial and economic crisis. The bill was sent to the President and signed into law on Wednesday, May 20.

Mortgage Foreclosure Bill: The House passed an amended version S. 896, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, by a vote of 367-54-1. The bill will make a number of changes to current law regarding federally insured mortgages, increase federal bank deposit insurance, and expand federal mortgage modification programs in an attempt to encourage home mortgage modifications. S. 896, as passed by the House and Senate did not contain a "cramdown" provision. The bill was also signed into law on Wednesday.

Credit Card Bill: The House passed H.R. 627, Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act, with Senate amendments. The bill prohibits a creditor from adjusting any annual percentage rate on preexisting balances, except in certain circumstances, requires increased disclosures, requires 45 days notice before interest rates are increased, and outlaws providing a credit card to an individual under the age of 21 without a cosigner. The bill also included a Senate amendment that protected second amendment rights on federal land by prohibiting a ban on the possession of a firearm in compliance with State law in a National Park. I supported the bill, which passed 361-64. The final bill now awaits the President's signature sometime on Friday.

Memorial Day Recess Events

Congress will be in recess next week for the Memorial Day recess. I will be in King City for a Memorial Day event on Sunday, several area cemeteries on Monday and in St. Joseph on Tuesday at the National Guard Armory for a Veterans' Expo event.

Enjoy the long weekend and remember to thank a veteran for their service this week.

Sincerely,

Sam Graves