The 109th Congress adjourned on December 9. Actions affecting women and families included reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), the Ryan White CARE Act, the National Institutes of Health, the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program, and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act. Congress also approved legislation aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge of gynecologic cancers, a bill to reduce health disparities, legislation to address underage drinking, and strengthened sexual assault provisions for women in the military.
Final approval of most of the FY2007 spending bills was postponed until next year. Congress approved a long-term continuing resolution funding most government programs through February 15, 2007. Only the FY2007 Department of Defense and Homeland Security appropriations bills were enacted. A complete summary of the FY2007 appropriations will be published as soon as the 110th Congress finishes work on the remaining spending bills.
Actions Completed
*All dates refer to the month in which President Bush signed a bill into law or Congress gave its final approval to legislation that is expected to be signed into law.
Adoption and Safe Families Act: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 959/S. Res. 547) recognizing the successes of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 in increasing adoption (September 2006/November 2006).
Bankruptcy Reform: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-8) to prevent bankruptcy abuse and protect consumers (April 2005).
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Congress approved a resolution (H. Con. Res. 41) supporting the mission and goals of Big Brothers Big Sisters (April 2005).
Breast Cancer Stamp: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-100) to reauthorize the breast cancer stamp through December 31, 2007 (November 2005).
Broadcast Decency: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-235) to raise the Federal Communications Commission fine for any incident of indecency from $27,500 to $325,000 (June 2006).
Burma: Congress approved a resolution (P.L. 109-251) to extend import restrictions on Burma for one year (July 2006). The State Department has confirmed the Burmese government’s use of rape as a weapon of war.
Child Gun Locks: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-92) to require child safety locks on guns. The provision was included in a bill to prohibit certain civil liability lawsuits against gun manufacturers (October 2005).
Child Protection: Congress approved a legislative package (P.L. 109-248) to protect children from sexual predators, increase fines for offenses against court personnel, and set federal penalties for gang-related crimes (July 2006).
Childhood Cancer: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 323/S. Res. 560) to increase awareness, treatment, and research of childhood cancers (June 2006/September 2006).
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): Congress approved legislation (H.R. 6164) that directs the secretary of Health and Human Services to redistribute unspent FY2004-2006 CHIP funds to states whose projected expenditures for FY2007 will exceed their respective allotment for FY2006 or FY2007 (December 2006).
Congo: Congress approved legislation (S. 2125) to establish as a U.S. policy objective ending the high rates of sexual abuse and violence perpetrated against women and children in the Congo (December 2006). The provision was included in a measure to increase aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and promote the establishment of democracy.
Cord Blood Stem Cell Inventory: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-129) to authorize a cord blood stem cell inventory to collect and maintain 150,000 units of blood obtained from umbilical cords (December 2005).
Coretta Scott King: Both the Senate and House approved resolutions (S. Res. 362/H. Res. 655) honoring the life and accomplishments of Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 2006/February 2006).
Darfur: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-344) to impose sanctions against individuals responsible for genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan (September 2006).
FY2007 Defense Authorization: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-364) that expands TRICARE coverage to include forensic examinations following sexual assault or domestic violence, delineates requirements for sexual harassment and sexual violence policies at service academies, and specifies that information on the results of disciplinary actions on sexual assaults in the military must be included in the annual Department of Defense report (September 2006).
Department of Justice Reauthorization: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-162) to reauthorize the Department of Justice through FY2009 (January 2006). The measure also includes a provision to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.
Export-Import Bank: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 5068) to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank through FY2011. The measure includes a provision creating a permanent small business division and an Office of Financing for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Small Business Concerns and Small Business Concerns Owned by Women (December 2006).
Family Movie Act: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-9) to exempt from copyright protection and trademark laws technology designed to filter out unwanted audio and video content on a DVD or videotape for individual consumers (April 2005). The provision was included in an anti-piracy bill.
Fetus Farming Prohibition: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-242) to prohibit research on human embryos gestated in a non-human uterus, or from pregnancies specifically created for the purpose of embryonic stem cell research (July 2006).
Financial Literacy Month: Both the Senate and House approved resolutions (S. Res. 410/H. Res. 737) designating April 2006 as “Financial Literacy Month” (March 2006/April 2006).
Foster Care: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-239) to expedite the placement of foster care children across state lines (July 2006).
FY2006 Spending Reconciliation: Congress approved the FY2006 spending reconciliation bill (P.L. 109-171), which establishes $39.7 billion in savings over five years (February 2006). According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bulk of the savings $11.9 billion should be achieved through changes to the federal student loan programs. Changes to the Medicare and Medicaid programs account for an additional $11.2 billion in savings. The measure includes a provision to reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program through FY2010, and extends the Transitional Medical Assistance and abstinence education programs.
Global Family Day: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Con. Res. 317/S. Res. 582) requesting the President to issue an annual proclamation for the observance of “Global Family Day, One Day of Peace and Sharing” (September 2006).
Gold Star Mothers Day: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. J. Res. 61/S. Res. 250) supporting the goals and ideals of Gold Star Mothers Day (September 2005).
Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 1245) to authorize $16.5 million through FY2008 for programs that are aimed at increasing women’s health care providers’ awareness and knowledge of gynecologic cancers, and for a national public awareness campaign that would encourage women to discuss their risk of gynecologic cancer with their physician (December 2006).
Health Disparities: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-18) to improve the prevention, early detection, and treatment of chronic diseases among health disparity populations (June 2005).
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): Congress approved legislation (H.R. 6111) to allow individuals to make a one-time transfer of funds from a health flexible spending account or individual retirement account (IRA) to a health savings account (HSA) before January 1, 2012 (December 2006). The bill also repeals the deductible limitations on tax deductions for contributions to HSAs and allows individuals who establish an HSA after the beginning of a taxable year to make contributions up to the full annual limit.
Higher Education Act Extension: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-292) to temporarily extend programs authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965 (P.L. 105-244) through June 20, 2007 (September 2006).
Iraqi Women: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 383/S. Res. 231) encouraging Iraq’s National Assembly to adopt a constitution that grants women equal rights under the law (July 2005).
Lights on Afterschool!: Congress approved a concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 478) supporting the goals and ideals of “Lights on Afterschool!”, a national celebration of after-school programs (September 2006).
Maternal and Prenatal Care for Chernobyl Disaster Victims: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 6060) authorizing funding for FY2007 and FY2008 to improve maternal and prenatal care for individuals in Belarus and Ukraine who were affected by the Chernobyl disaster (December 2006).
Mental Health Parity: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-151) to extend for one year a law requiring insurers to impose equitable lifetime limits for mental and physical health benefits (December 2005).
Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-288) to reauthorize the Mentoring Children of Prisoners program through FY2011 (September 2006).
Methamphetamine and Children: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-288) to provide assistance for children of methamphetamine users (September 2006).
Missing Children: Congress approved a bill (H.R. 4416) to reauthorize permanently the use of penalty and franked mail in order to locate and recover missing children (December 2006).
NASA: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-155) to reauthorize the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through FY2010 (December 2005). The measure expands educational outreach programs for women and minorities, and directs the NASA administrator to establish a program that would encourage more women of color to enter the space and aeronautics field.
National Campus Safety Awareness Month: Both the Senate and House approved resolutions (S. Res. 221/H. Res. 15) supporting the goals and ideals of National Campus Safety Awareness Month (September 2005/October 2005).
National Charter Schools Week: Both the Senate and House approved resolutions (S. Res. 453/H. Res. 781) supporting the seventh annual National Charter Schools Week, which occurs the week of May 1-6, 2006 (April 2006/May 2006).
National Children and Families Day: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 763/S. Res. 532) encouraging parents to help their children excel (June 2006/August 2006).
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Con. Res. 209/S. Res. 282) supporting the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (September 2005/October 2005).
National Health Center Week: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 289/S. Res. 31) designating the week of August 7, 2005, as “National Health Center Week” (July 2005).
National Institutes of Health (NIH): Congress approved legislation (H.R. 6164) to reauthorize and restructure the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through FY2010 (December 2006).
National Military Families Week: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Con. Res. 159/S. Con. Res. 41) supporting National Military Families Week, celebrated the week of June 5, 2005 (June 2005).
National Runaway Prevention Month: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 484/S. Res. 430) supporting National Runaway Prevention Month (October 2005).
National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week:Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 483/S. Res. 275) designating the week of February 6, 2006, as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week (December 2005).
Older Americans Act: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-365) to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (September 2006).
Pensions: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-280) to make a number of reforms to retirement plans (August 2006).
Premature Infants: Congress approved legislation (S. 707) to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand and intensify research activities, and to conduct a study with the Institute of Medicine on the causes of low birthweight and prematurity (December 2006).
Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-288) to reauthorize the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program through FY2011 (September 2006).
Romanian Adoptions: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 578/S. Res. 359) urging the government of Romania to amend its child welfare and adoption laws and allow intercountry adoptions by persons other than biological grandparents (April 2006/July 2006).
Rosa Parks Federal Building: Congress approved two bills (P.L. 109-98/P.L. 109-101) designating the federal building located at 333 Mt. Elliott Street in Detroit, Michigan, as the “Rosa Parks Federal Building” (November 2005).
Rosa Parks Resolution: Both the House and Senate approved a resolution (H. Con. Res. 208) recognizing the 50th anniversary of Rosa Louise Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, which led to the subsequent desegregation of American society (September 2005/November 2005).
Rosa Parks Statue: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-116) to direct the architect of the Capitol to place a statue of Rosa Parks in National Statuary Hall (December 2005).
Respite Care: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 3248) that authorizes grants to statewide respite care providers (December 2006).
Ryan White CARE Act: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 6143) to reauthorize the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act through FY2009 (December 2006).
Safe Water: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-121) to authorize assistance to provide safe water and sanitation to people in developing countries (November 2005).
Sarah Winnemucca Statue: Congress approved a resolution (H. Con. Res. 5) allowing for the placement of a statue of Sarah Winnemucca in National Statuary Hall (March 2005).
Sexual Assault in the Military: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-163) that requires the secretary of defense to assess current supplies, trained personnel, and resources dealing with sexual assault, including the availability of rape evidence kits and pregnancy tests in deployed units; develop a plan to improve the response to sexual assaults in deployed units; and report annually to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees regarding sexual assaults. The measure also amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to clarify the definition of rape, sexual assault, and other sexual misconduct; abolish the statute of limitations for rape and rape of a child; and establish stalking as an offense. The provisions were included in the defense authorization bill (January 2006).
Shirley Chisholm Post Office: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-50) to designate a U.S. Postal Service facility in Brooklyn, New York, as the “Congresswoman Shirley A. Chisholm Post Office Building” (July 2005).
SBA Extension: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-316) to temporarily extend the reauthorization of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and its programs through February 2, 2007 (September 2006). SBA programs, including Women’s Business Centers, which provide long-term training and counseling to existing and emerging women business owners, and the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs, which provides federal funds to community-based, regional, and national organizations that offer training and technical assistance to low-income entrepreneurs interested in starting or expanding a small business with five or fewer employees, are included in the extension.
Sojourner Truth Bust: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 4510) to allow for the placement of a bust depicting Sojourner Truth in the U.S. Capitol (December 2006).
Stillborn Children: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-233) to define a veteran’s stillborn child as an insurable dependent for the purpose of receiving $10,000 to cover burial costs (May 2006). The provision was included in a bill to enhance veterans’ benefits.
Students with Disabilities: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-249) to exempt persons with disabilities from the prohibition against providing Section 8 rental assistance to college students (July 2006).
Taxes: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 6111) to extend several expiring tax provisions through 2007 or 2008, including those related to tuition, classroom supplies, and hiring disadvantaged workers (December 2006).
Telephone Harassment: Congress approved legislation to prohibit fraudulent access to customer accounts. The legislation imposes a fine and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years for violations, including additional penalties for violations involving the use of confidential phone records information to commit violent crimes, domestic violence, and crimes against law enforcement officials (December 2006).
Trafficking: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-164) to reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act through FY2007 (January 2006).
Underage Drinking: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 864) to authorize $1 million for FY2007-2010 to establish an interagency coordinating committee to guide federal policy and program development on underage drinking. The bill also authorizes $5 million for FY2007-2010 for grants to reduce the rate of underage alcohol use and binge drinking at institutions of higher education and $6 million for FY2007-2010 to research and compile data on underage drinking, including successful treatment programs for youth (December 2006).
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-162) to reauthorize VAWA through FY2011. The provision was included in the Department of Justice reauthorization bill (January 2006).
Vocational Education: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-270) to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act through FY2012 (August 2006).
Vulnerable Children: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-95) to provide assistance for orphans and other vulnerable children in developing countries (October 2005).
Youthbuild: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-281) to establish a Youthbuild program within the Department of Labor (September 2006).
Welfare Reform: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 109-171) to reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program through FY2010 (February 2006). The provision was included in the FY2006 budget reconciliation bill.
Women Suffragists: Congress approved a resolution (H. J. Res. 59) expressing the sense of Congress that an appropriate day of commemoration should be established for the women suffragists who worked for the right of women to vote in the United States (July 2005).
Women Veterans: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 6342) reauthorizing the Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Women Veterans’ biennial report to Congress (December 2006).
Women’s Health Week: Both the Senate and House approved resolutions (S. Res. 487/H. Res. 833) expressing support for Women’s Health Week (May 2006/June 2006).
Outstanding Issues
Alternative Stem Cell Therapies: The Senate approved a bill (S. 2754) that would promote research on obtaining stem cells from sources other than human embryos (July 2006). The same day, the House fell short of the two-thirds vote needed to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Association Health Plans (AHPs): The House approved a bill (H.R. 525) designed to make health care more affordable for small businesses by establishing AHPs (July 2005). The Senate considered similar legislation (S. 1955) in May 2006, but a Republican leadership effort to override a filibuster on the bill failed.
Breast Cancer and Environmental Research: The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved a bill (S. 757) that would authorize Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Centers of Excellence to study environmental factors that might cause breast cancer (June 2006). An attempt by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) to attach the text of identical legislation (H.R. 2231) to the National Institutes of Health Reform Act of 2006 (H.R. 6164) was defeated, 20-23, in September 2006.
Breast and Cervical Cancer: The House approved a bill (H.R. 5472) that would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program through 2020 (December 2006). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Central Asia Human Rights: The House International Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations approved a bill (H.R. 5382) to promote democracy and human rights in Central Asia. The measure would support activities to prosecute human traffickers and to increase police training and education on trafficking and forced labor (June 2006). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG): The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved a bill (S. 525) that would reauthorize the CCDBG through FY2010 (March 2005). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act: The Senate approved a bill (S. 403) that would make it a federal crime to transport a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion, thereby evading parental consent and notification laws (July 2006). The House approved the measure with amendments in September 2006. The same week, the Senate failed to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed to consideration of the amended version.
Children and Media: The Senate approved a bill (S. 1902) that would establish a program within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study the role and impact of electronic media in the development of children (September 2006). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Community Health Centers: The House approved a bill (H.R. 5573) to reauthorize community health centers through FY2011 (June 2006). The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved a similar bill (S. 3771) in September 2006.
Crime Databases for Schools: The House approved a bill (H.R. 4894) that would require the attorney general, if asked, to conduct fingerprint-based background checks on individuals who are employed or volunteer at public schools (June 2006). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Elder Abuse: The Senate Finance Committee approved a bill (S. 2010) that would authorize new Department of Health and Human Services grant programs for the prevention, detection, assessment, and treatment of, intervention in, investigation of, and prosecution of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence and elder sexual abuse (August 2006). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Embryonic Stem Cell Research: The House approved a bill (H.R. 810) that would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct and support human embryonic stem cell research (May 2005). The Senate approved the measure in July 2006; however, President Bush vetoed the legislation on July 19.
Food Safety: The House approved a bill (H.R. 4167) that would prohibit states from establishing food safety labeling requirements that are not identical to federal requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (P.L. 75-717) (March 2006). A waiver could be granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if the state requirements protect an important public interest that would otherwise be unprotected. The legislation requires the FDA to expedite a waiver request if the labeling requirements are related to reproductive effects or birth defects, or if the warning is intended to provide information for parents to better understand, monitor, or limit a child’s exposure to cancer-causing agents or reproductive or developmental toxins The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
FY2007 Budget Resolution: The Senate approved the FY2007 budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 83)(March 2006). The House approved its version of the budget resolution (H. Con. Res. 83) in May. Both resolutions would provide $873 billion in discretionary funding in FY2007, the same amount requested by President Bush.
Genetic Discrimination: The Senate approved legislation (S. 306) that would prohibit employers and health insurance companies from discriminating against applicants based on genetic information (February 2005). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Head Start: The House approved a bill (H.R. 2123) that would reauthorize Head Start through FY2011 (September 2005). The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved a similar bill (S. 1107) in May 2005.
Higher Education Act: The House approved a bill (H.R. 609) that would reauthorize the Higher Education Act through 2012 (March 2006). The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved a similar bill (S. 1614) in September 2005.
Hunger-Free Communities Act: The Senate approved a bill (S. 1120) that would authorize $50 million per year for FY2006-2011 for the secretary of Agriculture to make grants to eligible public food service providers, nonprofit organizations, and emergency feeding organizations to reduce hunger, provide community outreach, and conduct community need assessments (December 2006). The House did not consider similar legislation. Immigrant Children: The Senate approved legislation (S. 119) that would set standards for the treatment of unaccompanied alien children (December 2005). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Indian Children: The Senate approved a bill (S. 1899) to reauthorize the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act (P.L. 101-630) (August 2006). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Indian Health Care: The Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved a bill (S. 1057) to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (P.L. 94-437) through FY2015 (October 2005). The House Resources Committee approved a similar bill (H.R. 5312) in September 2006.
Indian Health Care Reimbursements: The Senate Finance Committee approved a bill (S. 3524) that would alter the way in which the Indian Health Service and Indian Tribe health professionals may seek reimbursement under Medicaid, Medicare, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (June 2006). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Latin America: The House International Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere approved a bill (H.R. 953) that would establish the United States Social Investment and Economic Development Fund for the Americas (June 2005). The measure would foster increased economic opportunity by nurturing microenterprise development; improving the quality of life and investing in human capital, specifically targeting education, health and disease prevention, and housing; strengthening the rule of law through improved efficiency and transparency in government services; and reducing poverty and eliminating the exclusion of marginalized populations, including women. The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Medical Liability: The House approved a bill (H.R. 5) that would limit noneconomic medical malpractice awards and attorneys’ fees (July 2005). The Senate considered two similar bills (S. 22 and S. 23) in May 2006, but a Republican leadership effort to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bills failed.
Mexico City Policy: During consideration of legislation (S. 600) to reauthorize the State Department, the Senate agreed to an amendment that would overturn the Mexico City policy, which bars overseas nongovernmental organizations that receive U.S. aid from using their own money to perform abortions or to lobby foreign governments on abortion policy. However, the bill was pulled from the floor prior to a vote on final passage (April 2005).
Millennium Development Goals: The Senate approved a bill (S. 1315) that would require the State Department to submit a report to Congress on the progress the international community is making toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (December 2005). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Minimum Wage: The House approved a bill (H.R. 5970) that would increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 over three years (July 2006). The Senate defeated an effort to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of the measure in August 2006.
National Sex Offender Registry: The Senate approved a bill (S. 1086) that would establish a National Sex Offender Registry (May 2006). The House included a similar provision in a bill (H.R. 4472) aimed at protecting children from sexual predators (March 2006).
National Women’s History Museum: The Senate approved a bill (S. 501) that would provide a site for the National Women’s History Museum in the District of Columbia (July 2005). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Newborn Care: The Senate approved a bill (S. 1182) that would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to furnish 14 days’ care for newborns of women veterans if the child was born in a VA facility or a facility under contract to the VA (December 2005). The provision was included in a bill to expand health care services for veterans. The House did not consider similar legislation.
Prisoner Reentry Programs: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security approved a bill (H.R. 1704) to reauthorize and expand prisoner reentry programs (July 2006). The programs provide grants that may be used to provide support for children of incarcerated parents and to help prisoners with a history or identified risk of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Same-Sex Marriage: The Senate failed to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed to the constitutional amendment (S. J. Res. 1) that would prohibit same-sex marriage (June 2006). The House defeated a similar resolution (H. J. Res. 88) in July 2006.
SBA Reauthorization: The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee approved a bill (S. 3778) to reauthorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) and its programs through 2009 (July 2006). The SBA administers several women-focused programs, including Women’s Business Centers, which provide long-term training and counseling to existing and emerging women business owners, and the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs, which provides federal funds to community-based, regional, and national organizations that offer training and technical assistance to low-income entrepreneurs interested in starting or expanding a small business with five or fewer employees. The House did not consider similar legislation.
Section 8 Housing: The House Financial Services Committee approved a bill (H.R. 5443) to reform the Section 8 voucher program (June 2006). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Social Networking Websites: The House approved a bill (H.R. 5319) that would restrict minors’ use of commercial social networking websites and chat rooms at schools and libraries that receive discounted service through the federal Universal Service Fund (July 2006). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
State Department Authorization: The House approved a bill (H.R. 2601) that would reauthorize the State Department and international programs through FY2007 (July 2005). The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved its version of the bill (S. 600) in March 2005.
Trafficking Resolution: The Senate approved a resolution (S. Res. 549) to establish the abolition of modern-day slavery as a priority for U.S. foreign and domestic policy (December 2006). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Trafficking Revenue: The Senate Finance Committee approved a bill (S. 1321) that would allow the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to arrest criminals who make money by trafficking women and girls (June 2006). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Unborn Pain Awareness Act: The House rejected a bill (H.R. 6099) that would have required women who are at least 20 weeks pregnant and seeking an abortion to be informed that there is “substantial evidence” that the fetus would experience pain during the procedure (December 2006). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
United Nations: The House approved a bill (H.R. 2745) that would encourage the United Nations (UN) to initiate a number of administrative and financial reforms (June 2005). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Women in Humanitarian Crises: The House approved a bill (H.R. 912) that would require humanitarian aid organizations to adopt a code of conduct prohibiting the sexual exploitation and abuse of women and children in relief operations (March 2005). The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved similar legislation (S. 559) in May 2006.
Women’s Business Centers: The Senate approved a bill (S. 1517) that would allow women’s business centers to re-compete for sustainability grants in FY2005 (July 2005). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Workforce Investment Act (WIA): The Senate approved a bill (S. 1021) to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) through FY2011 (June 2006). The House approved its version of the bill (H.R. 27) in March 2005.
