THE NATIONAL FORESTS, PARKS, PUBLIC LAND AND RECLAMATION PROJECT AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007 collects nearly 60 bills together and is expected to see action early this year.  This is a bipartisan movement that should be successful; it is currently on the Senate Legislative Calendar. Sr. Carol and the NAC office gave a statement to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in July of 2007 with regard to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  The CNMI Covenant Implementation Act is one of the bills included in this larger bill which is expected to pass.  You may recall that this bill will extend federal jurisdiction over immigration in the CNMI. This should help combat human trafficking.

Another positive piece of legislation in helping victims of human trafficking is the WILLIAM WILBERFORCE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007.  The Act passed in the house in December of 2007 and is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee.  This bill will strengthen the US government’s ability to deal with trafficking both here and globally as well as addressing the need to end the growing use of child soldiers.

          Poverty         

A large focus of legislation was the FARM BILL.  On December 14, the Senate passed their amended version of the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act which passed the House on July 27. The bill must now go to a conference committee to work out the differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill. There are some improvements to nutrition and rural development programs in the House bill, and improved conservation programs in the Senate bill, and in both the Food Stamp Program—which had given the same benefits since 1995—was finally updated.  Whether or not farmers, children who eat school lunches, and the environment will actually benefit from the Farm Bill will depend on whether the eventually agreed upon bill is vetoed by the President, as he has threatened.

Early in 2007 both chambers of Congress raised the federal MINIMUM WAGE, to take effect over a two year period which began on July 24, 2007. Although this was a step in the right direction, it is still far from a living wage for families in most parts of the nation. Legislation is being prepared for introduction in 2009, which would again raise the base and index the amount.

Congress failed to pass legislation in 2007 that would reverse the cuts made to the Child Support Enforcement Program in 2006. We will continue to work in coalition with various other groups on the CHILD SUPPORT PROTECTION ACT, to bring these bills to the floor in order to restore the cuts to the child support program, which engages non-custodial parents in providing financial, and ultimately, emotional support for their children.

In the closing hours of Congress, another one year fix was made to the ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX (AMT), to ensure that "middle class" families (those who make $84,000 to $455,000 a year) are not required to pay more than some believe to be their fair share. The legislation would have given a tax cut to those who earn less than $8,500 and would have allowed them to be eligible for a refundable child tax credit.  Legislators will attempt to make a more permanent change in 2008.

          Mental and Physical Healthcare         

After negotiations broke down, the House passed S. 2499, which would extend the current STATE CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (SCHIP) through March 2009, including additional funding for the 21 states facing shortfalls. Legislators have vowed to raise SCHIP this year to pass a bill that provides funding to cover an additional 4 million children.

THE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY ACT was passed by the Senate by unanimous consent, and the House has also been working on parity bills.  The hope is to see the Senate and House negotiate a parity bill that can pass in both houses and be signed by the President this year.

          Immigration         

Immigration was one of the most disappointing issues faced by faith groups in 2007. At the beginning of 2007 the popular wisdom was that we would get the McCain/Kennedy bill from 2006 through the Senate and then have rough sledding in the House. We did not adequately factor in the reluctance of Senators to vote for that bill when they knew that the House would not make it more restrictive. As a consequence, despite two valiant attempts to pass comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate, nothing was accomplished. All sides are now reverting to piecemeal attempts to move the issue forward. We are actively working against some “enforcement only” legislation (the SAVE Act), and are working to curb immigration “raids” and improve detention policies and facilities.

          Education         

The Head Start Program initially authorized in 1965 received support in 2007 rather than being dismantled as the President originally suggested.  Teachers’ education and families’ eligibility are both included in the IMPROVING HEAD START FOR SCHOOL READINESS ACT, but sufficient funding in 2008 will remain the key.

          Global Justice         

The House passage of the PERU TRADE AGREEMENT on November 8th, 2007 and by the Senate, December 4, 2007 signals the failure of a large block of House members to move House leadership to develop a new trade policy, one more authentic as an instrument of development for both the United States and our trading partners. In the meantime, they recommended withholding action on the four trade agreements- Peru, Panama, Columbia and South Korea- negotiated by the Administration in 2007 under "fast track" authority. House leadership did negotiate with the Administration some strengthening of labor, environment and access to medicine provisions in the agreements, but nevertheless moved passage of the Peru FTA. The Columbia, Panama and South Korea Agreements are still pending.

A positive piece of global legislation from 2007 was the DARFUR ACCOUNTABILITY AND DIVESTMENT ACT.  This Act holds us accountable for our role a global force by having all United States interests in Sudan published every six months.  This is to ensure that the United States will not benefit from the atrocities taking place in Darfur.  The bill passed in the House and is now in the Senate.

          Economic Stimulus Package         

2007 was a difficult year for the economy.  Democrats are hoping to face this challenge early in 2008 by presenting the President with an ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE.  In an attempt to move the package through, there will be no proposed tax raises to pay for the benefits.  While details have yet to be finalized, Democrats have consistently favored some form of tax rebate in an effort to get cash into the hands of consumers, along with expanded unemployment insurance and food stamp benefits.