H.R.716
Title: To amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans to provide coverage for individuals participating in approved cancer clinical trials.
Background (What circumstances necessitate Congressional action?/What happened to the Bill in Congress? Did it pass, or die in committee?):
They want to amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). They want health plans and health insurance issuers to cover routine patient care costs for individuals with serious and life threatening diseases other than just cancer. This would cover approved cancer clinical trials. The bill has not been passed yet.
The Bill was referred on 1/27/2009
1/27/2009:
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
1/27/2009:
Referred to House Energy and Commerce
1/27/2009:
Referred to House Education and Labor
1/27/2009:
Referred to House Ways and Means
Goal of Action:
The goal of action is that cancer clinical trials will be covered by health plans and health isurance. This would help people with serious diseases such as cancer pay for their medical bills.
Specifics/Means of Goal:
This would require federal government contributions.
Type of Power (Is Congress acting according to an expressed or implied power? If it is implied, what expressed power grants it? - Check the Constitution to figure this out!):
This is a implied power. It's not mentioned in the constitution. They use the elastic clause to do what is necessary and proper.
Analysis (Do you think Congress should do this according to its Constitutional powers?)
I think congress should do this so then people can receive treatment for their cancer.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Jenny Sherer- Poverty
Background:
This bill is to help those who are in need of healthcare that are unable to afford it. It also helps those who are disabled and can not afford the healthcare that they may need.
Goal:
The goal of this bill is so that everyone will have equal protection as far asa healthcare. There is not one person who is not able to get good care when they go to a hospital.
Type of power:
This is the legislative power, because it has not passed through the house yet.
Analysis:
No, this has not passed yet, it is still going through congress. There has been several changes to it to try and get it passed but not much has happened.
This bill is to help those who are in need of healthcare that are unable to afford it. It also helps those who are disabled and can not afford the healthcare that they may need.
Goal:
The goal of this bill is so that everyone will have equal protection as far asa healthcare. There is not one person who is not able to get good care when they go to a hospital.
Type of power:
This is the legislative power, because it has not passed through the house yet.
Analysis:
No, this has not passed yet, it is still going through congress. There has been several changes to it to try and get it passed but not much has happened.
Cassie Guzik- Child Abuse
H.R.911 (Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009)
Background (What circumstances necessitate Congressional action?/What happened to the Bill in Congress? Did it pass, or die in committee?):
Some Covered Programs, a public or private entity that (1) provides a residential environment; and (2) operates with a focus on serving children with emotional, behavioral, or mental health problems or disorders, or problems with alcohol or substance abuse, are not working as well as they should. This bill was referred to Senate committee: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on Feb. 24, 2009.
Goal of Action:
The goal of this bill is to improve public and private covered programs dealing with child abuse by requiring them to meet a minimum standard if individually or together with other locations it has an effect on interstate commerce.
Specifics/Means of Goal:
If passed, this bill will “(1) implement an ongoing review process for investigating and evaluating reports of child abuse and neglect; (2) establish public websites with information about each covered program, as well as a national toll-free telephone hotline to receive complaints; (3) establish civil penalties for violations of standards; and (4) establish a process to ensure that complaints received by the hotline are promptly reviewed by persons with appropriate expertise... [5] Requires the Assistant Secretary to refer any violation of such standards to the Attorney General for appropriate action. Authorizes the Attorney General to file such a complaint on his or her own initiative regardless of whether such a referral has been made... [6] Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2014... [7] Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to establish additional eligibility requirements for grants to states to prevent child abuse and neglect at residential programs. Require such states to develop policies and procedures to prevent child abuse and neglect at covered programs consistent with the standards specified by this Act... [8] Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to Congress on outcomes for children in both private and public covered programs under this Act encompassing a broad representation of treatment facilities and geographic regions”.
Type of Power (Is Congress acting according to an expressed or implied power? If it is implied, what expressed power grants it? - Check the Constitution to figure this out!):
It is an implied power. First because congress can regulate commerce they are able to set standards to any organization that affects commerce. Second, Congress’ ability to tax allows them to spend the money where they need to which allows them to establish additional eligibility requirements for grants.
Analysis (Do you think Congress should do this according to its Constitutional powers?)
While I believe using the ability to regulate interstate commerce is stretching their powers a bit too much, I think the ability to increase the eligibility requirements for grants is within their power. Child abuse is a serious problem and any method that could improve the safety and security of children should be taken.
Background (What circumstances necessitate Congressional action?/What happened to the Bill in Congress? Did it pass, or die in committee?):
Some Covered Programs, a public or private entity that (1) provides a residential environment; and (2) operates with a focus on serving children with emotional, behavioral, or mental health problems or disorders, or problems with alcohol or substance abuse, are not working as well as they should. This bill was referred to Senate committee: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on Feb. 24, 2009.
Goal of Action:
The goal of this bill is to improve public and private covered programs dealing with child abuse by requiring them to meet a minimum standard if individually or together with other locations it has an effect on interstate commerce.
Specifics/Means of Goal:
If passed, this bill will “(1) implement an ongoing review process for investigating and evaluating reports of child abuse and neglect; (2) establish public websites with information about each covered program, as well as a national toll-free telephone hotline to receive complaints; (3) establish civil penalties for violations of standards; and (4) establish a process to ensure that complaints received by the hotline are promptly reviewed by persons with appropriate expertise... [5] Requires the Assistant Secretary to refer any violation of such standards to the Attorney General for appropriate action. Authorizes the Attorney General to file such a complaint on his or her own initiative regardless of whether such a referral has been made... [6] Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2014... [7] Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to establish additional eligibility requirements for grants to states to prevent child abuse and neglect at residential programs. Require such states to develop policies and procedures to prevent child abuse and neglect at covered programs consistent with the standards specified by this Act... [8] Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to Congress on outcomes for children in both private and public covered programs under this Act encompassing a broad representation of treatment facilities and geographic regions”.
Type of Power (Is Congress acting according to an expressed or implied power? If it is implied, what expressed power grants it? - Check the Constitution to figure this out!):
It is an implied power. First because congress can regulate commerce they are able to set standards to any organization that affects commerce. Second, Congress’ ability to tax allows them to spend the money where they need to which allows them to establish additional eligibility requirements for grants.
Analysis (Do you think Congress should do this according to its Constitutional powers?)
While I believe using the ability to regulate interstate commerce is stretching their powers a bit too much, I think the ability to increase the eligibility requirements for grants is within their power. Child abuse is a serious problem and any method that could improve the safety and security of children should be taken.
Samantha Sloop - Homeless
Background (What circumstances necessitate Congressional action?/What happened to the Bill in Congress? Did it pass, or die in committee?):
This bill is for the welfare of the people of the United States of America that are homeless or unemployed, to try and help them. This bill became a public law.
Goal of Action:
Declares that the government should intervene with the number of unemployment and homeless people by making jobs and securing them.
Specifics/Means of Goal:
“Making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization, for fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.”
Type of Power (Is Congress acting according to an expressed or implied power? If it is implied, what expressed power grants it? - Check the Constitution to figure this out!):
This is an implied power which is not stated directly in the Constitution, but is under the Elastic Clause. This allows Congress to do whatever is "necessary and proper" and they believe in helping out the population that does not have a job or a home to get one so they can become dependent and stimulate the economy.
Analysis (Do you think Congress should do this according to its Constitutional powers?)
Yes I think that congress should do this because if they don’t, who will? Congress should be concerned with the well being of Americans and help them out so they can survive in our struggling economy.
This bill is for the welfare of the people of the United States of America that are homeless or unemployed, to try and help them. This bill became a public law.
Goal of Action:
Declares that the government should intervene with the number of unemployment and homeless people by making jobs and securing them.
Specifics/Means of Goal:
“Making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization, for fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.”
Type of Power (Is Congress acting according to an expressed or implied power? If it is implied, what expressed power grants it? - Check the Constitution to figure this out!):
This is an implied power which is not stated directly in the Constitution, but is under the Elastic Clause. This allows Congress to do whatever is "necessary and proper" and they believe in helping out the population that does not have a job or a home to get one so they can become dependent and stimulate the economy.
Analysis (Do you think Congress should do this according to its Constitutional powers?)
Yes I think that congress should do this because if they don’t, who will? Congress should be concerned with the well being of Americans and help them out so they can survive in our struggling economy.
Healthcare-Renee
Background (What circumstances necessitate Congressional action?/What happened to the Bill in Congress? Did it pass, or die in committee?): American Health Benefits Program Act of 2009 - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish under a new title XXII (American Health Benefits Program) a program to provide comprehensive health insurance coverage to all Americans who are: (1) not covered under certain federal health insurance programs; and (2) not eligible for employer-provided insurance coverage. Requires provision of such coverage in a manner similar to that in which coverage has been provided to Members of Congress, federal government employees, retirees, and their dependents under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
Goal of Action:
Specifics/Means of Goal:
Establishes in the Treasury an American Health Benefits Program Trust Fund.
Directs the Administrator of Health Benefits to establish a schedule of cost-sharing subsidies for lower-income individuals.
Establishes an independent Health Benefits Administration, headed by the Administrator.
Type of Power (Is Congress acting according to an expressed or implied power? If it is implied, what expressed power grants it? - Check the Constitution to figure this out!): This is an implied power, which relates to the commerce clause, because it's involved in work force.
Analysis (Do you think Congress should do this according to its Constitutional powers?) yes, because this will provide more coverage for people.
Nick Berry-At Risk Youth
Background (What circumstances necessitate Congressional action?/What happened to the Bill in Congress? Did it pass, or die in committee?):
Do to the Growing number of youth delinquencies and gang related violence, they wanted to pass this bill to help keep youths away from the gangs. it Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to assist the office of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. This needs to have congressional action because of the federal crimes such as the gangs and the killings that relate to them. This bill has not yet passed but it has been Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Goal of Action: The goal is to keep youths away from juvenile delinquency and also criminal street gang activity. and to ensure that youths lead productive, safe, healthy, gang-free, and law-abiding lives.
Specifics/Means of Goal: They are going to try and help At Risk Youths by better opportunities, Mentoring, intervention and support. The bill is also going to (1) assess and develop standards and evidence-based practices to prevent juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity; and (2) collecting data in designated geographic areas to assess the needs and existing resources for juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity prevention and intervention.
Type of Power (Is Congress acting according to an expressed or implied power? If it is implied, what expressed power grants it? - Check the Constitution to figure this out!):
This is an Implied power because in the elastic clause it states that the government should do all the necessary and proper things to improve and at risk youths life.
Analysis (Do you think Congress should do this according to its Constitutional powers?)
Yes, Because their should be help from the government. Because kids usually do what they are surrounded by so if the parents are not able to help then maybe the government can help them, through mentoring and other opportunities to keep them away from gangs.
Do to the Growing number of youth delinquencies and gang related violence, they wanted to pass this bill to help keep youths away from the gangs. it Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to assist the office of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. This needs to have congressional action because of the federal crimes such as the gangs and the killings that relate to them. This bill has not yet passed but it has been Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Goal of Action: The goal is to keep youths away from juvenile delinquency and also criminal street gang activity. and to ensure that youths lead productive, safe, healthy, gang-free, and law-abiding lives.
Specifics/Means of Goal: They are going to try and help At Risk Youths by better opportunities, Mentoring, intervention and support. The bill is also going to (1) assess and develop standards and evidence-based practices to prevent juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity; and (2) collecting data in designated geographic areas to assess the needs and existing resources for juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity prevention and intervention.
Type of Power (Is Congress acting according to an expressed or implied power? If it is implied, what expressed power grants it? - Check the Constitution to figure this out!):
This is an Implied power because in the elastic clause it states that the government should do all the necessary and proper things to improve and at risk youths life.
Analysis (Do you think Congress should do this according to its Constitutional powers?)
Yes, Because their should be help from the government. Because kids usually do what they are surrounded by so if the parents are not able to help then maybe the government can help them, through mentoring and other opportunities to keep them away from gangs.
Art Education
Background (What circumstances necessitate Congressional action?/What happened to the Bill in Congress? Did it pass, or die in committee?): H.R.597 was created “To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants for core curriculum development.” This act was referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor on January 15, 2009.
Goal of Action: “To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants for core curriculum development”
Specifics/Means of Goal: To give grants to local educational agencies in order to strengthen school subjects such as music and arts, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, history, geography, and physical education and health
Type of Power (Is Congress acting according to an expressed or implied power? If it is implied, what expressed power grants it? - Check the Constitution to figure this out!): Congress is using an expressed power to “To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts,”
Analysis (Do you think Congress should do this according to its Constitutional powers?) Yes because in powers given to Congress to support education
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