Capitol Update, brought to you by the American Nurses Association
Capitol Update, a legislative newsletter for nurses
Volume 5/Issue 8 September 27, 2007
Article Photo House Passes SCHIP Reauthorization, President Promises Veto


Congress and President Bush are involved in a contentious debate over legislation that would extend the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The House of Representatives passed the ANA-endorsed Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (H.R. 976) with less than a veto-proof majority by a vote of 265-159 on September 25, 2007. The Senate is set to follow suit as early as September 27. President Bush has promised to veto the legislation.
Senate Passes Mental Health Parity Legislation

On September 19th the U.S. Senate passed S. 558, the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 under unanimous consent. The bill, was passed with changes made by its sponsors to ensure that the bill will not pre-empt existing state mental health parity laws. While the S. 558 still differs from the House mental health parity bill, H.R. 1424, the changes to Senate pre-emption language diminish one of the sharpest contrasts between the two bills. Both bills aim to end longstanding insurance discrimination and remove barriers to care for those facing mental illness.
Committee Approves RESPECT Act

On September 19th, the House Committee on Education and Labor approved the Re-Empowerment of Skilled and Professional Employees and Construction Tradesworkers (RESPECT) Act (H.R. 1644/S. 969) by a vote of 26-20. The legislation would ensure that skilled and experienced workers in a wide range of industries do not lose their collective bargaining rights as a result of the National Labor Relations Board's Kentucky River rulings. Committee approval paves the way for consideration by the full House.
Congress Passes Resolution Funding the Federal Government Through November

Due to lack of action on all of the 12 bills needed to fund the Federal government, Congress was forced to pass a continuing resolution in late September. This resolution will keep the government operating at current funding levels through November 16, giving Congress more time to complete action on the FY 2008 funding measurers. ANA continues to work to convince Congress to maintain the full $20 million increase for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs contained in the Senate version of the health funding bill, and to ensure that the Wicker amendment on respirator fit-testing is not included in any final spending package.


Eighth Annual ANA/CMA Lobbyist Meeting

CMA representatives from 23 states assembled in Washington, DC, September 19-21 for the eighth annual ANA/CMA lobbyist meeting to address the ANA nationwide state legislative agenda and strategize for advancing issues of mutual concern within the states. The top three priorities identified for discussion during the meeting were: safe nurse staffing, barriers confronting advanced practice nurses, and qualified school nurses for all students.
copyright 2007, American Nurses Association
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Summer May Be Over, But the Race for the White House Heats Up

Now that Labor Day has come and gone, the candidates vying to become the 44th President of the United States have a little over three months until the first votes of the primary and caucus election season are cast. The Democratic race appears to be breaking in favor of former First Lady and current New York Senator Hillary Clinton. However, the road to the Republican presidential nomination is far from clear. The ceremonial end of the summer marked the official entry of former Republican Senator and veteran character actor Fred Thompson to the race, adding another viable and competitive candidate to the mix.

The ANA-PAC Board Welcomes New Trustees

The ANA-PAC has elected three new PAC Trustees-- Mary Behrens, Patricia Messmer and Donna Policastro�all of whom bring many years of fundraising knowledge and expertise to their positions. New ANA-PAC officers, including ANA-PAC Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer were also elected in September.
Advancing ANA's Legislative Agenda through NCSL

ANA's Government Affairs Program showcased ANA's Nationwide State Legislative Agenda at the recent National Conference of State Legislators' (NCSL) annual meeting held in Boston, August 6-8. This was reported to be their largest conference ever with more than 7,000 registrants.
Congress Passes Bill Delaying Medicaid Prescription Rule

On September 26, Congress passed the Patient and Pharmacy Protection Act (S. 2085). This ANA-supported legislation will postpone for six months a regulation requiring that all outpatient Medicaid prescriptions be written on tamper-resistant pads. The new rule - slipped into a spending bill for the Iraq war in May - was set to go into effect on October 1. The new deadline will be April 1, 2008, if President Bush signs the bill as expected.
Study: 89.6M U.S. Residents lacked coverage at some point during 2006-2007

According to a study released on September 20 Thursday by Families USA, about 89.6 million U.S. residents younger than age 65, or about 34.7 percent of the population, lacked health insurance at some point during 2006-2007.