Senate Panel

Senate panel to weigh revenue, business taxation

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:00:47 GMT

Source: www.ktvz.com --- Wednesday, June 19, 2013
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon Senate committee is scheduled to discuss Democratic proposals to increase state revenue and a Republican request to cut taxes for some business owners. ...

Drone use ‘limited,’ FBI boss tells Senate panel

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:17:20 GMT

Source: www.nydailynews.com --- Wednesday, June 19, 2013
They’re snooping from the skies, too. FBI Director Robert Mueller acknowledged Wednesday for the first time that the bureau has used drones for surveillance operations inside the U.S. — but only in a “very, very minimal way.” ...

Senate Panel Puts Spotlight on Older Americans

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:59:27 GMT

Source: www.ibrattleboro.com --- Wednesday, June 19, 2013
WASHINGTON, June 19 – The Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging held a hearing today on how Older Americans Act programs like Meals on Wheels reduce hunger and poverty among seniors and save money on more expensive nursing home and hospital care. “These programs not only work to ease isolation, hunger and suffering, they also save taxpayers substantial sums of money,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the subcommittee chairman. “The simple truth is that we can feed a senior for an entire year for the cost of one day in a hospital.” Sanders is the chief sponsor of legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the 1965 landmark law that he called “one of the most effective programs ever devised” to address the needs of vulnerable seniors. Ellie Hollander, the president of Meals On Wheels Association of America, testified that the federal support has fallen short of the growing need for nutrition programs. Budgets for senior nutrition programs have been slashed this year as a result of across-the-board spending cuts known as sequestration. “Nationally, there are 8.3 million seniors currently struggling with hunger. We are providing nutritious meals to only 2.5 million. The difference in those numbers is devastating. Nearly 6 million American seniors are still in need of reliable, nutritious meals,” Hollander said. “While the infrastructure exists to fill that gap, the resources fall substantially short,” she added. Sanders’ b ...

FCC Nominee Tom Wheeler Faces Senate Panel At Confirmation Hearing

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:02:16 GMT

Source: audiostream.net --- Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Nominee for FCC Chairman TOM WHEELER testified TUESDAY at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee, spending close to three hours, suggesting that the broadcast industry … more ...

Senate panel OKs renewal of timber county funding

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:33:57 GMT

Source: www.capitalpress.com --- Wednesday, June 19, 2013
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) -- A U. S. Senate committee on Tuesday endorsed legislation to extend federal subsid ... ...

Senate Panel Approves Bill With FDA Funding Increase; House Begins Farm Bill Debate

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:27:50 GMT

Source: www.foodsafetynews.com --- Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Two key food and agriculture measures inched forward on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. A Senate appropriations subcommittee approved a bill that would increase funding at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by $53 million for the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the House kicked off debate on its version of the farm bill. The $20.93 billion appropriations bill, which also covers the U.S. Department of Agriculture, would fund several food and agriculture programs for fiscal year 2014. The legislation would give FDA $2.5 billion in discretionary spending, which the committee noted is $96 million over fiscal year 2013. More than half of that is slated to help the agency roll out and enforce FSMA. Steve Grossman, executive director of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA, a group of industry and consumer groups that lobby for more funding for the agency, lauded the Panel for increasing resources at the agency during a tough budgetary time. “The Alliance is very pleased by the Senate subcommittee mark,” said Grossman. “We will continue to work for the largest possible appropriation for the agency, whose responsibilities keep growing every year. We appreciate the recognition that Chairman Pryor and Ranking Member Blunt have given to this reality.” Under the plan, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service would receive just over $1 billion, $7 million below FY 2013. The bill includes full funding for all federal, st ...

N.C. Senate panel approves energy code rollback

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:01:00 GMT

Source: www.thesunnews.com --- Tuesday, June 18, 2013
A bill rolling back energy-efficiency standards for commercial builders passed a North Carolina Senate committee Tuesday. The Senate Commerce Committee endorsed a bill that backers say will spur construction by eliminating the 2012 codes in favor of 2009 standards, which are 30-percent lower than today’s energy-use benchmarks. Democratic lawmakers and other critics argued the bill would jeopardize long-term energy savings in favor of limited short-term benefits and harm producers of efficient building materials. The House already adopted a similar bill. The Senate version, which makes minor changes, will now head to the full body. ...

U.S. Senate panel OKs renewal of timber county funding

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:59:22 GMT

Source: www.katu.com --- Tuesday, June 18, 2013
A U.S. Senate committee on Tuesday endorsed legislation to extend federal subsidies for timber counties one more year, and to protect more wilderness and wild rivers in Oregon. ...

Abortion bill approved by Michigan Senate panel would add to parental consent law for minors

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:30:25 GMT

Source: www.mlive.com --- Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved legislation that would make it more difficult for minors to end a pregnancy by abortion without parental consent. ...

NC Senate panel backs welfare background checks

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:54:48 GMT

Source: www.wcnc.com --- Tuesday, June 18, 2013
A bill requiring North Carolina state workers to check the criminal history of welfare and food stamp recipients has passed a Senate Panel. ...

Obama pick for top U.S. telecom regulator to face Senate panel

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:08:33 GMT

Source: www.reuters.com --- Tuesday, June 18, 2013
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's choice for chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is expected to face questions about his past work within the telecommunications industry at a Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday. ...

Metal Theft Bill Clears Senate Panel

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:03:43 GMT

Source: www.ect.coop --- Tuesday, June 18, 2013
A federal copper theft bill heads to the full Senate now that the Senate Judiciary Committee has approved it. A Senate Panel cleared a federal metal theft bill aimed at preventing crimes such as this theft of copper pipes in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (Photo By: AP Photo/The Citizens’ Voice, Warren Ruda) NRECA is among those supporting the bipartisan Metal Theft Prevention Act, S. 394. The bill would make it a federal crime to steal certain metals, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Among the list of covered metals is “a wire or cable commonly used by communications and electrical utilities.” Scrap dealers would be required to keep records of metal purchases, including a description of the items, the amount paid, and the seller’s name, address and license plate number. Sellers would have to prove they own the material or have the legal right to dispose of it. Any purchase of more than $100 would have to be paid by check. “This is an important step forward for this legislation,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said following the committee’s June 13 approval. “I will continue to work with law enforcement and local officials to crack down on metal thieves and make it more difficult for them to sell their stolen goods,” added Klobuchar, the bill’s chief sponsor. The U.S. attorney general would be responsible for enforcement, but the legislation would also not pre-empt state and local metal theft laws. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said the b ...

Eyes in the sky: Bill to limit use of drones advanced by N.J. Senate panel

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:13:00 GMT

Source: www.nj.com --- Monday, June 17, 2013
A state Senate Panel today advanced legislation to regulate the use of drones — unmanned aerial vehicles — by law enforcement agencies and fire departments in New Jersey. ...

Senate panel approves transportation funding bill AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A push t...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:44:32 GMT

Source: www.facebook.com --- Monday, June 17, 2013
Senate Panel approves transportation funding bill AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A push to divert nearly $1 billion a year from the state's reserve fund to pay for Texas roads and bridges is advancing in the Legislature. The Senate Finance Committee on Friday endorsed a plan to send a portion of oil and gas severance taxes into a new road-building fund. Those taxes are normally sent to the state's Rainy Day reserve fund. The plan sent to the full Senate would divert the roads money only after the reserve fund hits $6 billion or more. Lawmakers say estimates show the fund will have more than $6 billion for at least several years because of an oil and gas boom. The full Senate is expected to vote on the plan next week. ...

Senate panel strikes down bill to allow abortions at military hospitals

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:19:00 GMT

Source: www.navytimes.com --- Monday, June 17, 2013
A measure that would allow troops and military family members to have abortions at military hospitals if they pay for the procedures themselves has failed to pass the Senate Armed Services Committee. ...

NJ Senate panel advances surveillance measure resulting from NYPD Muslim spying...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:25:55 GMT

Source: www.facebook.com --- Monday, June 17, 2013
NJ Senate Panel advances surveillance measure resulting from NYPD Muslim spying http://www.nbc40.net/story/22609783/nj-Senate-Panel-to-consider-surveillance-measure NJ Senate Panel advances surveillance measure resulting from NYPD Muslim spying www.nbc40.net A New Jersey Senate committee is taking up a bill that would require out-of-state law enforcement agencies to notify state officials if they want to conduct counterterrorism surveillance operations... ...

NJ Senate panel to consider surveillance measure for out-of-state agencies

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:03:23 GMT

Source: www.app.com --- Monday, June 17, 2013
TRENTON — A New Jersey Senate committee is taking up a bill that would require out-of-state law enforcement agencies to notify state officials if they want to conduct counterterrorism surveillance operations here. ...

N.J. Senate panel advances bill to require cameras in most police vehicles

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:54:27 GMT

Source: www.nj.com --- Monday, June 17, 2013
Bill was introduced as a response to accusations against an assemblyman ...

Senate panel approves LGBT-inclusive education bill

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:00:01 GMT

Source: www.facebook.com --- Sunday, June 16, 2013
Senate Panel approves LGBT-inclusive education bill Senate Panel approves LGBT-inclusive education bill www.washingtonblade.com By 12-10 vote, committee reports out bill with anti-bullying protections ...

Senate panel debates bill to limit employers' ability to ask applicants about criminal history

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:46:11 GMT

Source: www.njbiz.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Fsection%3FCategory%3D"> --- Saturday, June 15, 2013
A bill before a state Senate Panel today could create new job prospects for people with criminal convictions, but business groups fear it also could create unnecessary red tape and the potential for legal liability. ...