So, today the Senate Finance committee  passed its version of a health care reform bill.  Work will now shift to merging this bill with one passed earlier this year by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee.  Three House committees have jointly approved a bill as well. 

In the meantime, hearings have and will continue to be held, and reports have been requested.  Here are some that might be of interest.

• The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee: upcoming October 15 hearing titled “What Women Want: Equal Health Care for Equal Premiums”
• The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations: upcoming October 15 hearing titled “Insured but not Covered – The Problem of Underinsurance”
• The Senate Small Business  and Entrepreneurship Committee: upcoming October 20th hearing titled “Reform Done Right: Sensible Health Care Solutions for America’s Small Businesses”
• Congressional Research Service report: “Health Care Reform: An Introduction“, August 31, 2009
• Congressional Budget Office report: “Analysis of the Effects of Proposals to Limit Costs Related to Medical Malpractice (‘Tort Reform’)”, October 9, 2009

Much more to come, undoubtedly. –nks

Need more information?  Perhaps I can help.

nkstoec@msn.com

On Tuesday Sept. 22, 10:00 AM Eastern Time, the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship committee will be holding a “roundtable discussion” titled “Small Business Contracting: Ensuring Opportunities for America’s Small Businesses”.  Won’t be in DC to attend the session (in room 458, Senate Russell Bldg.)?

While the committee does not appear to offer webcasts of its hearings, nothing says you can’t contact any one or several of the committee members with your questions, concerns or suggestions. 

Want to know more about the hearing?  Call the committee office at 202-224-5175. 

Need more information? Perhaps I can help.

http://www.nksinfoservices.com

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has released a beta version of its redesigned website, and is seeking constructive feedback from users.  Why not take a few minutes to compare the current site with the proposed new site, and provide your comments and suggestions to betafeedback@uspto.gov?  Regards, — nks

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How do private pensions offered in the U.S. (defined benefit; defined contribution) compare to those offered in the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK?  What are the benefits, what are the risks, what are the trade-offs?  A recently released GAO report addresses those questions.  See GAO-09-642, Private Pensions: Alternative Approaches Could Address Retirement Risks Faced by Workers but Pose Trade-offs. –nks

Need more information?  Perhaps I can help.

n.stoecker@nksinfoservices.com

We might see more government funding directed at science and technology in federal agency budgets for 2011.  According to NextGov (Aug. 5), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) have told agencies to direct more spending to S&T in their 2011 budgets (being drafted now for consideration by Congress next year.)  High-priority areas include activities that address economic growth, energy efficiency, health care, national defense and nonproliferation.

The agencies are being asked to describe metrics for tracking the outcomes of their S&T investments, and are being encouraged to use “open innovation models” (sounds like collaboration, to me. )–nks

As part of the (first ever) quadrennial homeland security review (QHSR), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security invites public comment and feedback on it draft long-term strategic plans, before they are finalized. 

Via a DHS dialogue web portal, you can comment on existing proposals or add your own proposals in any of six topics:  counterterrorism and domestic security management, securing our borders, smart and tough enforcement of immigration laws, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters, homeland security national risk assessment, and homeland security planning and capabilities. –nks

Need more information on this or related topics?  Perhaps I can help.

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The Chairmen of the three House of Representatives committees with jurisdiction over health policy introduced a huge health care reform bill today – and that’s the easy part. Those committees, Education & Labor, Energy & Commerce, and Ways & Means,  will begin marking up the legislation this week, and will undoubtedly go through many changes before, or if,  the House approves the bill and send it to the Senate.

I haven’t read it yet – the draft bill is 1,018 pages long, after all!  But I’ll take a stab at it.  You can find the full-text of the bill, a summary, and a host of fact sheets at this Energy & Commerce committee site. –nks

Need more information?  Perhaps I can help.

n.stoecker@nksinfoservices.com

$4 billion in ARRA loans and grants has been made available to expand or deploy broadband internet service in unserved or underserved sections of the country.  The $4 billion is the first installment of the $7.2 billion provided in the Recovery Act for expanded access to high-speed internet services.

Applications will be accepted from July 14, 2009 through 5PM eastern time August 14, 2009.  See the Broadband USA portal for information. 

During the month of July public workshops will be held by Commerce and USDA in the following cities: Boston, MA, Charlston, WV, Minneapolis, MN, Memphis, TN, Lonoke, AR, Birmingham, AL, Billings, MT, Albuquerque, NM, and Los Angeles, CA.  They’re coming up fast, starting tomorrow, so check the portal for dates and locations.–nks

Need more information?  Perhaps I can help.

n.stoecker@nksinfoservices.com

Most recently the Environmental Protection Agency has been announcing funding for water infrastructure projects in various states, and with $6 billion for water quality, wastewater infrastructure and drinking water infrastructure projects, there’s a lot to go around.  However thr EPA also has some (much smaller amounts of) funding available for other projects:  $100 million for cleaning up brownfields, $200 million to clean up leaking underground storage tanks, $300 million for grants and loans to government and tribal agencies and non-profts for projects to reduce diesel emissions, and $600 million for superfund hazardous waste cleanup.

Learn more about these programs at the EPA’s “learn more” page.  –nks

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$38.7 billion authorized and $4.3 billion awarded to date.  There should still be plenty of opportunity for Recovery Act funding from the U.S. Dept. of Energy.  And there’s a toll-free number, and a website, for the DOE’s Recovery Act Clearinghouse, for those with questions.  Call 1-888-363-7289.

Most recently Secretary Chu announced $50 million to accelerate deployment of geothermal heat pumps.  Additional funding opportunities are listed here – and updated reasonably frequently. 

Energy efficiency and alternative energy options are an important part of the Administration’s plans.  Funding is available for excellent, actionable proposals.  Check it out. –nks

Need more information?  Perhaps I can help.

www.nksinfoservices.com