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The Focus of Today's Session will be
H.R.4, the Welfare Reauthorization Bill

7:00 P.M.

After introducing S.2250, a bill to extend unemployment insurance, Senator McConnell concluded the business of the Senate for the legislative day.  The Senate will return tomorrow morning at 9:40 to resume consideration of H.R.4 a vote on Senator Snowe's childcare amendment is expected near the middle of the day.  Click here for a text of the amendment. 

6:20 P.M.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Senator Levin and Senator Dayton have been talking about energy alternatives.  With the recent rise in gasoline prices, this has been a hot topic on the Senate floor today. 

5:00 P.M.

Senator Bennett and Senator Alexander both spent time this afternoon refuting the comments made by Senator Conrad on the war with Iraq.  Senator Alexander, the former governor of Tennessee is now speaking about the welfare reauthorization.  He is recalling what happened during the debate over welfare reform in 1996. 

4:30 P.M.

Over the last thirty minutes, Senator Conrad of North Dakota has been speaking about the 9/11 Commission and the decision to go to war with Iraq.  He has been questioning the intelligence leading up to the war, and why the U.S. stopped pursuing Osama Bin Laden. 

3:45 P.M.

Having shifted themes, Senator Kennedy is now speaking on the September 11th Commission, and the controversy over who will or will not testify before the commission.

3:25 P.M.

Senator Kennedy is speaking on the floor about increasing the minimum wage.  He has said that the minimum wage is currently at its lowest buying power since its establishment.  Senator Kennedy has introduced an amendment that would gradually increase the minimum wage to $7.00. 

3:05 P.M.

Senator Snowe has been speaking about her amendment that would increase funding for childcare.  She has stated that close to half of states have waiting lists for childcare funding, and some states cap the number of names that can be on waiting lists.  Senator Snowe and Senator Dodd have offered this amendment jointly, explaining that childcare is essential to helping parents move off of welfare to work. 

2:45 P.M.

Senator Baucus is criticizing the House version of the welfare reauthorization, saying that the bill is almost styled so that TANF recipients will not succeed.  Quoting a state TANF direction, Senator Baucus said that the House bill has been created to encourage failure so that Washington politicians can take away funds from TANF for other budgetary purposes. 

2:25 P.M.

Senator Grassley has sent an amendment to the desk for Senator Snowe.  Senator Baucus is asking whether it would be better to extend the current welfare law rather than modify it. The Senator has said that he has concerns about the House of Representatives welfare bill, and will not advocate to change a bill that works well. 

2:05 P.M.

Senator Grassley has continued to speak about welfare reauthorization.  Using floor charts to illustrate his points, he has been explaining the details of the new proposal and how the bill produced by Senator Baucus last year is similar to the bill passed by the Finance Committee. 

1:45 P.M.

Senator Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee is speaking about the need to pass a reauthorization of the welfare laws.  He is recalling the debate that occurred before the change to welfare laws in 1996. 

1:00 P.M.

The Senate convenes today at 1:00 to begin consideration of H.R.4, the Welfare Reauthorization bill, a reauthorization of the welfare bill of 1996.  Introduced by Representative Deborah Pryce on February 4, H.R.4 passed the House of Representatives on February 13 with a vote of 230-192.  This legislation would include reauthorization for programs such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), abstinence education programs, and the child care entitlement to states program. H.R.4 maintains funding for TANF at the current level through FY2008, however it includes changes to the program, such as additional requirements for work participation. No roll call votes are scheduled for today.