Curator

I found this on Obsidian Wings
Thought it would be usefull to see the candidates accomplishments during the 110th Congress.

110th Congress

Bills Enacted, 110th Congress:

Obama: none.

McCain: S.327: A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of sites associated with the life of Cesar Estrada Chavez and the farm labor movement. (Who knew?)

Bills Placed On Calendar, 110th Congress: (I included these for the 110th Congress, since it's not over yet, and these are the bills most likely to be acted on.)

Obama:

S. 453: A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections.

S.2433: A bill to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.

McCain:

S. 84: A bill to establish a United States Boxing Commission to administer the Act, and for other purposes.



Obama (18 amendments):

S.AMDT.41 to S.1 To require lobbyists to disclose the candidates, leadership PACs, or political parties for whom they collect or arrange contributions, and the aggregate amount of the contributions collected or arranged.

S.AMDT.524 to S.CON.RES.21 To provide $100 million for the Summer Term Education Program supporting summer learning opportunities for low-income students in the early grades to lessen summer learning losses that contribute to the achievement gaps separating low-income students from their middle-class peers.

S.AMDT.599 to S.CON.RES.21 To add $200 million for Function 270 (Energy) for the demonstration and monitoring of carbon capture and sequestration technology by the Department of Energy.

S.AMDT.905 to S.761 To require the Director of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education to establish a program to recruit and provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities who are interested in careers in mathematics, science, and engineering.

S.AMDT.923 to S.761 To expand the pipeline of individuals entering the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to support United States innovation and competitiveness.

S.AMDT.924 to S.761 To establish summer term education programs. (Underlying bill held at the desk.)

S.AMDT.2519 to H.R.2638 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5 million or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee owes no past due Federal tax liability. [Note: I changed 'one' to 'none' in the first sentence: I suspect3d it was a typo, since the sentence itself made no sense, checked the amendment in the Congressional Record, and found that it was.]

S.AMDT.2588 to H.R.976 To provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty. (Underlying bill vetoed by President. Specific protections offered: "A family member of a recovering servicemember described in subsection (c) shall not be denied retention in employment, promotion, or any benefit of employment by an employer on the basis of the family member's absence from employment as described in that subsection, for a period of not more than 52 workweeks.")

S.AMDT.2658 to H.R.2642 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.

S.AMDT.2692 to H.R.2764 To require a comprehensive nuclear threat reduction and security plan.

S.AMDT.2799 to H.R.3074 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.

S.AMDT.3073 to H.R.1585 To provide for transparency and accountability in military and security contracting. (Note: requires that various agencies (State, DoD, intelligence, etc.) provide information on the companies hired to do contract work in Iraq and Afghanistan, the number of people employed to do such work, a way to track the number killed or wounded, and the cost of those contracts. Also requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report detailing his strategy for ensuring that contractors do not perform "inherently governmental functions", and are not placed in supervisory positions over US personnel.) (The underlying bill was vetoed by the President; amendment included in the bill that ultimately became law.)

S.AMDT.3078 to H.R.1585 Relating to administrative separations of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder. (Described here and here.) (The underlying bill was vetoed by the President; parts of the amendment were incorporated into the bill that became law.)

S.AMDT.3137 to H.R.3222 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.

S.AMDT.3234 to H.R.3093 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.

S.AMDT.3331 to H.R.3043 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.

S.AMDT.4113 to S.2663 To clarify and expand requirements with respect to information in recall notices.

S.AMDT.4114 to S.2663 To require the Comptroller General of the United States conduct a study and report on the effectiveness of authorities relating to the safety of imported consumer products.

S.AMDT.4330 to S.CON.RES.70 To provide an additional $5 million to the military departments' respective Boards for Correction of Military Records to expedite review of cases in which service members with combat-related psychological injuries (such as PTSD) or closed head injuries (such as TBIs) were administered discharges for personality disorders or other discharges resulting in a loss of benefits or care and seek a correction of records or upgraded discharge. (Should have excluded this; it's below $40million.)

McCain (7 amendments):

S.AMDT.19 to S.1 To include a reporting requirement. (Requires reporting for travel on private planes.)

S.AMDT.1190 to S.1348 To require undocumented immigrants receiving legal status to pay owed back taxes. (Underlying bill failed.)

S.AMDT.2133 to H.R.1585 To modify the calculation of back pay for persons who were approved for promotion as members of the Navy and Marine Corps while interned as prisoners of war during World War II to take into account changes in the Consumer Price Index. (Underlying bill vetoed; I could not find this amendment in the bill that did become law, though since it was the Defense Appropriations bill, I might easily have missed it.)

S.AMDT.2190 to H.R.1585 To designate the positions of Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretaries of the military departments for acquisition matters as critical acquisition positions. (Underlying bill vetoed; I didn't check to see whether it made it into the final appropriations bill, since it's a tiny little amendment, it would have taken forever, and it didn't seem wildly important.)

S.AMDT.3089 to H.R.1585 To provide for a continuation of transitional health benefits for members of the Armed Forces pending a resolution of their service-related medical conditions. (Underlying bill vetoed; I cannot find this amendment in the bill that did become law.)

S.AMDT.3090 to H.R.1585 To enhance the computation of years of service for purposes of retired pay for non-regular service. (Underlying bill vetoed; amendment incorporated in the bill that did become law.)

S.AMDT.3103 to H.R.1585 To require a pilot program on commercial fee-for-service air refueling support for the Air Force. (Underlying bill vetoed; amendment incorporated in the bill that did become law.)


Co-Sponsored Legislation, 110th Congress:

Bills Passed:

McCain and Obama (2 bills): S.2829 : A bill to make technical corrections to section 1244 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which provides special immigrant status for certain Iraqis, and for other purposes. (16 original co-sponsors, Summary: "Makes technical corrections to provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 which provide special immigrant status for certain Iraqis employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government. Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security or State to convert approved petitions for such status with respect to which visas are not immediately available to approved petitions for petitions filed before October 1, 2008.")

S.3406: A bill to restore the intent and protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. (55 original co-sponsors(!))

Obama (3 bills): S.231: A bill to authorize the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program at fiscal year 2006 levels through 2012. (15 original co-sponsors)

S.2488 : A bill to promote accessibility, accountability, and openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), and for other purposes. (17 original co-sponsors)

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to codify increases in the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans that were effective as of December 1, 2007, to provide for an increase in the rates of such compensation effective December 1, 2008, and for other purposes. (Cleared for White House; 10 original co-sponsors)

McCain: none.

Bills Placed On Calendar:

Obama and McCain (2 bills): S.223: A bill to require Senate candidates to file designations, statements, and reports in electronic form. (21 original co-sponsors)

S.1606: A bill to provide for the establishment of a comprehensive policy on the care and management of wounded warriors in order to facilitate and enhance their care, rehabilitation, physical evaluation, transition from care by the Department of Defense to care by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and transition from military service to civilian life, and for other purposes. (30 original co-sponsors)

Obama (3 bills): S.2: A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage. (28 original co-sponsors. Eventually passed via another bill.)

S.2166 : A bill to provide for greater responsibility in lending and expanded cancellation of debts owed to the United States and the international financial institutions by low-income countries, and for other purposes. (5 original co-sponsors)

S.2555 : A bill to permit California and other States to effectively control greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles, and for other purposes. (17 original co-sponsors)

McCain (6 bills): S.1675: A bill to implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low-power FM service. (McCain the only original co-sponsor)

S. 1771: A bill to increase the safety of swimming pools and spas by requiring the use of proper anti-entrapment drain covers and pool and spa drainage systems, to educate the public about pool and spa safety, and for other purposes. (8 original co-sponsors)

S.1853: A bill to promote competition, to preserve the ability of local governments to provide broadband capability and services, and for other purposes. (7 original co-sponsors)

S.2087 : A bill to amend certain laws relating to Native Americans to make technical corrections, and for other purposes. (McCain only original co-sponsor)

S.2128 : A bill to make the moratorium on Internet access taxes and multiple and discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce permanent. (McCain one of two original co-sponsors)

S.2606 : A bill to reauthorize the United States Fire Administration, and for other purposes. (McCain one of three original co-sponsors)

Amendments:

Obama: 25 Co-Sponsored Amendments

S.AMDT.3 to S.1 In the nature of a substitute. (This is, for all intents and purposes, the Senate Ethics bill: it begins: "Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:" (or: delete the existing bill, and replace it with this), and then the "amendment" takes up six or seven pages of the Congressional Record. 9 original co-sponsors.)

S.AMDT.4 to S.1 To strengthen the gift and travel bans. (Three original co-sponsors)

S.AMDT.15 to S.1 To require Senate committees and subcommittees to make available by the Internet a video recording, audio recording, or transcript of any meeting not later than 14 business days after the meeting occurs. (Obama is the only original co-sponsor)

S.AMDT.31 to S.1 To prohibit former Members of Congress from engaging in lobbying activities in addition to lobbying contacts during their cooling off period. (Obama is the only original co-sponsor)

S.AMDT.33 to S.1 To prohibit former Members who are lobbyists from using gym and parking privileges made available to Members and former Members. (Obama is the only original co-sponsor)

S.AMDT.529 to S.CON.RES.21 To increase funding for the COPS Program to $1.15 billion for FY 2008 to provide state and local law enforcement with critical resources necessary to prevent and respond to violent crime and acts of terrorism and is offset by an unallocated reduction to non-defense discretionary spending and/or reduction to administrative expenses. (13 original co-sponsors)

S.AMDT.1009 to S.1082 To insert provisions relating to antibiotic access and innovation and certain enantiomer drugs. (Five original co-sponsors. Underlying bill held at the desk.)

S.AMDT.1169 to S.1348 To reduce to 200,000 the number of certain non-immigrants permitted to be admitted during a fiscal year. (Four original co-sponsors. Underlying bill failed cloture vote.)

S.AMDT.2132 to H.R.1585 To provide and enhance rehabilitative treatment and services to veterans with traumatic brain injury and to improve health care and benefits programs for veterans. (12 original co-sponsors.)

S.AMDT.2268 to H.R.1585 To provide for an increase in the number of nurses and faculty. (10 original co-sponsors.)

S.AMDT.2402 to H.R.1538 In the nature of a substitute. (50 original co-sponsors. An immensely long substitute for HR 1538, the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act.)

S.AMDT.2467 to H.R.2638 To authorize the release of data used to determine eligibility for assistance under title IV of the Robert T Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. (Obama sole original co-sponsor)

S.AMDT.2509 to H.R.2638 To mitigate the health risks posed by hazardous chemicals in trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes. (Five original co-sponsors)

S.AMDT.2719 to H.R.2764 To prohibit the application of certain restrictive eligibility requirements to foreign nongovernmental organizations with respect to the provision of assistance under part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. (12 original co-sponsors. I think this is legislaton lifting the global gag rule.)

S.AMDT.2797 to H.R.3074 To prohibit the establishment of a program that allows Mexican truck drivers to operate beyond the commercial zones near the Mexican border. (Six original co-sponsors.)

S.AMDT.2872 to H.R.1585 To assist certain Iraqis who have worked directly with, or are threatened by their association with, the United States. (13 original co-sponsors)

S.AMDT.2962 to H.R.1585 To implement the recommendations of the Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health. (Obama one of two original co-sponsors.)

S.AMDT.2969 to H.R.1585 To provide for the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Military Eye Injuries. (Obama one of four original co-sponsors)

S.AMDT.2999 to H.R.1585 To provide for the study and investigation of wartime contracts and contracting processes in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. (26 original co-sponsors)

S.AMDT.3349 to H.R.3043 To prohibit the Secretary of Education from using funds with respect to an evaluation for the Upward Bound Program until congressional examination of the regulation providing for such review. (Seven original co-sponsors.)

S.AMDT.4203 to S.CON.RES.70 To increase funding for the National Institutes of Health and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. (27 original co-sponsors.)

S.AMDT.4230 to S.CON.RES.70 To increase FY 2009 funding for the Byrne/Justice Assistance Grant program to $906,000,000 with an offset. (18 original co-sponsors)

S.AMDT.4245 to S.CON.RES.70 To restore full funding for the international affairs budget, in support of the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, nuclear nonproliferation, foreign assistance, fighting global AIDS, promoting sustainable development, and other efforts, with an offset. (17 original co-sponsors)

S.AMDT.4370 to S.CON.RES.70 To provide for a deficit-neutral reserve fund to make improvements to ensure access to the Medicare program for low-income senior citizens and other low-income Medicare beneficiaries. (16 original co-sponsors)

S.AMDT.4539 to H.R.1195 To call for a review by the Department of Justice of allegations of violations of Federal criminal law. (Three original co-sponsors. Adds section requiring investigation of the Coconut Road earmark, which mysteriously appeared in an earlier transportation bill between when it was passed and when the President signed it.)

McCain: 7 Co-Sponsored Amendments

S.AMDT.98 to S.1 To provide for better transparency and enhanced Congressional oversight of spending by clarifying the treatment of matter not committed to conferees by either House. (2 original co-sponsors. Allows Senators to raise points of order against anything in conference report that was not submitted to conference by either house of Congress, or which provides a level of funding not submitted by either house.)

S.AMDT.411 to S.4 To advance and strengthen democracy globally through peaceful means using transformational diplomacy to assist foreign countries to implement democratic forms of government, to strengthen respect for internationally accepted human rights standards and norms in foreign countries through increased United States advocacy, to strengthen alliances of democratic countries, and to increase support for programs of nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and private groups that promote democracy. (McCain only original co-sponsor)

S.AMDT.477 to S.CON.RES.21 To provide for a budget point of order against legislation that increases income taxes on taxpayers, including hard-working middle-income families, entrepreneurs, and college students. (7 original co-sponsors)

S.AMDT.990 to S.1082 To provide for the importation of prescription drugs. (9 original co-sponsors)

S.AMDT.1173 to S.1348 To provide for minimum sentences for aliens who reenter the United States after removal. (6 original co-sponsors. Underlying bill failed.)

S.AMDT.2019 to H.R.1585 To provide for the care and management of wounded warriors. (McCain only original co-sponsor)

S.AMDT.2174 to H.R.1585 To provide, with an offset, $59,041,000 for other procurement for the Army for the General Fund Enterprise Business System of the Army. (McCain only original co-sponsor)

__________________
“I truly believe that at this point in America’s history we need a president who will not just continue ... basically the policies we have followed in recent years. We need a president with transformational qualities.”

"For that reason, I will be voting for Barack Obama.”
- Former Secretary of State Colin Powell

“You can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska.”
Gov Palin explaining her national security credentials.