![](media/image1.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="1.15625in"}**Legislative
Bulletin...........................................April 16, 2007**

**Contents:**

> **H.R. 988** --- To designate the facility of the United States Postal
> Service located at 5757 Tilton Avenue in Riverside, California, as the
> "Lieutenant Todd Jason Bryant Post Office"
>
> **H.Res. 273** --- Supporting the goals and ideals of Financial
> Literacy Month, and for other purposes
>
> **H.Con.Res.71 ---** Commemorating the 85th Anniversary of the
> founding of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
> (AHEPA), a leading association for the Nation's 1.3 million American
> citizens of Greek ancestry, and Philhellenes

**H.Res.179** --- Expressing support for a National Foster Parents Day

**H.Con.Res.88** --- Honoring the life of Ernest Gallo

> **H.Con.Res.76** --- Honoring the 50th Anniversary of the
> International Geophysical Year (IGY) and its past contributions to
> space research, and looking forward to future accomplishments

**H.R. 988 --- To designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 5757 Tilton Avenue in Riverside, California, as the
"Lieutenant Todd Jason Bryant Post Office" (Calvert, R-CA)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The bill is scheduled for
consideration on Monday, April 16, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 988 would designate the U.S. Postal
Service facility located at 5757 Tilton Avenue in Riverside, California,
as the "Lieutenant Todd Jason Bryant Post Office."

**[Addition Information]{.underline}**: Second Lieutenant Todd J. Bryant
of Riverside, California, was killed on October 31, 2003, in Al
Fallujah, Iraq.  Bryant was on patrol when an improvised explosive
device exploded. He was 23 years old.

Todd Bryant's parents worked for Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena
while he attended La Canada High School. At age 17, Bryant joined the
Army Reserves and completed boot camp. He returned to Riverside and
applied to Rep. Calvert's office for a nomination to West Point Academy
in New York, where he graduated in 2003. On August 30, 2003, he married
Jenifer (Reardon) Bryant; nine days later Bryant was deployed to Iraq

Bryant was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington,
D.C., on November 18, 2003. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star,
the Purple Heart and the National Defense Service Ribbon.

(Source: <http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/tjbryant.htm>)

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 988 was introduced on February
12, 2007, and was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, which held a mark-up and reported the bill by voice
vote on March 29, 2007.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: A CBO score of H.R. 988 is
unavailable, but the only costs associated with a post office renaming
are those for sign and map changes, none of which significantly affect
the federal budget.

[**Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of
Government**?]{.underline}: No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: Although no committee report
citing constitutional authority is available, Article I, Section 8,
Clause 7 of the Constitution grants Congress the authority to establish
Post Offices and post roads.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-971

**H.Res. 273 --- Supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy
Month, and for other purposes *(Hinojosa, D-TX)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The resolution is scheduled for
consideration on Monday, April 16, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 273 would resolve that the House of
Representatives:

-   "supports the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month,
    including raising public awareness about the importance of financial
    education in the United States and the serious consequences that
    have resulted from a lack of understanding about personal finances;
    and

-   "requests that the President issue a proclamation calling on the
    Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit
    organizations, businesses, other entities, and the people of the
    United States to observe the month with appropriate programs and
    activities with the goal of increasing financial literacy rates for
    individuals of all ages and walks of life."

The resolution also states a number of findings, including the
following:

-   "personal financial literacy is essential to ensure that individuals
    are prepared to manage money, credit, and debt, and become
    responsible workers, heads of households, investors, entrepreneurs,
    business leaders, and citizens;

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-   "personal financial management skills and lifelong habits develop
    during childhood;

-   "a study completed in 2006 by the Jump\$tart Coalition for Personal
    Financial Literacy found that high school seniors know less about
    principles of basic personal finance than did high school seniors 7
    years earlier, and the average scores in both years were failing
    grades;

-   "United States consumer debt totaled \$2,400,000,000,000 in 2006, of
    which credit card debt alone exceeded \$825,000,000,000;

-   "personal savings as a percentage of income dropped to negative 1
    percent in 2006, the lowest since the Great Depression;

-   "studies show that as many as 10,000,000 households in the United
    States are 'unbanked' or are without access to mainstream financial
    products and services; and

-   "expanding access to the mainstream financial system provides
    individuals with lower-cost and safer options for managing finances
    and building wealth and is likely to lead to increased economic
    activity and growth."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 273 was introduced on March
27, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, which held a mark-up and reported the bill by voice vote on
March 29, 2007.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

[**Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of
Government**?]{.underline}: No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.Con.Res. 71 --- Commemorating the 85th Anniversary of the founding
of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a
leading association for the Nation's 1.3 million American citizens of
Greek ancestry, and Philhellenes *(Maloney, D-NY)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The resolution is scheduled for
consideration on Monday, April 16, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Con.Res. 71 would resolve that the House of
Representatives:

-   "recognizes the significant contributions of American citizens of
    Hellenic heritage to the United States;

-   "commemorates the 85th Anniversary of the founding of the American
    Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), applauds its
    mission, and commends the many charitable contributions of its
    members to communities around the world, and;

-   "requests the President of the United States to issue a proclamation
    acknowledging the 85th Anniversary of AHEPA and its many
    accomplishments."

The resolution also lists a number of findings, including the following:

-   "the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA)
    was founded July 26, 1922, in Atlanta, Georgia, by eight visionary
    Greek immigrants to help unify, organize, and protect against the
    bigotry, discrimination, and defamation faced by people of all
    ethnic, race, and religious backgrounds perpetrated predominantly by
    the Ku Klux Klan;

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-   "the mission of AHEPA is to promote the ideals of ancient Greece,
    which include philanthropy, education, civic responsibility, and
    family and individual excellence through community service and
    volunteerism;

-   "since its inception, AHEPA has instilled in its members an
    understanding of their Hellenic heritage and an awareness of the
    contributions made to the development of democratic principles and
    governance in the United States and throughout the world;

-   "AHEPA has done much throughout its history to foster American
    patriotism;

-   "AHEPA raised more than \$253 million for United States War Bonds
    during World War II, for which AHEPA was named an official Issuing
    Agent for United Sates War Bonds by the Department of Treasury, an
    honor that no other civic organization was able to achieve at the
    time;

-   "the members of AHEPA donated \$612,000 toward the restoration of
    the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, New York, for which AHEPA
    received special recognition by the Department of the Interior;

-   "AHEPA was recognized by the Department of State as an organization
    that has engaged in 'Track Two Diplomacy' to foster reconciliation
    and rapprochement in the Eastern Mediterranean, which is in the best
    interest of the United States; and

-   "members of AHEPA have been Presidents and Vice Presidents of the
    United States, United States Senators and Representatives, and
    United States Ambassadors, and have served honorably as elected
    officials at the local and State levels throughout the United
    States."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Con.Res. 71 was introduced on
February 16, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, which held a mark-up and reported the bill by voice
vote on March 29, 2007.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

[**Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of
Government**?]{.underline}: No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.Res. 179 --- Expressing support for a National Foster Parents Day**

***(Nancy Boyda, D-KS)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** The resolution is scheduled for
consideration on Monday, April 16, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res.179 would express the sense of the
House of Representatives that:

-   "a National Foster Parents Day should be established to recognize
    the contributions of foster parents across the Nation; and

-   "the President should issue a proclamation calling on the people of
    the United States and interested groups to conduct appropriate
    ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate support for
    foster parents across the Nation."

**[Additional Background]{.underline}**: According to the Department of
Health and Human Services, over 513,000 American children are in foster
care because their own guardians are in crisis and unable to provide for
their welfare. It is predicted that by the year 2020 9 million children
will experience living in foster care. In 1988, foster care
organizations worked to establish May as national foster care month.

(Source: <http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/>)

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res.179 was introduced on February
16, 2007, and was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform. On March 29, 2007, a mark-up was held and H.Res.179 was reported
to the House by a voice vote.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.Con.Res. 88 --- Honoring the life of Ernest Gallo**

***(Cardoza, D-CA)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The resolution is scheduled for
consideration on Monday, April 16, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Con.Res. 88 would resolve "that Congress
honors the life of Ernest Gallo, a pioneer in the field of winemaking,
dedicated philanthropist, and community leader."

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: According to the bill, Ernest
Gallo was born March 18, 1909, in Jackson, California, the son of
Italian immigrants, graduated from Modesto High School in 1927, earned a
degree from Modesto Junior College, and married Amelia Franzia. At the
end of the Prohibition Era in 1933, he and his brother Julio founded E &
J. Gallo Winery with only \$5,900 in savings and a winemaking pamphlet
from the Modesto Public Library. Eventually their small family-owned
winery grew into the world\'s second largest by volume, and selling an
estimated 75,000,000 cases a year worldwide under approximately 100
different labels.

Gallo, demonstrating great vision, anticipated the growth of the wine
industry and developed the first-of-its kind vertically integrated
company, with vineyards stretching across California, an on-site
bottling plant, and an art department to design bottles and labels,
changing the face of California\'s wine industry. Today, the Gallo
Winery employs 4,600 people in the State of California, providing
critical highly-skilled employment opportunities in the San Joaquin
Valley and greatly contributing to the economic strength of the State.

Gallo was widely known for his generous philanthropic work in the City
of Modesto and throughout the state of California, including an
endowment for the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, the
establishment of the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at the
University of California at San Francisco for research into genetic,
biochemical, and neurobiological aspects of alcohol abuse, and countless
other healthcare and educational endeavors

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Con.Res. 88 was introduced on
March 9, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, which held a mark-up and reported the bill by voice vote on
March 29, 2007.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

[**Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of
Government**?]{.underline}: No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.Con.Res.76 --- Honoring the 50th Anniversary of the International
Geophysical Year (IGY) and its past contributions to space research, and
looking forward to future accomplishments *(Udall, D-CO)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The resolution is scheduled for
consideration on Monday, April 16, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Con.Res. 76 would resolve that the
Congress;

-   "honors the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year
    (IGY) and its contributions to the scientific investigations of the
    Earth and outer space; and

-   "encourages the public, and especially American youth, to attend IGY
    celebrations and seminars, such as those being planned at locations
    around the United States by the National Academy of Sciences and
    other organizations, and participate in discussions about the future
    of space science and Earth science."

The resolution also states a number of findings, including the
following:

-   "the IGY initiated the Space Age with the successful launch of the
    first artificial satellites, Sputnik by the former Soviet Union, and
    Explorer I by the United States;

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-   "the interdisciplinary approach of IGY and the use of new
    space-based platforms enabled fundamental changes in the conduct of
    research concerning the Earth and its surrounding space environment;

-   "the interdisciplinary approach of IGY enabled coordinated,
    synchronous, global observations and measurements of the Earth,
    oceans, atmosphere, ice, and near-Earth space environment;

-   "the IGY increased our understanding of the causes of magnetic
    storms, ionospheric disturbances, and the origins of cosmic rays;

-   "the use of new space-based platforms enabled the discovery of the
    Van Allen radiation belts, which are trapped, charged particles in
    the Earth's upper atmosphere, showed that those particles form belts
    of energy around the Earth, and contributed to the understanding of
    the Northern Lights; and

-   "the IGY, which occurred during the height of Cold War tensions,
    facilitated international cooperation in science and helped lead to
    the Antarctic Treaty, which established the use of Antarctica for
    peaceful purposes and promoted continued, cooperative scientific
    investigations on the continent."

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: According to the National
Academies, "following a suggestion by National Academy of Sciences
member Lloyd Berkner, the International Council of Scientific Unions in
1952 proposed a comprehensive series of global geophysical activities to
span the period July 1957-December 1958. The International Geophysical
Year (IGY), as it was called, was modeled on the International Polar
Years of 1882-1883 and 1932-1933 and was intended to allow scientists
from around the world to take part in a series of coordinated
observations of various geophysical phenomena. Although representatives
of 46 countries originally agreed to participate in the IGY, by the
close of the activity, 67 countries had become involved."

(Source: <http://www.nas.edu/history/igy/>)

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Con.Res.76 was introduced on March
1, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Science and Technology, which
held a mark-up and reported the bill by voice vote on March 28, 2007.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

[**Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of
Government**?]{.underline}: No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

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