Health Care Law

If you'd like to keep up with what the House and Senate are debating each day about health care, you can browse the daily edition of the Congressional Record. Today's daily digest is actually a day or so behind, but still provides a quick way of seeing what amendments are being proposed to The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed March 22, 2010 in the House of Representatives. 

To see the bill that became The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act go to THOMAS from the Library of Congress and access the text of House bill  HR 3590 and the separate House Reconciliation bill H.R. 4872.   Once you access a bill on THOMAS, you'll see a chart that provides links to additional information such as CBO (Congressional Budget Office) cost estimates, related bills,  and CRS (Congressional Research Service) summaries. Under the Latest Major Action there is a link to Public Law No: 111-148. The text of this law will be available in the near future from the link on Thomas and from Public and Private Laws.

2010 Census Help

Did you receive the notification card that your census form was on the way, but still haven't received the form?  The Census Bureau has provided 283 answers to questions like this about the 2010 census on its Find Answers page. The link to "Did not receive a questionnaire" indicates if you have not received the form by April 12, 2010, you should call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance center during the hours of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (your local time) seven days a weeks from February 25 - July 30, 2010. Different extensions are listed for those who speak English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Russian and for those who are hearing impaired.

For more information about the importance of census, access the 2010 Census home page. Notice the "Select a Language" pull down on the left side.  It allows for viewing the site with a choice of 34 different languages.

March 8, 2010 - International Women's Day

2010 Theme

 Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all

In honor of International Women's Day (March 8, 2010), Secretary of State Hilliary Rodham Clinton suggests that we "rededicate ourselves to advancing and protecting the rights of women and girls, and to join together to ensure that no one is left behind in the 21st century." To see her complete message access http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2010/03/137841.htm.

More information about worldwide celebrations of International Women's Day is available from http://www.internationalwomensday.com. In the United States 128 events are listed to celebrate the day. To see if a celebration is planned near you, access http://www.internationalwomensday.com/search.asp?country=223.

Texas Primaries Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Tomorrow (March 2, 2010) candidates from both the Democratic and Republican parties will be trying to win their party's primary elections. The League of Women Voters provides information about the candidates in their online voters' guides available for both Harris and Ft. Bend Counties. Paper copies of the Harris County guide are also available at service points in Fondren Library.

Harris Votes for those residing in Harris County provides a link to "Find your Election Day Poll and View Voter Specific Ballot."

Registered voters in Texas can choose to vote in either primary, just not both.