Up for Debate This Week: National Service, Mental Health Coverage, and Consumer Prod...( WASHINGTON March 3 -- This is th...),Health

WASHINGTON, March 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This is the WashingtonWatch.com federal legislative update for the week of March 3, 2008.

This week, the House will consider H.R. 2857, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, which is also known as the "GIVE Act."

This bill would extend and reform the national service laws, which govern programs like AmeriCorps, the National Civilian Community Corps, and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). Passage of the legislation would cost a little less than $40 per U.S. family.

H.R. 2857

The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act

Costs $36.98 per family

What People Think: 44% For, 56% Against

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_2857.html

The House will also consider the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. The bill would prohibit group health plans and group health insurance issuers from treating mental health benefits and substance abuse treatment differently from medical and surgical benefits.

The precise bill to be considered is unclear, but one version of this legislation, H.R. 1424, would cost about $220 per U.S. family.

H.R. 1424

The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007

Costs $220.92 per family

What People Think: 50% For, 50% Against

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_1424.html

The Senate will consider S. 2663, a bill to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission and amend the regulation of product safety various ways. Cost information for this legislation is not available.

S. 2663

A bill to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission to provide greater

protection for children's products, t
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