Capital Update tracks the movement of legislation, the introduction of notable bills, and routine regulatory announcements.
Legislative Action
Drug Abuse
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Dec. 19 on trends in the use of illegal drugs by youths.
Immigrant Children
The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims and Subcommittee on the Constitution held a joint hearing Dec. 13 on the societal and legal issues surrounding children who are born in the United States to illegal-immigrant parents. Several members of Congress have introduced measures that seek to amend the U.S. Constitution to deny automatic “birthright” citizenship to such children.
Department of Education
Grant Criteria
Final Rules
The Education Department in the Dec. 12, 1995, Federal Register published final rules amending administrative regulations governing grant-application criteria. The rules, which go into effect Jan. 11, allow the secretary of education to set selection criteria for discretionary grant programs based on statutory provisions, and to set annual funding priorities for programs without a public-comment period.