Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt an amendment to HR 2642 that provides education funding for eligible members of the Armed Forces, extends unemployment compensation, establishes moratoria on certain actions regarding Medicaid, and appropriates a total of $28.67 billion for various domestic and international purposes.

Highlights:

• Appropriates payments to be made to fund the higher education of individuals who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces beginning on or after September 11, 2001, based on factors such as length of active duty service and disabilities accrued (Sec. 4003)

• Specifies that these payments to the Armed Forces shall not exceed the cost of in-state tuition at the most expensive public university in the state in which the individual is enrolled (Sec. 4003).

• Establishes a program through which assistance voluntarily provided by an educational institution for a member of the Armed Forces that covers a portion of the amount by which tuition exceeds the cost of in-state tuition would be matched by the Secretary of Defense (Sec. 4003).

• Allows participating states to establish emergency unemployment compensation accounts for eligible individuals that shall contain an amount equaling up to 13 times the individual's average weekly benefit amount for the benefit year (Sec. 5002).

• Extends and expands moratoria relating to Medicaid through April 1, 2009, including (Sec. 6001):
• Cutting Medicaid reimbursements to health care providers;
• Removing Medicaid reimbursements for graduate medical education programs;
• Excluding certain social services related to families and children from being included in the Medicaid program; and
• Restricting optional case management services, outpatient hospital services, or allowable provider taxes.

• Appropriates $14.23 billion for security, military construction, and international matters.

• Appropriates $10.39 billion for expenses related to Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, and other natural disasters, including a total of $450 million for wildland fire management.

• Appropriates $4.05 billion for domestic matters, including a total of $590 million for state and local law enforcement, a total of $275 million for the Food and Drug Administration, and $210 million for periodic censuses and programs.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text