As we advised in a Counsel’s Report ALERT dated October 27, the House Ways and Means Committee approved a budget reconciliation bill for fiscal year 2006 that includes a repeal of the so-called Byrd Amendment. The reconciliation package is expected to be approved by the full House this week, at which point it will be sent to the Senate for consideration. The Senate version of the reconciliation package does not likewise contain a repeal of the Byrd Amendment, but the real possibility exists that the final Congressional version that results from a conference committee of the House and Senate will carry the Byrd Amendment repeal.
Attached is a Political Action letter urging the Senate to adopt the Byrd amendment repeal provision. All Members are urged to send this letter to their Senators as their earliest convenience. For Members’ convenience, we have also attached a “mailing list” which contains the addresses, fax numbers and email addresses (where available) for the Senators in major “AFI States” (e.g., New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts). Please send the letters by fax. (Please note that the mailing list also contains similar information for Congressional Representatives in these States; HOWEVER, we are only asking that the letter be sent to the Senators)
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT AFI PUSH HARD AND NOW FOR REPEAL OF THE BYRD AMENDMENT– THIS MAY BE OUR BEST CHANCE TO ELIMINATE THIS NOXIOUS PROVISION OF THE LAW.
We will keep Members closely advised.
