Members may recall that both the House and Senate approved the Budget Reconciliation Act at the close of the 2005 Congressional session. However, because the Senate voted on a slightly modified version of the legislation, it was required to go back to the House for a final vote (both houses of Congress must pass identical versions of a bill before it can go to the President for signature). The first House vote on December 19 was extremely close: 212-206. This second, and hopefully final vote, is expected to be similarly close. However, the preponderance of expectation from our sources is that the bill will pass, and the Byrd Amendment repeal provision will become the “law of the land” (albeit with a 20 month “sunset” mechanism).

As we noted in prior Counsel’s Report ALERTS, AFI has been at the forefront of this effort, and has garnered a great deal of attention and good will from Congressional officials and like-minded private groups in the process.

We will, of course, advise Members as soon as the House vote is taken.