MSNBC’s Alan Boyle has an update on his weblog about the status of HR 3752/S 2772. Right now the bill is bogged down in talks between House and Senate staffers about coordinating changes in the legislation, with an emphasis on liability concerns. This aligns with what I have heard from second- and third-hand sources about the progress of the bill; one source said that the office of Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-SC) is where many of the liability concerns have come from. There’s considerable skepticism that the bill can be completed this year: there are no more than 2-3 weeks left in the legislative calendar before Congress recesses for the election. There is the possibility of a lame duck session after the election, but there’s no guarantee that such a session will be called (it may depend on the outcome of the election), and if the legislation would even be considered during the session.
I think HR5041(VA/HUD Appropriation Bill) would be a higher priority. The Senate should be doing their markup soon.
House, Senate Negotiators Working To Push Suborbital Bill
http://space.com/spacenews/businessmonday_040920.html
“the office of Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-SC) is where many of the liability concerns have come from”
And this South Carolinian is thrilled that Fritz is retiring this year!