CD112: Dingle-berries on the Omnibus (2016)

Available for less than 3 days before the votes, the 2,009 page "omnibus" government funding bill was signed into law. History will not look kindly upon provisions that give private companies immunity for forwarding data to the government, make policing political contributions illegal, repeal a food labeling law, restrict international travel, and allow environmental damage. Please support Congressional Dish: to contribute with PayPal or Bitcoin; click the PayPal "Make it Monthly" checkbox to create a monthly subscription to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Mail Contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North #4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Omnibus Outline   Prohibits the FDA from clarifying foods with partially hydrogenated oils as unsafe before June 18, 2018.    Repeals Country of Origin Labels for beef and pork products    Prohibits the sale of genetically engineered salmon until the FDA publishes final labeling guidelines and sets aside at least $150,000 for the labeling program.    Prohibits the government from prohibiting the transportation, processing, sale, or use of industrial hemp     Department of Justice money can’t be used to pay for an abortion unless the life of the mother is in danger - this is valid unless declared unconstitutional The Director of the Bureau of Prisons will have to provide escort services to female names to get an abortion outside the Federal facility.   “None of the funds made available in this Act shall be used in any way whatsoever to support or justify the use of toruture by any official or contract employee of the United States Government”   A national security letter can’t be used by the Executive branch to stop the FBI from issuing national security letters    Prohibits the transfer of Guantanamo Bay prison inmates to the United States   : Prohibits the transfer of Internet domain name system functions during fiscal year 2016   Prohibits Dept. of Justice money from being used to prevent States from implementing their medical marijuana laws.     : Puts no limit on the compensation for foreign people working at the Department of Defense in the Republic of Turkey   Prevents demilitarization and disposal of certain guns   A “buy local” requirement for military purchases of beer and wine   : Says information pertaining to US citizens will only be handled according to the 4th amendment “as implemented through Executive Order No. 12333”    Prohibits the retirement, divestment, realignment, or transfer of RQ-4B Global Hawk aircraft    Prohibits the transfer of Guantanamo Bay prison inmates to the United States   Prohibits realignment of forces at Lajes Air Force Base in Azores, Portugal unless determined that it is not “an optimal location for the Joint Intelligence Analysis Complex”   Prohibits the NSA from conducting “an acquisition” using FISA 702 “for the purpose of targeting a United States person” or from acquiring, monitoring or storing the contents of “any electronic communication” of a US person from a provider of electronic communication services to the public, as determined by FISA 501   Prohibits retirement of A-10 aircraft Prohibits retirement of KC-10 aircraft Prohibits retirement of EC-130 H aircraft   Prohibits any base closures     Allows the Defense Department to transfer an additional $4.5 billion to the War on Terror fund   Department of Defense “operation and maintenance” money can be used in Afghanistan and to counter ISIL   Prohibits permanent bases in Iraq, control of Iraqi oil, permanent bases in Afghanistan   $600 million for Jordan   $250 million for Ukraine for “assistance, including training, equipment, lethal weapons of a defensive nature… and intelligence support to the military and national security forces of Ukraine and for the replacement of any weapons or defensive articles provided to the Government of Ukraine from the inventory of the United States"   Money can’t be used in Syria in contravention of the War Powers Resolution including the introduction of United States armed or military forces into hostilities in Syria without consulting and reporting to Congress     Prohibits any changes to the “fill material” in waterways definition   : Prohibits permits from being required for discharges of “fill material”   ection 312: Prohibits implementation of energy efficient lightbulb regulations     : Can’t redesign the $1 bill   Prohibits any change to regulations and standards used by the IRS "to determine whether an organization is operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare for the purposes of section 501(c)(4)”    Prohibits money paying for any health plans for Federal employees that cover abortions Section 614: Unless the life of the mother is at risk or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest   Defunds White House positions Director, White House Office of Health Reform Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury assigned to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry and Senior Counselor for Manufacturing Policy White House Direction of Urban Affairs   Prohibits the government from requiring a telecom from turning over data it is storing   : Prohibits implementation of safety standards for recreational off-highway vehicles     Customs and Border Protection can’t stop an individual from importing prescription drugs  from Canada if they are carrying 90 day supply or less     Prohibits the transfer of Guantanamo Bay prison inmates to the United States     Prohibits listing of the sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act  Doesn’t say “for fiscal year 2016”    Prohibits acceptance of patents for mining sites Some patents are grandfathered   Prevents mining within National Monuments    No money can be used to require permits for emitting carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, water vapor, or methane emissions from livestock production.    Prohibits regulations requiring mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from manure management systems.   Prohibits regulation of lead in ammunition and fishing tackle     Prohibits implementation of a regulation for minimum wages for seasonal workers   : Prohibits enforcement of regulations designed to audit companies that use foreign workers   Prohibits the promotion of gun control   : Prohibits bussing of kids to overcome racial imbalances   Forces public schools to allow voluntary prayer and meditation programs   : Prohibits funding for research that creates, destroys, or injures human embryos   : Prohibits funds for ACORN   Military Construction and Veterans     Prohibits the transfer of Guantanamo Bay prison inmates to the United States   : Dept. of State    for the “Foreign Military Financing Program”, $3.1 billion to Isreal, to Egypt, for Jordan, for Ukraine   : No money can be given directly to Cuba, North Korea, Iran, or Syria   Rules for financing governments after military coups   Money can be used to “establish governance in Syria that is representative, inclusive, and accountable”     Increased US quota of the IMF fund to 40.8 billion Special Drawing Rights (SDR), about $55 billion as of 12/17 exchange rates     Continues of a regulation limiting commercial truck drivers to 60 or 70 hours per week.     Limits the information the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board will have access to     Prohibits the transfer of Guantanamo Bay prison inmates to the United States   Outline Coming Soon (CD113)      Repeals the oil export ban    “Terrorist Travel Prevention and Visa Waiver Program Reform” Requires people from countries participating in our visa waiver program to have machine readable, electronic passports to enter the US by April 1, 2016. Should have been available since 2005, but people with older passports didn’t need new ones. Now they will : Visas will be required from anyone who traveled to Iraq or Syria and possibly other countries since March 2011 Doesn’t apply to military members or government employees   Reauthorizes health program for 9/11 WTC responders through   Reauthorizes and expands 9/11 victim fund to include damages to business and employment opportunities Does include mental health care   Increases visa fees until September 30, 2025 for businesses who bring in foreign employees by about $4,000 $1 billion will be used to “implement the ”, which will keep track of everyone’s exit and entry data electronically   Creates a new program to give money to some victims of terrorism Money will be handed out by a “Special Master” appointed by the Attorney General will be “final” and “not subject to administrative or judicial review” Eligible people are US “persons” who won a court case against a “state sponsor of terrorism” Victims of the Iran Hostage Crisis will get $10,000 per day they were held, and their spouses and kids will get a lump sum of $600,000, with a maximum payment of $20 million per person and $35 million per family. The President will demand the payment from the offending country before sanctions can be lifted will be given out during 2017, and the fund will close on January 2, 2026. Attorneys can get 25% of the payments Act of international terrorism = torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, or hostage taking   Has something to do with exemptions and Wall Street    : “None of the funds made available by any division of this Act shall bemused by the Securities and Exchange Commission to finalize, issue, or implement any rule, regulation, or order regarding the disclosure of political contributions, contributions to tax exempt organization, or dues paid to trade associations”    : Repeals an exemption for the SEC from the Right to Financial Privacy Act, which allowed them to get financial records from banks without the customer’s knowledge   The budgetary effects of the “Other Matters” division and the Division P tax provisions will not be counted in the PayGo budget      Delays the excise tax on high cost employer health plans until 2019.   Puts a moratorium on a fee on health insurance providers   Extends until 2020 and fades out tax credits for wind facilities   Extends until 2022 and fades out tax credits for solar energy  Votes Passed the House of Representatives Passed the Senate Audio Sources House Rules Committee Hearing: , December 16, 2015. Additional Information Article: by Ezra Klein, Vox, December 18, 2015. Article: by Bill Chappell, NPR, December 18, 2015. Article: by Murtaza Hussain, The Intercept, December 18, 2015. Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: by (found on by mevio) Cover Art Design by