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The following is a roundup of political activity going on in Washington and across the nation. It is courtesy of Scott Wilk, Community Organizer, and Anchor Consulting group. The Beacon will be posting these daily as they become available.

IN THE HOUSE

  • The House is in session, but no votes are expected.
  • House Republicans eye majority -  As the Republican National Committee lounges beachside in Hawaii at their winter meeting this week, House Republicans are here, an hour north of the nation’s capital with the majority in sight. (Politico)

IN THE SENATE

  • The Senate convenes at 9:30am with morning business; senators will be permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
  • There will be no roll call votes during Friday’s session.
  • The next roll call vote will occur at 5:30pm on Monday, February 1. That vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Patricia Smith to be Solicitor for the Department of Labor.
  • Bernanke confirmed by Senate for 2nd term as Fed chairman  -  The Senate on Thursday confirmed Ben S. Bernanke for a second term as Federal Reserve chairman, but he scraped by with the narrowest margin in the history of the position and his weakened political standing could weigh on the central bank’s ability to maneuver for years to come. (Wash Post)

OTHER NEWS

  • Surge in Loans Is Unlikely From Small-Business Plan  -  President Barack Obama’s plan to divert $30 billion of federal bailout funds into new small-business loans will prop up thousands of struggling entrepreneurs but is unlikely to break the lending logjam. (WSJ)
  • While Confident Health Care Will Pass This Year, Democrats Still Search for a Plan  -  Democratic leaders in Congress voiced resolute optimism on Thursday that they would adopt major health care legislation this year, and they said that doing so was a crucial element of President Obama’s broader agenda to create jobs, revive the economy and reduce federal budget deficits. (NY Times)
  • U.S. pledges 17 percent emissions reduction by 2020  -  The United States pledged Thursday to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels under an international climate agreement, though it made its commitment contingent on passing legislation at home. (Wash Post)
  • At Florida Stop, Obama Announces Rail Investment  -  President Obama sought to rekindle the fire of his presidential campaign on Thursday as he left behind his political challenges in Washington and began a series of trips around the nation to show that his administration is striving to rebuild the economy and accelerate sluggish job growth. (NY Times)
  • States struggle to keep top teachers  -  Most states are holding tight to policies that protect incompetent teachers and poor training programs, shortchanging educators and their students before new teachers even step into the classroom, according to a new national report card. (AP)

FEDERAL GRANT OF THE DAY

  • Pediatric Pulmonary Centers- The purpose of the Maternal and Child Health Interdisciplinary Leadership Education in Pediatric Pulmonary Centers (PPC) program is to improve the health status of infants, children, and adolescents with chronic respiratory conditions. PPCs support the development, enhancement, and/or improvement of family-centered, community-based care for children with chronic respiratory conditions and their families in a wide geographic area by providing interdisciplinary training of health professionals at the graduate and post graduate levels and by working with State and local health agencies and providers. The centers are expected to be models of excellence in training, service, and research related to chronic respiratory conditions in infants, children, and youth. Eligible applicants include public or private nonprofit institutions of higher learning; for more information, see HRSA. Application deadline: March 15, 2010

TODAY IN HISTORY

  • January 29, 1845- On this day, Edgar Allan Poe’s famous narrative poem “The Raven” was published for the first time in the New York Evening Mirror.

Source and thanks to www.anchor-consult.com/ For more information or to opt-out of this list, contact Anchor Consulting at 703-333-6013 or [email protected]