Border Security, Medicaid Among Most Searched Bills

6. Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R. 4899)

Previous ranking: 6

Sponsor: Sen. David Obey (D-WI)

Also known as the "Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010," this bill includes a host of proposed spending for a variety of purposes, including $5.1 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster-related audits and investigations and $37 billion to support the war effort in Iraq. The Supplemental Appropriations Act was signed into law by President Obama on July 29.

7. United States Manufacturing Enhancement Act of 2010 (H.R. 4380)

Not on list last week

Sponsor: Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI)

Also known as the "Miscellaneous Tariff Bill," this legislation suspends and reduces hundreds of tariffs through the end of 2012, with the goal of promoting American manufacturing and job creation. The suspensions in this bill are intended to be temporary, meaning that a U.S. business that begins manufacturing a product covered by this act can object to the renewal of the tariff on that product. President Obama signed the United States Manufacturing Enhancement Act into law on August 11.

8. Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act of 2009 (H.R. 3534)

Previous ranking: 6

Sponsor: Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV)

The CLEAR Act was introduced as a response to the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and aims to increase accountability in the management of mineral and energy resources. The bill, which passed the House on July 30, would establish new Interior Department agencies to enforce safety and environmental standards around energy production, as well as to regulate the leasing of federal lands to be used in energy production. The bill also specifically addresses contributing factors to the BP blowout and aims to establish regular inspections of oil wells on the Continental Shelf and to require oil company CEOs to certify annually that their drilling operations are safe. [See photos of the Gulf oil spill.]

9. Emergency Border Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R. 5875)

Not on list last week

Sponsor: Rep. David Price (D-NC)

This bill began similarly to the emergency border security appropriations bill (No. 4, above), but was amended on August 5. The amendment was "in the nature of a substitution," meaning that the entire text of the bill was taken out and replaced with new text. In this case, the bill was altered to include programs to end childhood hunger and reduce childhood obesity. It was passed by the Senate that same day and now awaits House action.

10. Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010 (H.R. 5297)

Previous ranking: 7

Sponsor: Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)

The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act includes provisions to establish a $30 billion fund to increase loan availability to small businesses, as well as an initiative to help fund states' lending programs. This bill passed the House in June and is currently waiting for Senate action.

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