Brasília, January 19, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The special session of Congress begins today at 12:00 A.M. with a joint session of the Chamber and the Senate. During the afternoon the two houses will hold regular non-voting sessions. The first voting session of the Chamber will take place tomorrow (20), also in the afternoon.
The first item on the Chamber's agenda is MP (Provisional Measure) 133/03, which establishes the Special Popular Housing Program. The MP was voted last December, but, because of amendments made by the Senate to Deputy Fernando de Fabinho's (PFL-BA) conversion project, approved by the Chamber, the matter will have to be reconsidered by the deputies.
PRIORITIES
The Administration's priorities in the Chamber during the special session are the Parallel Social Security Constitutional Amendment Bill (PEC 227/04) and the two provisional measures that establish a new model for electric energy in the country (MP 144/03 and 145/03).
The Parallel PEC was approved by the Senate in December and represents the result of an accord that enabled Senate passage of the Social Security bill in its entirety, avoiding the need to return the text to the Chamber for reconsideration, which would postpone its implementation. The proposal modifies the Social Security Reform in aspects beneficial to current federal and state civil servants, workers on the informal market, physically handicapped people, and retirees and pensioners with disabling diseases.
ELETRIC SECTOR
The two MPs regulate the electric sector and create the Energy Research Company (EPE). These provisional measures have been polemical since their publication. The PSDB and the PFL moved for the measures to be declared unconstitutional and call for the text to be changed. 766 amendments were proposed to the two texts. The Executive, nevertheless, argues that the measures will assure lower rates for consumers; avert the risk of rationing, through strategies of planning; establish a stable regulatory framework; and create conditions for investments in the sector to be resumed.
AGENDA
The Chamber's agenda for the special session, from January 19 to February 13, includes consideration of 25 questions, among proposals for Constitutional amendments, bills, and provisional measures. The only item on the agenda up for a joint vote in the Chamber and the Senate is Provisional Measure 2223/01, which permits commercial banks, the Federal Savings Bank, housing credit societies, and savings and loan associations, among other institutions, to issue Real Estate Credit Notes (LCI), so long as the Central Bank provides authorization.
PROVISIONAL MEASURES
The Constitutional determines that all MPs are automatically placed on the agenda of special sessions. There are currently 27 MPs under consideration in the Chamber. The time schedule they obey for passage is only interrupted during legislative recesses.
These are the matters that will be voted during the special session:
Parallel Social Security PEC
MPs for the electric energy sector
Reform of the Judiciary
Public-private Partnerships
Special Popular Housing Program
Biosecurity Bill
Tax Reform Complementation
National Anti-Drug System
Creation of Hemobrás (Brazilian Blood Company)
Issue of real estate credit notes
Creation of posts in the Judiciary
Hiring of temporary staff by the Cade (Administrative Council for Economic Protection)
The above information was provided by the Agência Câmara (Chamber Press)
