STATEMENT OF SEN. RALPH G. RECTO ON IMMEDIATE CONVENING
OF BICAMERAL PANELS ON 'FAMILY CARE ACT' & 'AFVI'

The Senate now anticipates the naming of their counterparts from the House of Representatives to the bicameral conference committee that would reconcile conflicting provisions of the "Family Care Act" and the Alternative Fuel Vehicles Incentives Act (AFVI).

The twin measures have long been passed in the House of Representatives while the Senate unanimously approved the proposed bills on third and final reading early this week.

The "Family Care Act" (SB 2855) grants reprieve to taxpayers by expanding their list of qualified dependents, including unemployed parents and disabled persons, while the AFVI bill (SB 2856) rolls out tax breaks to manufacturers and sellers of alternative fuel vehicles such as electric-powered cars, which in the process, would lower prices and widen access to such "clean and green vehicles."

We appeal to the House leadership to already name their bicameral teams so that both contingents could buckle down to work as early as Monday next week and shepherd its enactment into law with four session days left before election break.

The Senate already named its conferees to the bicameral panel Tuesday night. It's now the turn of the bigger house.

The two measures are considered less controversial and undoubtedly have wide-ranging impact on ordinary Juan de la Cruz and it would be a waste of legislative energy and taxpayers' money if both bills are not acted upon after hurdling the scrutiny of both chambers.