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This week in the U.S. House

The work of the nation continues apace this week in your U.S. House of Representatives, which, relatively speaking, isn't saying much. The House has been slow getting off the mark this year, what with an historically late return from the holidays compounded by early signs of a bad case of election year gridlock setting in.

Into this void steps Rep. Chris Shays, the Connecticut Republican who is holding his second hearing into cruise ship safety on TUESDAY. Shays, who represents the family of missing honeymooner George Allen Smith, will host family members of victims of cruise ship dangers, along with representatives of some cruise lines.

Over on the floor, the full House will take up legislation related to the extension of the Patriot Act, also on TUESDAY. This is companion legislation to the Act itself, and its passage will clear the way for a presidential signing ceremony later this week.

A taste of legislative controversy comes on WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY when a bill requiring a national uniform food labeling system hits the floor. Proponents want national food label warnings to supersede those of individual states, giving the FDA prime authority. Opponents of the bill say that some states, such as California, have stronger standards for labeling, warning consumers of health risks. The bill's supporters say that having different standards in different states creates an undue burden for industry.

On THURSDAY the House will once again take up and likely pass a bill designed to protect children against predators. The measure would require states to create a registry of sex offenders; increase penalties; and expand the definition of sex offenders. The House passed a similar bill last year that has not been taken up by the Senate.

The winner of this week's trivia question will be the individual who can tell us what Gerard A. Fiorenza, Dewey F. Bartlett and Hiram L. Fong have in common. (Submit a comment with your answer.  We'll reveal the winner Tuesday at Noon ET.)

Every week around Tuesday I commiserate with the editor of this blog about the paucity of comments generated by my writings. If I had any sense, I would recognize this as a good thing. After all, the national legislature is a serious place and I am a straight news reporter. But instead, I allow this apparent disinterest to torment me. Consequently, I have gone so far as to develop something I call the "Volatility Coefficient" -- a list of keywords that is guaranteed to elicit reader feedback, with a value assigned to each word and a formula to calculate the number of responses per additional mention of the word. To wit:

On WEDNESDAY the House will take up a measure designating the William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home, in Hope, Arkansas as a National Historic Site and unit of the National Park System. True story.

The Viq VC says I will get 5 responses.

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