The Roll Call in the House of Representatives is an electronic voting machine that is used by each member in attendance (and some not physically present under special circumstances) to which they vote in favor of, or NOT in favor of, the proposed bill. A member can also decide to not cast their vote either way and just list "present" for their attendance. However, before the proposed bill can pass through the House and onto the next step in legislation, it has to be approved (voted YEA) by three-fifths of the Members.
It then goes onto the Senate for review and approval/disapproval, but generally has to have UNANIMOUS approval (this is where the likelihood of NOT passing the bill, or at least major time delays can happen - Senate can make changes/amendments to it, then would have to go BACK to the House for review, put on a calendar (future date) for review, and possibly conference between the two houses (House of Reps. and Senate).
If the Senate should have unanimous approval without further consideration (it takes only one Senator to have a slight reservation, or want to amend some part of that bill) ... it would then go onto Budget Review and presentation to the President to approve or veto the bill (he has 10 days to do this, or if he does not sign action either way within the allotted time frame of 10 days, it automatically passes). It is stated that if a bill is not of a controversial nature (AND WE KNOW THIS IS NOT THE CASE!
... does it usually receive unanimous approval by the Senate and goes through "without a hitch", so to speak...
The time to take action as far as presenting our opposition is now, while it is under review by the subcommittees and task forces, so I would hope that everyone is getting their letters together. Another word of advice, is better to send your correspondence via email, because of the heightened security measures in the Washington, DC, paper mail may be delayed (I personally would send both, even if it is delayed, it is still early, but at least you have your email responses in, and with the addition of the paper mail, this produces more volume of responses of opposition to this.)
If a public hearing is arranged, the House has to give at least one week's notice before it takes place. I have not seen anything yet as far as dates, and I have checked various calendars and subcommittees. I will keep an eye out on this, and post as soon as I can make it available, and it certainly doesn't hurt for the members here to check those website links I provided earlier, in case I can't get to post here in time enough, etc.
There is quite a bit of work still to be done in the process before it goes to the House and voted by Roll Call. We are somewhere around step 5-6 of the Legislative process and the Roll Call is Step 11.
I have no doubt that organizations such as
IGC will more than likely draft their opposition this time around as well. I have checked their site and the latest press release I noticed was Feb. 2006 when this bill was presented again, so I am sure that if they haven't already done so, it is in the works.