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A summary is presented of the bill H. R. 3590, the health care overhaul bill, prepared by U.S. Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The article reports on the nomination of Ben S. Bernanke as chairman of Federal Reserves. It says that the Senate Banking Panel voted on December 17, 2009 to endorse Ben S. Bernanke for another four-year term as Federal Reserve chairman in line with the expiration of his term on January 31, 2009. It states that four Republicans, which include Robert F. Bennett of Utah, Bob Corker of Tennessee, and Mike Johanns of Nebraska, support nomination of Bernanke.

The article reports on the approval given to the bill which widens the eligibility and increase the number of rent vouchers for low-income Americans on July 23, 2009 from the House Financial Services Committee in the U.S. According to the article, the bill changes the pattern used by housing agencies to calculate wage eligibility and would define tenant protections. It is stated that the bill intends to aid in fighting shortages in housing that have worsened the recession.

The article announces that the House Committee on Financial Services has approved a bill that would broaden the authority of the special inspector general for the financial bailout program made by the U.S. Congress in October 2008. The bill would amend what is known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to allow the inspector general to audit any action taken under the law. The bill also authorizes the inspector general to quickly hire more auditors and investigators.

The article offers news briefs related to U.S. politics. Representative Barney Frank has stood behind the effort of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke to stabilize the banking industry. Republican Michael N. Castle has offered an amendment that would have allowed the inspector general to examine the use of Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds by any federal agency.