Congress has passed a good law allowing college students to take up to a year off of school for medical reasons and still remain on their family’s health insurance plan.

The House passed a defense appropriations bill that the Senate will likely pass next week. Both bills include a hate crimes provision covering homosexuals. The House also cleared its agricultural appropriations bill, along with the Senate.

Lastly, the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on its version of the health care bill on Tuesday.