Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 10/03/2008 - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1525, the House moved to agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H10712-10806)

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A bill to provide authority for the Federal Government to purchase and insure certain types of troubled assets for the purposes of providing stability to and preventing disruption in the economy and financial system and protecting taxpayers, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes. 10/3/2008--Public Law.    (There are 6 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on October 1, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Division A: Emergency Economic Stabilization - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Title I: Troubled Assets Relief Program - (Sec. 101) Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to establish the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to purchase troubled assets from any financial [...]

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Latest Action: 10/03/2008 - Ms. DeGette asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

Bill Text
A bill to develop the next generation of parental control technology.

3/3/2008--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Child Safe Viewing Act of 2007 - Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to initiate a notice of inquiry to consider measures to examine: (1) the existence and availability of advanced blocking technologies that are compatible with various communications devices or platforms; and (2) methods of encouraging the development, deployment, and use of such technology by parents that do not affect the packaging or pricing of a content provider's offering.

Defines "advanced blocking technologies" as technologies that can improve or enhance the ability of a parent to protect his or her child from any indecent or objectionable video or audio programming, as determined by the parent, transmitted through wire, wireless, or radio communication.

Latest Action: 10/06/2008 - Presented to President.

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To amend title 49, United States Code, to prevent railroad fatalities, injuries, and hazardous materials releases, to authorize the Federal Railroad Safety Administration, and for other purposes. 10/17/2007--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007 - Title I: Federal Railroad Safety Administration - (Sec. 101) Amends federal transportation law to establish within the Department of Transportation (DOT) the Federal Railroad Safety Administration to carry out, with the highest priority, enforcement of U.S. safety laws with respect to rail transportation (effectively replacing the Federal Railroad Administration). Provides for the appointment of an Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety who shall be the Chief Safety Officer of the Federal Railroad Safety Administration. (Sec. 102) Directs the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to develop a long-term strategy for improving [...]

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Latest Action: 10/03/2008 - Considered as unfinished business.

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A bill to amend title 11, United States Code, to exempt for a limited period, from the application of the means-test presumption of abuse under chapter 7, qualifying members of reserve components of the Armed Forces and members of the National Guard who, after September 11, 2001, are called to active duty or to perform a homeland defense activity for not less than 90 days. 6/25/2008--Introduced. National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008 - Amends federal bankruptcy law to prohibit the bankruptcy court from dismissing or converting a case based on means testing while the debtor: (1) is either on active duty in the military service of the United States or performing a homeland defense activity for at least 90 days, and during the 540 days following the end of such period; and (3) was called to such active duty or performed such homeland defense activity after September 11, 2001, as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces or the National Guard.Directs [...]

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Latest Action: 10/02/2008 - Presented to President.

Bill Text
A bill to improve the quality of federal and state data regarding the availability and quality of broadband services and to promote the deployment of affordable broadband services to all parts of the Nation. 10/24/2007--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Broadband Data Improvement Act - (Sec. 3) Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to: (1) revise the definitions of advanced telecommunications capability, or broadband; (2) identify tiers of broadband service in which most connections can reliably transmit full-motion, high definition video; and (3) revise certain provider reporting requirements to enable the FCC to identify actual numbers of broadband connections by customer type and geographic area. Requires the FCC to determine certain demographic data for geographical areas that are not served by any provider of advanced telecommunications capability. Requires expansion of the American Community Survey to elicit [...]

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Latest Action: 10/03/2008 - House Committee on Foreign Affairs Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Jan. 3, 2009.

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To require disclosure of Holocaust-era policies by insurers and establish a federal cause of action for claims arising out of a covered policy. 8/1/2008--Reported to House amended, Part I.    (There is 1 other summary) Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Requires insurers of Holocaust-era policies to: (1) respond within 90 days to written inquiries from eligible persons regarding such polices; (2) provide to such persons all information in the possession of such insurer regarding whether such person is a potential beneficiary; and (3) notify the Holocaust Claims Processing Office (HCPO) immediately in writing of the inquiry, with a copy of all acknowledgments and information provided to such eligible person. Terminates such requirement 10 years after enactment of this Act. Instructs the Secretary of State to: (1) seek to enter into an agreement with each European country with which no appropriate agreement exists to [...]

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Latest Action: 10/03/2008 - Presented to President.

Bill Text
To amend the commodity provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to permit producers to aggregate base acres and reconstitute farms to avoid the prohibition on receiving direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, or average crop revenue election payments when the sum of the base acres of a farm is 10 acres or less, and for other purposes. 9/24/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 with respect to producers, including peanut producers, with 10 or less base acres to: (1) suspend a prohibition on direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, or average crop revenue election payments for crop years 2008-2009; and (2) extend the 2008 signup deadline for direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, or average crop revenue election payments until the later of November 14, 2008, or the end of the 45-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. Directs [...]

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Latest Action: 09/30/2008 - Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.

Bill Text
A bill to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to quickly and fairly address the abundance of surplus manufactured housing units stored by the Federal Government around the country at taxpayer expense. 9/29/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 3 other summaries) Directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) establish criteria for determining whether individual temporary housing units stored by FEMA are in usable condition; (2) complete an assessment to determine the number of units FEMA needs in stock to respond appropriately to major disasters; and (3) implement a plan to store such number of units, to sell, transfer, or donate excess units in usable condition, and to dispose of units not in usable condition. Makes the plan subject to Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act disposal requirements and other applicable law. Directs the Administrator [...]

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Latest Action: 10/03/2008 - House Committee on Agriculture Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Jan. 3, 2009.

Bill Text
To provide for the protection of paleontological resources on Federal lands, and for other purposes. 5/22/2008--Reported to House amended, Part I.    (There is 1 other summary) Paleontological Resources Preservation Act - (Sec. 3) Directs the the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate, to: (1) manage and protect paleontological resources on federal land, using scientific principles and expertise; and (2) develop plans for inventorying, monitoring, and deriving the scientific and educational use of such resources. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to establish a program to increase public awareness about such resources. (Sec. 5) Prohibits a person from collecting a paleontological resource from federal land without a permit issued under this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to allow casual collecting of a reasonable amount of common invertebrate and plant paleontological resources for non-commercial personal uses [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 09/30/2008 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10127-10129; text as passed Senate: CR S10127; text of measure as introduced: CR S10178)

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A resolution designating September 2008 as "National Youth Court Month".
Latest Action: 09/24/2008 - Committee on Environment and Public Works. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Boxer. With written report No. 110-499. Minority views filed.

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An original bill to restore the value of every American in environmental decisions, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 09/30/2008 - Signed by President.

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To amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, and for other purposes. 9/22/2008--Introduced. Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2008, Part II - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend from September 30, 2008, through March 31, 2009: (1) excise taxes on aviation fuels and air transportation of persons and property; and (2) the expenditure authority for the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. Amends federal transportation laws to extend funding from September 30, 2008, through March 31, 2009, for airport improvement program (AIP) projects, including project grant authority. Authorizes obligation at any time during FY2009 of funds made available by this Act. Prescribes a formula for calculating funding apportionments to implement the program. Extends through March 31, 2009,[...]

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Latest Action: 09/16/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Bingaman. Without written report.

Bill Text
An original bill to protect innocent Americans from violent crime in national parks.
Latest Action: 09/11/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8392)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for the production of energy, to provide transportation and domestic fuel security, and to provide incentives for energy conservation and energy efficiency, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 09/11/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Bill Text
A bill to require United States Government representatives to present to the Government of Iraq a plan to establish an oil trust.

9/11/2008--Introduced.

Support for Iraq Oil Trust Act of 2008 - Withholds specified percentages of Economic Support Fund assistance for Iraq unless the Secretary of State certifies within specified time periods to the appropriate congressional committees that U.S. government representatives have presented an oil trust plan to Iraqi government representatives.