Top Legislation - View All
Also tagged in: Armed forces, Armed forces reserves, Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy courts, Criminal justice, Debtor and creditor, Defense policy, Emergency management, Finance, Law, National Guard, Terrorism
Latest Action: 06/24/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextTo amend title 11 of the 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. 6/23/2008--Passed House amended. (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 20, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) 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 [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Armed forces, Civil liberties, Classified defense information, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Congressional-executive relations, Courts of special jurisdiction, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Defense policy, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Electronic surveillance, Emergency management, Executive departments, Federal employees, Government employees, Government information, Government paperwork, Intelligence activities, Intelligence officers, Judges, Judicial officers, Law, Legislation, Presidential powers, Presidents, Recruiting of employees, Searches and seizures, War and emergency powers, Warrants (Law)
Latest Action: 02/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Bill TextTo reiterate that chapters 119 and 121 of title 18, United States Code, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 are the exclusive means by which domestic electronic surveillance may be conducted, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. NSA Oversight Act - States that provisions of the federal criminal code concerning wire and electronic communications and their interception and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) are the exclusive means by which domestic electronic surveillance may be conducted until specific statutory authorization for any other such surveillance is enacted. Requires the President to report to the congressional intelligence committees on the Terrorist Surveillance Program of the National Security Agency (NSA) as well as any other program which involves electronic surveillance of U.S. persons in the United States conducted by a federal department or agency without fully complying with FISA procedures. Authorizes [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Administration of justice, Appellate courts, Communications, Court reporting, Criminal justice, Criminal procedure, District courts, Due process of law, Humanities, Judges, Juries, Law, Photography, Radio broadcasting, Sound recording and reproducing, Supreme Court, Technology, Telecommunication, Television broadcasting, Video tape recording, Witnesses
Latest Action: 03/13/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with amendments. Without written report. Bill TextA bill to provide for media coverage of Federal court proceedings. 3/13/2008--Reported to Senate amended. (There is 1 other summary) Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2008 - Authorizes the presiding judge of a U.S. appellate court or U.S. district court to permit the photographing, electronic recording, broadcasting, or televising to the public of court proceedings over which that judge presides except when such action would constitute a violation of the due process rights of any party.Directs: (1) a district court, upon the request of any witness in a trial proceeding other than a party, to order the face and voice of the witness to be disguised or otherwise obscured to render the witness unrecognizable to the broadcast audience of the trial proceeding; and (2) the presiding judge in a trial proceeding to inform each witness who is not a party of the right to make such request. Prohibits the presiding judge from permitting the photographing,[...] show full description
Also tagged in: Appellate courts, Appellate procedure, Armed forces, Civil liberties, Congress, Congress and foreign policy, Congressional oversight, Conspiracy, Constitution, Constitutional law, Counterterrorism, Courts-martial and courts of inquiry, Criminal justice, Criminal procedure, Defense policy, Discovery (Law), District courts, Due process of law, Evidence (Law), Exclusionary rule (Evidence), Foreign policy, Government attorneys, Habeas corpus, Hearsay evidence, Human rights, Intelligence activities, International affairs, Iraq compilation, Judicial review, Jurisdiction, Law, Lawyers, Presidential powers, Presidents, Prisoners of war, Punishment, Searches and seizures, September 11, 2001, Supreme Court, Terrorism, Terrorists, Torture, Treaties, War crimes, Warrants (Law), Witnesses
Latest Action: 09/17/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11563) Bill TextA bill to provide for the effective prosecution of terrorists and guarantee due process rights. 2/13/2007--Introduced. Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007 - Amends federal provisions concerning the prosecution of unlawful enemy combatants by U.S. military commissions to, among other things: (1) repeal the authority for civilian trial (prosecution) counsel in a commission proceeding, but authorize civilian military defense counsel; (2) exclude statements made by coercion; (3) authorize the Secretary of Defense to make exceptions to commission procedures and rules of evidence as required by unique circumstances of military or intelligence operations during hostilities; (4) provide for self-representation by the accused, while requiring assistance by military defense counsel; (5) authorize the military judge to order trial counsel to disclose to defense counsel the sources, methods, or activities in which witnesses or evidence against the accused was obtained; (6) require [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Bankruptcy, Business, Chambers of commerce, Congressional reporting requirements, Consumer education, Consumers, Cooperative societies, Depreciation and amortization, Employee health benefits, Evidence (Law), Federal-state relations, Fines (Penalties), Frivolous lawsuits, Government contractors, Government information, Government paperwork, Government procurement, Health insurance, Health policy, Income tax, Insurance premiums, Law, Lawyers, Legal ethics, Licenses, Medical care, Obstruction of justice, Professional associations, Public contracts, Small business, State and local government, State taxation, Tax deductions, Taxation, Torts, Trade associations, Trusts and trustees
Latest Action: 06/05/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions. Bill TextTo reform laws and procedures affecting small business. 2/13/2007--Introduced. Small Business Growth Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for establishment and governance of association health plans (AHPs), which are group health plans that meet certain ERISA certification requirements and whose sponsors are trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations. Requires the Secretary to establish a Solvency Standards Working Group.Preempts any state law that may preclude a health insurance issuer from: (1) offering health insurance coverage in connection with a certified AHP; or (2) offering health insurance coverage of the same policy type to other employers operating in the state that are eligible for coverage under such AHPs, whether or not such other employers are participating employers in such plan.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2011 the increased [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative fees, Administrative procedure, Administrative remedies, Budgets, Claims, Confidential communications, Congressional reporting requirements, Damages, Department of Commerce, Discovery (Law), Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Government information, Government paperwork, Governmental investigations, Intellectual property, Inventions, Inventors, Jurisdiction, Law, Oaths, Patent infringement, Patents
Latest Action: 01/24/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-259. Additional and Minority views filed. Bill TextA bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for patent reform. 1/24/2008--Reported to Senate amended. (There is 1 other summary) Patent Reform Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Amends federal patent law to define terms, including "inventor," "joint inventor," and "effective filing date of a claimed invention." Modifies the conditions under which a patent may be obtained, including basing patent granting in part on filing dates (often referred to as a "first-to-file" system). Repeals provisions relating to inventions made abroad and provisions allowing statutory invention registration. Requires that a subsequent patent application which names an inventor or joint inventor in a previous application (currently, an application which is filed by an inventor or inventors named in a previous application) have the same effect as though filed on the date of the previous application. Repeals [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Appellate courts, Appellate procedure, Armed forces, Civil liberties, Congress, Congress and foreign policy, Congressional oversight, Conspiracy, Constitution, Constitutional law, Counterterrorism, Courts-martial and courts of inquiry, Criminal justice, Criminal procedure, Defense policy, Discovery (Law), District courts, Due process of law, Evidence (Law), Exclusionary rule (Evidence), Foreign policy, Government attorneys, Habeas corpus, Hearsay evidence, Human rights, Intelligence activities, International affairs, Iraq compilation, Judicial review, Jurisdiction, Law, Lawyers, Presidential powers, Presidents, Prisoners of war, Punishment, Searches and seizures, September 11, 2001, Supreme Court, Terrorism, Terrorists, Torture, Treaties, War crimes, Warrants (Law), Witnesses
Latest Action: 04/20/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. Bill TextTo provide for the effective prosecution of terrorists and guarantee due process rights. 3/8/2007--Introduced. Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007 - Amends federal provisions concerning the prosecution of unlawful enemy combatants by U.S. military commissions to, among other things: (1) repeal the authority for civilian trial (prosecution) counsel in a commission proceeding, but authorize civilian military defense counsel; (2) exclude statements made by coercion; (3) authorize the Secretary of Defense to make exceptions to commission procedures and rules of evidence as required by unique circumstances of military or intelligence operations during hostilities; (4) provide for self-representation by the accused, while requiring assistance by military defense counsel; (5) authorize the military judge to dismiss charges or take other action upon a determination that substitute information for classified exculpatory evidence is insufficient to protect the fair trial right of [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Appellate courts, Bankruptcy courts, Claims, Courts of special jurisdiction, Criminal procedure, District courts, Finance, Judges, Law, Magistrates, Pretrial procedure
Latest Action: 04/20/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property. Bill TextTo amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for reassignment of certain Federal cases upon request of a party. 3/9/2007--Introduced. Peremptory Challenge Act of 2007 - Amends the federal judicial code to require: (1) reassignment to another appropriate judicial officer of any civil or criminal case to be tried in a federal district court, the United States Court of Federal Claims, or a bankruptcy court if all parties on one side file a reassignment request within 20 days (with certain exceptions) after initial assignment of a judicial officer; and (2) the chief judge of the court of appeals for the circuit in which the case is to be tried, or another judge designated by the chief judge, to determine any question arising as to which parties should be grouped together as a side for such purpose.
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative fees, Administrative procedure, Administrative remedies, Budgets, Claims, Confidential communications, Congressional reporting requirements, Damages, Department of Commerce, Discovery (Law), Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Government information, Government paperwork, Governmental investigations, Intellectual property, Inventions, Inventors, Jurisdiction, Law, Oaths, Patent infringement, Patents
Latest Action: 09/11/2007 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 348. Bill TextTo amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for patent reform. 9/7/2007--Passed House amended. (There are 2 other summaries) Patent Reform Act of 2007 - Amends federal patent law to establish a first-inventor-to file system and to add or revise provisions governing patent review proceedings and patent infringement litigation.(Sec. 3) Adds and expands definitions relating to patents. Defines "inventor" as the individual or individuals collectively who invented or discovered the subject matter of the invention and "joint inventor" as any one of the individuals who invented or discovered the subject matter of an invention. Defines "effective filing date of a claimed invention" as the filing date of the patent or the application for patent containing the claim to the invention (thus establishing a first-inventor-to-file system).Revises the definition of "prior art" and conditions for patentability [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Communications, District courts, Evidence (Law), Interstate relations, Law, Licenses, Signs and symbols, State and local government, State courts, State laws, Witnesses
Latest Action: 07/11/2007 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextTo require any Federal or State court to recognize any notarization made by a notary public licensed by a State other than the State where the court is located when such notarization occurs in or affects interstate commerce. 7/10/2007--Passed House without amendment. (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2007 - Requires each federal and state court to recognize any lawful notarization occurring in or affecting interstate commerce which is made by a notary public licensed or commissioned under the laws of a state other than the state where the court is located.Requires such a notarization to: (1) use a seal of office as symbol of the notary public's authority; or (2) have the seal information, in the case of an electronic record, securely attached to, or logically associated with, the electronic [...] show full description
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Latest Legislation - View All
Also tagged in: Appellate courts, Appellate procedure, Armed forces, Classified defense information, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Defense policy, Evidence (Law), Government information, Intelligence activities, Jurisdiction, Law, National security, Parties to actions, Security clearances
Latest Action: 04/24/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-226. 10:00 a.m. Bill TextA bill to enact a safe, fair, and responsible state secrets privilege Act. 1/22/2008--Introduced. State Secrets Protection Act - Amends the federal judicial code to: (1) require a federal court to determine which filings, motions, and affidavits (or portions) submitted under this Act shall be submitted exparte; (2) allow a federal court to order a party to provide a redacted, unclassified, or summary substitute of a filing, motion, or affidavit to other parties; and (3) require a federal court to make decisions under this Act, taking into consideration the interests of justice and national security. Requires any hearing under this Act to be conducted in camera. Prohibits an in camera hearing, however, based on the assertion of the state secrets privilege, if the court determines that the hearing relates only to a question of law and does not present a risk of revealing state secrets. Allows a federal court to conduct hearings (or portions) ex parte if the court [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Armed forces, Armed forces reserves, Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy courts, Criminal justice, Debtor and creditor, Defense policy, Emergency management, Finance, Law, National Guard, Terrorism
Latest Action: 06/24/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextTo amend title 11 of the 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. 6/23/2008--Passed House amended. (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 20, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) 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 [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Armed forces, Armed forces reserves, Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy courts, Criminal justice, Debtor and creditor, Defense policy, Emergency management, Finance, Law, National Guard, Terrorism
Latest Action: 11/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law. Bill TextTo amend the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 to exempt from the means test in bankruptcy cases, for a limited period, qualifying reserve-component members who, after September 11, 2001, are called to active duty or to perform a homeland defense activity for not less than 60 days. 10/25/2007--Introduced. Amends the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 to prohibit the bankruptcy court from dismissing or converting a case based on means testing while the debtor: (1) is either on active duty or performing a homeland defense activity for at least 60 days; or (2) was either called to active duty or performed homeland defense activity as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces or a member of the National Guard after September 11, 2001.
Also tagged in: Communications, District courts, Evidence (Law), Interstate relations, Law, Licenses, Signs and symbols, State and local government, State courts, State laws, Witnesses
Latest Action: 09/21/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextA bill to require any Federal or State court to recognize any notarization made by a notary public licensed by a State other than the State where the court is located when such notarization occurs in or affects interstate commerce. 9/21/2007--Introduced. Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2007 - Requires each federal and state court to recognize any lawful notarization occurring in or affecting interstate commerce which is made by a notary public licensed or commissioned under the laws of a state other than the state where the court is located. Requires such a notarization to: (1) use a seal of office as symbol of the notary public's authority; or (2) have the seal information, in the case of an electronic record, securely attached to, or logically associated with, the electronic record so as to render the record tamper-resistant.
Also tagged in: Administrative procedure, Biological warfare, Budgets, Business, Casualty insurance, Chemical warfare, Claims, Coinsurance, Compensation (Law), Congress, Congressional investigations, Congressional reporting requirements, Corporation directors, Cost of living adjustments, Criminal justice, Department of the Treasury, Disaster relief, District courts, Emergency management, Executive departments, Executives, Expedited congressional procedure, Federal advisory bodies, Finance, Foreign policy, Government information, Government liability, Government paperwork, Government trust funds, Governmental investigations, House rules and procedure, Insurance companies, Insurance premiums, International affairs, Jurisdiction, Labor, Law, Legislative resolutions, Liability (Law), Liability insurance, Life insurance, Losses, Nuclear terrorism, Property insurance, Reinsurance, Risk, Senate rules and procedure, State and local government, State courts, Terrorism, Workers' compensation
Latest Action: 12/26/2007 - Became Public Law No: 110-160. Bill TextTo extend the Terrorism Insurance Program of the Department of the Treasury, and for other purposes. 12/26/2007--Public Law. (There are 4 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on November 16, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act to redefine an act of terrorism to eliminate the requirement that the individual or individuals committing a terrorist act be acting on behalf of any foreign person or foreign interest. (Sec. 3) Extends the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program through calendar 2014. (Sec. 4) States that no insurer may be required to make payment for insured losses in excess of its statutory deductible combined with its statutory share of insured losses. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) notify Congress within 15 days of an act [...] show full description
Latest Action: 07/24/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions. Bill TextTo amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require de novo review of claims determinations made by employee benefit plans. 6/7/2007--Introduced. Equality for Workers under ERISA Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require any civil action brought by a beneficiary or participant of an employee benefit plan to be adjudicated as a de novo proceeding (without deference to any prior claim determination).
Also tagged in: Administration of justice, Appellate courts, Communications, Court reporting, Criminal justice, Criminal procedure, District courts, Due process of law, Humanities, Judges, Juries, Law, Photography, Radio broadcasting, Sound recording and reproducing, Supreme Court, Technology, Telecommunication, Television broadcasting, Video tape recording, Witnesses
Latest Action: 10/24/2007 - Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. Bill TextTo provide for media coverage of Federal court proceedings. 5/3/2007--Introduced. Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2007 - Authorizes the presiding judge of a U.S. appellate court or U.S. district court to permit the photographing, electronic recording, broadcasting, or televising to the public of court proceedings over which that judge presides except when such action would constitute a violation of the due process rights of any party. Directs: (1) a district court, upon the request of any witness in a trial proceeding other than a party, to order the face and voice of the witness to be disguised or otherwise obscured to render the witness unrecognizable to the broadcast audience of the trial proceeding; and (2) the presiding judge in a trial proceeding to inform each witness who is not a party of the right to make such request. Authorizes the Judicial Conference of the United States to promulgate advisory guidelines to which a presiding judge may refer in [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Communications, District courts, Evidence (Law), Interstate relations, Law, Licenses, Signs and symbols, State and local government, State courts, State laws, Witnesses
Latest Action: 07/11/2007 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextTo require any Federal or State court to recognize any notarization made by a notary public licensed by a State other than the State where the court is located when such notarization occurs in or affects interstate commerce. 7/10/2007--Passed House without amendment. (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2007 - Requires each federal and state court to recognize any lawful notarization occurring in or affecting interstate commerce which is made by a notary public licensed or commissioned under the laws of a state other than the state where the court is located.Requires such a notarization to: (1) use a seal of office as symbol of the notary public's authority; or (2) have the seal information, in the case of an electronic record, securely attached to, or logically associated with, the electronic [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative fees, Administrative procedure, Administrative remedies, Budgets, Claims, Confidential communications, Congressional reporting requirements, Damages, Department of Commerce, Discovery (Law), Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Government information, Government paperwork, Governmental investigations, Intellectual property, Inventions, Inventors, Jurisdiction, Law, Oaths, Patent infringement, Patents
Latest Action: 01/24/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-259. Additional and Minority views filed. Bill TextA bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for patent reform. 1/24/2008--Reported to Senate amended. (There is 1 other summary) Patent Reform Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Amends federal patent law to define terms, including "inventor," "joint inventor," and "effective filing date of a claimed invention." Modifies the conditions under which a patent may be obtained, including basing patent granting in part on filing dates (often referred to as a "first-to-file" system). Repeals provisions relating to inventions made abroad and provisions allowing statutory invention registration. Requires that a subsequent patent application which names an inventor or joint inventor in a previous application (currently, an application which is filed by an inventor or inventors named in a previous application) have the same effect as though filed on the date of the previous application. Repeals [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative fees, Administrative procedure, Administrative remedies, Budgets, Claims, Confidential communications, Congressional reporting requirements, Damages, Department of Commerce, Discovery (Law), Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Government information, Government paperwork, Governmental investigations, Intellectual property, Inventions, Inventors, Jurisdiction, Law, Oaths, Patent infringement, Patents
Latest Action: 09/11/2007 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 348. Bill TextTo amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for patent reform. 9/7/2007--Passed House amended. (There are 2 other summaries) Patent Reform Act of 2007 - Amends federal patent law to establish a first-inventor-to file system and to add or revise provisions governing patent review proceedings and patent infringement litigation.(Sec. 3) Adds and expands definitions relating to patents. Defines "inventor" as the individual or individuals collectively who invented or discovered the subject matter of the invention and "joint inventor" as any one of the individuals who invented or discovered the subject matter of an invention. Defines "effective filing date of a claimed invention" as the filing date of the patent or the application for patent containing the claim to the invention (thus establishing a first-inventor-to-file system).Revises the definition of "prior art" and conditions for patentability [...] show full description
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