Law and Government Legislation regarding 'Civil rights' in Federal Government

Makes it in order at any time on the legislative day of Thursday, May 1, 2008, for the Speaker of the House of Representatives to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules relating to the following measures: (1) H.R. 5715 (Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008); (2) H.R. 493 (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008); and (3) a bill to provide for a temporary extension of programs authorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

Expresses support for the USS Constellation, a 153-year-old American warship, as an appropriate site for the nation to commemorate the bicentennial of the abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Recognizes and honors the 40th anniversary of the enactment of the Fair Housing Act and the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988. Encourages all people and levels of government to rededicate themselves to fair housing law enforcement and ideals.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Declares that the Senate: (1) recognizes and honors the 40th anniversary of the enactment of the Fair Housing Act and the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988; (2) supports activities to recognize and celebrate the historical milestone represented by the anniversaries of their enactment; and (3) encourages all levels of government to rededicate themselves to the enforcement and the ideals of fair housing laws.

Urges President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority (PA), who is also head of the Fatah Party, to officially abrogate the 10 articles from the Fatah Constitution that call for the destruction of Israel and terrorism against Israel, oppose any political solution, and label Zionism as racism.

Securing American Families by Educating and Training Youth (SAFETY) Through Nonviolence Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state or local governments, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and faith-based entities to prevent or alleviate the effects of community violence by educating, mentoring, and counseling youth regarding the principles and application of nonviolence in conflict resolution.

Gives grant priority to applicants that agree to use the funds in communities experiencing an increase in violence, but lacking the resources to address violence prevention.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Honors the life, legacy, and contributions to civil rights of Chief Standing Bear.

Supports the designation of a national day of remembrance for Harriet Tubman.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Recognizes the 99th anniversary of the historic founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Honors and praises the NAACP for its work to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all persons.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Commemorates the life of the late A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., salutes the lasting legacy of his achievements, and encourages the continued pursuit of his vision of eliminating racial prejudice from all aspects of our society.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Calls for recognition of Earl Lloyd for breaking the color barrier and becoming the first African-American to play in the National Basketball Association League 58 years ago.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Declares that the Senate honors the life of Dr. Hector P. Garcia (a World War II veteran, the first Mexican-American to serve as an ambassador to the United Nations, and the first Hispanic to serve on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights).

Welcomes the commitment of the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to reform its judicial system.

Condemns sexual violence in all forms.

Urges the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to: (1) address the problem of violence against women in Saudi society, to promote equal treatment of women in the country's legal system, and to ensure that victims of sexual violence are not punished for the crimes committed against them; and (2) overturn the sentence of the "Girl of Qatif."

Expresses the sense of the Senate that the hanging of nooses for the purpose of intimidation is a reprehensible, and under certain circumstances, criminal act.

Calls for: (1) thorough investigation by federal, state, and local law enforcement of such conduct and for the cooperation of all private entities and individuals with such investigations; and (2) vigorous prosecution of any criminal violations.

Flu Vaccine Availability Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a demonstration project providing influenza vaccinations to all kindergarten through grade eight students in one or more low-income metropolitan schools for the purpose of studying and reducing any socioeconomic disparities in the provision of such vaccinations.

Recognizes the pioneering career of Carl Stokes, who helped expand political opportunity for minorities by becoming the first African-American mayor of a major American city.

Commemorates the 40th anniversary of the election of Carl Stokes as the Mayor of Cleveland and the first African-American mayor of a major American city, one of the most significant events in the American Civil Rights movement.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the hanging of nooses for the purpose of intimidation is a horrible, and under certain circumstances, criminal act.

Calls for federal investigation of such conduct and vigorous prosecution of any criminal violations.

Recognizes the pioneering career of Carl Stokes, who helped expand political opportunity for minorities by becoming the first African-American mayor of a major American city.

Commemorates the 40th anniversary of the election of Carl Stokes as the Mayor of Cleveland and the first African-American mayor of a major American city, one of the most significant events in the American Civil Rights movement.

Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 - Revises agricultural and related programs and provisions respecting: (1) producer income; (2) conservation; (3) trade; (4) nutrition; (5) credit; (6) rural development and investment; (7) research and related matters; (8) forestry; (9) energy; (10) livestock marketing; and (11) agricultural security.

Military Family Job Protection Act - Prohibits a covered family member who is caring for a servicemember who is undergoing medical treatment for an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated while on active military duty from being denied retention in employment, promotion, or any employment benefit by an employer on the basis of the family member's absence from such employment for a period of not more than 52 weeks.

Includes as a covered family member one who, while caring for the recovering servicemember, is: (1) on invitational orders; (2) a non-medical attendee; or (3) receiving per diem payments from the Department of Defense (DOD).

Declares that the Senate: (1) joins with the people of Massachusetts in honoring the courage of the Little Rock Nine (the nine African-American students who, 50 years ago, were the first to racially integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas); (2) endeavors to ensure that no American is denied access to education because of race or ethnicity; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to remember the importance of equal opportunity in education.

Extends through December 31, 2014, the authority for the Frederick Douglass Gardens, Inc., to establish a memorial and gardens on Department of the Interior lands in the District of Columbia or its environs in honor and commemoration of Frederick Douglass.

Green McAdoo School National Historic Site Study Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the site of Green McAdoo School in Clinton, Tennessee, so as to evaluate the national significance of the site and the suitability and feasibility of designating it as a unit of the National Park System.

Urges Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also Chairman of his Fatah party, to officially abrogate the 10 articles in the Fatah Constitution that call for Israel's destruction and terrorism against Israel, oppose any political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and label Zionism as racism.

Condemns the continuing existence of these articles as part of the Fatah Constitution.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Amends P.L. 109-116 (relating to obtaining a statue of Rosa Parks and placing it in the U.S. Capitol in National Statuary Hall) to extend the time period that the Joint Committee on the Library has to enter into an agreement to obtain a statue of Rosa Parks. Allows the Joint Committee to authorize the Architect of the Capitol to enter into the agreement and related contracts required under such law on its behalf, under such terms and conditions as it may require.

Makes such amendments effective as if included in the enactment of P.L. 109-116.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate the significance of the 1816 Farmington Quaker Meetinghouse in Farmington, New York, as well as the suitability and feasibility of its inclusion in the National Park System (NPS) as part of the Women's Rights National Historical Park.

Celebrates the 90th birthday of Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh.

Honors Reverend Hesburgh for a lifetime of selfless dedication to the Catholic Church, our Nation, and the University of Notre Dame.

Endorses reforms for freedom and democracy in Vietnam, including those reforms advocated by Dr. Nguyen Dan Que's 9-point road map to democracy.

Urges the U.S. government to utilize such reforms to peacefully bring democracy and human rights to Vietnam.

Calls for the President to grant a pardon, posthumously, to Jack Johnson (the first African-American professional boxer to hold the title of Heavyweight Champion of the World) to expunge from the annals of American criminal justice a racially motivated abuse of the federal government's prosecutorial authority and to recognize his athletic and cultural contributions to society.

Honors the life and accomplishments of Katherine Dunham. Recognizes her immeasurable contributions to the arts and all of humanity.

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) nonviolence and Mahatma Gandhi's teachings remain relevant in today's world; (2) our nation should take an active role in disseminating the message of nonviolence; and (3) the President should request the American people to observe the International Day of Non-Violence.