Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 10/08/2008 - Became Public Law No: 110-371.

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A bill to reauthorize and improve the program authorized by the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965. 7/15/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 3 other summaries) Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 2008- Limits the amount of Appalachian regional development grants and loans for projects in at-risk counties to 70% of project costs. Directs the Appalachian Regional Commission to designate as "at-risk" those counties in the Appalachian region that are most at risk of becoming economically distressed.Authorizes the Commission to provide technical assistance, provide grants, enter into contracts, or otherwise provide amounts to entities in the region for projects and activities to: (1) promote energy efficiency; (2) increase the use of renewable energy resources; and (3) support the development of regional, conventional energy resources to produce electricity and heat through advanced technologies.Authorizes [...]

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Latest Action: 10/07/2008 - Signed by President.

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To provide for the investigation of certain unsolved civil rights crimes, and for other purposes. 6/20/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 - Directs the Attorney General to designate a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Makes the Deputy Chief responsible for investigating and prosecuting violations of criminal civil rights statutes in which the alleged violation occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in death. (Sec. 4) Directs the Attorney General to designate a Supervisory Special Agent in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the DOJ to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in a death. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state or local law enforcement agencies for the investigation [...]

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Latest Action: 10/08/2008 - Signed by President.

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A bill to reauthorize the United States Fire Administration, and for other purposes. 9/24/2008--Passed House without amendment.    (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on September 18, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) for FY2009-FY2012. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Superintendent of the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control to include within fire service personnel training: (1) tactics and strategies for dealing with natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; (2) applying new technology and developing strategies and tactics for fighting wildfires; (3) tactics and strategies for fighting large-scale or multiple fires in [...]

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Latest Action: 10/08/2008 - Signed by President.

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To reauthorize the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program, and for other purposes. 7/14/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to: (1) require state and local governments to implement a process for the collection of DNA samples from all felons in their prisons for inclusion in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); (2) allow use of grant funds for DNA analyses of samples from missing or unidentified persons; and (3) increase and extend the authorization of appropriations for such Act for FY2010-FY2014. (Sec. 3) Expresses the sense of Congress that as a result of the DNA analysis backlog violent crimes remain unsolved and wrongfully convicted individuals have not been determined to be innocent. Requires the National Academy of Sciences to study and report to the Attorney General [...]

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Latest Action: 10/08/2008 - Signed by President.

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To extend the waiver authority for the Secretary of Education under section 105 of subtitle A of title IV of division B of Public Law 109-148, relating to elementary and secondary education hurricane recovery relief, and for other purposes. 9/15/2008--Introduced. Amends the Hurricane Education Recovery Act, title IV of division B of the Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006, with respect to elementary and secondary education hurricane recovery relief. Extends through FY2009 the authority of the Secretary of Education, in providing any grant or other assistance to an entity in a state which in 2005 suffered a major disaster related to Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita, to waive or modify, in order to ease fiscal burdens, any elementary and secondary education assistance requirement relating to: (1) maintenance of effort; (2) use of federal funds to supplement, [...]

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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: 05/09/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

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To provide for a credit for employers of tipped employees in determining the minimum wage required in States that require employers to pay a minimum wage at a rate higher than the Federal rate.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Minimum Wage Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exclude tips in determining an employee's minimum wage to the extent that tips are excluded from that employee's wage under the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Requires states and localities to permit a tip credit meeting certain criteria if, after enactment of this Act, they prohibit any portion of a tipped employee's tips from being considered as wages in determining if such employee has been paid the minimum wage rate.

Latest Action: 03/16/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.

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To preserve affordable housing opportunities for low-income families, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Stabilizing Affordable Housing for the Future Act - Amends the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 and the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978 to: (1) repeal certain conditions on the authority of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to manage multifamily projects; and (2) authorize the Secretary to provide grants (including up-front grants) and loans from the General Insurance Fund when managing and disposing of such properties. Instructs the Secretary to maintain rental assistance payments for dwelling units in any multifamily property program administered by the Secretary. Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to redefine loan market value and property market value with respect to physically distressed properties sold by HUD in discount [...]

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Latest Action: 04/23/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.

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To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a long-term lease with the Government of the United States Virgin Islands to provide land on the island of Saint John, Virgin Islands, for the establishment of a school, and for other purposes.

10/22/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Virgin Islands National Park School Lease Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to lease certain Virgin Islands National Park land on the island of Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands, to the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands for the purpose of establishing a school on such island.

Limits the lease authorized by this Act to a 99-year term.

Allows the Secretary to require such additional terms and conditions in connection with the lease as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect U.S. interests.

Latest Action: 06/29/2007 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
To repeal certain sections of the Act of May 26, 1936, pertaining to the Virgin Islands.

6/29/2007--Public Law.    (There are 4 other summaries)

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

Repeals specified provisions pertaining to real property taxation in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Deems such amendment to have taken effect on July 22, 1954.

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 09/26/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee conc

Bill Text
Making supplemental appropriations for job creation and preservation, infrastructure investment, and economic and energy assistance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 110-862, by Mr. Price (NC).

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Making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. 9/18/2008--Introduced. Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2009 for: (1) the Offices of the Secretary, the Under Secretary for Management, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Information Officer, the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, and the Inspector General; (2) Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including for customs and border protection fencing, infrastructure, and technology; (3) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including for detention and removal operations (including to identify and remove aliens who have been convicted of a crime once they are judged deportable) and the Federal Protective Service; (4) the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), including for screening operations and procurement and installation [...]

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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.

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An original bill to protect innocent Americans from violent crime in national parks.
Latest Action: 09/12/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8482-8498)

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A bill to amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to expand and improve opportunities for service, and for other purposes. 9/12/2008--Introduced. Serve America Act - Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to create two new service-learning programs: (1) a Youth Engagement Zones to Strengthen Communities program, providing competitive grants to partnerships between local educational agencies that serve high-need, low-income communities and certain community-based or state entities to engage students and out-of-school youth in service-learning addressing specific challenges faced by their communities; and (2) a Campus of Service program, which annually grants up to 30 institutions of higher education (IHEs) with exemplary service-learning programs the funds to assist their students' pursuit of public service careers, and the right to nominate additional individuals for ServeAmerica Fellowships. Directs the Corporation for National and Community [...]

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Latest Action: 10/02/2008 - Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
Celebrating 75 years of effective State-based alcohol regulation and recognizing State lawmakers, regulators, law enforcement officers, the public health community and industry members for creating a workable, legal, and successful system of alcoholic beverage regulation, distribution, and sale.

9/16/2008--Introduced.

Celebrates 75 years of effective state-based alcohol regulation.

Recognizes the successful system of alcoholic beverage regulation, distribution, and sale.

Expresses continued support for policies that allow states to effectively regulate alcohol.

Latest Action: 10/08/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
To extend the waiver authority for the Secretary of Education under section 105 of subtitle A of title IV of division B of Public Law 109-148, relating to elementary and secondary education hurricane recovery relief, and for other purposes. 9/15/2008--Introduced. Amends the Hurricane Education Recovery Act, title IV of division B of the Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006, with respect to elementary and secondary education hurricane recovery relief. Extends through FY2009 the authority of the Secretary of Education, in providing any grant or other assistance to an entity in a state which in 2005 suffered a major disaster related to Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita, to waive or modify, in order to ease fiscal burdens, any elementary and secondary education assistance requirement relating to: (1) maintenance of effort; (2) use of federal funds to supplement, [...]

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Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

Bill Text
To advance the national security interests of the United States by reducing its dependency on oil through renewable and clean, alternative fuel technologies while building a bridge to the future through expanded access to Federal oil and natural gas resources, revising the relationship between the oil and gas industry and the consumers who own those resources and deserve a fair return from the development of publicly owned oil and gas, ending tax subsidies for large oil and gas companies, and facilitating energy efficiencies in the building, housing, and transportation sectors, and for other purposes. 9/15/2008--Introduced. Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act - Prohibits oil and gas preleasing or leasing of any area of the Outer Continental Shelf that was not available for oil and gas leasing as of July 1, 2008, unless that action is expressly authorized by this Act or a statute enacted by Congress after the date of enactment of this Act. [...]

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Latest Action: 10/03/2008 - Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10808-10814)

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To provide for additional emergency unemployment compensation.
Latest Action: 09/23/2008 - Received in the Senate.

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A bill to establish in the Federal Bureau of Investigation the Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Coordinator to address mortgage fraud in the United States, and for other purposes. 9/22/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Coordinator Act of 2008 - Requires the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assign the Chief of its Financial Crimes Section, Criminal Investigative Division, to be the Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Coordinator, who shall oversee all FBI activities related to investigation of mortgage fraud. Directs the Coordinator to: (1) establish regional task forces, consisting of the voluntary participation of federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, to organize initiatives to address mortgage fraud; (2) train such agencies; (3) collect and disseminate mortgage fraud data; and (4) perform other related functions. Authorizes the Coordinator to: (1) [...]

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Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

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To restore Second Amendment rights in the District of Columbia. 9/9/2008--Introduced. National Capital Security and Safety Act - Requires the District of Columbia to revise its firearms laws and regulations as necessary to comply with the requirements of the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller. Amends the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975 (FCRA) to direct the District Mayor and Council to ensure that such Act and its related regulations are consistent with the requirements of District of Columbia v. Heller and the criteria of this Act. Specifies as such criteria the need to ensure that nothing in the revisions to FCRA will: (1) place at risk the safety and security of federal buildings, other federal interests in the District, federal employees, or the people who reside in or visit the District; (2) interfere with the operations of federal law enforcement officials, the Metropolitan Police Department, and other [...]

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