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Latest Action: 12/09/2008 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10837; text as passed Senate: CR S10837; text of measure as introduced: CR S10835)

Bill Text
A resolution designating December 13, 2008, as "Wreaths Across America Day".

12/9/2008--Passed Senate 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.)

Designates December 13, 2008, as "Wreaths Across America Day."

Honors the Wreaths Across America project, the Patriot Guard Riders, and all other volunteers and donators involved in the tradition of placing holiday wreaths at national cemeteries and veterans' memorials.

Recognizes the sacrifices our veterans and service members and their families have made, and continue to make, for our nation.

Latest Action: 11/19/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10670-10671)

Bill Text
A bill to recruit, train, and support principals for high-need schools who are effective in improving student academic achievement. 11/19/2008--Introduced. National Principal Recruitment Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to establish a National Principal Recruitment program awarding matching grants to up to three partnerships each of which consist of a nonprofit organization working with a research organization and local educational agencies to: (1) recruit new principals for high-need schools and provide them with a year-long preservice residency and ongoing support and professional development; and (2) rigorously research, evaluate, and report on such activities so that successful practices can be replicated and each grantee's success in improving student academic performance can be measured. Increases a grant by 50% after the third full school year of its implementation if: (1) such research and evaluation demonstrates that students in high-need schools led,[...]

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Latest Action: 11/19/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10607)

Bill Text
A bill 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. 11/17/2008--Introduced. Economic Recovery Act of 2008 - Makes supplemental appropriations for FY2009 for infrastructure, energy, and economic recovery for: (1) the Department of Agriculture; (2) the Department of Commerce; (3) the Department of Justice (DOJ); (4) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); (5) the Legal Services Corporation; (6) the Department of Defense (DOD) - Civil for the Department of the Army Corps of Engineer; (7) the Department of Energy (DOE); (8) the Department of the Treasury, including the Office of Inspector General; (9) the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); (10) the General Services Administration (GSA); (11) the Small Business Administration (SBA); (12) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); (13) the Department [...]

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Latest Action: 09/22/2008 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9179-9185; text as passed Senate: CR S9185; text of measure as introduced: CR S9215)

Bill Text
A resolution expressing support for the goals of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month by promoting national awareness of adoption and the children awaiting families, celebrating children and families involved in adoption, and encouraging Americans to secure safety, permanency, and well-being for all children.

9/22/2008--Passed Senate 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.)

Supports the goals and ideals of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month.

Recognizes that every child should have a permanent and loving family.

Encourages the citizens of the United States to consider adoption during the month of November and all throughout the year.

Latest Action: 09/26/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9708-9709)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve access to health care through expanded health savings accounts, and for other purposes. 9/26/2008--Introduced. Family and Retirement Health Investment Act of 2008 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to health savings accounts (HSAs) to: (1) permit holders of HSAs and their spouses who are age 55 or older to make an additional (catch-up) contribution to a joint HSA; (2) allow Medicare beneficiaries to continue to contribute to HSA accounts after reaching age 65 and to make contributions to medical savings accounts; (3) permit veterans with service-connected disabilities and Native Americans to contribute to an HSA regardless of utilization of Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) medical services or Indian Health Service or tribal medical services; (4) allow increased rollovers from flexible spending arrangements or health reimbursement arrangements into HSAs; (5) permit the payment of Medicare premiums [...]

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Latest Action: 09/26/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize extended benefits for certain autistic dependents of certain retirees.

9/26/2008--Introduced.

Revises TRICARE (a Department of Defense [DOD] managed health care program) to authorize the Secretary of Defense to provide extended health care services and treatment, by way of contract with private providers, for dependent autism-diagnosed children of military retirees not entitled to hospital insurance benefits under Part A (Hospital Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and not enrolled under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of such title.

Latest Action: 09/26/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9685)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Social Security Act to enable States to carry out quality initiatives, and for other purposes. 9/26/2008--Introduced. Child Care Investment Act of 2008 - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) of title IV of the Social Security Act to increase appropriations for child care assistance grants for FY2009-FY2014. Makes appropriations for FY2009-FY2014 for grants to states to establish: (1) a Quality Rating and Improvement System (or maintain such a system) for center-based child care providers, group home child care providers, family child care providers, and other early childhood education providers; (2) a statewide network of infant and toddler specialists to train such providers; (3) standards that require at least 40 hours of appropriate health, safety, and child development training for an individual before employment with or as a licensed or registered child care provider; and (4) requirements that licensed or registered providers [...]

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Latest Action: 09/26/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the provision of rehabilitation services and case management and targeted case management services under the Medicaid program, and for other purposes. 9/26/2008--Introduced. Medicaid Services Restoration Act of 2008 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to extend medical assistance coverage to therapeutic foster care services.Allows reasonable and efficient payment methodologies, including fee-for-service payments, case rates, daily rates, or other forms of capitated payment, as means of reimbursement for rehabilitative services. Includes medical or remedial services for attainment and retention of functional status among rehabilitative services.Includes among inpatient psychiatric hospital services for children early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment services.Allows payment for medical assistance for diagnostic, screening, preventive, and rehabilitative [...]

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Latest Action: 09/29/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the phasedown of the credit percentage for the dependent care credit.

9/29/2008--Introduced.

Middle Class Dependent Care Fairness Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the mandatory reduction in the rate of the tax credit for household and dependent care services for taxpayers whose adjusted gross incomes exceed $15,000.

Latest Action: 09/30/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2164)

Bill Text
To amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to allow employees to take, as additional leave, parental involvement leave to participate in or attend their children's and grandchildren's educational and extracurricular activities and to clarify that leave may be taken for routine family medical needs and to assist elderly relatives, and for other purposes. 9/29/2008--Introduced. Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) to cover employees at worksites that employ fewer than 50 employees, but not fewer than 25 employees. Continues to exempt from FMLA coverage employees at worksites that employ fewer than 25 employees (currently 50), if the total number of employees employed by that employer within 75 miles of that worksite is fewer than 25 (currently 50).Allows an employee covered by FMLA to take up to 4 hours during any 30-day period, and up to 24 hours during any 12-month period, of parental involvement [...]

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