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: 10/06/2008 - 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 under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10808-10814)

Bill Text
To provide for additional emergency unemployment compensation.
Latest Action: 09/29/2008 - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1517, the House moved to agree to the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment with an amendment. (consideration: CR H10337-10411; text of Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate a

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An Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief and protections for military personnel, and for other purposes. 12/19/2007--Senate agreed to House amendment with amendment.    (There are 4 other summaries) Defenders of Freedom Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax relief and earnings assistance to members of the uniformed services, increase penalties for noncompliance with tax requirements, and make technical amendments and clerical corrections.Title I: Benefits for Military - (Sec. 101) Makes permanent the taxpayer election to include combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of computing the earned income tax credit. (Sec. 102) Makes permanent the eligibility of veterans for mortgage bond financing of residences without regard to first-time homebuyer requirements. Increases to $100 million the veterans' mortgage bond limitation in Alaska, Oregon, and Wisconsin.[...]

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

Bill Text
A bill to prohibit the sale, distribution, transfer, and export of elemental mercury, and for other purposes.

3/15/2007--Introduced.

Mercury Market Minimization Act of 2007 - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to: (1) prohibit any federal agency from conveying, selling, or distributing to any other federal, state, or local agency, or any private individual or entity, any elemental mercury under the control or jurisdication of such agency; (2) prohibit the export of elemental mercury from the United States effective January 1, 2010; (3) require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to report to Congress on mercury compounds that may currently be used in products or processes; and (4) establish the Excess Mercury Storage Advisory Committee.

Latest Action: 10/02/2008 - Message on Senate action sent to the House.

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A bill to prevent and reduce trafficking in persons.

7/28/2008--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Trafficking in Persons Accountability Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to grant U.S. courts additional extraterritorial jurisdiction over criminal offenses involving peonage, slavery, sales of persons into involuntary servitude, forced labor, trafficking in persons, and sex trafficking of children if: (1) the alleged offender or victim of any such offense is a national or permanent resident of the United States; or (2) the alleged offender is present in the United States, irrespective of the nationality of such offender.

Prohibits U.S. prosecution of an alleged trafficking offender who is prosecuted by a foreign government whose jurisdiction is recognized by the United States, except upon the approval of the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General.

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

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To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to extend, modify, and recodify the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance security and protect against acts of terrorism against chemical facilities, and for other purposes. 3/14/2008--Reported to House without amendment, Part I.    (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Homeland Security should: (1) extend and modify the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards; (2) take a holistic approach to securing sources of chemicals against a terrorist attack; and (3) expediently exercise existing authority to ensure that by focusing on chemicals at fixed site facilities, risk is not transferred to other potential sources of such chemicals.(Sec. 4) Amends [...]

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Latest Action: 10/02/2008 - Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 110-906.

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To amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to consolidate the housing assistance programs for homeless persons under title IV of such Act, and for other purposes. 2/6/2007--Introduced. Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2007 - Amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to consolidate housing assistance programs for homeless persons. Requires the establishment of a community homeless assistance planning board for a geographic area to lead a collaborative planning process to design, execute, and evaluate programs, policies, and practices to prevent and end homelessness. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to designate an entity to be a community board if it has engaged in local homeless housing and services planning and has applied for federal funding for homeless assistance prior to enactment of this Act. Instructs the Secretary to make available technical assistance to governmental [...]

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Latest Action: 09/28/2008 - Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-898.

Bill Text
To ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by making the antitrust laws apply to negotiations between groups of independent pharmacies and health plans and health insurance issuers (including health plans under parts C and D of the Medicare Program) in the same manner as such laws apply to protected activities under the National Labor Relations Act. 2/8/2007--Introduced. Community Pharmacy Fairness Act of 2007 - Entitles independent pharmacies negotiating contract terms with a health plan for the provision of health care items or services to the same treatment under the antitrust laws as the treatment to which bargaining units recognized under the National Labor Relations Act are entitled. Treats such a pharmacy as an employee engaged in concerted activities in connection with such negotiations. Exempts actions taken in good faith reliance on this Act from being subject to criminal sanctions or civil penalties beyond actual damages incurred. [...]

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Latest Action: 10/01/2008 - Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Dorgan with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-519.

Bill Text
A bill to establish a program for tribal colleges and universities within the Department of Health and Human Services and to amend the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to authorize the provision of grants and cooperative agreements to tribal colleges and universities, and for other purposes. 7/12/2007--Introduced. Tribal Health Promotion and Tribal Colleges and Universities Advancement Act of 2007 - Through Higher Education: Promoting the Advancement of Tribal Health Act or THE PATH Act - Designates the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health within the Office of Public Health and Science of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to serve as the coordinating officer with respect to programs of tribal colleges and universities relating to health promotion and disease prevention. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a memorandum of agreement with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium to establish programs to: [...]

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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: 09/24/2008 - DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7005.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide alternative minimum tax relief for individuals for 2008.

9/24/2008--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.)

Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2008 for individual taxpayers: (1) the offset of nonrefundable personal tax credits against regular and alternative minimum tax (AMT) liability; and (2) the increased alternative minimum tax (AMT) exemption amounts.

Increases the alternative minimum tax (AMT) refundable credit amount for individuals who have long-term unused minimum tax credits from prior taxable years. Abates any underpayment of tax attributable to the application of special AMT rules for the treatment of incentive stock options.

Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 110-862, by Mr. Price (NC).

Bill Text
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: 09/25/2008 - Received in the Senate.

Bill Text
To require that limitations and restrictions on coverage under group health plans be timely disclosed to group health plan sponsors and timely communicated to participants and beneficiaries under such plans in a form that is easily understandable.