Top Legislation - View All

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

Bill Text
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: 09/30/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
Making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes. 7/26/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2008 - Title I: Department of Homeland Security Departmental Management and Operations - Makes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2008 for 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.Withholds specified funds until the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) certifies and reports to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees that DHS has revised its guidance with respect to relations with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to specifically provide for expedited timeframes for providing GAO with [...]

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

Bill Text
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: 10/02/2008 - Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1115.

Bill Text
To prevent tobacco smuggling, to ensure the collection of all tobacco taxes, and for other purposes. 9/10/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2008 or the PACT Act - Amends the Jenkins Act to revise provisions governing the collection of taxes on, and trafficking in, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. (Sec. 2) Revises the definition of "cigarette" to include roll-your-own tobacco and to exclude cigars. Defines "delivery sale" to mean any sale of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to a consumer ordered by telephone, the mails, or the Internet or other online service . Redefines "person" to include state, local, and Indian tribal governments. Redefines "use" to include the consumption, storage, handling, or disposal of smokeless tobacco, in addition to cigarettes.Applies state tobacco tax reporting requirements to: (1) the sale or advertising [...]

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

Bill Text
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: 03/01/2007 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye without amendment. With written report No. 110-28.

Bill Text
A bill to establish a United States Boxing Commission to administer the Act, and for other purposes. 3/1/2007--Reported to Senate without amendment.    (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.) Professional Boxing Amendments Act of 2007 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 to: (1) authorize a tribal organization to establish a boxing commission to regulate professional boxing matches held on Indian land; and (2) provide that its provisions shall apply to professional boxing matches held on tribal lands to the same extent and in the same way as they apply to such matches held in any state. Requires health and safety standards and licensing requirements for matches to be at least as restrictive as: (1) standards and requirements in the state in which the Indian land is located; or (2) the guidelines established [...]

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Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the unlawful acquisition and use of confidential customer proprietary network information, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Protecting Consumer Phone Records Act - Makes it unlawful to: (1) acquire or use customer proprietary network information without written consent; (2) represent that another person has consented in order to acquire such information; (3) obtain unauthorized access to certain systems or records in order to acquire such information; (4) sell or offer for sale such information; or (5) request that another person unlawfully obtain such information. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for a civil forfeiture penalty for violation of this Act. Imposes on IP-enabled voice service providers a duty to protect the confidentiality of specified proprietary information. Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to require each telecommunications carrier [...]

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Latest Action: 07/09/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Bill Text
Supporting the goals and ideals of the Day of Silence with respect to discrimination and harassment faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals in schools.

4/23/2007--Introduced.

Supports the goals and ideals of the Day of Silence (during which students vow to remain silent to bring attention to the harassment and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in schools). Encourages each city and state to adopt laws to prohibit discrimination and harassment against students, teachers, and other school staff regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

Latest Action: 03/19/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

Bill Text
Expressing the sense of the Congress that State and local governments should be supported for taking actions to discourage illegal immigration and that legislation should be enacted to ease the burden on State and local governments for taking such actions.

3/6/2007--Introduced.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) state and local government agencies should be supported for taking actions to discourage illegal immigration; (2) current laws governing immigration enforcement should be enforced to the highest extent of the law; and (3) enhanced border security and enforcement legislation should be passed quickly in order to ease the burden on state and local government agencies.

Latest Action: 02/13/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1924-1925)

Bill Text
A concurrent resolution providing that any agreement relating to trade and investment that is negotiated by the executive branch with another country comply with certain minimum standards.

2/13/2007--Introduced.

Urges that any trade and investment agreement that is negotiated by the executive branch with foreign countries should comply with: (1) specified requirements applying to all countries; (2) specified requirements applying to only the United States; and (3) provisions providing special treatment for developing countries.

Latest Legislation - View All

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 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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Latest Action: 09/09/2008 - FILING AUTHORITY - Mr. Davis (IL) asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform be permitted to file a supplemental report on H.R. 6322. Agreed to without objection.

Bill Text
To amend the District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995 to permit the District of Columbia government to exercise authority over the Public Charter School Board in the same manner as the District government may exercise authority over other entities of the District government. 7/28/2008--Reported to 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.) Public Charter Schools Home Rule Act of 2008 - Amends the District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995 to grant authority to the District of Columbia government to regulate the Public Charter School Board with respect to its membership and the process by which Board members are appointed. Allows the current process to remain in effect until the District enacts a law that establishes such membership and process. Repeals: (1) certain requirements for annual reporting [...]

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Latest Action: 04/28/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Bill Text
Supporting the goals and ideals of the National Day of Silence with respect to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender name-calling, bullying, and harassment faced by individuals in schools.

4/15/2008--Introduced.

Supports the goals and ideals of the Day of Silence (during which students vow to remain silent to bring attention to the harassment and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in schools). Encourages each state, city, and local education authority to adopt laws and policies to prohibit name-calling, bullying, harassment, and discrimination against students, teachers, and other school staff regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity or gender expression.

Latest Action: 03/12/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

Bill Text
To require the Commandant of the Coast Guard to conduct an evaluation and review of certain vessel discharges. 3/11/2008--Introduced. Vessel Discharge Evaluation and Review Act - Directs the Coast Guard's Commandant to conduct an evaluation of vessel discharges, other than ballast water, and report to specified congressional committees. Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to suspend, beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and notwithstanding any other provision of law, any requirement to obtain a permit for a discharge incidental to the normal operation of a vessel. Requires promulgation of a final rule establishing enforceable uniform national discharge standards modeled on the regulatory program for vessels of the Armed Forces and based upon the best available technology. Preempts related state and local laws regarding a discharge incidental to the normal operation of a vessel, subject to exception. Lists [...]

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

Bill Text
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: 06/12/2008 - Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Bill Text
To revise and extend the chemical-facility security program under Public Law 109-295, and for other purposes.

3/5/2008--Introduced.

Chemical Facilities Security Act of 2008 - Extends and transfers provisions requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish risk-based performance standards, require vulnerability assessments, and implement site plans for the security of chemical facilities from the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 to the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

Eliminates the condition that an actual conflict with such provisions would preempt related state or local regulatory authority.

Latest Action: 02/25/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1126-1127)

Bill Text
A bill to prohibit the collection of identifying information of individuals by false, fraudulent, or deceptive means through the Internet, a practice known as "phishing", to provide the Federal Trade Commission the necessary authority to enforce such prohibition, and for other purposes. 2/25/2008--Introduced. Anti-Phishing Consumer Protection Act of 2008 or the APCPA - Makes it unlawful for a person to fraudulently: (1) solicit identifying information from a protected computer; (2) use a domain name in violation of the Trademark Act of 1946; (3) use a domain name in an electronic mail message, an instant message, or on a Web page; or (4) register a domain name in any domain name registration authority. Makes it unlawful for a domain name authority to replace or materially alter the contents of, or restrict access to, any domain name registrant's name or other identifying information in any domain name registration authority database if the authority has received written [...]

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Latest Action: 02/14/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Bill Text
A bill to require the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, to conduct an evaluation and review of certain vessel discharges. 2/14/2008--Introduced. Vessel Discharge Evaluation and Review Act - Directs the Coast Guard's Commandant to conduct an evaluation of vessel discharges, other than aquatic nuisance species, and report to specified congressional committees. Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to suspend, beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and notwithstanding any other provision of law, any requirement to obtain a permit for a discharge incidental to the normal operation of a vessel. Requires promulgation of a final rule establishing enforceable uniform national discharge standards modeled on the regulatory program for vessels of the Armed Forces and based upon the best available technology. Preempts related state and local laws regarding [...]

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Latest Action: 02/14/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Bill Text
To require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to prescribe rules requiring distinctive markings on toy and look-alike firearms. 2/14/2008--Introduced. Requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to promulgate a final consumer product safety rule providing for a distinctive marking or device for any toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm to distinguish the look-alike firearm from a firearm. Includes in the term "look-alike firearm" any imitation of any original firearm manufactured, designed, and produced since 1898, including toy guns, water guns, replica nonguns, and air-soft guns firing nonmetallic projectiles. Excludes any nonfiring replica of a firearm developed before 1898, or traditional BB, paint-ball, or pellet-firing air guns that expel a projectile through the force of air pressure. Declares that this Act supersedes any state or local law relating to markings, identification, or sale of toy, look-alike, and imitation firearms.[...]

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Latest Action: 03/11/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
To protect employees from invasion of privacy by employers by prohibiting video and audio monitoring of employees when in an area where it is reasonable to expect employees to change clothing.

2/6/2008--Introduced.

Employee Changing Room Privacy Act - Prohibits employers from engaging in video or audio monitoring of employees in restroom facilities, dressing rooms, or other areas in which it is reasonable to expect employees to change clothing. Prohibits employers from using monitoring results for any purpose and requires employers to immediately destroy any violating recording. Prohibits retaliation.

Allows video monitoring or audio monitoring by a law enforcement agency as part of a criminal investigation and with a warrant.

Provides for enforcement by the Secretary of Labor. Allows private suits by aggrieved employees.

Asserts that this Act does not alter state law or collective bargaining agreements except where inconsistent with this Act.