Top Legislation - View All

Latest Legislation - View All

Also tagged in: Aged, Chronically ill, Dietary supplements, Disabled, Employee health benefits, Families, Finance, Flexible benefit plans, Food, Health insurance
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 [...]

show full description

Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Aged, Agriculture, Budgets, Farm produce, Food, Grants-in-aid, Hospital care, Hospitals, Medical care, Medicine
Latest Action: 09/25/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Bill Text
A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants to hospitals and other nonprofit inpatient healthcare institutions, Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, and other social service programs for the acquisition of local nutritious agricultural products.

9/25/2008--Introduced.

Healthy Food for Healthy Lives Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide demonstration grants to eligible entities to purchase eligible local or regional products from participating vendors to improve the availability of nutritious meals for: (1) patients and employees of, and visitors to, eligible hospitals, including Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical and nursing facilities; and (2) clients of eligible social service organizations that provide nutrition services.


Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Budgets, Children, Criminal justice, Drug abuse, Drug abuse treatment, Drug courts, Drug testing, Families, Family courts, Federal aid to law enforcement
Latest Action: 09/26/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
To provide grants to establish veteran's treatment courts. 9/26/2008--Introduced. Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act or the SERV Act - Requires the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to delegate to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the authority to administer the veteran's treatment courts program established by this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to states and other entities: (1) to develop, implement, or enhance veteran's treatment courts or to expand operational drug courts to serve veterans; and (2) for programs that involve continuing judicial supervision over nonviolent offenders with substance abuse or mental health problems who have served in the U.S. military. Requires such programs to include mandatory periodic testing for the use of drugs, substance abuse and mental health treatment, opportunities for diversion, probation, or supervised release, and programmatic, offender management, and aftercare [...]

show full description

Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Ambulatory care, California, Clinics, Health policy, Medical care, Medicine, Veterans, Veterans' hospitals
Latest Action: 09/24/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill Text
To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to construct a new community-based outpatient clinic at Ord Military Community, California.

9/24/2008--Introduced.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to construct a new community-based outpatient clinic at the Ord Military Community, California.

Makes such construction subject to: (1) the completion of a feasibility study; and (2) the availability of appropriations.


Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Biennial budgets, Budgets, Congress, Congressional investigations, Congressional reporting requirements, Department of Veterans Affairs, Executive departments, Medical care, Medicine, Veterans
Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9037-9038)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize advance appropriations for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs by providing two-fiscal year budget authority.

9/18/2008--Introduced.

Veterans Health Care Budget Reform Act of 2008 - Requires, beginning with FY2010, a two-fiscal-year budget authority for the following accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): (1) Medical Services; (2) Medical Administration; and (3) Medical Facilities.

Requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study on the adequacy and accuracy of VA baseline model projections for health care expenditures.


Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Biennial budgets, Budgets, Congress, Congressional investigations, Congressional reporting requirements, Department of Veterans Affairs, Executive departments, Medical care, Medicine, Veterans
Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill Text
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide two-fiscal year budget authority for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

9/18/2008--Introduced.

Requires, beginning with FY2010, a two-fiscal-year budget authority for the following accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): (1) Medical Services; (2) Medical Administration; and (3) Medical Facilities.

Requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study on the adequacy and accuracy of VA baseline model projections for health care expenditures.


Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Ambulatory care, Armed forces, Auditing, Authorization, Biological warfare, Budgets, Building construction, Chemical warfare, Collection of accounts, Congregate housing
Latest Action: 09/12/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill Text
To authorize major medical facility projects and major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2009, to extend certain authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 9/11/2008--Passed House without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary) Veterans' Programs Extension and Construction Authorization Act of 2008 - Title I: Authorization of Medical Facility Projects and Major Medical Facility Leases - (Sec. 101) Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out major medical facility projects (projects) in FY2009 in: (1) Palo Alto, California; (2) San Antonio, Texas; and (3) San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Sec. 102) Amends the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 to: (1) increase amounts authorized for projects at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Denver, Colorado; and (2) repeal the authority for [...]

show full description

Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Armed forces, Brain, Budgets, Defense policy, Education, Executive departments, Executive reorganization, Families, Federal advisory bodies, Federal aid to education
Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7909-7910)

Bill Text
A bill to establish a commission on veterans and members of the Armed Forces with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or other mental health disorders, to enhance the capacity of mental health providers to assist such veterans and members, and for other purposes. 7/31/2008--Introduced. Healing Our Nation's Heroes Act of 2008 - Establishes a commission on veterans and members of the Armed Forces (members) with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other mental health disorders caused by military service. Requires the commission to: (1) oversee the monitoring and treatment of veterans and members with such disorders; and (2) conduct a study of the long-term adverse consequences of such disorders for such veterans and members. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to carry out a program, to be known as the Heroes-to-Healers Program, to assist veterans and members separating from service to: (1) obtain [...]

show full description

Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Budgets, Children, Criminal justice, Drug abuse, Drug abuse treatment, Drug courts, Drug testing, Families, Family courts, Federal aid to law enforcement
Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
A bill to provide grants to establish veteran's treatment courts. 7/31/2008--Introduced. Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act or the SERV Act - Requires the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to delegate to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the authority to administer the veteran's treatment courts program established by this Act.Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to states and other entities: (1) to develop, implement, or enhance veteran's treatment courts or to expand operational drug courts to serve veterans; and (2) for programs that involve continuing judicial supervision over nonviolent offenders with substance abuse or mental health problems who have served in the U.S. military. Requires such programs to include mandatory periodic testing for the use of drugs, substance abuse and mental health treatment, opportunities for diversion, probation, or supervised release, and programmatic, offender management, and aftercare [...]

show full description

Comment on Bill
Also tagged in: Budgets, Department of Veterans Affairs, Disabled, Executive departments, Executive reorganization, Government information, Government publicity, Grants-in-aid, Iraq compilation, Medical care
Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide assistance to the Paralympic Program of the United States Olympic Committee, and for other purposes. 7/31/2008--Introduced. United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) to plan, develop, manage, and implement the Paralympic Program for disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.Directs the USOC to use a grant to recruit, support, encourage, schedule, facilitate, supervise, and implement paralympic instruction, participation, and competition activities, training and technical assistance, and coordination, program development, and other specified activities for veterans and members of the Armed Forces with physical disabilities.Sets forth outreach, coordination, application, and memorandum of understanding requirements.Establishes [...]

show full description

Comment on Bill