Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Bill Text
To establish a program to provide reinsurance for State natural catastrophe insurance programs to help the United States better prepare for and protect its citizens against the ravages of natural catastrophes, to encourage and promote mitigation and prevention for, and recovery and rebuilding from such catastrophes, and to better assist in the financial recovery from such catastrophes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Homeowners Insurance Protection Act of 2007 - Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish the National Commission on Catastrophe Preparation and Protection to advise the Secretary regarding estimated loss costs associated with contracts for reinsurance coverage. Authorizes the Secretary to make homeowners protection coverage available through contracts for reinsurance coverage. Restricts purchase of such coverage to eligible state programs. Prescribes criteria for state eligibility. Requires each contract for reinsurance coverage to provide insurance [...]

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Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to suspend royalty relief, to repeal certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain tax incentives for the oil and gas industry. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Oil Subsidy Elimination for New Strategies on Energy Act or the Oil SENSE Act - Repeals provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 relating to: (1) incentives for production from marginal oil wells; (2) incentives for natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico; (3) royalty relief for deep water production; (4) Alaska offshore royalty suspension; (5) the inventory of Outer Continental Shelf oil and natural gas resources; (6) management of federal oil and gas leasing programs; and (7) ultra-deepwater and unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resources. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) suspend royalty relief for producers of oil or natural gas on federal lands during periods in which oil and natural gas production is [...]

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Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S149-150)

Bill Text
A bill to expand access to affordable health care and to strengthen the health care safety net and make health care services more available in rural and underserved areas. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Access to Affordable Health Care Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) tax credits to small businesses for qualified employee health insurance expenses; (2) tax credits for qualified health insurance; (3) deductions for long-term care premiums; and (4) tax credits for individuals with long-term care needs. Requires the Secretary of Labor to award grants to states to assist in planning, developing, and operating qualified small employer purchasing groups for health insurance. Directs the Small Business Administration to award grants to states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations to provide health insurance information to small employers. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to award demonstration grants for [...]

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Latest Action: 04/17/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4602-4604)

Bill Text
A bill to repeal the sunset on certain tax rates and other incentives and to repeal the individual alternative minimum tax, and for other purposes. 4/17/2007--Introduced. Invest in America Act - Repeals the general termination date (i.e., December 31, 2010) of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (thus making provisions of that Act that reduce income tax rates and repeal the estate and gift tax permanent).Repeals the termination date in the Jobs Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 applicable to the reduction in taxes on dividends and capital gains. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent: (1) the tax credit for increasing research activities; (2) the increased expensing allowance for small business assets; and (3) the tax deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers. Repeals the alternative minimum tax on individuals after 2006.Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Committee [...]

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Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S104-105)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to replace the Hope and Lifetime Learning credits with a partially refundable college opportunity credit.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

College Opportunity Tax Credit Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits with an increased, partially refundable college opportunity tax credit to cover up to four years (currently, limited to two years) of the tuition and related expenses of full or part-time postsecondary and graduate students.

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S108)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a refundable credit for small business employee health insurance expenses.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Small Business Health Care Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain small business employers a partially refundable business tax credit for the health insurance costs of employees who are not otherwise covered by a spouse's insurance or by a federal health insurance program.

Latest Action: 11/08/2007 - Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Bill Text
Expressing the sense of Congress that Congress and the President should increase basic pay for members of the Armed Forces.

11/6/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Expresses the sense of Congress that Congress and the President should: (1) increase basic pay for members of all military components and the Coast Guard by 3.5%, effective January 1, 2008; and (2) increase basic pay for all such components during FY2009-FY2012 by at least one-half of 1% more than the raise calculated under the Employment Cost Index.

Latest Action: 02/07/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

Bill Text
To amend the National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998, to extend to additional small businesses the preferential right to renew a concessions contract entered into under such Act, to facilitate the renewal of a commercial use authorization granted under such Act, and for other purposes. 1/5/2007--Introduced. NPS Concessions Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998 to increase the anticipated annual gross receipts eligible for a concessioner's preferential right of renewal. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to provide to any entity that submitted a proposal and who was not awarded a proposed concessions contract a debriefing as to why it was not selected as submitting the best proposal for that concessions contract. Permits a leasehold surrender interest in a capital improvement upon U.S.-owned land within a unit of the National Park Service (NPS) under a concession [...]

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Latest Action: 01/09/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Bill Text
To establish a Federal program to provide reinsurance to improve the availability of homeowners' insurance.

1/9/2007--Introduced.

Homeowners' Insurance Availability Act of 2007 - Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to implement a reinsurance coverage program available only through contracts for reinsurance coverage purchased at regional auctions.

States that the purpose of the program is to improve: (1) the availability of homeowners' insurance for the purpose of facilitating the pooling, and spreading the risk, of catastrophic financial losses from disasters; and (2) the solvency of the homeowners' insurance markets.

Prescribes implementation guidelines that include establishment: (1) in the Treasury of the Disaster Reinsurance Fund; and (2) of a National Commission on Catastrophe Risks and Insurance Loss Costs.

Latest Action: 01/10/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals to defer recognition of reinvested capital gains distributions from regulated investment companies.

1/10/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that, in the case of an electing individual, no gain (up to a specified amount) shall be recognized on the receipt of a capital gain dividend distributed by a regulated investment company if such capital gain dividend is automatically reinvested in additional shares of the company pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan.

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 10/01/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10338)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the treatment of certain excessive employee remuneration, and for other purposes.

10/1/2008--Introduced.

Compensation Fairness Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow an annual inflation adjustment to the $1 million limitation on the tax deduction for employee remuneration; and (2) repeal exceptions to such limitation for remuneration payable on a commission basis and for other performance-based compensation.

Latest Action: 07/10/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the Coverdell education savings accounts to allow home school education expenses, and for other purposes.

7/10/2008--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) payment of home school expenses from Coverdell education savings accounts; and (2) an annual inflation adjustment after 2008 to the contribution limit amount for such accounts.

Makes permanent provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 relating to Coverdell education savings accounts, including an increase in the contribution limit amount for such accounts.

Latest Action: 06/18/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the maximum reduction in estate tax value for farmland and other special use property, to restore and increase the estate tax deduction for family-owned business interests, and for other purposes.

6/18/2008--Introduced.

Save Family-Owned Farms and Small Businesses Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase to $1.85 million the maximum reduction amount for alternative valuations of farmland and other business property for estate tax purposes; and (2) restore after 2008 the estate tax deduction for family-owned business interests and increase such deduction to $2 million. Allows annual inflation adjustments to such increased amounts after 2009.

Latest Action: 06/12/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the income limitations for qualified performing artists eligible for an above-the-line deduction for performance expenses.

6/12/2008--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $16,000 to $30,000 the adjusted gross income limitation applicable to qualified performing artists who are eligible to deduct their performance expenses from gross income (above-the-line tax deduction). Provides for an inflation adjustment to such increased income limitation beginning in 2009.

Latest Action: 06/04/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide income tax relief for families, and for other purposes.

6/4/2008--Introduced.

Family Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase and make refundable the tax credit for employment-related dependent care expenses; and (2) increase and make permanent the tax deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers.

Makes permanent provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2011 which allow: (1) an expanded tax credit for adoption expenses; and (2) an increased exclusion from the gross income of employees for employer-paid adoption expenses.

Latest Action: 05/22/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4797)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 37, United States Code, to provide a special displacement allowance for members of the uniformed services without dependents, to provide for an annual percentage increase in the amount of the family seperation allowance for members of the uniformed services, and for other purposes.

5/22/2008--Introduced.

Military Family Separation Benefits Enhancement Act of 2008 - Entitles a member of the Armed Forces without dependents, in addition to certain other allowances or per diems, to a monthly allowance if the member is, for over 30 days, on: (1) duty on board a ship away from home port; or (2) temporary duty away from the member's permanent station.

Sets the allowance amount at one-half the amount of the monthly allowance under existing family separation allowance provisions.

Requires an annual increase in the family separation allowance based on the Consumer Price Index.

Latest Action: 05/07/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit against income tax for the purchase of real property by a first-time purchaser.

5/7/2008--Introduced.

First Time Property Owners Tax Credit Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income-based, one-time refundable tax credit for first-time homebuyers of 5% of the purchase price of real property located in the United States, up to a maximum credit amount of $1,500 ($3,000 for joint returns). Makes such credit applicable to purchases of property on or after January 1, 2008, and before January 1, 2013, and to binding contracts made between such dates to purchase such property before July 1, 2014.

Latest Action: 05/07/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a refundable and advancable credit against income tax for health insurance costs, to allow employees who elect not to participate in employer subsidized health plans an exclusion from gross income for employer payments in lieu of such participations, and for other purposes. 4/29/2008--Introduced. Patients' Health Care Reform Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment and governance of : (1) HealthMarts, which are nonprofit organizations that offer health benefits coverage to employers, employees, and individuals through contracts with health insurance issuers; and (2) individual membership associations (IMAs), which are organizations that offer health benefits coverage to members through health insurance issuer contracts. Requires the Secretary of Heath and Human Services to pay 50% of a state's costs to provide health benefits coverage under a high-risk pool, a reinsurance [...]

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Latest Action: 04/15/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to adjust the dollar amounts used to calculate the credit for the elderly and the permanently disabled for inflation since 1985.

4/15/2008--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require an inflation adjustment to the dollar amounts for calculating the tax credit for taxpayers who have attained age 65 or who have retired on disability as permanently and totally disabled.

Latest Action: 04/16/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a floor for payment for mammography under the Medicare Program.

4/3/2008--Introduced.

Assure Access to Mammography Act of 2008 - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish a floor for payment of screening and diagnostic mammography under the Medicare Program.

Sets the payment floor for 2009 at 115% of the fee scheduled amount for mammography for 2008, increased by the percentage increase in the Medicare Economic Index (MEI). Requires the payment floor for subsequent years to be the previous year's amount, again increased by the percentage increase in the MEI.