Top Legislation - View All
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative procedure, Alcohol and youth, Budgets, Child abuse, Child welfare, Children, Children's rights, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Damages, Department of Health and Human Services, Drug abuse, Drug abuse prevention, Drug abuse treatment, Drugs and youth, Electronic government information, Emergency medicine, Employee selection, Executive departments, Families, Fines (Penalties), Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Governmental investigations, Grants-in-aid, Group homes, Health policy, Housing, Identification of criminals, Law, Legal fees, Medical care, Medicine, Mental care facilities, Mental health services, Mental illness, Parent and child, Parental notification, Punitive damages, Standards, Telecommunication, Telephone, Youth services
Latest Action: 06/24/2008 - H.AMDT.1098 Amendment (A001) offered by Mr. George Miller. (consideration: CR H5959-5961; text: CR H5959) Amendment makes changes to the definition of "covered program". It expands the definition to include public residential programs; strikes the exclus Bill TextTo require certain standards and enforcement provisions to prevent child abuse and neglect in residential programs, and for other purposes. 5/22/2008--Reported to House amended. (There is 1 other summary) Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Directs the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services to require each location of a covered program to meet specified minimum standards if individually or together with other locations it has an effect on interstate commerce. Defines "covered program" as one not operated by a governmental entity that for children unrelated to the program owner or operator: (1) provides a residential environment; and (2) operates with a focus on serving children with emotional, behavioral, or mental health problems or disorders, or problems with alcohol or substance abuse. Directs the Assistant Secretary to require each [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Accident prevention, Actions and defenses, Administrative procedure, Advertising, All terrain vehicles, Authorization, Budgets, Business, Business insurance, Business records, Carbon monoxide, Child safety, Children, Cigarettes, Clothing, Communications, Congress, Congressional investigations, Congressional reporting requirements, Consumer education, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Consumer protection, Consumers, Cost effectiveness, Criminal justice, Customs administration, Damages, Data banks, Day care, Death, Defective products, Department of Homeland Security, Disciplining of employees, Dismissal of employees, Electric appliances, Electric batteries, Electric power production, Electronic commerce, Electronic government information, Electronics, Employee training, Energy, Energy storage, Executive departments, Export controls, Federal employees, Federal officials, Federal preemption, Finance, Fines (Penalties), Flammable materials, Foreign corporations, Foreign policy, Formaldehyde, Fraud, Gasoline, Government employees, Government ethics, Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Government statistics, Governmental investigations, Hazardous substances, Hotels, motels, etc., Import restrictions, Imports, Independent regulatory commissions, Infants, Inspectors general, Insurance, International affairs, International cooperation, Job training, Judicial review, Jurisdiction, Labeling, Laboratories, Language and languages, Law, Lead, Lead poisoning, Legal fees, Licenses, Mail-order business, Manufacturing industries, Medical care, Medicine, Minorities, Minority children, Minority health, Misconduct in office, Motor vehicle safety, Nanotechnology, Packaging, Paints and varnishes, Parties to actions, Poisons, Politics and government, Presidential appointments, Presidents, Product safety, Quality control, Recruiting of employees, Research and development facilities, Retail trade, Risk, Safety appliances, Science policy, Small business, Standards, State and local government, State laws, Surety and fidelity, Technology, Telecommunication, Test facilities, Textile fabrics, Textile industry, Toys, Trade, Transfer of employees, Transportation, Wage restitution, Warning labels, Waste in government spending, Whistle blowing
Latest Action: 07/17/2008 - Conference held. Bill TextTo establish consumer product safety standards and other safety requirements for children's products and to reauthorize and modernize the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 3/6/2008--Passed Senate amended. (There are 2 other summaries) CPSC Reform Act - (Sec. 3) Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to authorize appropriations: (1) to carry out the Act and any other provision of law the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is authorized or directed to carry out; (2) for the office of Inspector General; (3) to make capital improvements to the research, development, and testing facility of the CPSC; and (4) for research into safety issues related to the use of nanotechnology in consumer products. (Sec. 4) Requires the CPSC, subject to the availability of appropriations, to increase by at least 500 the number of its full-time employees and by at least 50 the number of its port-of-entry and overseas production facility inspectors. Requires [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative procedure, Alcohol and youth, Budgets, Child abuse, Child welfare, Children, Children's rights, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Damages, Death, Department of Health and Human Services, Drug abuse, Drug abuse prevention, Drug abuse treatment, Drugs and youth, Electronic government information, Emergency medicine, Employee selection, Executive departments, Families, Fines (Penalties), Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Governmental investigations, Grants-in-aid, Group homes, Guardian and ward, Health policy, Housing, Identification of criminals, Law, Legal fees, Medical care, Medicine, Mental care facilities, Mental health services, Mental illness, Parent and child, Punitive damages, Standards, Telecommunication, Telephone, Youth services
Latest Action: 06/26/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Bill TextTo require certain standards and enforcement provisions to prevent child abuse and neglect in residential programs, and for other purposes. 6/25/2008--Passed House 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.) Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Directs the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services to require each location of a covered program to meet specified minimum standards if individually or together with other locations it has an effect on interstate commerce. Defines "covered program" as one not operated by a public or private entity that with respect to one or more children unrelated to the program owner or operator: (1) provides a residential environment; and (2) operates with a focus on serving [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Age, Business, Business records, Children, Cigarettes, Communications, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Drug abuse, Electronic commerce, Federal preemption, Fines (Penalties), Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Identification devices, Imports, Inventories, Jurisdiction, Law, Local laws, Postal service, Searches and seizures, Sentences (Criminal procedure), Smokeless tobacco, Smoking and youth, Smuggling, State and local government, State laws, Taxation, Technology, Telecommunication, Tobacco industry, Tobacco tax, Trade
Latest Action: 07/16/2008 - Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. Bill TextTo prevent tobacco smuggling, to ensure the collection of all tobacco taxes, and for other purposes. 11/5/2007--Introduced. Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2007 or the PACT Act - Amends the Jenkins Act to: (1) include smokeless tobacco as a regulated substance; (2) impose shipping and recordkeeping requirements on delivery sellers (sellers using the telephone, mails, or the Internet) of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco; (3) require common carriers of cigarette products to obtain age and identity verification upon delivery of such products; (4) require the Attorney General to compile and publish a list of delivery sellers of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco who have not complied with the registration or other requirements of such Act; (5) increase criminal penalties and impose new civil penalties for violations of this Act; (6) grant jurisdiction to U.S. district courts to restrain violations of such Act and direct the Attorney General to administer and enforce such [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative procedure, Business, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Consumer credit, Consumer protection, Consumers, Criminal justice, Damages, Executive departments, Federal preemption, Federal Trade Commission, Federal-state relations, Finance, Fines (Penalties), Fraud, Governmental investigations, Identification devices, Identity theft, Independent regulatory commissions, Internet, Law, Parties to actions, Restrictive trade practices, Social security, Social security numbers, State and local government, Technology, Telecommunication, Web sites
Latest Action: 07/11/2008 - House Committee on Ways and Means Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Sept. 12, 2008. Bill TextTo strengthen the authority of the Federal Government to protect individuals from certain acts and practices in the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers and Social Security account numbers, and for other purposes. 6/13/2007--Reported to House amended, Part I. (There is 1 other summary) Social Security Number Protection Act of 2007 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to make it unlawful for any person, except in certain circumstances, to: (1) intentionally display the Social Security number of another individual on a website generally accessible to the public or providing an individual with access to another individual's Social Security number through the Internet; (2) require an individual who is a customer of or member associated with such person to use the individual's Social Security number as a password for access to any good or service, including any account or protected access [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Armed forces, Armed forces abroad, Business, Contracts, Criminal justice, Damages, Debtor and creditor, Defense policy, Families, Finance, Fines (Penalties), Government information, Government paperwork, Interest, Interest rates, Iraq compilation, Law, Legal fees, Loans, Military dependents, Military personnel, Negligence, Parties to actions, Relocation, Veterans, Veterans' benefits
Latest Action: 06/26/2008 - Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. Bill TextTo amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to allow individuals called to military service to terminate or suspend certain service contracts entered into before the individual receives notice of a permanent change of station or deployment orders and to provide penalties for violations of interest rate limitations. 8/1/2007--Introduced. 21st Century Servicemembers Protection Act - Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to allow individuals called to military service to terminate or suspend a service contract, after the date of entry into service or the date of the military orders, if: (1) the service contract (such as phone, cable, Internet, or utilities) is executed before the individual is called to service for a period of at least 90 days; or (2) the person enters into the contract while in military service and thereafter receives orders for a change of permanent station to a location outside the United States, or to deploy with a military unit for a period of at least [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Civil liberties, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Emergency management, Evidence (Law), Foreign agents, Foreign policy, Intelligence activities, Judicial review, Law, Politics and government, Right of privacy, Subpoena, Sunset legislation
Latest Action: 06/24/2008 - Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 7 - 3 . Bill TextTo establish reasonable procedural protections for the use of national security letters, and for other purposes. 7/26/2007--Introduced. National Security Letters Reform Act of 2007 - Prohibits a national security letter (letter) (a request for information sought by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in connection with a criminal investigation) from being issued unless the issuing official certifies specific facts providing reason to believe that the information or records sought pertain to a foreign power or agent thereof. Prohibits a letter from being issued in connection with an investigation of a U.S. person solely upon the basis of activities protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. Prohibits: (1) a letter from containing unreasonable requirements or requiring privileged matter; or (2) disclosing to a person that the FBI has sought or obtained access to information under a letter for 30 days after receipt of the FBI's request for such information.[...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative remedies, Business, Cigarettes, Communications, Drug abuse, Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Fines (Penalties), Law, Mail-order business, Postal service, Smokeless tobacco, Tobacco, United States Postal Service
Latest Action: 06/12/2008 - Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 110-711. Bill TextTo amend title 39, United States Code, to make cigarettes and certain other tobacco products nonmailable, and for other purposes. 4/29/2008--Introduced. Amends federal postal law to make cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and roll-your-own-tobacco nonmailable. Requires tobacco products attempted to be mailed to be disposed of as the Postal Service directs. Provides a civil penalty for each mailing violation. Authorizes the Postal Service, on evidence satisfactory to the Postal Service that any person is, for commercial or moneymaking purposes, engaged in the sending of such matter, to: (1) refuse to accept any mailing from that person or his representative unless the person or his representative establishes to the satisfaction of the postmaster that the mailing does not contain such matter; and (2) order the person to cease and desist from mailing such matter. Authorizes civil actions by states to: (1) enjoin mailings to residents of that state; and [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Administrative fees, Budgets, Business, Business records, Computer networks, Court records, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Electronic government information, Exhibitions, Families, Family violence, Federal-state relations, Fines (Penalties), Fingerprints, Firearms, Firearms control, Government information, Government paperwork, Governmental investigations, Identification devices, Identification of criminals, Law, Licenses, Retail trade, State and local government, State courts, State laws, Technology, Telecommunication, Telephone
Latest Action: 02/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Bill TextTo require criminal background checks on all firearms transactions occurring at events that provide a venue for the sale, offer for sale, transfer, or exchange of firearms, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to provide for regulation of firearms transfers at special firearms events (events at which 75 or more firearms are offered or exhibited for sale, exchange, or transfer if one or more of the firearms has been shipped or transported in, or otherwise affects, interstate or foreign commerce, excluding an offer or exhibit of firearms: (1) by an individual, from that individual's personal collection, at that individual's private residence, if the individual is not required to be licensed; and (2) at events conducted and attended by permanent or annual dues paying members of private, not-for-profit organizations whose primary purpose is owning and maintaining real property for hunting activities).[...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative fees, Administrative procedure, Administrative remedies, Advice and consent of the Senate, Ambulances, Athletes, Boxing, Bribery, Budgets, Business, Civil liberties, Collection of accounts, Communicable diseases, Confidential communications, Conflict of interests, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Contracts, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Data banks, Department of Commerce, Electronic government information, Emergency management, Emergency medicine, Executive compensation, Executive departments, Executive reorganization, Extortion, Federal-Indian relations, Federal-local relations, Federal-state relations, Fees, Finance, Fines (Penalties), Fraud, Government information, Government paperwork, Government publications, Government publicity, Governmental investigations, Health information systems, Health policy, Identification devices, Indian lands, Indians, Intellectual property, Internet, Labor, Law, Licenses, Local laws, Medical care, Medical instruments and apparatus, Medical personnel, Medical records, Medical supplies, Medicine, Minorities, Occupational health and safety, Organized crime, Parties to actions, Physical examinations, Physicians, Presidential appointments, Presidents, Prosecution, Restrictive trade practices, Right of privacy, Salaries, Self-incrimination, Sports, Sports agents, Standards, State and local government, State laws, Subpoena, Surety and fidelity, Technology, Telecommunication, Television broadcasting of sports, Trademarks, Transfer of employees, Transportation, Web sites, Witnesses
Latest Action: 03/01/2007 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye without amendment. With written report No. 110-28. Bill TextA 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 [...] show full description
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Latest Legislation - View All
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative procedure, Alcohol and youth, Budgets, Child abuse, Child welfare, Children, Children's rights, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Damages, Death, Department of Health and Human Services, Drug abuse, Drug abuse prevention, Drug abuse treatment, Drugs and youth, Electronic government information, Emergency medicine, Employee selection, Executive departments, Families, Fines (Penalties), Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Governmental investigations, Grants-in-aid, Group homes, Guardian and ward, Health policy, Housing, Identification of criminals, Law, Legal fees, Medical care, Medicine, Mental care facilities, Mental health services, Mental illness, Parent and child, Punitive damages, Standards, Telecommunication, Telephone, Youth services
Latest Action: 06/26/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Bill TextTo require certain standards and enforcement provisions to prevent child abuse and neglect in residential programs, and for other purposes. 6/25/2008--Passed House 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.) Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Directs the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services to require each location of a covered program to meet specified minimum standards if individually or together with other locations it has an effect on interstate commerce. Defines "covered program" as one not operated by a public or private entity that with respect to one or more children unrelated to the program owner or operator: (1) provides a residential environment; and (2) operates with a focus on serving [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative remedies, Business, Cigarettes, Communications, Drug abuse, Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Fines (Penalties), Law, Mail-order business, Postal service, Smokeless tobacco, Tobacco, United States Postal Service
Latest Action: 06/12/2008 - Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 110-711. Bill TextTo amend title 39, United States Code, to make cigarettes and certain other tobacco products nonmailable, and for other purposes. 4/29/2008--Introduced. Amends federal postal law to make cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and roll-your-own-tobacco nonmailable. Requires tobacco products attempted to be mailed to be disposed of as the Postal Service directs. Provides a civil penalty for each mailing violation. Authorizes the Postal Service, on evidence satisfactory to the Postal Service that any person is, for commercial or moneymaking purposes, engaged in the sending of such matter, to: (1) refuse to accept any mailing from that person or his representative unless the person or his representative establishes to the satisfaction of the postmaster that the mailing does not contain such matter; and (2) order the person to cease and desist from mailing such matter. Authorizes civil actions by states to: (1) enjoin mailings to residents of that state; and [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative procedure, Alcohol and youth, Budgets, Child abuse, Child welfare, Children, Children's rights, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Damages, Department of Health and Human Services, Drug abuse, Drug abuse prevention, Drug abuse treatment, Drugs and youth, Electronic government information, Emergency medicine, Employee selection, Executive departments, Families, Fines (Penalties), Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Governmental investigations, Grants-in-aid, Group homes, Health policy, Housing, Identification of criminals, Law, Legal fees, Medical care, Medicine, Mental care facilities, Mental health services, Mental illness, Parent and child, Parental notification, Punitive damages, Standards, Telecommunication, Telephone, Youth services
Latest Action: 06/24/2008 - H.AMDT.1098 Amendment (A001) offered by Mr. George Miller. (consideration: CR H5959-5961; text: CR H5959) Amendment makes changes to the definition of "covered program". It expands the definition to include public residential programs; strikes the exclus Bill TextTo require certain standards and enforcement provisions to prevent child abuse and neglect in residential programs, and for other purposes. 5/22/2008--Reported to House amended. (There is 1 other summary) Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Directs the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services to require each location of a covered program to meet specified minimum standards if individually or together with other locations it has an effect on interstate commerce. Defines "covered program" as one not operated by a governmental entity that for children unrelated to the program owner or operator: (1) provides a residential environment; and (2) operates with a focus on serving children with emotional, behavioral, or mental health problems or disorders, or problems with alcohol or substance abuse. Directs the Assistant Secretary to require each [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Congress, Congressional elections, Election candidates, Elections, Fines (Penalties), Identification devices, Law, Political advertising, Presidential elections, Presidents, Telecommunication, Telephone
Latest Action: 02/12/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S920-921) Bill TextA bill to regulate political robocalls. 2/12/2008--Introduced. Robocall Privacy Act of 2008 - Makes it unlawful for a person during specified periods before a federal primary or general election to make certain prerecorded political telephone calls with respect to a candidate for federal office without immediate disclosure of the recorded nature of the calls, the identity of the caller, and the appearance of the caller's telephone number on the recipient's caller identification service.
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative procedure, Administrative remedies, Budgets, Civil rights, Civil rights enforcement, Community policing, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Criminal statistics, Department of Justice, Discrimination in criminal justice administration, Executive departments, Federal aid to law enforcement, Government information, Government paperwork, Law, Legal fees, Minorities, Police training, Racial discrimination, Searches and seizures
Latest Action: 12/13/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S15469-15471) Bill TextA bill to prohibit racial profiling. 12/13/2007--Introduced. End Racial Profiling Act of 2007 or ERPA - Prohibits law enforcement agents or agencies from engaging in racial profiling. Defines "racial profiling" as the practice of a law enforcement agent or agency relying, to any degree, on race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion in selecting which individual to subject to routine or spontaneous investigatory activities or in deciding upon the scope and substance of law enforcement activity following the initial investigatory procedure. Allows the United States, or individuals injured by racial profiling, to bring civil actions for declaratory or injunctive relief. Requires federal law enforcement agencies to: (1) maintain adequate policies and procedures for eliminating racial profiling; and (2) cease existing practices that permit racial profiling. Requires states, local governments, and Indian tribes applying for federal law enforcement assistance [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative procedure, Administrative remedies, Budgets, Civil rights, Civil rights enforcement, Community policing, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Criminal statistics, Department of Justice, Discrimination in criminal justice administration, Executive departments, Federal aid to law enforcement, Government information, Government paperwork, Law, Legal fees, Minorities, Police training, Racial discrimination, Searches and seizures
Latest Action: 01/14/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Bill TextTo prohibit racial profiling. 12/13/2007--Introduced. End Racial Profiling Act of 2007 or ERPA - Prohibits law enforcement agents or agencies from engaging in racial profiling. Defines "racial profiling" as the practice of a law enforcement agent or agency relying, to any degree, on race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion in selecting which individual to subject to routine or spontaneous investigatory activities or in deciding upon the scope and substance of law enforcement activity following the initial investigatory procedure. Allows the United States, or individuals injured by racial profiling, to bring civil actions for declaratory or injunctive relief. Requires federal law enforcement agencies to: (1) maintain adequate policies and procedures for eliminating racial profiling; and (2) cease existing practices that permit racial profiling. Requires states, local governments, and Indian tribes applying for federal law enforcement assistance [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Budgets, Civil rights, Congress, Congressional witnesses, Disciplining of employees, Discrimination in employment, Dismissal of employees, Employee rights, Executive departments, Federal employees, Government contractors, Government employees, Government information, Government paperwork, Labor, Law, Legal fees, Legal services, Misconduct in office, Politics and government, Public contracts, Punitive damages, Waste in government spending, Whistle blowing
Latest Action: 02/08/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia. Bill TextTo strengthen the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, and for other purposes. 12/13/2007--Introduced. Congressional Disclosures Protections Act of 2007 - Amends federal personnel law to: (1) define "covered disclosure" with respect to federal whistleblower protections to mean a disclosure of information made by an employee to either House of Congress or to a congressional committee or staff member which such employee reasonably believes evidences a violation of any law, gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; (2) allow federal employees to seek de novo review of their whistleblower claims within one year of filing such claims; (3) expand legal remedies for whistleblowers, including triple damages for lost wages, triple attorney fees, and triple compensatory damages; and (4) require the Office of Special Counsel to provide legal [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Americans in foreign countries, Computer crimes, Consumers, Copyright, Criminal justice, Damages, Department of Commerce, Department of Justice, Executive departments, Executive Office of the President, Executive reorganization, Export controls, Federal aid to law enforcement, Federal employees, Fines (Penalties), Foreign aid, Foreign policy, Forfeiture, Government employees, Higher education, Import restrictions, Intellectual property, International affairs, International cooperation, Internet, Labeling, Law, Legal education, Packaging, Patent infringement, Patents, Product counterfeiting, Prosecution, Recruiting of employees, Searches and seizures, Technical assistance, Technology, Telecommunication, Trade, Trademarks
Latest Action: 05/12/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextTo enhance remedies for violations of intellectual property laws, and for other purposes. 12/5/2007--Introduced. Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2007 - Amends federal copyright law to: (1) provide a safe harbor for copyright registrations that contain inaccurate information; (2) provide that copyright registration requirements apply to civil (not criminal) infringement actions; (3) require courts to issue protective orders to prevent disclosure of seized records relating to copyright infringement; (4) revise standards for civil damages in copyright infringement and counterfeiting cases; and (5) prohibit importing and exporting of infringing copies of copyrighted works. Amends the federal criminal code with respect to intellectual property to: (1) enhance criminal penalties for infringement of a copyright, for trafficking in counterfeit labels or packaging, and for causing serious bodily harm or death while trafficking in counterfeit [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Affordable housing, Apartment houses, Block grants, Budgets, Community development, Community development banking, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Economic development, Economic policy, Federally-assisted loans, Finance, Fines (Penalties), Foreclosure, Government trust funds, Housing, Infrastructure, Law, Low-income housing, Mobile homes, Moderate income housing, Mortgage banks, Mortgages, Residential rehabilitation, Rural affairs, Rural housing, Secondary mortgage market, Single family housing, State and local government
Latest Action: 11/16/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14630) Bill TextA bill to provide for affordable housing relief, and for other purposes. 11/16/2007--Introduced. Government Sponsored Enterprise Mission Improvement Act, or the GSE Mission Improvement Act - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to modify requirements for annual reports to specified congressional committees by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on the activities of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (enterprises). Requires the contents of such reports to: (1) identify the extent to which the enterprises are involved in mortgage purchases and secondary market activities involving subprime loans; and (2) compare the characteristics of subprime loans purchased and securitized by the enterprises to their other loans. Revises requirements for the establishment by the Secretary of housing goals to emphasize single-family housing goals and a multifamily [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Architecture and the disabled, Budgets, Building construction, Building laws, Damages, Disabled, Federal aid to housing, Federal preemption, Federally-guaranteed loans, Finance, Government lending, Housing, Housing for the disabled, Housing subsidies, Income tax, Land transfers, Law, Leases, Legal fees, Mortgage guaranty insurance, Natural resources, Parties to actions, Public housing, Public lands, Punitive damages, State and local government, Tax credits, Taxation, Veterans, Veterans' benefits, Welfare
Latest Action: 01/11/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity. Bill TextTo require all newly constructed, federally assisted, single-family houses and town houses to meet minimum standards of visitability for persons with disabilities. 11/15/2007--Introduced. Inclusive Home Design Act of 2007 - Requires, with exceptions, newly constructed, federally assisted single family houses and town houses to include at least one level that complies with the following accessibility features for persons with disabilities: (1) accessible entrance; (2) accessible interior doors; (3) accessible environmental controls; and (4) accessible habitable space and an accessible bathroom. Requires: (1) each applicant for federal financial assistance to submit compliance assurances to the relevant federal agency; and (2) each person who arranges for design or construction of a covered dwelling to submit architectural and construction plans for state or local approval. Prohibits federal financial assistance to a state or local government unit unless the recipient [...] show full description
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