Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/15/2008 - Message on Senate action sent to the House.

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A bill to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes. 4/10/2008--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - Title I: FHA Modernization Act of 2008 - FHA Modernization Act of 2008 - Subtitle A: Building American Homeownership - Building American Homeownership Act of 2008 - (Sec. 112) Amends the National Housing Act (NHA) to revise mortgage insurance eligibility requirements. Alters the respective formulas to increase the percentages of the maximum principal loan obligations applicable to family residences located in: (1) the United States; and (2) Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, or the Virgin Islands. Prohibits the maximum principal loan obligation from exceeding 100% of the appraised value of the property. (Sec. 113) Increases from 3% to 3.5% of the appraised value of a property the mortgagor's required cash (or equivalent) investment (downpayment). Prohibits any funds for such [...]

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Latest Action: 06/25/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-400.

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A bill to authorize the implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement. 6/25/2008--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Title I: San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act - San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act - (Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to implement the Stipulation of Settlement dated September 13, 2006, in Natural Resources Defense Council, et al. v. Kirk Rodgers, et al., in cooperation with the state of California, including measures to: (1) design and construct channel and structural improvements; (2) modify Friant Dam operations to provide Restoration Flows and Interim Flows; (3) acquire water, water rights, or options to acquire water from willing sellers; (4) implement terms and conditions related to recirculation, recapture, reuse, exchange, or transfer of water released for such flows; and (5) develop and implement the Recovered Water Account.Directs [...]

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Latest Action: 06/16/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman without amendment. With written report No. 110-375.

Bill Text
To authorize appropriations for the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund.

12/11/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Amends the Miscellaneous Appropriations Act, 2001 to establish a 35% non-federal matching requirement for specified federal funds made available to: (1) the San Gabriel Water Quality Authority; and (2) the Central Basin Municipal Water District.

Increases the authorization of appropriations for the San Gabriel Restoration Fund. Sets aside a specified sum to carry out the Central Basin Water Quality Project.

Latest Action: 07/10/2008 - Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Dorgan with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-415.

Bill Text
A bill to approve the settlement of the water rights claims of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Nevada, to require the Secretary of the Interior to carry out the settlement, and for other purposes.

1/31/2007--Introduced.

Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley Water Rights Settlement Act - Approves, ratifies, and confirms, the agreement entitled the "Agreement to Establish the Relative Water Rights of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation and the Upstream Water Users, East Fork Owyhee River," except as specified in this Act.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to hold tribal water rights in trust. Requires the Tribes to enact a water code to administer such rights.

Establishes the Shoneshone-Paiute Tribes Water Rights Development Fund and the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Operation and Maintenance Fund.

Latest Action: 06/16/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-349.

Bill Text
A bill to designate additional National Forest System lands in the State of Virginia as wilderness or a wilderness study area, to designate the Kimberling Creek Potential Wilderness Area for eventual incorporation in the Kimberling Creek Wilderness, to establish the Seng Mountain and Bear Creek Scenic Areas, to provide for the development of trail plans for the wilderness areas and scenic areas, and for other purposes. 2/13/2007--Introduced. Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2007 - Designates certain lands in the Jefferson National Forest, Virginia (Brush Mountain and Brush Mountain East, Seng Mountain and Raccoon Branch, Stone Mountain, Hunting Camp Creek and Garden Mountain, Mountain Lake Additions, Lewis Fork Addition and Little Wilson Creek Additions, Shawvers Run Additions, Peters Mountain Addition, and Kimberling Creek Additions) as wilderness. Designates certain lands in the Jefferson National Forest as: (1) the "Lynn Camp Creek Wilderness Study Area"[...]

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Latest Action: 06/25/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-401.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Colorado River Storage Project Act and Public Law 87-483 to authorize the construction and rehabilitation of water infrastructure in Northwestern New Mexico, to authorize the use of the reclamation fund to fund the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund, to authorize the conveyance of certain Reclamation land and infrastructure, to authorize the Commissioner of Reclamation to provide for the delivery of water, and for other purposes. 4/19/2007--Introduced. Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act - Amends the Colorado River Storage Project Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct, operate, and maintain the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Supply Project. Establishes in the Treasury a Reclamation Water Settlements Fund. Authorizes the Secretary to request a transfer from the Fund to implement a congressionally approved settlement agreement that requires the Bureau of Reclamation to plan, design, and construct: (1) water supply [...]

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Latest Action: 06/16/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-387.

Bill Text
To authorize appropriations for the Bureau of Reclamation to carry out the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program in the States of Arizona, California, and Nevada, and for other purposes.

3/31/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) participate in the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program; and (2) enter into an agreement with Arizona, California, and Nevada providing for the use of water from the Lower Colorado River for habitat creation and maintenance. Authorizes appropriations.

Latest Action: 06/23/2008 - Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5971)

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A resolution recognizing soil as an essential natural resource, and soils professionals as playing a critical role in managing our Nation's soil resources.

1/31/2008--Introduced.

Recognizes: (1) the necessity to develop and implement best practices for the long-term use of the nation's soil resources; and (2) the important role of soil scientists and soils professionals.

Latest Action: 06/16/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-370.

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A bill to establish a program at the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to carry out collaborative ecological restoration treatments for priority forest landscapes on public land, and for other purposes. 2/5/2008--Introduced. Forest Landscape Restoration Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program to select and fund ecological restoration treatments for priority forest landscapes. Sets forth provisions concerning the eligibility criteria for, and nomination and selection of, collaborative forest landscape restoration proposals for carrying out such treatments. Requires the Secretary to establish a scientific advisory panel to evaluate, and provide recommendations on, any proposal with respect to: (1) the strength of the ecological case of the proposal for landscape restoration and the proposed restoration strategies; and (2) whether the proposal is likely to achieve reductions [...]

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Latest Action: 06/16/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-374.

Bill Text
A bill to provide for the management of certain public land in Owyhee County, Idaho, and for other purposes. 4/9/2008--Introduced. Owyhee Public Land Management Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Owyhee Science Review and Conservation Center in Owyhee County, Idaho, to conduct research projects that address natural resources management issues affecting public and private rangeland in the county. Designates specified land in Idaho as wilderness areas and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Designates specified creek and river segments within the county as components of the national wild and scenic rivers system. Bars acquisition by the Secretary of any private land within the exterior boundary of a wild and scenic river corridor without the owner's consent. Authorizes the Secretary to sell public land within the Boise District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that has been identified for [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 04/17/2008 - Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3162-3163)

Bill Text
A resolution designating May 16, 2008, as "Endangered Species Day".

4/17/2008--Introduced.

Designates May 16, 2008, as Endangered Species Day.

Encourages: (1) schools to spend at least 30 minutes on such Day teaching and informing students about threats to, and efforts to restore, endangered species; (2) organizations, businesses, private landowners, and agencies with a shared interest in conserving endangered species to collaborate in developing educational information for use in schools; and (3) people to become educated about, and aware of, threats to species, success stories in species recovery, and opportunities to promote species conservation.

Latest Action: 06/16/2008 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-374.

Bill Text
A bill to provide for the management of certain public land in Owyhee County, Idaho, and for other purposes. 4/9/2008--Introduced. Owyhee Public Land Management Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Owyhee Science Review and Conservation Center in Owyhee County, Idaho, to conduct research projects that address natural resources management issues affecting public and private rangeland in the county. Designates specified land in Idaho as wilderness areas and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Designates specified creek and river segments within the county as components of the national wild and scenic rivers system. Bars acquisition by the Secretary of any private land within the exterior boundary of a wild and scenic river corridor without the owner's consent. Authorizes the Secretary to sell public land within the Boise District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that has been identified for [...]

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Latest Action: 04/03/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2444-2445)

Bill Text
A bill to establish the National Park Centennial Fund, and for other purposes. 4/3/2008--Introduced. National Park Centennial Fund Act - Establishes a revolving fund in the Treasury to be known as the National Park Centennial Fund, into which, not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act, on October 1, 2008, and each October 1 thereafter through 2016, there shall be transferred, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $100 million to carry out this Act. Requires the annual budget submission of the President for the Department of the Interior to include a list of National Park Centennial proposals. Requires the list to include projects under the following initiatives: (1) an Education in Parks Centennial Initiative; (2) a Diversity in Parks Centennial Initiative; (3) a Supporting Park Professionals Centennial Initiative; (4) an Environmental Leadership Centennial Initiative; (5) a Natural Resource Protection Centennial Initiative; (6) [...]

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Latest Action: 05/08/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
A bill to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the Department of Energy, to implement further the Act approving the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, to amend the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003, and for other purposes. 5/8/2008--Public Law.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 - Title I: Forest Service Authorizations - (Sec. 101) Designates certain lands in the Skykomish River Valley, Washington, as the Wild Sky Wilderness, to be managed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Directs the Secretary to establish a trail plan. Authorizes the use of helicopter access to construct and maintain a joint [...]

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Latest Action: 02/27/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to ensure adequate funding for conservation and restoration of wildlife, and for other purposes.

2/27/2008--Introduced.

Teaming with Wildlife Act of 2008 - Amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to require the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer to the federal aid to wildlife restoration fund for deposit in the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account for each of FY2010-FY2015 specified funds from: (1) amounts received from rents, royalties, and other sums paid to the Secretary or the Secretary of the Navy under leases on the outer Continental Shelf; and (2) amounts received from sales, bonuses, and royalties collected under the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 and from rentals of public lands under the Mineral Leasing Act and the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970.