Western Hemisphere Legislation - Federal Government

Condemning the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, and for other purposes. 6/26/2008--Introduced. Reiterates condemnation of the 1994 attack on the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association (AMIA) Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, honors the victims of the attack, and expresses sympathy to the victims' relatives. Applauds the government of Argentina for increasing the pace of the AMIA bombing investigation. Commends the General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) for upholding and issuing the Red Notices. Expresses concern regarding the government of Saudi Arabia's failure to detain certain Iranian officials in connection with the AMIA case. Urges: (1) all nations to cooperate fully with the AMIA investigation; and (2) governments in the Western Hemisphere to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and to penalize those providing support for Hezbollah [...]

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A bill to authorize the establishment of a Social Investment and Economic Development Fund for the Americas to provide assistance to reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and foster increased economic opportunity in the countries of the Western Hemisphere, and for other purposes. 10/1/2007--Introduced. Social Investment and Economic Development for the Americas Act of 2007 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to provide assistance to reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and foster increased economic opportunity in Western Hemisphere countries. Establishes within USAID the Western Hemisphere Economic Investment and Development Advisory Committee which shall: (1) serve as a link among the U.S. government, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and other interested parties; and (2) review projects funded under this Act. Amends the Inter-American [...]

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A bill to amend section 7209 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 and for other purposes. 5/22/2007--Introduced. Western Hemisphere Traveler Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to require as part of the certifications required prior to implementation of the western hemisphere travel initiative (Initiative), that: (1) a pilot program of at least one state has been initiated and evaluated to determine if an enhanced driver's license valid only for citizenship verification for U.S. entry from Canada meets documentation requirements; (2) a study has determined the number of passports and passport cards that will be required to be issued; and (3) sufficient passport adjudication personnel have been hired. Authorizes a person under 16 years old who is a U.S. or Canadian citizen to enter the United States with a birth certificate if the person: (1) is accompanied by the individual's legal [...]

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A bill to make the United States more secure by implementing unfinished recommendations of the 9/11 Commission to fight the war on terror more effectively, to improve homeland security, and for other purposes. 3/13/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Improving America's Security Act of 2007 - Provides for implementation of recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission). Title I: Improving Intelligence and Information Sharing within the Federal Government and with State, Local, and Tribal Governments - Subtitle A: Homeland Security Information Sharing Enhancement - (Sec. 111) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HSA) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) to administer the Homeland Security Advisory System to provide warnings regarding the risk of terrorist attacks on the homeland to federal, state, local, and tribal government authorities [...]

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A bill to increase cooperation on energy issues between the United States Government and foreign governments and entities in order to secure the strategic and economic interests of the United States, and for other purposes. 4/12/2007--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.) Energy Diplomacy and Security Act of 2007 - Defines "major energy producer" and "major energy consumer." Expresses the sense of Congress respecting energy diplomacy and security. States that the Secretary of State should seek immediately to establish: (1) strategic energy partnerships with the governments of major energy producers and major energy consumers, and with governments of other countries; (2) petroleum crisis response mechanisms with the governments of China and India; [...]

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A bill to authorize secure borders and comprehensive immigration reform, and for other purposes. 1/18/2007--Introduced. Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 - Provides for increases in the numbers of federal immigration enforcement-related positions and technological assets for use along the borders, including Department of Defense (DOD) equipment. Provides for: (1) recruitment of former military personnel; (2) border control facilities construction; (3) land border port of entry construction and improvements; (4) border patrol checkpoints; and (5) fencing, barrier, and road construction and improvements in the Yuma and Tucson sectors. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to develop: (1) a comprehensive land and maritime border surveillance plan; (2) a National Strategy for Border Security; (3) a plan to combat human smuggling; (4) a southern border study; and (5) a schedule for equippng all land border ports of entry with the [...]

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Expressing concern relating to the threatening behavior of the Iranian regime and its leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the activities of terrorist organizations sponsored by that regime in Latin America. 11/5/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Expresses concern over the emerging national security implications of Iran's efforts to expand its influence in Latin America. Supports the existing counterterrorism efforts of Latin American countries, including the successful counterterrorism efforts of the 3+1 Group (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and the United States). Emphasizes the importance of eliminating Hizbollah's financial network in the tri-border region of South America. Commends the efforts of individual countries and regional bodies in the Western Hemisphere that have led efforts to eliminate terrorist financing and other terrorist operations. Urges the U.S. government to work with countries in the [...]

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A bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2008, and for other purposes. 2/13/2007--Introduced. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2008 for military operations and military construction. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement; (2) the Rapid Acquisition Fund and the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (3) research, development, test, and evaluation, including ballistic missile defense; (4) operation and maintenance, including defense working capital funds, the defense health program, chemical agents and munitions destruction, and environmental restoration; (5) active and reserve military personnel, including [...]

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A bill to direct the Secretary of State to work with the Government of Brazil and other foreign governments to develop partnerships that will strengthen diplomatic relations and energy security by accelerating the development of biofuels production, research, and infrastructure to alleviate poverty, create jobs, and increase income, while improving energy security and protecting the environment. 3/28/2007--Introduced. United States-Brazil Energy Cooperation Pact of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of State to establish the Western Hemisphere Energy Cooperation Forum which should seek to: (1) strengthen relationships between the United States and other countries of the Western Hemisphere through cooperation on energy issues; and (2) enhance cooperation between major energy producers and major energy consumers in the Western Hemisphere, particularly among the governments of Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela. Directs the U.S. government to seek to implement: [...]

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Condemning the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, and for other purposes. 6/26/2008--Introduced. Reiterates condemnation of the 1994 attack on the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association (AMIA) Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, honors the victims of the attack, and expresses sympathy to the victims' relatives. Applauds the government of Argentina for increasing the pace of the AMIA bombing investigation. Commends the General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) for upholding and issuing the Red Notices. Expresses concern regarding the government of Saudi Arabia's failure to detain certain Iranian officials in connection with the AMIA case. Urges: (1) all nations to cooperate fully with the AMIA investigation; and (2) governments in the Western Hemisphere to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and to penalize those providing support for Hezbollah [...]

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A bill to provide additional resources and funding to address inspection delays at United States ports of entry on the Southern border, open additional inspection lanes, hire more inspectors, and provide recruitment and retention incentives for United States customs and Border Protection officers who serve on the Northern and Southern borders. 12/13/2007--Introduced. Emergency Port of Entry Personnel and Infrastructure Funding Act of 2007 - Directs the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for FY2009-FY2012 to hire, train, and assign additional customs and border protection personnel (with an additional allotment for Texas) for the Northern and Southern U.S. borders. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to ensure such personnel are equipped with secure two-way communication devices and that existing personnel and new hires receive law enforcement training. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) construct additional ports of entry along the Northern and Southern [...]

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A bill to authorize the establishment of a Social Investment and Economic Development Fund for the Americas to provide assistance to reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and foster increased economic opportunity in the countries of the Western Hemisphere, and for other purposes. 10/1/2007--Introduced. Social Investment and Economic Development for the Americas Act of 2007 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to provide assistance to reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and foster increased economic opportunity in Western Hemisphere countries. Establishes within USAID the Western Hemisphere Economic Investment and Development Advisory Committee which shall: (1) serve as a link among the U.S. government, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and other interested parties; and (2) review projects funded under this Act. Amends the Inter-American [...]

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To authorize the establishment of a Social Investment and Economic Development Fund for the Americas to provide assistance to reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and foster increased economic opportunity in the countries of the Western Hemisphere, and for other purposes. 9/27/2007--Introduced. Social Investment and Economic Development for the Americas Act of 2007 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to provide assistance to reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and foster increased economic opportunity in Western Hemisphere countries. Establishes within USAID the Western Hemisphere Economic Investment and Development Advisory Committee which shall: (1) serve as a link among the U.S. government, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and other interested parties; and (2) review projects funded under this Act. Amends the Inter-American [...]

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To reduce our Nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and alternative energy resources, promoting new emerging energy technologies, developing greater efficiency, and creating a Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve to invest in alternative energy, and for other purposes. 6/28/2007--Introduced. Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007 - Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation Act of 2007 - Directs the President to: (1) promulgate regulations establishing a renewable fuel standard; and (2) provide a credit to the owner of any facility that uses renewable energy to displace over 90% of the fossil fuel normally used in renewable fuel production. Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish: (1) a competitive infrastructure pilot grant program for renewable fuels; (2) at least 11 bioresearch centers for systems biology; (3) grants for renewable fuel production research and development in certain [...]

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