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Latest Action: 06/03/2008 - Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 758.

Bill Text
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the protection of child custody arrangements for parents who are members of the Armed Forces deployed in support of a contingency operation, and for other purposes. 3/31/2008--Introduced. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2009. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, and shipbuilding and conversion; (2) the Rapid Acquisition Fund; (3) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (4) Defense Production Act purchases; (5) research, development, test, and evaluation; (6) operation [...]

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Latest Action: 07/07/2008 - Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S6354-6356)

Bill Text
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: 06/05/2008 - Mr. Spratt brought up conference report H. Rept. 110-659 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 1214.

Bill Text
An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2008 and 2010 through 2013. 5/20/2008--Conference report filed in House.    (There are 4 other summaries) Sets forth the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2009, including the appropriate budgetary levels for FY2008 and FY2010-FY2013. Title I: Recommended Levels and Amounts - (Sec. 101) Lists recommended budgetary levels and amounts, for FY2008-FY2013, with respect to: (1) federal revenues; (2) new budget authority; (3) budget outlays; (4) deficits (on-budget); (5) debt subject to limit; and (6) debt held by the public. (Sec. 102) Lists the appropriate levels of new budget authority, outlays, and administrative expenses for Social Security, U.S. Postal Service discretionary administrative expenses, and specified major functional [...]

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Latest Action: 06/26/2008 - Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate.

Bill Text
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. 6/20/2008--Introduced. Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for coverage of additional preventive services. Provides for gradual elimination of copayment rates for Medicare psychiatric services.Places prohibitions and limitations on certain sales and marketing activities under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and prescription drug plans.Requires offering of a range of Medicare supplemental policies.Extends the qualifying individual program. Provides for application of a full low-income subsidy assets test under the Medicare [...]

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Latest Action: 06/12/2008 - Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S5539-5564)

Bill Text
A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. 6/6/2008--Introduced. Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for coverage of additional preventive services.Provides for gradual elimination of copayment rates for Medicare psychiatric services.Places prohibitions and limitations on certain sales and marketing activities under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and prescription drug plans.Requires offering of a range of Medicare supplemental policies.Extends the qualifying individual program. Provides for application of a full low-income subsidy assets test under the Medicare [...]

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Latest Action: 06/03/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
A bill to make technical corrections to section 1244 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which provides special immigrant status for certain Iraqis, and for other purposes.

4/28/2008--Passed Senate without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Makes technical corrections to provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 which provide special immigrant status for certain Iraqis employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government.

Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security or State to convert approved petitions for such status with respect to which visas are not immediately available to approved petitions for petitions filed before October 1, 2008.

Latest Action: 06/04/2008 - Received in the House.

Bill Text
A bill to improve the treatment and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders, and for other purposes. 6/3/2008--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 - Title I: Health Care Matters - (Sec. 101) Amends federal veterans' benefits provisions to repeal a requirement that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs adjust the amounts deducted from payments or allowances made by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for beneficiary travel expenses in connection with health care whenever the payment or allowance is adjusted. Requires the Secretary, in determining the amount of travel reimbursement, to use the mileage reimbursement rate for the use of privately owned vehicles by government employees on official business. Authorizes the Secretary to use a rate in excess of such rate, subject [...]

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Latest Action: 05/21/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill Text
To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs for substance use disorders, and for other purposes. 5/20/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 15, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Justin Bailey Veterans Substance Use Disorders Prevention and Treatment Act of 2008 - Requires each substance use disorder treatment plan developed by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center to ensure that such center provides ready access to a full continuum of care for substance use disorders for veterans in need of such care. Includes under a full continuum of care: (1) screening for substance use disorder; (2) detoxification and stabilization; (3) intensive outpatient care; (4) relapse prevention; (5) outpatient counseling; (6) residential [...]

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Latest Action: 07/02/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Bill Text
To improve and enhance the mental health care benefits available to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, to enhance counseling and other benefits available to survivors of members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes.

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 06/23/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Bill Text
A bill to develop a policy to address the critical needs of Iraqi refugees. 6/23/2008--Introduced. Establishes in the Executive Office of the President the position of White House Coordinator for Iraqi Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons who shall: (1) develop and implement U.S. policies, and coordinate federal functions, to address the protection, resettlement, and assistance needs of Iraqi refugees and displaced persons; (2) monitor the development and implementation of assistance strategies to countries in the Middle East hosting Iraqi refugees; (3) ensure that the President's budget requests to Congress are sufficient to meet the needs of such persons, including providing assistance for international efforts on behalf of such persons; (4) serve as principal liaison with the government of Iraq and the international community and organizations that are assisting such persons; and (5) ensure that the U.S. government will encourage refugee returns only when conditions [...]

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Latest Action: 06/26/2008 - Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate.

Bill Text
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. 6/20/2008--Introduced. Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for coverage of additional preventive services. Provides for gradual elimination of copayment rates for Medicare psychiatric services.Places prohibitions and limitations on certain sales and marketing activities under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and prescription drug plans.Requires offering of a range of Medicare supplemental policies.Extends the qualifying individual program. Provides for application of a full low-income subsidy assets test under the Medicare [...]

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Latest Action: 06/20/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Bill Text
To develop a policy to address the critical needs of Iraqi refugees. 6/20/2008--Introduced. Establishes in the Executive Office of the President the position of White House Coordinator for Iraqi Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons who shall: (1) develop and implement U.S. policies, and coordinate federal functions, to address the protection, resettlement, and assistance needs of Iraqi refugees and displaced persons; (2) monitor the development and implementation of assistance strategies to countries in the Middle East hosting Iraqi refugees; (3) ensure that the President's budget requests to Congress are sufficient to meet the needs of such persons, including providing assistance for international efforts on behalf of such persons; (4) serve as principal liaison with the government of Iraq and the international community and organizations that are assisting such persons; and (5) ensure that the U.S. government will encourage refugee returns only when conditions permit [...]

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Latest Action: 07/02/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Bill Text
To improve and enhance the mental health care benefits available to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, to enhance counseling and other benefits available to survivors of members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 06/09/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the commi

Bill Text
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. 6/9/2008--Introduced. Medicare Efficiency and Development of Improvement of Care and Services Act (MEDICS Act) of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for coverage of additional preventive services.Provides for gradual elimination of copayment rates for Medicare psychiatric services.Places prohibitions and limitations on certain sales and marketing activities under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and prescription drug plans.Requires offering of a range of Medicare supplemental policies.Extends the qualifying individual program. Provides for application of a full low-income subsidy [...]

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Latest Action: 06/12/2008 - Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S5539-5564)

Bill Text
A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. 6/6/2008--Introduced. Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for coverage of additional preventive services.Provides for gradual elimination of copayment rates for Medicare psychiatric services.Places prohibitions and limitations on certain sales and marketing activities under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and prescription drug plans.Requires offering of a range of Medicare supplemental policies.Extends the qualifying individual program. Provides for application of a full low-income subsidy assets test under the Medicare [...]

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Latest Action: 06/05/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5215-5216)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program to increase the delivery of mental health services and other health services to veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and to other residents of rural areas, and for other purposes.

6/5/2008--Introduced.

Relief for Rural Veterans in Crisis Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to states for increasing the delivery of mental health services or other health care services deemed necessary to meet the needs of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom living in rural areas; and (2) extend the authorization for Medicare rural hospital flexibility program (FLEX) grants.

Latest Action: 06/04/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee

Bill Text
To restore to the Department of State responsibility over the Police Training Teams being used to provide advisory support, training and development, and equipment for the Iraqi Police Service, to require the Department of State to provide the majority of members for the Police Training Teams, and for other purposes. 6/4/2008--Introduced. Iraqi Police Service Improvement Act of 2008 - Directs: (1) the Secretary of State to assume responsibility from the Department of Defense (DOD) over the Police Training Teams being used in Iraq to provide advisory support, training and development, and equipment for the Iraqi Police Service; (2) the Secretary to ensure that a majority of the members of each Police Training Team consists of qualified civilian advisors, including Department of State employees and contractor employees; and (3) the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a statement of understanding on command structure, including the responsibilities of [...]

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