Top Legislation - View All

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

Bill Text
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make a technical correction in the definition of outpatient speech-language pathology services.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Amends part D (Miscellaneous) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to define outpatient speech-language pathology services.

Latest Action: 06/26/2007 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8521 text as passed Senate: CR S8521 text of measure as introduced: CR S8418)

Bill Text
A resolution designating June 2007 as "National Aphasia Awareness Month" and supporting efforts to increase awareness of aphasia.

6/26/2007--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.)

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Aphasia Awareness Month in June 2007.

Latest Action: 06/27/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1425)

Bill Text
Encouraging recognition, and supporting the goals and ideals, of National Aphasia Awareness Month.

6/27/2007--Introduced.

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Aphasia Awareness Month.

Latest Action: 03/20/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize physical therapists to evaluate and treat Medicare beneficiaries without a requirement for a physician referral, and for other purposes.

3/20/2007--Introduced.

Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to authorize qualified physical therapists to provide services for Medicare beneficiaries without the requirement of a physician referral.

Provides for treatment of outpatient speech-language pathology services separately from outpatient physical therapy services.

Latest Action: 06/27/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.

Bill Text
To expand the teacher loan forgiveness provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include speech-language pathologists.

3/7/2007--Introduced.

Helping Our Students Communicate Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to assume or cancel loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan or the Direct Loan programs to individuals who have been employed for five consecutive complete school years as full-time speech-language pathologists: (1) principally at elementary and secondary schools whose enrollment of disadvantaged students exceeds 30% and whose local educational agencies are eligible for funding under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and (2) have at least a graduate degree in speech-language pathology, or communication sciences and disorders.

Caps loan forgiveness at $17,500.

Limits the benefits of this Act to new borrowers on or after October 1, 2007.

Latest Action: 03/23/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize physical therapists to evaluate and treat Medicare beneficiaries without a requirement for a physician referral, and for other purposes.

3/15/2007--Introduced.

Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to authorize qualified physical therapists to provide services for Medicare beneficiaries without the requirement of a physician referral.

Provides for treatment of outpatient speech-language pathology services separately from outpatient physical therapy services.

Latest Action: 11/15/2007 - By Senator Kennedy from Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions filed written report. Report No. 110-231.

Bill Text
A bill to extend the authorization of programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes. 7/24/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Higher Education Amendments of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to revise HEA programs and to extend the authorization of appropriations for them through FY2013. Title I: General Provisions - (Sec. 101) Adds definitions of a critical foreign language, distance education, and poverty line. Provides that critical foreign languages are those contained on the list designated by the Secretary of Education in the Federal Register on August 5, 1985, but allows the Secretary to set language priorities according to the purposes of a specific program and national security, economic competitiveness, and educational needs. States that poverty line refers to the poverty line applicable to a family of the size involved. (Sec. 102) Revises [...]

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Latest Action: 03/30/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a separate definition of outpatient speech-language pathology services under the Medicare Program in order that direct payment to speech-language pathologists may be made under the Medicare Program.

3/29/2007--Introduced.

Amends part D (Miscellaneous) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to define outpatient speech-language pathology services.

Latest Action: 09/27/2007 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
To provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 601 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2008. 9/27/2007--Public Law.    (There are 5 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since the Conference Report was filed in the House on September 6, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.) College Cost Reduction and Access Act - Title I: Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education - (Sec. 101) Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to repeal the formula for calculating an individual Pell grant which includes, in part, the sum of the student's tuition. (Thus eliminates the "tuition sensitivity provision" which currently prohibits maximum Pell grant awards to students attending low-tuition institutions of higher education (IHEs) even if their income is low enough otherwise to qualify for the maximum award.) Authorizes and appropriates $11 million for FY2008 [...]

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Latest Action: 09/04/2007 - Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 338.

Bill Text
To amend titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the children's health insurance program, to improve beneficiary protections under the Medicare, Medicaid, and the CHIP program, and for other purposes. 8/1/2007--Reported to House amended, Part I.    (There are 2 other summaries) Children's Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act of 2007 - Title I: Children's Health Insurance Program - (Sec. 100) States that it is the purpose of this title to provide dependable and stable funding for children's health insurance under titles XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program) (CHIP) (also known as SCHIP) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) in order to enroll all six million uninsured children who are eligible, but not enrolled, for coverage today. Subtitle A: Funding - (Sec. 101) Prescribes formulae for new base CHIP allotments for states and territories beginning with FY2008. (Sec. [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/15/2008 - Vetoed by President.

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. 7/15/2008--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on June 24, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Title I: Medicare - Subtitle A: Beneficiary Improvements - Part 1: Prevention, Mental Health, and Marketing - (Sec. 101) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, to cover additional preventive services. Includes body mass index and end-of-life planning among initial [...]

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Latest Action: 05/21/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4627)

Bill Text
A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Better Hearing and Speech Month.

5/21/2008--Introduced.

Expresses support for: (1) the goals and ideals of National Better Hearing and Speech Month; and (2) the efforts of speech and hearing professionals to improve the speech and hearing development of children.

Urges increased coordination of community-based, comprehensive care for members of the Armed Forces, veterans, athletes, and accident victims who have experienced hearing and speech deficiencies as a result of traumatic brain injury.

Encourages the people of the United States to have their hearing checked regularly and to avoid environmental noise that can lead to hearing loss.

Commends the 46 states that have implemented routine hearing screenings for every newborn.

Latest Action: 05/16/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Better Hearing and Speech Month, and for other purposes.

5/15/2008--Introduced.

Expresses support for: (1) the goals and ideals of National Better Hearing and Speech Month; and (2) the efforts of speech and hearing professionals to improve the speech and hearing development of children.

Urges increased coordination of community-based, comprehensive care for soldiers, veterans, athletes, and accident victims who have experienced traumatic brain injury.

Encourages the people of the United States to have their hearing checked regularly and to avoid environmental noise that can lead to hearing loss.

Commends the 46 states that have implemented routine hearing screenings for every newborn.

Latest Action: 05/14/2008 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4202; text as passed Senate: CR S4202; text of measure as introduced: CR S4186)

Bill Text
A resolution designating June 2008 as "National Aphasia Awareness Month" and supporting efforts to increase awareness of aphasia.

5/14/2008--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.)

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Aphasia Awareness Month in June 2008.

Latest Action: 11/06/2007 - 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 improve the quality of, and access to, long-term care. 11/6/2007--Introduced. Long-term Care Quality and Modernization Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Service to conduct a demonstration program requiring a state to establish a process for joint training and education of surveyors and providers for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and nursing facilities at least annually. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) and title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow resumption of nursing aid training programs in SNFs after correction of deficiencies. Authorizes the Secretary to exclude from the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for SNFs: (1) certain (high cost and low probability) cancer treatment drugs, including antineoplastic drugs, antiemitics, and supportive medications; (2) all ambulance services, including those furnished to an individual in conjunction with renal dialysis services; and (3) other appropriate items and services.[...]

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Latest Action: 10/04/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Bill Text
To amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965. 10/4/2007--Introduced. College Access and Opportunity Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to revise and reauthorize appropriations for HEA programs. Establishes a single definition of institutions of higher education (IHEs) for purposes of their participation in all HEA programs, including title IV student aid programs. Allows IHEs to enroll students who are also enrolled in secondary school. Revises higher education consumer information and public accountability requirements. Imposes educational loan disclosure requirements on lenders and IHEs. Replaces the Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants for States and Partnerships program under title II with a new Teacher Quality Partnership grant program for partnerships of high-need local educational agencies (LEAs), high-need schools, IHEs, and public or private educational organizations. Repeals part B (Preparing Tomorrow's [...]

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