Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 01/22/2007 - Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

Bill Text
A bill to authorize appropriations for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, and for other purposes.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for FY2008-FY2012.

Latest Action: 05/03/2007 - Subcommittee Hearings Held.

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To establish the SouthEast Crescent Authority, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Southeast Crescent Authority Act of 2007 - Establishes a Southeast Crescent Authority for all parts of the following southeastern states not eligible for assistance from the Appalachian Regional Commission or the Delta Regional Authority: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. Directs the Authority to perform various functions, including: (1) formulating plans and programs to spur economic development, and approving grants to states and public and nonprofit entities toward that end; (2) establishing priorities in a development plan for the region; (3) supporting local development districts, and creating them where they do not exist; and (4) encouraging private investment in the region. Permits the Authority to request and receive federal, state and local government personnel as employees. States that Authority grants [...]

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Latest Action: 01/18/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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A bill to promote the national security and stability of the United States economy by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes. 1/18/2007--Introduced. Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy Act or DRIVE Act - Instructs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to publish in the Federal Register an oil savings target and action plan for specified calendar years.Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop: (1) a fuel efficiency consumer education program for motor vehicle tires; (2) a fuel efficiency program for passenger automobile and light truck tires; and (3) a program to designate Transit-Oriented Development Corridors.Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) develop a testing and assessment program to determine heavy duty vehicle fuel economy; (2) establish a task force to develop minimum certification [...]

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Latest Action: 01/30/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1328-1331)

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A bill to provide for additional section 8 vouchers, to reauthorize the Public and Assisted Housing Drug Elimination Program, and for other purposes. 1/30/2007--Introduced. Affordable Housing Expansion and Public Safety Act - Instructs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Secretary) to provide an additional 100,000 incremental vouchers for tenant-based rental housing assistance under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program in FY2008. Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to direct: (1) each participating jurisdiction to use Home Investments Partnership (HOME) grant funds to provide affordable housing to individuals or families whose income is 30% or lower than the area median income (extremely low-income); and (2) direct the Secretary to allocate HOME funds to such jurisdictions on a specified pro-rata basis. Amends the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to: (1) extend to FY2012 the authorization of appropriations for the Public [...]

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Latest Action: 02/06/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Bill Text
A bill to establish the SouthEast Crescent Authority, and for other purposes. 2/6/2007--Introduced. Southeast Crescent Authority Act of 2007 - Establishes a Southeast Crescent Authority for all parts of the following southeastern states not eligible for assistance from the Appalachian Regional Commission or the Delta Regional Authority: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. Directs the Authority to perform various functions, including: (1) formulating plans and programs to spur economic development, and approving grants to states and public and nonprofit entities toward that end; (2) establishing priorities in a development plan for the region; (3) supporting local development districts, and creating them where they do not exist; and (4) encouraging private investment in the region. Permits the Authority to request and receive federal, state and local government personnel as employees. States that Authority [...]

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Latest Action: 03/13/2008 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 110-275.

Bill Text
A bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations to reduce the incidence of child injury and death occurring inside or outside of light motor vehicles, and for other purposes. 3/13/2008--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007, or the K.T. Safety Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to initiate a rulemaking for motor vehicles to require: (1) automatic reversal of direction by power windows and panels when they detect an obstruction; (2) an expanded rearward field of view to prevent backing incidents; and (3) automatic transmissions to have an anti-rollaway system that requires the service brake to be depressed before the transmission can be shifted out of park, which shall function in any starting system key position in which the transmission can be shifted out of park. Requires the Secretary, if it is determined that no additional safety standards [...]

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Latest Action: 03/01/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2510)

Bill Text
A bill to establish in the Department of Commerce an Under Secretary for United States Direct Investment, and for other purposes.

3/1/2007--Introduced.

Invest USA Act of 2007 - Establishes in the Department of Commerce a United States Direct Investment Administration, headed by an Under Secretary of Commerce for United States Direct Investment.

Requires the Under Secretary to collect, analyze, and report annually to the President and the appropriate congressional committees: (1) on specified data about direct investment in each state and region; and (2) an agenda based on such data and analysis.

Requires the President to establish, and the Under Secretary to assume lead responsibility for, an Interagency United States Direct Investment Promotion Committee.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code (relating to designation of renewal communities) to authorize the Under Secretary to designate an additional 10 nominated areas as renewal communities.

Latest Action: 03/02/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2562)

Bill Text
A bill to enhance scientific research and competitiveness through the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, and for other purposes. 3/2/2007--Introduced. EPSCoR Research and Competitiveness Act of 2007 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012 to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). Requires the Director of the NSF: (1) in the administration of the NSF's research infrastructure improvement grant program, to authorize states participating in the grant program to include partnership with out-of-state research institutions if the amount of funding transferred to another state does not exceed 5% of the amount of the grant in any fiscal year; and (2) from the amounts appropriated pursuant to this Act, to make available specified amounts for FY2008-FY2012 to such grant program. Requires the Director to obligate and spend not less than 20% of the amount available for EPSCoR [...]

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Latest Action: 05/18/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.

Bill Text
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to community colleges and advanced technology education centers partnering with community colleges to support the education and training of technicians in the fields of bioenergy and other agriculture-based, renewable energy resources, and for other purposes. 2/7/2007--Introduced. National Endowment for Workforce Education in Renewables and Agriculture Act of 2007, or NEW ERA Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to community colleges and advanced technology education centers located in Iowa or other midwestern states to support the education and training of technicians in the fields of bioenergy and other agricultural, renewable energy resources. Requires grant applicants to demonstrate the ability to leverage existing partnerships and develop educational and occupation outreach and training programs with secondary schools, four-year institutions of higher [...]

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Latest Action: 04/11/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
A bill to temporarily increase the number of visas which may be issued to certain highly skilled workers.

4/11/2007--Introduced.

High-Tech Worker Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase the number of annual H-1B (specialty occupation) visa entrants for FY2007 and FY2008.

Eliminates the 20,000 annual cap on aliens with master's or higher degrees who can enter the United States without being subject to H-1B visa limits.

Exempts from direct numerical limitations: (1) aliens with an advanced degree in science, technology, engineering, or math who have been working in a related field in the United States during the three-year period preceding their application for an employment-based immigrant visa; (2) certain aliens who are priority workers or who have received a national interest waiver; and (3) immediate relatives.

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 04/30/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3596-3597)

Bill Text
A bill to promote green energy production, and for other purposes. 4/30/2008--Introduced. Green Energy Production Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a green technology investment program to develop high-tech green research capabilities, promote green innovation and green energy investment, and increase scientific knowledge that may reveal the basis for new or enhanced products, equipment, or processes in target areas.Establishes in the Department of Energy the Green Technology Investment Corporation to allocate funds, provide grants, and carry out component programs for all phases of technology commercialization. Requires the Corporation to establish: (1) a green development loan program for green technology investment; (2) a green markets grant program; (3) a green redevelopment, opportunity, and workforce grant program; (4) a green energy manufacturing loan program; (5) a green energy community pilot program; (6) a green energy institution [...]

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Latest Action: 03/03/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1468-1469)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify certain authorities relating to educational assistance benefits for veterans, and for other purposes.

3/3/2008--Introduced.

Amends federal provisions concerning veterans' educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill to: (1) allow the accelerated payment of such assistance for the pursuit of education leading to employment in high-technology industry only for programs of education which do not lead to an associate or higher degree; (2) terminate the June 30, 2010, delimiting period on an expanded scope of work activities that may be assigned to individuals participating in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) work-study programs; and (3) authorize appropriations for VA payments to state agencies which approve programs of education for purposes of participation in the VA educational assistance program.

Latest Action: 01/28/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage investment in high productivity property, and for other purposes.

1/28/2008--Introduced.

Job Creation Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the expensing of the cost of certain high productivity property placed in service in 2008, including computer and computer-related peripheral equipment, electronic equipment, software, high technology medical equipment, and advanced environmental and life science products.

Allow a 50% depreciation allowance for certain business equipment acquired in 2008.

Exempts acclerated depreciation amounts related to properties placed in service in 2008 or 2009 from adjustments in computing alternative minimum taxable income.

Allows an offset in 2008 against the alternative minimum tax liability of corporations for their long-term unused tax credits.

Latest Action: 09/19/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to extend trade adjustment assistance to certain service workers. 9/19/2007--Introduced. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to allow the filing of a petition with the Secretary of Labor for certification of eligibility to apply for trade adjustment assistance (TAA) by adversely affected workers in a service sector firm or subdivision. Defines "service sector firm" as an entity engaged in the business of providing information technology or other high technology services. Revises group eligibility requirements for TAA to cover: (1) a shift, by such workers' firm or subdivision to a foreign country, in provision of services, like or directly competitive with services which are provided by such firm or subdivision; and (2) instances where such workers' firm or subdivision obtains or is likely to obtain such services from a foreign country. Provides for the certification for TAA of adversely affected secondary workers in a service [...]

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Latest Action: 08/24/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education.

Bill Text
To bridge the digital divide in rural areas. 8/3/2007--Introduced. Rural America Digital Accessibility Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make grants or guarantee loans in order to facilitate the deployment by the private sector of broadband telecommunications networks and capabilities (including wireless and satellite services) to underserved rural areas. Limits to $100 million the total amount of such grants and loan guarantees.Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation to research the enhancement or facilitation of broadband telecommunications services in rural and other remote areas, as well as Internet access through such services. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax credit to holders of qualified technology bonds (bonds representing an investment in projects to expand such telecommunications services). Sets a national technology bond limitation of $100 million for each of FY 2007 through 2011, and zero thereafter (with an exception) [...]

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Latest Action: 06/29/2007 - Select Committee on Intelligence. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with amendments. With written report No. 110-125. Additional views filed.

Bill Text
An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 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, and for other purposes. 6/5/2007--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.) National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 - Division A: Department of Defense Authorizations - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations [...]

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Latest Action: 06/29/2007 - Select Committee on Intelligence. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with amendments. Without written report.

Bill Text
An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. 6/29/2007--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for: (1) defense-wide procurement; and (2) the Rapid Acquisition Fund. Subtitle B: Army Programs - (Sec. 111) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, beginning with the FY2008 program year, to enter into a multiyear contract for procurement of: (1) M1A2 Abrams [...]