Top Legislation - View All
Latest Action: 10/06/2008 - Presented to President. Bill TextTo direct the United States Sentencing Commission to assure appropriate punishment enhancements for those involved in receiving stolen property where that property consists of grave markers of veterans, and for other purposes. 6/12/2008--Reported to Senate without amendment. (There are 3 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.)Let Our Veterans Rest in Peace Act of 2008 - Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend its sentencing guidelines and policy statements to provide adequate sentencing enhancements for any offense involving the desecration, theft, or trafficking in a grave marker, headstone, monument, or other object intended to permanently mark a veteran's grave. Requires the Commission to ensure that the sentences, guidelines, and policy statements for these crimes are appropriately [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Americans in foreign countries, Armed forces, Children, Children's rights, Civil liberties, Civil rights, Conspiracy, Criminal aliens, Criminal justice, Defense policy, Deportation, Foreign policy, Human rights, Immigration, International affairs, Jurisdiction, Law, Limitation of actions, Military personnel, Prosecution, Recruiting and enlistment, Right of asylum
Latest Action: 10/03/2008 - Signed by President. Bill TextA bill to prohibit the recruitment or use of child soldiers, to designate persons who recruit or use child soldiers as inadmissible aliens, to allow the deportation of persons who recruit or use child soldiers, and for other purposes. 9/8/2008--Passed House amended. (There are 3 other summaries) Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008- Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or 20-year prison term for knowingly recruiting, enlisting, or conscripting a person under 15 years of age into an armed force or group (other than a group assembled solely for nonviolent political association) or using such person to participate actively in combat hostilities, or attempting or conspiring to do so, knowing such person is under 15 years of age. Imposes a life sentence if the death of any person results from a violation of this Act. Provides for: (1) expanded jurisdiction for prosecuting U.S. nationals and resident aliens who violate this Act; and [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Budgets, Child pornography, Child sexual abuse, Children, Communications, Computer crimes, Congress, Congressional investigations, Congressional reporting requirements, Crime prevention, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Customs administration, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Electronic surveillance, Executive departments, Executive reorganization, Federal advisory bodies, Federal aid to law enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal law enforcement officers, Government employees, Government information, Internet, Postal service, Prosecution, Recruiting of employees, Technology, Telecommunication, Trade
Latest Action: 10/02/2008 - Presented to President. Bill TextA bill to require the Department of Justice to develop and implement a National Strategy Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction, to improve the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, to increase resources for regional computer forensic labs, and to make other improvements to increase the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute child predators. 7/7/2008--Reported to Senate amended. (There is 1 other summary) Combating Child Exploitation Act of 2008 - Title I: National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction - (Sec. 101) Directs the Attorney General to create and implement a National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction (National Strategy). Sets forth the required content of such National Strategy, including: (1) comprehensive long-range goals for reducing child exploitation; (2) annual budget priorities and federal efforts for combating child exploitation; (3) a [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Age, Business, Business records, Children, Cigarettes, Communications, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Drug abuse, Electronic commerce, Federal preemption, Fines (Penalties), Government information, Government paperwork, Government publicity, Identification devices, Imports, Injunctions, Inventories, Jurisdiction, Law, Local laws, Postal service, Searches and seizures, Smokeless tobacco, Smoking and youth, Smuggling, State and local government, State laws, Taxation, Technology, Telecommunication, Tobacco industry, Tobacco tax, Trade
Latest Action: 10/02/2008 - Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1115. Bill TextTo prevent tobacco smuggling, to ensure the collection of all tobacco taxes, and for other purposes. 9/10/2008--Passed House amended. (There are 2 other summaries) Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2008 or the PACT Act - Amends the Jenkins Act to revise provisions governing the collection of taxes on, and trafficking in, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. (Sec. 2) Revises the definition of "cigarette" to include roll-your-own tobacco and to exclude cigars. Defines "delivery sale" to mean any sale of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to a consumer ordered by telephone, the mails, or the Internet or other online service . Redefines "person" to include state, local, and Indian tribal governments. Redefines "use" to include the consumption, storage, handling, or disposal of smokeless tobacco, in addition to cigarettes.Applies state tobacco tax reporting requirements to: (1) the sale or advertising [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Administration of justice, Appellate courts, Bankruptcy courts, Budgets, Communications, Community service (Punishment), Conferences, Criminal justice, District courts, Employee rights, Employers' liability, Executive departments, Fees, Finance, Fines (Penalties), Government service contracts, Investment of public funds, Juries, Labor, Law, Legal fees, Magistrates, Minnesota, Parole, Pretrial procedure, Probation, Public contracts, Tennessee, U.S. Sentencing Commission
Latest Action: 10/02/2008 - Presented to President. Bill Text
A bill to make improvements in the operation and administration of the Federal courts, and for other purposes.
Also tagged in: Black history, Blacks, Civil liberties, Civil rights, Civil rights workers, Commemorations, Congress, Congressional tributes, Criminal justice, Foreign policy, History, Human rights, International affairs, Minorities, Pardons, Presidents
Latest Action: 03/15/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E561-563) Bill TextExpressing the sense of the Congress that the President should grant a pardon to Marcus Mosiah Garvey to clear his name and affirm his innocence of crimes for which he was unjustly prosecuted and convicted. 1/10/2007--Introduced. Declares that Marcus Mosiah Garvey (founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association): (1) was innocent of the charges brought against him by the U.S. government; and (2) should be recognized internationally as a leader and thinker in the struggle for human rights and dignity. Calls upon the President to endeavor to restore Garvey's honor and good name by granting him a full posthumous pardon that proclaims his conviction to have been unjust and affirms his innocence.
Also tagged in: Chemicals, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Criminal justice, Drug abuse, Drug law enforcement, Drug traffic, Exchange of persons programs, Foreign policy, Indian law enforcement, Indians, International affairs, International cooperation, Life imprisonment, Methamphetamine, Minorities, Negotiations, Organized crime
Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S127) Bill TextA bill to end the trafficking of methamphetamines and precursor chemicals across the United States and its borders. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Methamphetamine Trafficking Enforcement Act of 2007 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to reduce the threshold requirements for imposing enhanced criminal penalties on individuals engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise involving methamphetamine.Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the U.S. Trade Representative, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security should address methamphetamine controls in multilateral or bilateral negotiations with foreign countries; and (2) the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration should collaborate with foreign law enforcement officials to combat methamphetamine trafficking into the United States.Requires the Attorney General to report to Congress on problems faced by Indian reservations relating to methamphetamine trafficking [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Business, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Data banks, Federal-local relations, Federal-state relations, Firearms, Firearms control, Government information, Government paperwork, Identification of criminals, Larceny, Organized crime, Retail trade, State and local government, Technology
Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextA bill to improve the tracking of stolen firearms and firearms used in a crime, to allow more frequent inspections of gun dealers to ensure compliance with Federal gun law, to enhance the penalties for gun trafficking, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Anti-Gun Trafficking Penalties Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 to repeal restrictions on disclosure of the content of the Firearms Trace System database. Directs the Attorney General to provide state and local governments or law enforcement agencies with information from such database upon receipt of a written request.Requires federal law enforcement agencies investigating a crime to provide information about firearms stolen or used in such crime to the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives (BAFTE). Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to require state and local law enforcement [...] show full description
Latest Action: 02/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Bill TextTo amend the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act with respect to penalties for powder cocaine and crack cocaine offenses. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Powder-Crack Cocaine Penalty Equalization Act of 2007 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to eliminate the disparity in sentencing between crack and powder cocaine, with regard to trafficking, possession, importation, and exportation of such substances, by changing the applicable amounts for powder cocaine to those currently applicable to crack cocaine.
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Banks and banking, Business, Child pornography, Child sexual abuse, Children, Civil liberties, Consumer education, Consumers, Credit unions, Criminal justice, Electronic mail systems, Executive departments, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Finance, Fines (Penalties), Foreign banks and banking, Government information, Government publicity, Humanities, Identification devices, Independent regulatory commissions, Injunctions, International finance, Internet, Law, Libraries, Parties to actions, Pornography, Restrictive trade practices, Right of privacy, Savings and loan associations, Social security, Social security numbers, Technology, Telecommunication, Telephone, Web sites
Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Bill TextA bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent the carriage of child pornography by video service providers, to protect children from online predators, and to restrict the sale or purchase of children's personal information in interstate commerce. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue regulations requiring video services to prevent child pornography. Amends the Crime Control Act of 1990 to triple the fines on providers of electronic communication services or remote computing services who knowingly and willfully fail to report child pornography. Requires warning labels for websites depicting sexually explicit material. Deleting Online Predators Act of 2007 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require schools and libraries that receive universal service support to enforce a policy that: (1) prohibits access to a commercial [...] show full description
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Latest Legislation - View All
Also tagged in: Administration of justice, Appellate courts, Bankruptcy courts, Budgets, Communications, Community service (Punishment), Conferences, Criminal justice, District courts, Employee rights, Employers' liability, Executive departments, Fees, Finance, Fines (Penalties), Government service contracts, Investment of public funds, Juries, Labor, Law, Legal fees, Magistrates, Minnesota, Parole, Pretrial procedure, Probation, Public contracts, Tennessee, U.S. Sentencing Commission
Latest Action: 10/02/2008 - Presented to President. Bill Text
A bill to make improvements in the operation and administration of the Federal courts, and for other purposes.
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Conspiracy, Criminal justice, District courts, Drug abuse, Drug law enforcement, Drug traffic, Evidence (Law), Fines (Penalties), Identification devices, Jurisdiction, Law, Marine transportation, Sentencing guidelines, Submarines, Transportation
Latest Action: 07/28/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7576) Bill TextA bill to enhance drug trafficking interdiction by creating a Federal felony for operating or embarking in a submersible or semi-submersible vessel without nationality and on an international voyage. 7/28/2008--Introduced. Drug Trafficking Interdiction Assistance Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to 15 years for the intentional operation of, or for embarking in, any submersible or semi-submersible vessel that is without nationality (as defined by federal law) and that is navigating or has navigated into, through, or from waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country or a lateral limit of that country's territorial sea with an adjacent country with the intent to evade detection. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to amend or promulgate sentencing guidelines to provide adequate penalties for such offense.
Also tagged in: Capital punishment, Child sexual abuse, Children, Constitution, Constitutional amendments, Criminal justice, Judicial review, Law, Louisiana, Punishment, Rape, State and local government, State laws, Supreme Court decisions, Women
Latest Action: 07/25/2008 - Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7481-7482) Bill TextA resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Supreme Court of the United States erroneously decided Kennedy v. Louisiana, No. 07-343 (2008), and that the eighth amendment to the Constitution of the United States allows the imposition of the death penalty for the rape of a child. 7/25/2008--Introduced. Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the eighth amendment to the Constitution allows the death penalty for the rape of a child where the crime did not result, and was not intended to result, in death of the victim; (2) the Louisiana statute making child rape punishable by death is constitutional; (3) because Kennedy v. Louisiana was decided under a mistaken view of federal law, the U.S. Supreme Court should grant any petition for rehearing of the case and the portions of the decision regarding the national consensus or evolving standards of decency with respect to the imposition of the death penalty for child rape should not be viewed as binding precedent;[...] show full description
Latest Action: 06/26/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextProposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to permit the penalty of death for the rape of a child. 6/26/2008--Introduced. Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the death penalty for the forcible rape of a child under age 12 does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative procedure, Conspiracy, Criminal justice, District courts, Drug abuse, Drug law enforcement, Drug traffic, Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Fines (Penalties), Identification devices, Jurisdiction, Law, Marine transportation, Sentencing guidelines, Ships, Smuggling, Submarines, Transportation, U.S. Sentencing Commission
Latest Action: 08/01/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Bill TextTo enhance drug trafficking interdiction by creating a Federal felony relating to operating or embarking in a submersible or semi-submersible vessel without nationality and on an international voyage. 7/29/2008--Passed House amended. (There is 1 other summary) Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to 15 years for knowingly operating or embarking in any submersible or semisubmersible vessel that is without nationality and that is navigating in, or has navigated into, through, or from, waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country or a lateral limit of that country's territorial sea with an adjacent country, with the intent to evade detection. Grants extraterritorial federal jurisdiction over violations of this Act.Makes it an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this Act that a vessel operated at the time of a violation was: [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Business, Child pornography, Child sexual abuse, Computer crimes, Consumers, Criminal aliens, Criminal justice, Deceptive advertising, Deportation, Immigration, Internet, Life imprisonment, Murder, Names, Passports, Pornography, Rape, Recidivists, Sex offenders, Sex-oriented businesses, Smuggling, Technology, Telecommunication, Tourism, Transportation, Web sites
Latest Action: 07/28/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Bill TextTo amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen penalties for child pornography offenses, child sex trafficking offenses, and other sexual offenses committed against children. 6/3/2008--Introduced. Prevention and Deterrence of Crimes Against Children Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to increase criminal penalties for offenses relating to the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, transportation of minors for illicit sexual purposes, child sex trafficking and prostitution, and sex crimes against children resulting in death. Directs the Attorney General to notify the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security of individuals, including aliens, who are convicted of sex offenses against children. Requires the Secretary of State to deny passports for such individuals and authorizes the Secretary to revoke, restrict, or limit a passport issued to a convicted sex offender if the passport was used to transport a minor for illicit sexual purposes.[...] show full description
Also tagged in: Business, Child pornography, Child sexual abuse, Computer crimes, Consumers, Criminal aliens, Criminal justice, Deceptive advertising, Deportation, Immigration, Internet, Life imprisonment, Murder, Names, Passports, Pornography, Rape, Recidivists, Sex offenders, Sex-oriented businesses, Smuggling, Technology, Telecommunication, Tourism, Transportation, Web sites
Latest Action: 05/13/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4111-4112) Bill TextA bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen penalties for child pornography offenses, child sex trafficking offenses, and other sexual offenses committed against children. 5/13/2008--Introduced. Prevention and Deterrence of Crimes Against Children Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to increase criminal penalties for offenses relating to the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, transportation of minors for illicit sexual purposes, child sex trafficking and prostitution, and sex crimes against children resulting in death. Directs the Attorney General to notify the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security of individuals, including aliens, who are convicted of sex offenses against children. Requires the Secretary of State to deny passports for such individuals and authorizes the Secretary to revoke, restrict, or limit a passport issued to a convicted sex offender if the passport was used in furtherance of sex crimes involving [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Airline employees, Armed forces, Auditing, Authorization, Budgets, Central Intelligence Agency, Chief financial officers, Civil liberties, Civil service retirement, Classified defense information, Coast guard, Communications, Confidential funding (Federal budgets), Conflict of interests, Congress, Congressional agencies, Congressional oversight, Congressional reorganization, Congressional reporting requirements, Cost accounting, Counterintelligence, Covert operations, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Crisis management, Defense policy, Delegation of powers, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, Detention of persons, Director of National Intelligence, Drug abuse, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Drug law enforcement, Education, Employee training, Executive departments, Executive reorganization, Federal advisory bodies, Federal aid to education, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal employees, Federal officials, Finance, Financial statements, Foreign policy, Gifts, Government contractors, Government employees, Government information, Government procurement, Government publicity, Government travel, Governmental investigations, Higher education, Human rights, Information leaking, Inspectors general, Intelligence activities, Intelligence community staff, Intelligence officers, Intelligence services, International affairs, Job training, Language and languages, Management information systems, Military intelligence, Missile warheads, Nuclear security measures, Pensions, Performance measurement, Personnel management, Photography, Politics and government, Public contracts, Reconnaissance satellites, Reprogramming of appropriated funds, Research and development, Right of privacy, Salaries, Scholarships, Science policy, Space activities, Strategic forces, Suspects' rights, Technology, Terrorism, Torture, Transfer of employees, Transportation, Transportation safety, Undercover operations, United Nations, Weapons of mass destruction, Weapons systems
Latest Action: 05/08/2008 - Select Committee on Intelligence. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Rockefeller. With written report No. 110-333. Additional and Minority views filed. Bill TextAn original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes. 5/8/2008--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.)Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Title I: Budget and Personnel Authorizations - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for FY2009 for the conduct of intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the: (1) Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI); (2) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); (3) Department of Defense (DOD); (4) Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA); (5) National Security Agency (NSA); (6) Departments of the Army,[...] show full description
Latest Action: 06/03/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. Bill TextProposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the Constitution does not preclude a penalty of death, including when it is imposed for the rape of a child under 16 years of age. 5/8/2008--Introduced. Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the death penalty is permitted under the Constitution and does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment, including when imposed for the rape of a child under 16 years old.
Also tagged in: Birth control, Child sexual abuse, Children, Constitution, Constitutional amendments, Criminal justice, Medical care, Medicine, Punishment, Rape, Surgery, Women
Latest Action: 06/03/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. Bill TextProposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States allowing castration after conviction for the rape of a child under 16 years of age. 5/8/2008--Introduced. Constitutional Amendment - Declares that surgical or chemical castration is permitted under the Constitution upon conviction of the rape of a child under 16 years old and does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
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