Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/09/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Bill Text
Supporting the goals and ideals of the Day of Silence with respect to discrimination and harassment faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals in schools.

4/23/2007--Introduced.

Supports the goals and ideals of the Day of Silence (during which students vow to remain silent to bring attention to the harassment and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in schools). Encourages each city and state to adopt laws to prohibit discrimination and harassment against students, teachers, and other school staff regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S113)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to make certain graduate programs in professional psychology eligible to participate in various health professions loan programs.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Strengthen the Public Health Service Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into an agreement for the establishment and operation of a student loan fund with any public or other nonprofit school that offers a graduate program in professional psychology.

Revises provisions concerning the collection of health professions data, sex discrimination in medical education programs, and definitions to make these applicable to "professional" (rather than "clinical") psychologists.

Latest Action: 06/20/2007 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8153-8154 text as passed Senate: CR S8153-8154 text of measure as introduced: CR S8089)

Bill Text
A resolution celebrating the accomplishments of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, and recognizing the need to continue pursuing the goal of educational opportunities for women and girls.

6/20/2007--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.)

Celebrates: (1) the accomplishments of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, in increasing opportunities for women and girls in all facets of education; and (2) the magnificent accomplishments of women and girls in sports.

Latest Action: 10/24/2007 - Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding Boston's celebration of the Little Rock Nine on the 50th anniversary of their courageous and selfless stand in the face of hatred, violence, and intolerance.

10/24/2007--Introduced.

Declares that the Senate: (1) joins with the people of Massachusetts in honoring the courage of the Little Rock Nine (the nine African-American students who, 50 years ago, were the first to racially integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas); (2) endeavors to ensure that no American is denied access to education because of race or ethnicity; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to remember the importance of equal opportunity in education.

Latest Action: 07/17/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Bill Text
Celebrating the accomplishments of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, and recognizing the need to continue pursuing the goal of educational opportunities for women and girls.

6/18/2007--Passed House 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.)

Celebrates: (1) the accomplishments of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, also known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, in increasing opportunities for women and girls in all facets of education; and (2) the magnificent accomplishments of women and girls in sports.

Latest Action: 02/07/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 to require the Statistics Commissioner to collect information from coeducational secondary schools on such schools' athletic programs.

2/7/2007--Introduced.

High School Sports Information Collection Act of 2007 - Amends the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 to direct the Statistics Commissioner (of the National Center for Education Statistics in the Institute of Education Sciences in the Department of Education) to collect information from coeducational secondary schools with respect to equality in their athletic programs. Requires such information to include total budget and expenditures for each team, season and postseason schedules and successes, as well as identification of: (1) each participant's gender, race, and ethnicity; and (2) each coach's gender and qualifications.

Latest Action: 06/05/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Bill Text
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct certain coeducational elementary and secondary schools to make available information on equality in school athletic programs, and for other purposes.

2/7/2007--Introduced.

High School Athletics Accountability Act of 2007 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to direct coeducational elementary and secondary schools, if they participate in any ESEA program, to: (1) report certain information on equality in their school athletic programs to the Commissioner for Educational Statistics; and (2) make such information available to their students and potential students, upon request, and to the public.

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: 07/17/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
To provide for equal protection of the law and to prohibit discrimination and preferential treatment on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex in Federal actions, and for other purposes. 5/1/2007--Introduced. Equal Opportunity Protection and Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2007 - Prohibits discrimination or preferences in federal employment and contracting and other federal programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex. Prohibits requiring or encouraging any federal contractor or subcontractor to so discriminate or grant a preference. Prohibits states and private entities that receive federal financial assistance from so discriminating or granting a preference in connection with any contract or subcontract, employment, or admission to any educational institution. Prohibits construing this Act to prohibit or limit: (1) any act designed to benefit historically Black colleges or universities; or (2) any action under a [...]

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Latest Action: 11/15/2007 - DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the question of passage, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding.

Bill Text
Making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes. 11/7/2007--Senate receded and concurred with amendment.    (There are 4 other summaries) Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 - Makes appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for FY2008. Title I: Department of Labor - Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2008 - Makes appropriations for FY2008 to the Department of Labor for: (1) the Employment and Training Administration, including training and employment services; (2) community service employment for older Americans; (3) federal unemployment benefits and allowances; (4) state unemployment insurance and employment service operations; (5) advances to the Unemployment [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Bill Text
To provide for nondiscrimination by eligible lenders in the Robert T. Stafford Federal Student Loan Program.

7/31/2008--Introduced.

Preventing Student Loan Discrimination Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit lenders under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program from receiving special allowance payments (made to such lenders to compensate them for the difference between FFEL interest rates and market rates) if they deny FFELs to eligible borrowers because of their education program length or attendance at a particular school participating in the FFEL program.

Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
A bill to provide for nondiscrimination by eligible lenders in the Federal Family Education Loan Program.

6/17/2008--Introduced.

Preventing Student Loan Discrimination Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit lenders under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program from receiving special allowance payments (made to such lenders to compensate them for the difference between FFEL interest rates and market rates) if they deny FFELs to eligible borrowers because of their race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability status, income, attendance at a particular school participating in the FFEL program, education program length, or academic year in school.

Latest Action: 01/24/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S286)

Bill Text
A bill to restore, reaffirm, and reconcile legal rights and remedies under civil rights statutes. 1/24/2008--Introduced. Civil Rights Act of 2008 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 to set forth requirements for: (1) establishing discrimination based on disparate impact; and (2) rights of action and recovery for unlawful discrimination (intentional or based on disparate impact). Amends those Acts and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to set forth requirements regarding a right of recovery for harassment. Amends the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to provide that a state's receipt or use of federal financial assistance for a state program or activity constitutes a waiver of sovereign immunity for a suit by a program employee. Amends the Air Carrier [...]

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Latest Action: 02/04/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Bill Text
To restore, reaffirm, and reconcile legal rights and remedies under civil rights statutes. 1/23/2008--Introduced. Civil Rights Act of 2008 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 to set forth requirements for: (1) establishing discrimination based on disparate impact; and (2) rights of action and recovery for unlawful discrimination (intentional or based on disparate impact). Amends those Acts and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to set forth requirements regarding a right of recovery for harassment. Amends the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to provide that a state's receipt or use of federal financial assistance for a state program or activity constitutes a waiver of sovereign immunity for a suit by a program employee. Amends the Air Carrier Access [...]

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Latest Action: 12/19/2007 - Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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 c

Bill Text
To amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to provide for the implementation of protection and services for children and youths in out of home care, and for other purposes. 12/19/2007--Introduced. Amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to require each state through its state educational agency (SEA) and its local educational agency (LEA), in collaboration with its state and local child welfare agencies, to provide children and youths in out of home care with certain educational protection and services, including: (1) guarantee that they will not be segregated in a separate or stigmatized school or separate program within a school based on their status of being in out of home care; and (2) equal access to the state-funded and LEA-funded preschool programs, appropriate secondary education and support services, and before- and after-school programs for which they are eligible, including extracurricula activities. Requires SEA- or LEA-provided transportation [...]

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Latest Action: 10/24/2007 - Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding Boston's celebration of the Little Rock Nine on the 50th anniversary of their courageous and selfless stand in the face of hatred, violence, and intolerance.

10/24/2007--Introduced.

Declares that the Senate: (1) joins with the people of Massachusetts in honoring the courage of the Little Rock Nine (the nine African-American students who, 50 years ago, were the first to racially integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas); (2) endeavors to ensure that no American is denied access to education because of race or ethnicity; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to remember the importance of equal opportunity in education.

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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Latest Action: 02/04/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Bill Text
To express United States foreign policy with respect to, and to strengthen United States advocacy on behalf of, individuals