Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 10/08/2008 - Became Public Law No: 110-354.

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To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to make grants for the development and operation of research centers regarding environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer. 2/16/2007--Introduced. Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to make grants to public or nonprofit private entities for the development and operation of centers to conduct multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research on environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer. Requires each such center to: (1) be known as a Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Center of Excellence; (2) include community organizations in the geographic area served by the center; (3) be formed from a consortium of [...]

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Latest Action: 10/03/2008 - Signed by President.

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A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Healthy Start Initiative. 4/30/2008--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on April 29, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2007 [sic] - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider certain criteria in making grants under the Healthy Start Initiative, including: (1) factors that contribute to infant mortality, such as low birthweight; and (2) the extent to which applicants for grants facilitate a community-based approach to the delivery of services and a comprehensive approach to women's health care to improve perinatal outcomes.Provides that the Secretary is not prevented from awarding grants for special projects that are intended to address significant disparities [...]

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Latest Action: 02/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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Supporting the goals and ideals of National Wear Red Day.

1/31/2007--Introduced.

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Wear Red Day.

Encourages: (1) Americans nationwide to wear red on that day to show support for women's heart disease awareness; (2) all American women to embrace the goals of The Heart Truth campaign and take action to modify, prevent, and control their risk factors for heart disease; and (3) all Americans to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight, develop good eating habits, avoid tobacco, drugs, and excessive alcohol, and have regular checkups to take advantage of screenings that can detect heart disease-related problems early.

Reaffirms our nation's commitment to fighting heart disease by promoting awareness about its causes, risks, and prevention and by promoting new education programs, supporting research, and expanding access to medical treatment.

Latest Action: 02/08/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-226. 10:00 a.m.

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A resolution honoring women's health advocate Cynthia Boles Dailard.

2/8/2007--Reported to 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.)

Honors the life of women's health advocate Cynthia Boles Dailard.

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

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A bill to empower women in Afghanistan, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Afghan Women Empowerment Act of 2007 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the protection of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and their full participation in the reestablishment of democracy are essential to Afghanistan's reconstruction, and to achieve such reconstruction the U.S. government must commit resources to advance the rights of women throughout Afghanistan. Amends the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002 to revise the provisions respecting assistance to women and girls in Afghanistan. Extends funding authority. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should: (1) condition the provision of such assistance on the recipient adhering to international standards for women's rights and human rights; and (2) ensure that Afghan women-led nongovernmental organizations with demonstrated experience in delivering services to Afghan women and children [...]

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Latest Action: 01/19/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Bill Text
Honoring women's health advocate Cynthia Boles Dailard.

1/19/2007--Introduced.

Honors the life of women's health advocate Cynthia Boles Dailard.

Latest Action: 03/05/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2631-2632)

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A resolution supporting the goals of "International Women's Day".

3/5/2007--Introduced.

Supports the goals of International Women's Day.

Recognizes and honors the women in the United States and in other countries who have fought and continue to struggle for gender equality and women's rights.

Reaffirms the Senate's commitment to ending discrimination and violence against women and girls and to pursuing policies that guarantee the basic rights of women and girls in the United States and in other countries.

Urges the President to reaffirm his commitment to pursue policies to protect the health and rights of women and girls.

Latest Action: 05/08/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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Supporting the goals and ideals of National Women's Health Week, and for other purposes.

5/8/2007--Introduced.

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Women's Health Week.

Recognizes the importance of: (1) preventing diseases that commonly affect women; and (2) federally funded programs that provide research and collect data on common diseases in women.

Calls on women to observe National Women's Check-Up Day by receiving preventive screenings.

Latest Action: 03/09/2007 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2987-2988; text as passed Senate: CR S2987-2988; text of measure as introduced: CR S2975)

Bill Text
A resolution supporting the goals of "International Women's Day".

3/9/2007--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.)

Supports the goals of International Women's Day.

Recognizes and honors the women in the United States and in other countries who have fought and continue to struggle for gender equality and women's rights.

Reaffirms the Senate's commitment to ending discrimination and violence against women and girls and to pursuing policies that guarantee the basic rights of women and girls in the United States and in other countries.

Latest Action: 01/22/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title X of the Public Health Service Act to prohibit family planning grants from being awarded to any entity that performs abortions. 1/22/2007--Introduced. Title X Family Planning Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit federal family planning funds from being awarded to any grantees who perform abortions or whose subgrantees perform abortions, except where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed. (Current law prohibits such funds from being used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning.) Excludes hospitals from such provisions as long as the hospital does not subgrant to a non-hospital entity that performs abortions. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to Congress a list of grantees who perform abortions, regardless of how such abortions are funded.[...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7975-7976)

Bill Text
A resolution supporting legislation promoting improved health care and access to health care for women. 7/31/2008--Introduced. Declares that the Senate commits to pass, and urges the President sign, within 18 months, legislation that guarantees health care for all people of the United States and that: (1) recognizes the role of women as health care consumers, caregivers, and providers; (2) guarantees inclusion of benefits essential to achieving and maintaining good health; (3) promotes primary and preventive care; (4) provides a choice of public and private plans and direct access to a choice of doctors and health providers that ensures continuity of coverage and a delivery system that meets the needs of women; (5) eliminates disparities on the basis of gender, culture, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health status, or sexual orientation; (6) shares financing responsibility among employers, individuals, and the government while taking into account small business needs;[...]

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Latest Action: 08/01/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1697)

Bill Text
Expressing the support of the Congress regarding the need to ensure health care for women and health care for all in national health care reform. 7/31/2008--Introduced. Declares that Congress commits to pass, and urges the President sign, within 18 months, legislation that guarantees health care for all and that: (1) recognizes the role of women as health care consumers, caregivers, and providers; (2) guarantees inclusion of benefits essential to achieving and maintaining good health; (3) promotes primary and preventive care; (4) provides a choice of public and private plans and direct access to a choice of doctors and health care providers to ensure continuity of coverage and a delivery system that meets the need of women; (5) eliminates disparities on the basis of gender, culture, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health status, or sexual orientation; (6) shares financing responsibility among employers, individuals, and the government while taking into account small [...]

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Latest Action: 09/26/2008 - Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Bill Text
A bill to advance America's priorities. 7/22/2008--Introduced. Advancing America's Priorities Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) establish a system to collect data on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and establish a registry for such data; (2) provide for an education and information campaign to promote stroke prevention; and (3) award grants for a pilot project to improve stroke patient outcomes by coordinating health care delivery through telehealth networks.Establishes programs for research, rehabilitation, and quality of life for people with paralysis.Provides for support services to women suffering from postpartum depression and who receive a positive diagnosis of Down syndrome or other prenatally or postnatally diagnosed conditions. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to states to provide vision care for children. Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to expand services for homeless youth [...]

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Latest Action: 07/18/2008 - Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Leahy under authority of the order of the Senate of 01/04/2007. With written report No. 110-425.

Bill Text
An original bill making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. 7/18/2008--Introduced. Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes FY2009 appropriations for the Department of State (Department) for: (1) administration of foreign affairs and diplomatic and consular programs; (2) the civilian stabilization initiative; (3) the Capital Investment Fund; (4) the Office of Inspector General; (5) educational and cultural exchange programs; (6) representation allowances; (7) protection of foreign missions and officials; (8) U.S. embassy security, construction, and maintenance; (9) emergencies in the diplomatic and consular service; (10) the repatriation loans program account; (11) the American Institute in Taiwan; (12) the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (13) international organizations, peacekeeping, and [...]

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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: 06/10/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5455-5456)

Bill Text
A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) new policy restricting women's access to medications containing estriol does not serve the public interest.

6/10/2008--Introduced.

Calls for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reverse its policy that aims to eliminate patient access to compounded medications containing estriol prescribed by physicians unless it holds a public comment period on the issue and can document evidence of adverse events and other safety issues to justify such policy.

Latest Action: 05/22/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4803-4804)

Bill Text
A bill to require equitable coverage of prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, and contraceptive services under health plans. 5/22/2008--Introduced. Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Coverage Act of 2007 [sic] - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act to prohibit a group health plan, and a health insurance issuer providing group coverage, from: (1) excluding or restricting benefits for prescription contraceptive drugs, devices, and outpatient services if the plan provides benefits for other outpatient prescription drugs, devices, or outpatient services; (2) denying eligibility based on use or potential use of such items or services; (3) providing monetary payments or rebates to a covered individual to encourage acceptance of less than the minimum protections available; (4) penalizing, reducing, or limiting a professional's reimbursement because the professional prescribed such drugs [...]

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Latest Action: 05/06/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to prevent and cure diabetes and to promote and improve the care of individuals with diabetes for the reduction of health disparities within racial and ethnic minority groups, including the African-American, Hispanic American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. 5/6/2008--Introduced. Diabetes Prevention Access and Care Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to: (1) conduct, coordinate, and support research and other activities with respect to pre-diabetes and diabetes in minority populations; and (2) conduct and support programs to treat diabetes in minority populations.Requires the Director of NIH, through the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, to provide for: (1) health care professionals' mentoring; and (2) minority health professionals' participation in diabetes-focused [...]

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Latest Action: 05/07/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
Expressing the sense of Congress that the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) new policy restricting women's access to medications containing estriol does not serve the public interest.

5/6/2008--Introduced.

Calls for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reverse its policy that aims to eliminate patient access to compounded medications containing estriol prescribed by physicians.